Woodridge, QLD Lost Female Cat, Pepper Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Ya S.

2 months ago

Thank you everyone for your support. Pepper knocked on the front door 20 minutes ago and is home safe.

Ya S.

2 months ago

Thanks we’ve been house for house, street for street for a 3 block radius around our home, we always have one person waiting at home, we’ve let people know from all over the south east qld coast everywhere we go I tell people and show photos, she posted as many places I could think of, we’ve been to vets, rescue centres and even search on food in other suburbs. Unfortunately not everyone lets us search around their homes however we are as many as we can. We call out from home every time we walk past a window or door. We don’t have dirty litter out instead daily we’re hanging dirty clothes freshly worn and sweaty from each of us to waffle in the breeze. Our baby girl is registered and microchipped with all my details updated. All we can do is all that we’ve been doing daily and we won’t give up, we’ll keep doing all this and spreading awareness of her. Thank you everyone for your support.

Paul A.

2 months ago

HOW TO FIND LOST CATS. Research by “Missing Animal Response Network” (MARN): A study was conducted by the University of Queensland where 1,232 cat owners who’d lost a cat took part (Kat Albrecht and Dr. Jacquie Rand conceived the study and UOQ and MPP collaborated on the study). Here is a summary of results: • The method most successful in recovering a missing cat was conducting a thorough physical search of the area. • The median distance found (how far the cats travelled) for missing outdoor-access cats was 315m. This is roughly a 17-house radius from their home. • The median distance for escaped indoor-only cats was much less—it was only 50m which is roughly a 2-3 house radius from their home. Obtaining permission from your neighbours to search their property is critical! Simply handing them a flyer and asking them to “keep an eye out” IS NOT ENOUGH! Your neighbour won’t get down on hands and knees with a torch to look under their deck or house, yet that is where your cat is most likely to be! It is up to you the owner, to conduct a slow, methodical search, remembering wherever their head can fit they could be hiding! Be sure to take a good flashlight with you even during the day as eye shine often gives them away in dark places. Additional Lost Cat Behaviors The Silence Factor: This is a term to describe lost cat behavior when a displaced cat will hide in silence. It is a natural form of protection. The Silence Factor s many cats that may be sick or injured and hiding, as owners are typically busy “looking” for their cat at the local shelter or putting flyers on telephone poles. Instead they should be conducting an aggressive, physical search of the immediate area remembering the cat is likely to be close by but hiding in silence. The Threshold Factor: This is an interesting behavioral pattern where a cat that is hiding eventually breaks cover and meows, return to their home or finally enters a humane trap. While some cats take hours to a few days to reach their threshold, many take several days (typically 10 to 12 days) before they break cover, most likely due to starvation and thirst, although more research needs to be conducted into this. Myths for finding lost cats: The MAR Network does NOT recommend using kitty litter placed outside your home as the urine/faeces scent could attract aggressive cats into a yard where the missing cat may be hiding. When an indoor-only cat escapes, it is often hiding within the territory of another (outside) cat. Dirty cat litter can attract community “toms” (intact males)-predisposing them to want to defend their territory and draw them into an area where the displaced cat may be hiding. MAR do not advise posting a reward as this can lead people to chase your cat, possibly scaring it into a yard where dogs reside or onto a busy road. **For full article search online for “Missing Animal Response Network Lost Cat Behaviour” **NB: Most people joining lost & found pet groups do so because they themselves have lost or found an animal , and more often than not they don’t live anywhere near you to be of real assistance. Posting in your suburbs local, community based groups is what reaches the thousands of people who live right where u do. This includes buy/swap/sell, new mum, parent, hobby, friendship, neighbourhood watch and even singles groups. These groups often have a high volume of members that actually live in your neighbourhood and are more likely to see your cat going about their daily routines like walking the dog, jogging, gardening, washing the car. They’re the people in your street that you wave to when u drive past but have never spoken to. Local eyes are the ones needed to get your cat get home sooner.🐾 AUSTRALIA MICROCHIPS ONLY ⚠️IMPORTANT NOTICE: Microchips previously registered with closed down company “HomeSafe Id” in Qld are being transferred to “Central Animal Records” (CAR). You don’t need to do anything and there are no fees. If u need to update your details do so via the CAR website or alternatively contact them directly by phoning (03) 9706 3187. To find out which microchip company your pet is registered with, head to “pet address” on the web and follow the onscreen prompts. 📍If you don’t know your pet’s microchip number, a veterinary clinic u’ve previously visited should be able to provide it from their records. Otherwise simply visit any veterinary clinic or animal shelter and have your pet scanned

Lydia T.

2 months ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Most 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within about 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 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, neighbours' bins, skips, under bushes, between tall walls and fences, in roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. Ask neighbours to check cctv cameras. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all). Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with neighbour. If neighbours are unco-operative, suggest you involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward (bribe) 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, another 3km away in drain!). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with rolled towels or a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, with strong smelling food outside overnight. Dusk to 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken), cat carrier and torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, sit, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside & out overnight, near exit point. Also, in / near other 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 (each night) 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 harm / / steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). 😞 Put a towel over trap, to keep cat calm. Don't open until safe at home (or at vet). Posters with reward tacked high on telegraph poles / noticeboards, in plastic sleeve. Also, circulate leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (cats most likely to escape / become lost, within a month of a move): begin an intense, comprehensive search asap & leave food out / doors open, starting close to the new home, spreading outwards. Unpredictable what might do next: One cat travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later. Do all advised at old address, too ... Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try to head back to previous home / territory (& become lost, or worse). Many cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open. Use dowell to limit opening to no more than 2cm). Spray bottle near door. Preferably not in a room with the door leading to outside. (Better a room, with a couple of doors closed , before reaching an exit door). Cannot stress enough, 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, as cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces. 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 to ask where travelled to. Check cctv cameras & do all of the above there, too. 😞 🙏 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). As responsible adults, we curb children's freedom to keep them safe, similarly for cats :-( 🙏 Update microchip details / ensure correct. Not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate! (One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Ideally, vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan. (Don't solely rely on microchip).🙏 Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have found, your cat. Seek independent evidence (eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc & watch out for AI generated pics, using your cat pic), before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Ya S.

2 months ago

Erika Szücs-Woodwardwe put out my sons dressing gown as it is the only thing not washed today.

Ya S.

2 months ago

Erika Szücs-Woodwardwe walked up and down the street and around the blocks almost all day calling out to her and looking we also went for a walk before my son went to bed just now, we took her treats and used her laser toy to see if she would come out.

Sabrina P.

2 months ago

Do you have his used kitty litter just outside the door and leave it ajar

Erika S.

2 months ago

Hopefully hiding nearby. Night time walks are super important