Colebrook, TAS Lost Female Cat, Aryia Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lydia T.

1 month ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Most 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within about 500 metres from where lost. (Less for indoor cats). Some cats fear making a noise, in case it attracts predators, so might not respond to your calls. They can squeeze into the tightest crevices (sometimes become wedged in), why very thorough searches are required. I am aware of 100's of situations where a cat was accidentally locked in / trapped somewhere (eg in a neighbours shed, garage, holiday home, roof, crawl-space under a home / industrial building). Most somehow survived (eg by eating insects), many others didn't. 😞 Please thoroughly search through sheds, garages, under houses / buildings, bats, decks, neighbours' bins, skips, under bushes, between tall walls and fences, in roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. One cat recently spotted hiding under neighbour's roof solar panels. Ask neighbours to check cctv cameras. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all). Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with neighbour. If neighbours are unco-operative, suggest you involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward (bribe) for unco-operative / uncaring neighbours. 😞 Call down drains (with strong smelling food). If you can lift the grate and enter the drain, even better. (One cat found 500 metres, another 3km away in drain!). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with rolled towels or a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, with strong smelling food outside overnight. Dusk to 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken), cat carrier and torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, sit, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside & out overnight, near exit point. Also, in / near other possible hiding places / where might be trapped. If food eaten, set up a sensor wildlife camera to ensure it is your cat. Next night, try waiting nearby with food and a carrier ... Or if safe, gradually (each night) move the food into your yard / home and close door from behind (while cat is eating). As a last resort (as lots can go wrong), place a humane cat trap on level ground, in a safe, discreet location. Google how to use safely, monitor closely. (Do not leave a trap unattended! Some people release distressed cats, or harm / / steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). 😞 Put a towel over trap, to keep cat calm. Don't open until safe at home (or at vet). Posters with reward tacked high on telegraph poles / noticeboards, in plastic sleeve. Also, circulate leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (cats most likely to escape / become lost, within a month of a move): begin an intense, comprehensive search asap & leave food out / doors open, starting close to the new home, spreading outwards. Unpredictable what might do next: One cat travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later. Do all advised at old address, too ... Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try to head back to previous home / territory (& become lost, or worse). Many cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open. Use dowell to limit opening to no more than 2cm). Spray bottle near door. Preferably not in a room with the door leading to outside. (Better a room, with a couple of doors closed , before reaching an exit door). Cannot stress enough, be extra vigilant !! New / timid cats & kittens are prone to hiding / getting stuck under / behind / in, furniture. So also check in / behind / under drawers, wardrobes, low lounges / beds, recliner chairs (don't move leg rest until double-checked), behind fridges, washing machines & dryers. (Always check inside before using, as cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces. Do all of the above many times (in case your cat moves around). Track down where any vehicles (eg tradies / removalist vans) which puss might have entered: call the driver to ask where travelled to. Check cctv cameras & do all of the above there, too. 😞 🙏 Please consider keeping your precious cat indoors and / or invest in a very secure cat enclosure, or catio. (Research has found it adds 10+ years to average age of cats. Safer for cats and wildlife). As responsible adults, we curb children's freedom to keep them safe, similarly for cats :-( 🙏 Update microchip details / ensure correct. Not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate! (One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Ideally, vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan. (Don't solely rely on microchip).🙏 Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have found, your cat. Seek independent evidence (eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc & watch out for AI generated pics, using your cat pic), before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Karen K.

1 month ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Karen K.

1 month ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Connie R.

1 month ago

Laurie Denmen thanks so much

Elaine R.

1 month ago

shared

Laurie D.

1 month ago

Shared ❤️

Katherine T.

1 month ago

Have seen these great tips posted elsewhere - Early morning walk technique: There is a technique we call the 3am walk that has worked for a lot of people reunited with their pets. Displaced or scared cats will often remain in hiding and completely silent for most of the day and night. Even if it is close by and can hear you, it is unlikely your cat will respond. Because of this, the best time to head outside and call her/him is between 3-4am. It can vary between 2-6 am, whenever your area is most quiet. It may take a few nights of trying this method too. Most recently, a good number of people have found their cats just from doing a 3am walk and call. Your cat is most likely to respond and leave its hiding spot around this small window of quiet time. It only takes a couple of fence jumps to land streets away, so do your best to cover as many streets as you can. Hopefully your cat is only a house or two away from where it escaped. Tap a can calling your cats name or shacking the dry food bag/box calling their name and saying what you usually say to call them to dinner or breakfast time. Leaflets and knocking on doors: Its also a good idea to ask neighbours if you can check their yards, sheds, garages and roof spaces. If you can give them a printed leaflet with a picture of your lost cat and your phone number. Leave these at shops etc too. Leaving the Kitty tray outside: Some suggest to leave it out to attract your cat back home with the scent. Which may work, but it's important to understand that the kitty tray may attract other cats, especially Tom Cats that will see this as a threat to his territory. The kitty tray method is designed to try and give the lost cat a scent he/she is familiar with to come back home. So if you suspect strays are around, be careful you're not making it harder for yours to get home safely. If you want to try leaving the litter outside, please note that the tray shouldn't be left out for too long and needs to be watched over. Same with leaving food, bedding and clothing out. Indoor cats: Indoor escape artists usually stick close to home and we often see a great outcome because of this.....Expect your cat to remain in hiding for most of the day and night. Displacement often changes the behaviour of cats. This means a normally vocal cat may keep quiet. Timid cats especially may spend some weeks in hiding before becoming visible. Even then, they are not likely to be seen during daylight. It is also unlikely that your cat will respond to being called during daylight. As a result, many people mistakingly believe their cat is no longer close by. An inside cat won't have gone too far. Start on your own property with a torch (even in the daylight, yes) and look under your house (if it is on stumps/piles) under any decking, under all vehicles, in the wheel arches, under upturned wheelbarrows, piles of iron, roofing tiles, underneath any outbuildings, dog kennel, wood piles, under or behind a garden shed, wheelie bins, inside skip bins, shipping containers, car boots or under the car bonnet. Under all garden shrubbery along driveways and footpaths. And then do the same with your near neighbours. Ask them if you can look in their yards. Do not rely on your neighbours to search because they may not / are unlikely to conduct a thorough search. Don't forget over the back fence too. Take your cat carrier with you, so when you find puss, pop straight into the carrier, so he doesn't squirm out of your arms when carrying home. Don't forget to look up as well. If chased up a tree or on to a roof. Best of luck

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