HappyCatLady .
2 years ago
💖 AS SOON AS IT GETS DARK + QUIET - GO OUT the 'escape' door and CALL For kitty in a very calm and NORMAL voice ...keep calling gently over and over. If kitty likes the sound of crinkling a treat bag or opening a can of food then try that...call for kitty for 30 minutes straight - it’s best to sit down on the ground in one spot and continue to call calmly - then read the rest of this post to learn exactly what to do. Do not lose hope , take action..🙏
🐱💜Dear Guardian. Please know you can find your sweet kitty by taking action to cover ALL possibilities, whether your kitty is HIDING or STUCK nearby and needs your help to get home. #1 mistake is Waiting to take action. Glad you posted. Taking ACTION ASAP IN PERSON IS CRITICAL; Here is exactly what to do 🙏
🐱 INDOOR-ONLY CATS that are not used to being outside (or are INDOOR / OUTDOOR and get spooked by someone or something) will find the 1st place to hide and HUNKER DOWN in SILENCE. They tend to remain VERY NEAR, typically within 1-3 residences and many times right next door - HIDING. Kitty is in survival mode and meowing would give away the hiding spot to predators. Outside is strange for indoor cat, with wind & loud noises. Be patient. Don't give up! Kitty is out there. Cats that are scared and in foreign environment will often NOT meow though Kitty needs to keep hearing you (until kitty decides it’s safe to come forward..on your 40th or 400th call.
🐱 INDOOR + INDOOR/OUTDOOR cats hide/ get stuck in garages, crawl spaces, under porches, under buildings, in storage areas. Most lost cats are found within the block - though keep open to the possibility of further out if you live on a street that is mostly cement out front for example (not alot of places to hide)
💥 IMPORTANT 💥 SEARCH & CALL for kitty sweetly and calmly ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT from Sunset until SUNRISE (when it’s quiet, dark and cats feel ‘safer’ to move out of hiding) Set your alarm for 11pm 1AM, 3AM, 5AM call for kitty in your NORMAL, CALM voice...shake/crinkle the treat bag or shake kitty’s favorite noisy toy. I can’t tell you how many kitties come out of hiding during these late hours…(or you can hear meows if trapped in your next door neighbors garage or backyard for example).it’s best to sit down in 1 spot for at least 10 minutes at a time and CALL CALMLY ..be patient…scared cats are the best hiders.
🐱 LEAVE A WAY BACK INSIDE 24/7 in case kitty sneaks back inside when it’s dark and quiet. Leave the ‘escape’ DOOR/WINDOW edged OPEN 5” with wet food and water just inside. . If kitty escaped from the front (and you have a garage) leave garage door open 5" WET food (not dry) and water just inside the garage and place kitty’s BED/BEDDING on opposite side /wall closest to the entrance to your home. If no garage, leave wet food and water near escape point out of plain sight of humans walking by. (Do Not put out litter box - the scent could attract aggressive cats)
🐱Your ACTUAL neighbors on your block will NOT see these online posts. And they won't do anything if they see a cat unless they know YOUR cat is missing! This is why you must go door to door with FLYERS and post up flyers around your neighborhood on both sides of lamposts..
💜🙏 🐱 KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOORS, starting with the first 10 residences in ALL directions from you. Stay organized. Take notes on a PRINTED Google map of your block - note which people you spoke to and who wasn’t home so you can remember to GO BACK later and try again until you talk to all neighbors on your block.
🐱ASK neighbors to check RING CAMERAS, Garages, sheds, storage units/areas, crawl spaces, under porches..Kitty could be trapped (this happens all the time!) and talking to your neighbors will help engage them to look for your cat!
🐱 GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR NEIGHBORS YARDS: Get permission to check backyards yards - use a flashlight to catch the reflection of kitty’s EYE in crawl spaces, As to be ALONE while you search the premises.
🐱💜 PRINT 150-200 FLYERS for door to door and to POST UP FLYERS focusing around your block 1st then expanding 2 Blocks. RE: Flyers you post up on streetlamps (Place inside a clear “protective sheet cover” with the opening facing down so the weather doesn’t ruin them. Google: “clear sheet protector” Buy on amazon or at a FEDEX PRINT store near you. To save time Send your print order online for pick up even if they’re closed. call once open+ ask if they can PRINT right away due to urgency. If you’re nice, fedex staff will always try. NOTE: They also sell the sheet protectors, packing tape and duct tape for posting Flyers on lampposts and blue painters tape (for adhering flyers onto front doors and mailboxes without any damage)
Download a FLYER ‘template’ on www.happycatlady.com Offer a reward$ for a PHOTO of your kitty The FLYER should say to take a photo and call you And NOT to approach kitty who is scared.
ONLINE:
🐱 Post on www.Nextdoor com under ‘lost & found’ and ‘cat owners’ group using an address range. EXAMPLE 100-150 kitty street.
1. NEXTDOOR INVITE: https://nextdoor.com/invite/tlpjrfjfsfzzypgctspp
2. INVITE LINK TO NEXTDOOR ‘CAT OWNERS GROUP:https://nextdoor.com/g/qazvu50sq/
🐱Report to Animal Care & control / animal shelters near you
💥 IMPORTANT 💥 PLACE A CAMERA (motion activated) AIMED at WET FOOD and water you leave by the escape point (leave door open 5” if possible with food inside). You may see other cats, raccoons eat the food. That’s FINE. Replace the food AM + PM (raccoons LOVE dry cat food so only use WET) You can't believe how many times a cat will return home at night and has no way of getting back inside (or is too scared to go back inside ) Without the camera aimed at food, guardians would never know kitty is AROUND. One spotted on Camera, but still hiding from you, THEN you will need to TRAP your kitty. I can Loan you a humane trap if you live in SF and share HOW TO VIDEOS. OR RENT from most shelters.
WiFI Camera: Mini Blink camera $35: https://a.co/ihc7BSy
WIldlife camera (WIFI NOT NEEDED) 8 AA batteries: https://a.co/d/b1wNCNN
🙏💜DON’T GIVE UP! INDOOR-ONLY Lost Cat ‘Clementine’ was FOUND after 29 days only 2 backyards away! Her guardian had to trap her because kitty was in survival mode and kept hiding in the bushes.
Lost cat ‘Lina’ was spotted on camera eating food left by the open door but she (INDOOR/OUTDOOR) would NOT come inside. Her guardian had to coax her for for several nights! Without a camera she would have NEVER thought Lina was around but spooked and needed her help (Both cats were back to NORMAL after a few days) Every cat acts different when in survival mode - be patient.
Sending LOVE & unwavering determination
💖🙏 damia foti 💖🙏 650-339-6619 ( www.happycatlady.com)
https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/lost-cat-behavior/
🐯BELOW example of taking notes on map as I went door to door. F = flyered (not home) Added names I spoke to in person - the goal is to talk to everyone to best engage neighbors - ask them to check RING CAMERA search garage, storage, sheds and to CALL if think they see kitty (and take a photo) Keeping track on a map is a HUGE HELP - I often return a few days / 1 week later to remind folks!