View Lost Cats Near Knoxville, TN

Sampson is Missing in Knoxville, TN

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Status

LOST

Date Last Seen

May 16, 2026

Location Last Seen

Knoxville, TN 37917

Nearest Landmark

Avondale Ave & Maxwell St towards Boright Park

Name

Sampson

Sex

Male

PawBoost ID

72914791

Species

Cat

Description

Black and brown tabby white underbelly & paws. blue breakaway collar. he is a smaller cat ~7 lbs

Message from Owner

ATTENTION: Fairmont and Whittle Springs neighborhood: please keep an eye out for a skittish kitty last seen around corner of Avondale Ave & Maxwell St running to hide in peoples yards & brushy areas. He got spooked by a loud lawnmower and darted off on Saturday, May 16th when I was outside in my yard with him. I saw him run off across the street into one of my neighbors back yards on the corner of Avondale Ave & Maxwell St towards Boright Park in the Fairmont Neighborhood. I couldn’t keep up, I lost sight of him and spent all night searching to no avail. I know he’s got to be hiding close by but he’s so so scared and doesn’t know how to get home. I’m still searching but neighbors please keep your eye out and don’t hesitate to reach out if you see a little black looking cat with white paws darting around.

Facebook Community Response

Terry N.
2 weeks ago
Prayers 🙏✝️ Sharing!
Reply
Cheri C.
2 weeks ago
Sharing 🙏
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Douglas H.
2 weeks ago
Prayers
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Andi S.
2 weeks ago
These are general search tips and not all may apply in your situation. Search at night w/ a flashlight (eyes will glow). Check up in trees and inside/under things in your yard and up to 4 - 5 houses away. Search garages, sheds, under decks and bushes, in crawl spaces, behind AC units - any place the cat might be trapped or hiding. Many cats go into hiding mode for safety and won't come when they hear their owner's voice but try calling and try either shaking a can/bag of treats or carrying an open (smelly) can of cat food or fish. Put something w/ the cat's scent on the porch (cat bed, scratching post, sofa pillows). Keep your garage door up enough to allow entry. Keep fresh bowls of water out. Put up large missing cat posters (neon poster board works well), talk to neighbors (leave info for those not home), post on all local social media groups and make sure to check with local animal control at least once a week (better to go in person but at least call and send them a photo). If not found at night with a flashlight, go out during early morning, before dawn, as many cats are active around that time. If not found in a few days, you can always buy a humane cat trap but traps *must* be checked multiple times each day, every day. If the cat is microchipped, please make sure the chip company has your updated contact information. And even if the cat has a chip, you still need to check with animal control as chips sometimes are overlooked or migrate down. Please search often and don't give up hope.
Reply
Kimberly P.
2 weeks ago
He probably went too far and has gotten turned around. Scents from your home will lead him back. My indoor only male black cat got out once. We put out all the scents. Old blankets, our unwashed clothes, his scratch post, his empty dirty litter box, vacuum dust etc. My nextdoor neighbor would see him trying to return during the day while we were at work. Then get scared and run off into nearby woods. I started setting my alarm for 3am while it was quiet and go out calling him. Finally after 5 days I heard him crying in very thick bushes Nextdoor to our house. I saw his eyes with my flashlight. I had to literally crawl to get him. He was like afraid to move. I finally got him . They usually don’t travel far. They will hunker down close by.
Reply
Annie L.
2 weeks ago
Please read this article for both indoor-only and outdoor-access lost cats: https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/lost-cat-behavior/
Reply
Annie L.
2 weeks ago
I'm so sorry about your baby.🥺💔 Most cats stay close to home so it is critical to stay as proactive, and persistent, as possible. ●Crack your garage door or leave a porch door open so it can get inside. Cats return at night when you're sleeping so you miss them. This also ensures if your cat was chased away, it can sneak back inside when it can. ●Check everywhere outside even in drain pipes and drains, in logs, under bushes and cars, up in trees and anywhere it's collar could get hung. Use a flashlight after dark as it will make your cat's eyes glow. ●Check under your house and your neighbor's houses, in sheds, garages, bats, etc. ●Indoor-only or new to the area lost cats tend to not recognize their owners outside because it is a different environment and they are scared. Sit outside every single day especially in the morning and at dusk/night so your cat can get used to you being there. ●Put food in a plastic container with a lid and periodically shake it and call your cat's name. ●Print flyers for neighbors and businesses in the area. ●Put posters in public areas, like on street signs and in your front yard, and offer some type of reward, if you can. ●Put the reward amount on the flyers and posters. A reward will incite people to intentionally be on the lookout for your cat or to return it to you. ●Work with a cat rescue to immediately set a cat trap or you can purchase one at Tractor Supply, Home Depot or on Amazon and set it yourself. You will need to monitor the trap(s) ●Post on the Ring app, Nextdoor app and Pawboost and visit pet rescues/shelters in person regularly to see if someone has found your cat and has taken it to one. Give them a flyer and report your cat as missing. ●Consistently visit rescues and shelters. They only hold a cat 3 to 5 days without a microchip before putting it up for adoption, and only for 7 days with a microchip. Even if the cat has a microchip, the chip can float and be missed by the scanner. ●Set notification alerts for the Facebook lost and found pets groups in case someone has found your cat.
Reply
Donna M.
2 weeks ago
I did not compose this list. There is some debate about the litter attracting feral cats or other animals. Shared 🙏🏻♥️
Reply
Adham M.
2 weeks ago
Fingers crossed 🤞 on finding your fur. I suggest you should contact Lost Paw Recovery Unit here on Facebook, they are sed Drone pilots that uses a thermal drone to search for missing and stolen pets day and night,they also helped me days back. Believe they Can help you too https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589894444103
Reply
Amanda R.
2 weeks ago
Shared
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