missing....

[ISOM]

Weve returned home to find the cat in the beardy cage and no sign of the dragon....cat isnt sitting waiting to pounce anywhere so think that poor Gaspar has gone to the vivarium in the sky but want to have a good look for him. Problem is that there are lots of nooks so please can people advise;
-where do they like to hide...anywhere particular I should look
-how long can he survive without the viv heat - house is quite warm (about 65)...
-anything I can do to tempt him out - other than lock the cat out...
Thanks in advance...

 

[beardie parents]

I'm sorry. I won't tell you what I think you should to to that cat, but I think if the cat had attacked the beardie (it's a possibility) you would see evidence of it around his tank. If the beardie got out, he would probably have tried to find an area where he felt he would be safe from that dangerous cat. Any place that's small, sometimes they like to climb up high.

 

[ziggy23]

Look around places that are warm, or dark and tight. Even if you think it's too small for him to fit, look anyways. Their bodies are flexible and they can fit in shockingly small places. Small as you can get places feel very secure to a frightened animal. If it's possible for him to climb inside any furniture, like a couch or a chair then look there. Put a few pieces of his favorite fruit or something a few places. Buy some noisey crickets and walk around with them. Perhaps put the cricket bin on the floor where he can easily find them. Maybe the sound of dinner might coax him out.

and don't forget the obvious places like a window sill, or back of the couch. The first time Dante escaped, I found him on a rail under the table. The 2nd time we tore the house up for 2 hours only to find him on the back of the lazy boy in plain view.

 

[AHBD]

Is your dragon a juvie or larger ? A sub-adult or adult that is healthy can live for a couple of months, especially with cooler weather. Has he brumated yet ? Because that is what it will do in a cool house, curl up somewhere....so look under everything, as was mentioned. Even a pile of clothes on the floor. If he tries to get warm he may gravitate to a heat register, but if it's cold in the house, he will probably go to sleep. You might even try positioning a few very bright lights close to the floor to simulate a basking spot. Don't give up, a healthy dragon can last a long time !

 

[ISOM]

thanks for replies! We've found him! He was hiding behind the cat box and is now safely warming up in his viv. Only damage is a nick to the tip of his tail which Ill keep and eye on.
Its made us realise though that the cat isnt going to leave her alone - she is just being a cat after all so unlike op Im not angry with her she is just acting instinctively.- My hope that Isoke cat would get bored just isnt happening so he is going to a friend who has wanted a beardie for a while (they had one for years and couldnt bear to replace him when he died) so I know he will be adored and looked after plus I'll still get to see him!
Thanks for the replies!

 

[ziggy23]

Glad you found him.

 

[beardie parents]

Personally, I'd prefer the beardie to the cat but that's me. I'm glad you found him. About the nip to the tail, I strongly suggest you soak the tail in a weak solution of betadine and water. I found an off brand at Walmart quite a while ago. The reason for this is that when cats scratch beardies, they leave bacteria in the beardies and this has caused death for the beardies in some cases. The betadine and water solution should resemble weak tea. This should help get any bacteria the cat left off of the beardie. I'm glad you decided to give your beardie to one who will love him the way they want to be loved.

 

[RowenJade]

I'd take him to the vet immediately. Not to worry you but the SAME thing happened to my beardies. One died that night, the other appeared fine, just stressed. She died very suddenly, literally died within TEN minutes before I even had time to react, and the hubby wasn't even home with the car at that time anyway to rush her in, but we would have had no time to react anyway.

I was told that cat's have a lot of bacteria, that could have caused an infection she was hiding, or she could have suffered internal injuries that she was hiding. Believe me they are good at hiding it. I wish I would have taken mine to the vet immediately after it happened but I didn't know anything was wrong. Believe me won't make that mistake again and my cat isn't even allowed in the same room they are when we're not watching and he's not even the cat that attacked them. Please take him to the vet...I'd hate to see another story like mine. And seriously, if my cat did that to my beardies, I'd be telling my hubby to find him a new home. He's never done anything and I'll do anything I can to prevent it. Just saying, if it were my cat that did that, he would have a new home.

Good luck and hope they're okay.