14/01/2026
I brought him home yesterday but…
So I brought this sweet boy home yesterday, along with his foster sister. I put them both in the basement to keep them separate from my other two cats while we try to integrate them. Now I haven’t seen him in well over 12 hours. And I’m low-key freaking out. I have a fully finished basement and I use some areas of storage some of it as work out. For a while, I know that he was sitting behind some paint cans, but he’s definitely not there and I just don’t know. Is it possible he climbed the walls and got behind the drywall? There is not an exit to the outdoor so I have to assume he’s hiding, but I haven’t laid eyes on him. I just don’t know what to do here he has a voice and I haven’t heard him crying at all. I’m trying to be very patient knowing he’s just being very shy or at least hoping that. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE: Sorry couldn't figure out how to update on my phone. Anyway, not a lot of good news. He did come out briefly, and made it upstairs with a huge freak out. Like sliding across the hardwood floors, hiding behind the couch kind of freak out. He made it back down to the basement and I haven't heard or seen him since. I did come home last night to one of the cat carriers that is on the very top shelf on the floor. And behind that shelf is an open area of drywall. :( I have no idea if he got up there or not (my husband had left a step ladder there from when he tried to look over that the first time he was missing, so he definitely made it in that direction.) If I was to guess, since that entire shelf was filled with cat carriers, and one hit the floor, he likely didn't make it. But I honestly don't know. He hasn't made a sound. I would tear the effing drywall down if I needed to, but I just don't know where he is. I feel like I've looked everywhere in the basement. So now I am just trying to watch the food dish and hope for the best. I'll give him more time of course, not that I have a choice. But at some point, I will just open the basement door and see what happens. Honestly, I am so stressed and devastated that I did this to a sweet cat. I know he's shy and I'm not to blame but I can't help but feel responsible.
UPDATE Number 2: The last time we saw him saw Friday night. Today my brother came over and went top to bottom in the basement. He saw his head pop up in that little space at the top of the laundry room that I was worried about. Fortunately, it has a ceiling/floor from where he got in, so he's safe back there! YAY! My brother only saw him for a second, but he saw him. He's up there, as expected, and likely not injured. We put food, water, a blanket (he apparently was sleeping on the insulation) and a camera up there. I haven't laid eyes on him yet, but I trust my brother's eyes. So, I will wait patiently. I did close the door to that room so he is more contained, and gave him some options to exit hopefully safely down when he is ready. But the best part is, I know he's alive! If you do have other ideas what to do, please let me know. I'll try to add a picture of the space that we can see with the camera.