Santa Maria, CA Lost Male Cat, Sparky Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Julie C.

2 weeks ago

*UPDATE* HE CAME HOME AND IS BACK IN THE HOUSE! Thank you for all the prayers and advice. He's a little bit less chonky, but seems to be fine otherwise!

Susan B.

2 weeks ago

I lost my cat Ghost one time for 11 days (he was very territorial and I believe he jumped out of the yard to chase another cat away). But I found good tips to bring him home! Since then, I share these tips in hopes it will help others find their lost cats. Use what you can! 🥰 Unlike dogs, who run when frightened, cats tend to hide quietly when scared or injured, often not meowing when called. Cats are often found close by so a physical search is often successful. Most cats are found within about 250 yards radius, indoor-only cats within about 25 yards radius. Please put out kitty’s bed, and item of your clothing/pillow case/etc with your scent. Check with neighbors with photos of your cat because sometimes they get shut in garages or sheds accidentally. Walk the neighborhood, especially with someone to chat with. Your cat can hear your voice for a good distance and may be able to track you home. Also, call from your porch etc several times a day, while shaking treat bag and/or tapping cat food can with a fork! Check up in trees as cats often seek safety in high places. Use a flashlight at dusk/dark to look for glowing eyes; put up flyers; post to the app Nextdoor and/or Craigslist. Personally check your local shelter every couple days instead of calling, if possible. Animals are brought in constantly. Stray animals are available for adoption after a short time. Plus you know your pet best! They probably look/act differently in a shelter environment. If your pet is microchipped, please make sure your contact info is always up to date. If need be, you can update it even when your pet is missing. And still check shelters in person as microchips can sometimes fall out or travel to other parts of the animal’s body. Put a lost pet sign up in your front yard. This is in case someone finds him and drives through the neighborhood to locate his home.❤️ If you have a gate that kitty might have trouble getting back through, keep it open as often as you can until kitty returns. Is there some routine you two follow outside, if is a cat allowed outside? If so, be sure to follow that routine. It may draw them back also. Good luck and never give up! Cats have returned after weeks, months, even years later! PS: If cat is allowed to wander, esp. at night, understand their lifespan on average is cut in half, mostly because of cars and predators. Please consider getting a catio or securing your yard and allowing kitty daytime outside time only. 🙏

Joe M.

2 weeks ago

Get your flyers up! Do not rely on social media alone, most of my missing animals come home, because of physical flyers! I do 8X11 in the immediate area 4 per block, the bigger the area 3 per block and so on. I've had the most success with the 4 per page mini handouts of the same flyer. I will give these to the Mailman, UPS, Fedex, Garbage man, Gas stations, Grocery stores. Also fluorescent backgrounds at major intersections 8X11 or bigger. Also law enforcement and animal control. More than likely, it's not going to be your eyeballs.That bring your pet home.Also not everybody has social media. So we need as much help as we can get from the community. So make it easy for them to get a hold of you. and remember the harder you work, the luckier you get! I hope these suggestions help you get your animal home soon and safe. 😉

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