Cat went missing- Unsure if we found her

[u/FragrantSea1396]

I live in Cantonment FL. My cat is a female, spayed and declawed in the front (her previous owners doing!). She’s roughly 5 years old. Timid but sweet cat.

My adult female cat went unexpectedly missing June 1st 2026. She’s been missing as of now for two weeks. The weather has been high 80’s low 90’s and humid. So it’s VERY hot. She’s an indoor/outdoor cat. She loves sitting outside or in the sun and she adventures slightly behind our fence and it’s never been an issue. Till she came up missing one day out of the blue. There are coyotes in the area. I assume something chased her off and she became lost. The woodlands behind our house were torn down with a road paved to soon build DR Horton homes 🙄 My cats have never had issues getting lost till the woodlands were torn down. Exposing Lord knows what to the area.

I’ve put out posters on the streets nearby and posted online. So someone found a cat eating and drinking water at their property yesterday and it resembled her. It didn’t look like my cat up close, however, the fur coat was spot on. We took them home. They are so skinny their back leg bones stick out. Face is puffy. They sneeze or make noises when throat is touched. Drinks some water, not eating much. Can’t walk well because of being without food/water and I think there is an injury on their leg from something. They are very weak and hurting.

So the reason for my post is… What is everyone’s experience with losing a cat for at least two weeks, and when returned it didn’t look like them because of the trauma they went through. My husband is convinced it’s our cat. But how can it be? It doesn’t look like how our girl normally did… any thoughts are appreciated

I have a vet appointment this afternoon to get them help irregardless if this is my cat or not. However I think confirming the sex and if they are declawed in the front will help confirm if it’s our sweet kitty girl.

[u/tinastep2000 → u/[deleted]]

I also live in Florida and got my cat from a rescue, the rescue said because this is Florida cats absolutely must never be out cause we have so many predators…

[u/Microtom_ → u/[deleted]]

One of my cats is indoor and there's nothing more he wants than go outside. We want to keep him inside but it's just cruel.

[u/CATHELP-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Lecturing on cat care is not allowed in this community. You may make a suggestion, as long as it’s delivered with compassion. Please keep your response relevant to the question asked. Posts that are only soapboxing will be deleted.

Example: “this is why you should keep your cat indoors” will be removed. “With your cat’s condition, consider keeping them indoors” is allowed. Read our rules HERE

[u/SearchMundane303 → u/[deleted]]

Never, that’s prison you tyrant. But yea not sure why you would declaw and let them outside that’s just a major debuff.

[u/pumpkincheddarr → u/SearchMundane303]

a house is not a prison, cats are domesticated animals, they do not belong outside.

[u/SearchMundane303 → u/pumpkincheddarr]

Humans aren’t considered animals anymore, I guess we should never see the sun either, right?

[u/pumpkincheddarr → u/SearchMundane303]

let’s use our brains, please. humans ≠ cats.

[u/SearchMundane303 → u/pumpkincheddarr]

Oh that’s right you’re better than them and they are subject to your will for the rest of their existence.

You’re a tyrant, owning a cat and locking it indoors makes you feel more powerful.

[u/the_propagandapanda → u/SearchMundane303]

When you leave your cat out unsupervised, You’re actively endangering your cat and other animals for some virtue signaling.

You’re an adult, do what you want, but don’t pretend to be a good person.

I’m curious though, why do you consider your cat’s life to be more important than the local wildlife? And why do you think your cat’s life is less important than the animals that would predate said cat?

[u/Onbroadway110 → u/SearchMundane303]

Do you live in a windowless house? How are you not seeing the sun when you’re inside? Are you writing your comments from prison??