DeFuniak Springs, FL Lost Male Cat, Vasya Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Elaine W.

1 month ago

I am not really sure it was your cat, but there was a cat in my yard yesterday that really looked like him, My thoughts were his hair sure was shiny to be a stray. I live on vanderheide rd on lake juniper.

Pam S.

1 month ago

Put smelly wet food outside, hav a hart traps work, check them often. At night shine a flashlight you may catch reflection of his eyes. Check shed, garages, under cars, anyplace he could hide or be stuck. Put up flyers, especially at vet offices. Talk to neighbors, ask if they have security cameras that may catch him walking by. They tend to move early morning and evenings. Put out used litter and fav humans worn clothes, familiar smells help bring them in. If possible, leave a patio or garage door open so he can get in. Contact rescues & county shelters, take a pic. Physically check county shelter often, they are busy. She will be very scared & may go into survival mode, she may not respond to you. Some wait until they're starving to come out for food. Keep food/trap out & check often. If you have another cat, try putting them outside in a SECURE carrier. Their meows may call the lost one in. Pray. Don't give up!

John M.

1 month ago

🙏🏼

Paula V.

1 month ago

Put this post on all of the lost and found pages in your county and all of your neighborhood pages. The only way a lost cat can find its way home is with its nose. Immediately anything with the cat's scent on it and anything that stinks of you like your smelly socks something that you sweated in overnight and your stinky sneakers even your dirty clothes and your underwear! Cats usually stay within a five house radius of their own home for up to a week sleeping in the bushes and coming out at dusk Dawn and late at night. These are good times to take walks shaking the treat bag and calling for them. Cats can smell up to a whole mile away. So do that immediately and also put this on nextdoor. com and the other lost and found pet sites. Go on those sites looking at pics of found cats too. There might be a match.They tend to come home late at night or early in the morning so if you can keep a window cracked or a door cracked so at least you hear them. Good luck IF YOU HAVE FOUND A CAT: Please post this on all the lost and found pet pages in your county as well as all the neighborhood pages. Look on those pages just look at the photos try to make a match to someone that lost this cat. Almost certainly a pet that got out. I did see a similar looking cat on one of the pages. Any vet will check for a chip for free. In the meantime please give food and water to the kitty and shelter if you can.

Valeria R.

1 month ago

Diana Ellis Hi Diana, thank you so much for your advice and for taking the time to comment. Vasya is an indoor/outdoor cat. We took him in about two years ago from people who didn’t want him living with them. He was mostly living in their yard on a large wooded property and would not go inside their house at all. He has been with us for two years now, and although he does come inside and sometimes sleeps in the house, he spends most of his time outside by his own choice. He usually stays close to our property. We have woods behind our house and he often goes back there, but whenever we go outside and call his name, he almost always comes running back right away. That’s why this is so unusual and worrying for us. He has been missing for several days now, which is not like him at all. As for food, he only eats dry food and refuses wet food or anything smelly, so I’m not sure leaving special food out would help. His outdoor food bowls are still in their usual spot, and I put dry food there every day hoping he will come back. We are very worried that he may be trapped somewhere or that someone may have taken him in thinking he was a stray. Thank you again for any advice you may have

Diana E.

1 month ago

Vasya is a beautiful tuxedo cat — I’m sorry he is lost. Is Vasya an escaped indoor cat or allowed outside? His familiarity with the environment will dictate how to find him. Escaped indoor cats usually hide close by but are too frightened to return or respond when called; while a cat that knows his way around may have become stuck somewhere and needs help getting home. I have recovered many lost cats and assisted others so if you tell me about Vasya I can provide complete instructions that may help. Please understand an escaped cat may emerge when it's dark and quiet to sneak back inside — if you do just the right things. This usually happens within the first few nights so until I hear back from you please implement this strategy if Vasya got out accidentally: tonight lay a familiar blanket or worn teeshirt flat on the doorstep — do not use a litter box, bed, trap, or anything conuous -- along with tempting food at his point of escape. Call him softly to provide a familiar sound and direction (he won't come on command) then watch from inside (DO NOT GO BACK OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT!) and if you see Vasya approach and settle on the food be careful not to startle him. Slowly and quietly provide a clear path inside and he may put an end to the crisis himself. If you can't wait up set an alarm and watch again just before sunrise -- it's a popular time. And although some will suggest putting out kitty's litter box, experts say DON’T DO IT. I've never used one in all the times I've been successful recovering a lost cat. Please read this to learn more about why it's neither necessary nor recommended: https://www.facebook.com/notes/lost-cats-georgia/why-we-dont-recommend-putting-your-lost-cats-litter-box-outside/1101245526665296/

Deborah N.

1 month ago

Diana Ellis

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