My neutered cat is missing for 7 days in a rural area. Will he return?

I am so sorry Tux ran away! I have heard stories of owners who have been reunited with their missing pets months and even years after the pet has gone missing, so it's certainly possible that you can find him. Given that he's not neutered, I wouldn't be surprised if he's travelled far looking for females with which to mate. Intact males will roam far and wide to find females, so I would widen your search area for him. I will be hoping you will find it!

I hope he's ok! I'd say chances are still good at this point - I recommend keeping food out for him, and set his litterbox outside so he can recognize his familiar scent if he's become a bit disoriented. I hope he finds his way home!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Golu. He probably roams because he is not neutered or altered. Male cats will roam extensively if they are not neutered. The testosterone drives them to seek out mates and reproduce. Neutering him would make him a lot less likely to roam. Pets have been lost for extended periods of time, even longer than this. It's possible that he could return home. It's also possible that he has been taken in by another family who is feeding him now. I hope he returns. Good luck

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is possible that someone else is providing him with food as well and that is the reason he is not returning for all of his meals with you. He also may be sick, dealing with an infection or systemic disease. If you can catch him and bring him to the veterinarian, that would be ideal so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If Billy is not neutered yet, he is now old enough to be interested in mating females. This also makes him more prone to fighting with other male cats and may cause him to roam more. This roaming and fighting can lead to injuries from cars or other animals, FIV infections (which suppressed the immune system) and abscesses. Neutering him can help to decrease these behaviors which may end up saving his life. I recommend you speak with your veterinarian about the procedure. Most cats do very well and you should not expect to see any change in personality. I hope you find him quickly! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so very sorry to hear that he is lost. It is not unusual for a cat to come back home and they are good tracing back their way home. If he has a microchip you can check if he has been found at any of the local shelters. I am hopeful that he will come back. I will keep praying for his return. Good luck!

I hope Midnight comes back, but there is a chance she might now. Search the neighborhood and ask your neighbors if they have seen her. Check with the local SPCA to see if she's been picked up, and check with local vet clinics as well.