Orlando, FL Lost Male Cat, Mac Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lydia T.

7 months ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Research indicates many '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, bushes, between tall walls and fences, 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 might involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward 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 & leave strong food outside overnight. 10pm - 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken) and a torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas cat food meat and fish flavour, sardines, BBQ chicken) 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 move the food into your yard / home and close door from behind (while cat is eating). As a last resort (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 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. Posters with reward high on telegraph poles / noticeboards. Leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (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 ... 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. Most 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 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 to 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, 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. 😞 🙏 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). 🙏 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, before providing personal details or money). Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Kristy K.

7 months ago

Beautiful baby!! Prayers for you both!! Put out a ton of signs with your contact info and his pics, put out dirty socks or a blanket so the cat can smell its way home. Stay strong

Norma S.

7 months ago

🙏🙏🙏

Diana E.

7 months ago

Josie Williams, I’m so sorry your beautiful blue tabby and white cat got outside, but please try not to despair -- Mac 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: If you don't see this comment until morning, DURING THE DAYTIME, alert nearby neighbors in case Mac 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 after dark) 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 Mac 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 Mac 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/

Jamie L.

7 months ago

You can purchase a trap from Tractor Supply or Home Depot or Amazon or see if you can borrow or rent one from a local rescue or TNR group. Put a piece of your clothing with your scent on it inside and some wet food and set the trap and cover it with a towel (they feel more secure hidden) and monitor it in the morning🙏❣️ remember kitties are naturally nocturnal, so they will hide during the day and move at night time looking for a food source or trying to get home. This is when most of us are sleeping.That's why the trap is ideal. Monitor it early in the morning. If you catch a critter go ahead and release it and wash the trap and reset. They leave a smell behind which may deter your baby from going in. If you catch another kitty, you can always take it to a local vet or shelter for a free chip check and you might be able to help return someone else's missing baby home.♥️ also get a big sign in the front yard so in case someone does have or sees this baby and does not see this post, they can contact the owner that way. Also get lots of signs posted in the neighborhood. Keep checking on your local county FB group pages. You can search the group by "cat" to see all the cat posts only💗

Deborah N.

7 months ago

Diana Ellis

Kevin M.

7 months 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.

Josie W.

7 months ago

Please please reach out to me if there is any information or sightings!!!

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