WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE LOST A CAT Cats seem to have a sort of homing instinct which in some cases have guided cats to travel hundreds of miles back to their home. Most indoor-only cats tend not to travel far. While an adventurous indoor/outdoor cat is more likely to roam, a scared cat may not trust their inner compass, get confused and get lost. Once a cat has wandered out of their comfort zone anything can happen to scare them further: Barking dogs, wildlife, loud traffic noise, teasing school kids, the list is endless. Top 10 Tips For Finding Lost Cats 1) Not all missing cats are lost or want to be found. Cats are notorious for hiding in impossible places. Before you assume kitty is missing, make a thorough search indoors, around the porch, garage and yards armed with a flashlight and the tastiest, smelliest treats. This is when a cat trained to respond to the “come” command pays off. If a cat is injured, trapped or hyper-stressed, they may not respond to a command but it improves the odds. Yes, some cats leave home for whatever reason and don’t want to be found. Try anyway. The stats for lost cats returning home without intervention are about 2%. The odds are improved by having a microchip and wearing a collar and tag. (Learn why Petfinder believes all cats should be microchipped and always wear a collar and tag) 2) Don’t waste time. If you know your cat is missing, grab your cellphone with a photo of your cat uploaded, flashlight and treats and head out. Wear comfortable clothes and comfortable soft-soled shoes. Don’t panic. Breathe, try to be calm and think like a cat. If you were a cat where would you go? Begin around your house and spread out to the immediate neighbors on all sides. Where does your cat normally head? What is the most likely escape route? What are their favorite bushes or hiding spots? Crouch low under porches, scan high on roof lines and tree branches. Could something have recently happened to spook them? Construction or a new neighbor’s cat or dog? Or has anything happened recently in your home to upset them; like the chemicals from getting your carpets cleaned or bringing out suitcases for a trip? 3) While you’re searching, ask pedestrians, knock on neighbor’s doors and show the photo. Ask if you can check their garage, sheds, under the porch. I must admit I did, in my desperation trespass in neighbors’ gardens. This is no time to be shy. To save time, multi-task during the search: leave a missing cat report with your vet, Animal Control, all the other local vets, shelters and rescue groups. 4) When you return home, leave food and water outside your door. Fearful cats will often slink out after dark. Leaving a baby monitor near the food may detect faint meows. Local TNR rescue rescues will often lend a trap. Using their suggestions, set up a trap. Be prepared, you may trap a raccoon or other cat. Go outside one last time to check and call your cat’s name before bedtime. Try to get some rest. Leaving no stone unturned to find your cat takes energy. In the quiet darkness, try to communicate with your cat. Imagine their face, call their name and connect heart to heart. Try to tune into where they might be. It may be a feeling, an image or sound. Reassure them that you will help get them home. 5) If you haven’t already made a missing cat poster, make one. It doesn’t have to be fancy but make sure the words “Lost Cat” are large enough to be visible from a passing vehicle or pedestrian. Luckily most of us have a gazillion photos of our cats of. Choose or crop a large close-up showing details of the face and another photo showing the entire body, ideally standing up. If you’re not computer savvy, you can glue a photo on a piece of paper and use a marker to write the text by hand. Color photos are preferable especially if your cat has a unique color or markings. Copies printed on neon bright paper show well and use plastic page covers in case of rain. Include: your cat’s name, description, any special identifying marks or collar, microchip number, when last seen and where (cross street), your phone and e-mail but for security reasons not your name, address or amount of reward in case you are offering one. I also like adding contact info at the bottom of the page cut into four or five vertical strips that can be easily torn off. You will find a template on the website below: office.microsoft/en-us/templates/lost-pet-flyer-TC102805815.aspx 6) Enlist family and friends to help post flyers and spread the word. Have push pins, tape and a staple gun depending on the surface. The best posting spots include street intersection poles, local bulletin boards at grocery stores, library, laundromat and community center. 7) Post missing cats reports at online at Tabbytracker Craigslist, local online newspapers like Patch etc. Use social networking like Facebook and Twitter. Ask everyone to share. Below is a list of local and national resources: https://m.facebook/pages/Lost-Pet-Finder-of-Collier-County/157622714352526 naples-florida.lostandfound/ m.lostpetusa.net/ 8) Visit all your local shelters even if say they don’t have a cat of your description. 9) If you’ve recently moved, extend your search to your old neighborhood. 10) Persevere! Cats have returned weeks and months later. Keep networking, and asking neighbors if they’ve noticed anything. Keep your flyers or posters fresh with a “Still Missing” header. Excerpt from https://petfinder/blog/2013/09/top-10-tips-for-finding-lost-cats/ Additional suggestions that are very helpful 11) Microchip. If your cat has a microchip and you have registered the microchip, immediately contact the microchip registry to advise them your cat is missing. Microchip registries send out notices to local animal rescue groups, veterinary offices and animal control. Microchipping your cat can help bring him/her home to you safely. How many of us have found a lost pet but have been unable to locate the owner because there were no tags or microchip. A microchip can save your animals life. Our local animal control scans all lost pets for a microchip and immediately returns them. However, they only have to hold the animal for 5 days before euthanizing them so act quickly! Call animal control immediately to report your lost pet and go to animal control and walk the enclosures to be sure your cat is not there. Often cats are frightened in that environment and are aggressive. They can be mistaken for a feral or unfriendly cat. 12) Contact Federal Express, UPS and your postal delivery person. They are well acquainted with our neighborhood and will notice animals outside and inside someones home. Last Christmas I found a dog running in the street and after checking with all tge neighbors to no avail, I drove the neighborhood and found the postman. He immediately knew where the dogs home was located! All of us were relieved and joyous. 13) Grocery and Convenience Store. Most of us go to the grocery store and convenience store at least once a week. Ask the manager if you can post a flyer. I hope you never lose a cat, but just in case, be prepared and make a copy of this list.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:56:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015