Prospect Heights, IL Lost Male Cat, Lucky Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Mia C.

6 months ago

Karen Elizabeth thank you

Karen E.

7 months ago

If Lewis is normally an INSIDE cat… then he is definitely scared and hiding and you will need to go out at NIGHT with a flashlight and look for his “glowing” eyes. He is VERY CLOSE to your house… most likely in YOUR OWN YARD. They usually find a hiding spot very quickly and very close to where they escaped. Look up in the trees and check under everything in YOUR YARD first… under decks, under sheds, inside bushes, wood piles and storm drains. Then check your neighbors yards. They are very good at hiding. THE BEST TIME TO FIND HIM IS AT NIGHT WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND HIS EYES WILL “GLOW” BACK AT YOU. Lewis is so scared, he will NOT respond to you calling him, so you'll have to use your eyes instead of your ears to find him. When cats are suddenly outside, they go into "survival mode" and their entire personality changes. They will NOT wander. They find a hiding spot very close by and are very scared and will not come out for anyone... even their owners. I hope you find your fur-baby very soon!

Karen H.

7 months ago

Mia Carlos you’re welcome! My prayers he is home soon 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Laura O.

7 months ago

❗ Call the microchip company ASAP, they will send out an alert. ❗️Post flyers everywhere, including local shelters, vets, and police stations. Make sure to call all of them to see if anyone has turned the cat in. ❗️Post on the Citizen App ASAP, it will reach thousands of people in your area on the matter of minutes. ❗️Ask neighbors if they have cameras or ring doorbells if they can look at them to see if he passed by. ❗️Buy or rent a trap from a rescue, vet, police station, friend, or neighbor. ❗️Get cans of 9-Lives, put the trap by your house or building, and put the food inside (1 can at a time on a plate). Write a note: “Please don’t touch, trapping lost cat, please call (add your #) if seen.” Check the trap every 15 minutes, as you might get other wildlife caught and need to be released. ❗️Be patient — it can take a couple of days to catch him as cats get scared when not used to being outside, and they act differently. They normally hide during the day and come out at night. ❗️Check under the porches and back decks of neighbors, as they make great hiding spots, along with bushes. 🙏🏻 You find him soon 🐈‍⬛ ~Laura

Dixie K.

7 months ago

Try calling him all times of the day and night while walking around your neighborhood shaking his treats Look under bushes porches cars etc ask neighbors put up flyers

Rita H.

7 months ago

Try Going out late at night ie midnight and again early am ie 5 or 6 am with their smelly food and treats. Shake treat bag and call out their name. Take a flashlight and check under porches and bushes. Also if you can leave a bat window and garage door open so they can get in. Do for multiple days if needed. Good luck

Lydia T.

7 months ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Research indicates many 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within 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 get 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, in bins, skips, bushes, between tall walls and fences, roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all. You are more likely to do the thorough search required. Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with your neighbour). You might need to offer a reward 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 away, another 3km, down a drain). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain & leave strong food outside overnight. 10pm - 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours or hot BBQ chicken) and a torch, when no cars: call calmly, stop, listen, wait. (Cats eyes glow with a torch). Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside. Leave strong smelling food (eg Whiskas cat food meat and fish flavour, sardines, BBQ chicken) out overnight, near exit point and near / in 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 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 steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). Put a towel over trap to keep cat calm. Posters high on telegraph poles, noticeboards and leaflets (pay postman). CCTV cameras. Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. Do all at previous address, if puss recently moved home. (One cat recently travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later). Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try o head back to previous home or territory. Most cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open). 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, cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces where might be trapped. 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 where went to, check cctv cameras & do all of the above there. 😞 🙏 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). 🙏 In Australia, at least one microchip organisation (Homesafe) has gone bust, which means microchips won't show up if scanned! (Cats need to be registered with another microchip organisation, with updated details, inc if lost). Also, not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate.(One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Request vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan 🙏 (Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have already found, your cat. Seek independent evidence eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc, before providing personal details or money). Don't give up searching ... 🙏

Mia C.

7 months ago

Karen Heise thanks!

Mia C.

7 months ago

Krista Walsh thank you

Lizzie B.

7 months ago

No matter how long your kitty has been gone, stay vigilant with all lost cat protocols and advice - kitty may have been taken in by a well meaning person and could be very near - keep posters and flyers fresh and communications current with local animal control, vets, and rescues for new leads - keep the faith 💪🏼 Use whatever is applicable in the following for your situation: Extra strength prayers your kitty is safe nearby (cats usually stay in the vicinity) and home very very soon - put their food and shelter outside your door in a protected area and/or in your garage - diligently canvas the area and local businesses with large colorful posters and flyers - contact local animal control, vets, and rescues for any possible leads - cross post on neighborhood/community FB pages for further reach - cats are superior survivalists - stay vigilant in searching and don’t lose hope 🙏🏻❤️💪🏼 P.s. Beware of scammers saying they have found your kitty and to message them your contact information. And also how an Instagram/FB site helped them find their pet - don't click on site. All BS scammers. 🙏❤️💪🏼

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