Georgette C.
4 years ago
SUGGESTIONS FOR FINDING YOUR MISSING KITTY
# Some successful methods. Go out on your porch or in your yard at “night” when it is quiet (cats feel much safer then) and speak “calmly” and normally (phone conversation for example) so your cat can hear your voice. Do this for a 15 to 30 minutes every night. Bring a food/treat bag to shake every once in a while too if your cat is familiar with that sound. Most lost cats (especially indoor cats) are close and hiding, so you are trying to create a safe and inviting reason for them to come to you. Be silent for brief periods to listen for soft meows. Do not call out their name because they do not want attention drawn to them when fearful. Bring out family scents such as dirty t-shirts, dirty bedding, fur from resident cats or fur combed from a cat tree (smells familiar to your cat that won’t attract off-leash animals that could chase your cat away). It can take days to draw them out so do this every night.
DO NOT put out the litter box as some suggest. It can attract predators. A piece of your clothing or familiar bedding with your scent may be just as effective in helping your pet find his home.
*If safe to do*, leave the patio door or window that they escaped from open. Cats often try to return home by the same route that they left. Prop a chair or ladder under a window if it’s very high.
****Take a flashlight and check any areas/enclosures in the area where they might be trapped- a shed, garage, under a deck, inside a storage pod, on roofs etc. Look for eye shine from the flashlight in dark spaces, under bushes, up in trees. Cats are nearly invisible when hiding.
*If someone has found your cat, flyers (with a good photo) will provide the necessary information for them to get your kitty back to you. Give to neighbors, local vets, postal carriers and businesses. Put up a poster in your yard too.
An effective POSTER is *LOST CAT* - SIZE - COLOR - PHONE NUMBER(S). Handwritten is fine, No photo. (Only flyers to hand out will need photos).
Make Poster LARGE! (readable from 25 ft away)
Make Poster LOUD! (as bright as possible - neon green works best)
Make Poster LESS (less info means more leads, no breed info)
Make Poster LEGIBLE (if they can't read it, it's useless)
*Rewards have not proven to help and may result in false leads. If you must, do not post an amount.
* Put a large legible poster in your yard or on your door (if an apt or condo) with the same info in case someone is out looking for the owner. If you are in an apt or condo, tell your manager in case someone contacts them.
*Check your local shelters, rescues and safe shelters frequently and as soon as possible.
*Post on all local facebook lost and found sites, community trade sites and neighborhood sites such as nextdoor.
*Notify your microchip company that your cat is missing and verify that your contact info is up to date.
*Put a baby monitor by your entrances and keep the volume up on the receiver at night. If your cat comes home and scratches or cries at the door you will hear him/her.
Plan leisurely outside activities as much as possible. Stress-free is key!
Note: Lost cats stay very close for a long time if there are no threats. An outside litter box can also attract territorial cats/dogs and predators that can chase them from your area (or worse). Family scents would be just as effective.
The 1st 72 hours are crucial as your cat should still be close by. Get your flash light, search along the buildings in your surrounding area, softly talk to your cat. Have a towel ready to secure your cat if you find him/her. Leave a piece of clothing out with your scent (do not leave the cat box out, as this attracts predators). For more tips check out: catsinthebag.org. Good luck. Hope you get your kitty home soon and safe
