Corvallis, OR Lost Male Cat, Dexter Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Gabrielle E.

2 months ago

Melissa Anne Melick thank you for letting me know! i don’t know why i didn’t see this comment until now!

Janet R.

3 months ago

I forgot to say, as Suzan Reynolds said, do NOT put out his litter box/his scent. Doing so attracts predators. We may not see them, but they are there, and they see everything. Predator hunters/catchers use cat urine/feces to lure them out. It works too well. Please do not put his scent/litter box outside. Instead, put our YOUR scent. Cats recognize your scent just as well as their own, and predators are not concerned with human scent. Putting his scent outside alerts predators that something is different/up, and it is specifically about him. They may lie in wait, prevent him from coming back. Put out/hang up so the breeze picks up the scent, YOUR Very Well Worn clothing/bedding. Change out daily, so the scent stays very pungent.

Janet R.

3 months ago

If you haven't already, please immediately do these things: notify microchip company he's missing/make sure all your contact information is UTD. Turn in LOST CAT REPORTS to all: police, county animal control, vets, emergency vets, shelters/humanes, rescues, groomers, sitters/boarders. Post Dexter as missing on (and search the FOUND posts) at least these sites: 24 Pet Connect (fka Petharbor), Pawboost, Pawmaw, Petcolovelost, lostmykitty, Petfbi, all lost/found sites, and all social media. Could Dexter have hitched a ride, even unbeknownst to the driver? Sometimes this happens and kitty gets out of vehicle somewhere else. Please search both near and far. Were there any moving trucks, delivery trucks? Any sheds/garages/storage facilities opened up, then closed back up in your neighborhood? Cats can get into really small spaces, they are so curious, but they get stuck/trapped. Please do a search on LOST CAT BEHAVIOR. It's so important to think like him now. Cats in survival mode often act differently. Strictly indoor cats often hide VERY VERY CLOSE to where they exited. Please contact Damia Koti (650) 339-6619, www.happycatlady.com. She is a Cat Recovery Expert. Damia helps people from all over, works for free, and can help you customize your search for Dexter. She can advise what TO DO and what NOT TO DO. Make up tons of posters and flyers. Laminate posters and on some, attach to stakes so you can sink them into the ground in your yard, your driveway, by your mailbox. Ask neighbors and businesses to do the same. It's really important that people know exactly where he lives, how to contact you. Posters up all over neighborhood. Check on them daily as the weather can damage them, and people may take them down. Hand out flyers to all: neighbors, local businesses, postal/paper carriers, joggers, dog walkers, landscapers, delivery drivers (Amazon, GrubHub, Door Dash, Grocery delivery, etc...) taxi/bus/school bus drivers. Uber and Lyft drivers. Kids and teens, who often see animals when adults do not. Sometimes offering a small reward can get people's attention more. Hand out flyers to all persons who have a route/ine in the area, and those who spend time outside. Are you SURE he's not still inside the house? Or on the property? When cats, especially indoor only cats, find themselves outside, they may find a general location where they feel safer, with many hiding spots. They may move back and forth within these, and not come out when they clearly see and hear you calling for them. Think where he would go to find clean water, protection/shelter, food, possibly companionship. Any friendly neighbors he might go to? Please check & RECHECK indoors and outside. Ask neighbors to do the same. Think--ATOP, UNDER, INSIDE, BEHIND. Cats are so curious, and they can squeeze into really tiny spaces, like a bat or spider, but then they cannot get back out. --Inside house: Check all beds/box springs, couches/chairs/all furniture, hampers, drawers/cupboards/cabinets, storage spaces/boxes, closets, under stairs, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, old non-working appliances, cubbies, under floor boards, inside walls/ceilings, heating/AC venting, any tiny spaces between the floor and counters, any small holes in walls, attics, bats/cellars? --Outside your home: Search both your property and properties surrounding you. Get permission from neighbors/owners, and ask them to keep an eye out for him too. Search under porches/decks/houses, in trees/shrubs, on rooftops,fences, in garages, storage units, carports, vehicles, boats, trailers, any type of structure he could take shelter in. Where would Dexter go to find clean water? Are there any waterways near you? Are there any restaurants or garbage cans he could have found to eat from? Where would he take shelter? Outside: ditches/drainpipes, barns, lean-to's, storage units, garages, vehicles/trailers/boats, all places he could take shelter. ATOP, UNDER, INSIDE, BEHIND. If he has a collar on, could he have gotten caught up on something--like a fence? Please ask your neighbors to check and recheck their property. Ask them if they've recently opened up some type of storage, or enclosure that is normally locked. Very worth investigating. He could be trapped and unable to come back on his own. Please review all your Surveillance Footage. Ask neighbors and businesses to do the same. He could show up on video. Have you considered using Trail Cameras, to try to capture if he's coming back in the early/morning, trying to get back in? Is there a Safe way you can leave a way back in for him? Open garage door, window? Where he exited from may work the best. If you safely can, leave him exit(s) back in, especially when it's late night/early morning. Indoor only cats often try to re-enter via their exit point. Some folks use baby monitors, one by their bedside, and one where kitty exited. Sometimes people can hear their kitty calling for them outside late night/early morning. Cats in survival mode often only come out of hiding when they feel safer. Cats are Crepuscular, so they come out late night/early morning generally. Have you considered Live Humane Traps? These can be very helpful. PLEASE, should you choose to use LHTs, make sure to have a trained profession to supervise and help you. These traps should never ever be left unattended, as animals may harm themselves if panicked. Always use LHTs under the supervision of a trained trapper, rescuer, or a TNRer. Please search both near and far. ACTIVELY SEARCHING for him greatly increases his chances of being found. Please do not make the mistake of just waiting for him to come back. He may be injured, trapped, disorientated, inside someone's home, somehow not able to. I am really wondering if he maybe took shelter somewhere that was recently opened up, like a garage or storage unit, camp trailer, boat, utility unit, bat/attic, somewhere he could run into, that is not normally opened up, and maybe got locked inside? It's really common. Also really common, is there any construction being done near you? Anyone remodeling in the neighborhood? It can take a while to find a missing kitty. He may be where he can find clean water, shelter, food. Please keep at your searches, every day. Those who actively search, stay in contact with as many agencies as possible, follow up every lead and possible sighting, are much more successful. Please take advantage of every resource you can. The more people helping and keeping an eye out for him, the better. I really hope Dexter comes home, safely and soundly, very soon. Best~

Melissa A.

3 months ago

I posted my missing cat on Nextdoor app and a nice lady said that she'd keep her eyes open but she has only seen an orange cat in the neighborhood recently (Rolling Green) not sure if you'd checked that area but it's not far from you. You can search my cat's name "Ohana" and "lost cat" and find the thread with the comments and maybe reach out to the lady who said that ?

Donna D.

3 months ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Suzan R.

3 months ago

General Information: Indoor cats are usually close to home. Check any and all hiding places in your home - closets, under side of mattress. Hang clothes with your scent on it (Worn clothing from owner) high up outside so the familiar scent can travel and guide the cat back home. Ask your neighbors to check their yard/could be accidently stuck in their garage or shed. (If applicable) Check doorbell or home camera - or ask neighbors to check their camera. Post Fliers with a picture of the cat and your contact information in the area the cat went missing. Not everyone is on Social Media and posters have worked in that if spotted a location can be provided. If a cat is scared they make themselves safe by finding a good hiding spot and often times hide in silence. Look in bushes - bring a flashlight and look for shining eyes. Best time to find your cat is in the early morning hours when the noise level is low and they feel safe. Leave an access point open for the cat to return. This is important if they do come back in the middle of the night. Prayers your cat returns/ or is found safely. Beware of scammers.

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