Reunited Male Cat in Orlando, FL 32811 (ID: 72838974)

Facebook Community Response

Diana E.

1 month ago

I’m so sorry your beautiful mackerel orange (ginger) and white cat got outside, but please try not to despair -- Pumpkin is likely hiding close to his escape route, too frightened to come when called or emerge in the daylight. Most indoor cats will attempt to return on their own, usually within the first few nights if the conditions are just right, so if you know what to expect and how to react, you could have him back inside by morning. I've recovered many escaped cats and have a full set of instructions, but I’ll withhold them for now, hopeful you won’t need them. This is what I suggest you do and when: DURING THE DAYTIME, alert nearby neighbors in case Pumpkin is hiding just beyond your property (under a vehicle, in a garage, shed, or carport, etc.), then, if there’s time before dark and you can search SILENTLY without dislodging him from his hiding spot, focus your efforts close to home and tiptoe around using a flashlight, but be quiet and discreet so as not to frighten him (shhh! DO NOT CALL or shake treats), check every crack and crevice, look in, under and around sheds, vehicles, furniture, under foundations and porches, into trees etc. but suspend searching when it gets dark to give him the chance to return voluntarily. IMMEDIATELY (if you see this comment overnight) or AT DUSK lay a familiar blanket or worn teeshirt flat on the doorstep where he escaped (DO NOT USE a litter box, bedding, trap or anything obvious -- it's there for scent only) to give Pumpkin the confidence to come out of hiding, and place tempting food in front of the door (making sure you can still open it when he returns). Call him softly to provide a familiar sound and direction, then watch and listen closely from inside (DO NOT GO BACK OUT AFTER DARK!) and if you see Pumpkin approach and settle on the food be very careful not to startle him as you slowly and quietly provide a clear path back inside. If you can't wait up set an alarm and watch again just before sunrise -- it's a popular time to return. Please let me know what happens tonight and if he's not back by morning, I'll provide more detailed instructions. Also, although some suggest putting out kitty's litter box, EXPERTS WARN AGAINST 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/

Kevin M.

1 month ago

Go around late at night calling them with food and flashlight to catch their eyes. Check around your neighborhood under houses and in small places where they may hide. Put stuff out that has yours and their scent on it. Hang flyers around for people to see. Check shelters and vets daily. Update chip info if they have a chip and its has not been update since a move. Ask neighbors to check in their garages incase they ended up trapped in one. I pray you get your baby back safe and soon.

Damien C.

1 month ago

The only way a lost cat can find its way home is with its nose. They have to use their sense of smell to get home again. Put anything outside that smells like their territory. Put the pajamas you slept in outside because you probably sweated in them. Put out their food your stinky socks your smelly sneakers anything you can think of that the cat will recognize by smell. Cats usually stay within a five house radius of their own home for up to a week or so sleeping in the bushes during the day and coming out at dusk and dawn. Those are good times to take a walk shaking the treat bag calling out but cats also tend to come out and walk around very late at night. Try to keep a door cracked if you can whether it's the garage or whatever or a window cracked so you can hear them if they call out for you. Put this on all of the neighborhood pages as well as lost and found pets sites. Knock on the neighbors doors and make sure they know you're looking for your cat. Good luck PS cats can smell up to one mile away from their own house. Absolutely no litterbox outside or food. It attracts predators is why. Never give up.

Daphne N.

1 month ago

I live in Middlebrook Pines- ill keep an eye out for him

Deborah N.

1 month ago

Diana Ellis

Kimberly P.

1 month ago

My indoor only male black cat got out once. We put out all the scents. Old blankets, our unwashed clothes, his scratch post, his empty dirty litter box, vacuum dust etc. My nextdoor neighbor would see him trying to return during the day while we were at work. Then get scared and run off into nearby woods. I started setting my alarm for 3am while it was quiet and go out calling him. Finally after 5 days I heard him crying in very thick bushes Nextdoor to our house. I saw his eyes with my flashlight. I had to literally crawl to get him. He was like afraid to move. I finally got him . They usually don’t travel far. They will hunker down close by.

Darlene D.

1 month ago

Get your scent out put out dirty clothes scent helps them find way home go to shelters and check

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