Orange County, CA Lost Male Cat, Chance - REWARD Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lydia T.

7 months ago

Re your lost cat: Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Research indicates most 'lost' cats are hiding / trapped, scared (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within 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 get become wedged in), why very thorough searches are required. Please search thoroughly through sheds, garages, crawl spaces under houses / buildings, bats, decks, in drains, bins, skips, 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. (Might be hiding, locked in / trapped somewhere, surviving on insects, etc). Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all. Cats have been found dead / half dead too late, because neighbours "forgot" / did not bother). You are more likely to do the thorough search required. (Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with your neighbour). Call down drains with strong smelling food. If you can lift the grate and enter the drain, even better. (One cat recently found 500 metres away, down a drain). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, call down & 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. (Cats eyes will glow with a torch). Leave a door open if safe, with food inside. Leave strong smelling food and water out overnight, near exit point and possible hiding places / where might be trapped. If food eaten, set up a sensor camera to ensure it is your cat. Next night & as a last resort, a 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). Posters high on telegraph poles, etc and leaflets (pay postman). CCTV cameras. (A reward is more likely to motivate effort :-(). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. Do all at previous address, if puss recently moved home. (One cat recently travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later). Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try o head back to previous home or territory. Most cats are escape artists until bonded to new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open). 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 where warm, washing machines & dryers (always check inside before using, cats jave in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces where might be trapped. 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, where travelled to, call the driver where went to, check cctv cameras & do same there. 😞 🙏 (See Find Booboo page: determined owner perservered for 7+ months before found her skinny cat). 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). 🙏 In Australia, two microchip organisations have gone bust, which means microchips won't show up if scanned! (There should be class action legal accountability, as these organisations never informed their customers, or passed on microchip details to other functioning microchip organisations). Please check that your microchip details are correct, up to date and currently registered with an active organisation and / or check with your vet and local council. 🙏 Also, not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate.(One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Request an extra thorough, all over body scan 🙏 (Be aware of dodgy scams claiming to find or rescue your cat. Seek independent reviews before engaging / providing personal details or money). Don't give up searching ... 🙏

Sandy J.

7 months ago

Put something with his scent on it and put it on the on the porch. Walk your neighborhood and call him, do it again as late as possible (they suggest 3 am). He won’t come out right away, even when he hears you, he will only come out of hiding when he feels it’s safe. They’re usually only 3-5 houses away hunkered down somewhere. Leave your garage door or another door or window open enough for him to get in during the night. 🙏https://youtu.be/g2eCoC63B9I

Lauren E.

8 months ago

I lost my kitty Nicholas at an Irvine apt complex 15 years ago. At that time I could find no information on how to find him. Luckily I found him three days later. I put these tips together to help others find their lost babies. TIPS TO FIND YOUR CAT: 1. Kitties usually stay close by their home, they hide in a bush or some small dark place and just sit and wait. Even if you call them, they may not come because they are freaked out and scared. 2. A cat's world is centered around scents. They will not be familiar with the outdoor scents because they have never been there before. To help them smell their way home, put things outside that smell like home, like you. A used towel, dirty shirt, dirty shoes, the litter box. Leave the items out and sit with the door open as much as possible. If the kitty comes back in the door just remain calm and talk to the kitty normal until you can close the door behind him. 3. Do not put food out, you will attract other animals that may keep your cat away. You can walk around with smelly food or shaking treats, but don't leave it outside. 4. Walk around the neighborhood calling your kitty normally. Don't use a panicked voice, it will scare the kitty more. Best to only have people whose voice your kitty would normally come to. They will not come to a kind stranger helping you search. The kitty will catch your scent and hear your voice, and follow it back to your house. Most cats are within 200 cat yards. Which means if there is a fence, you couldn't get over, you would go around, but the cat could go right over. So keep that in mind when checking out 200 yards. 5. Pass out fliers to neighbors and talk to everyone, especially kids and dog walkers. It is a great idea to offer kids $20 if they find your cat and can tell you where he is. Kids love money and a challenge. 6. Check closed garages. Listen for meows when you call. 7. Use a flashlight under bushes and dark places, even during the day. The light will reflect off their eyes. This is how I found Nicholas, in a bush I walked by at least 20 times and didn't see him until I used the flashlight. 8. Sleep with the windows open, you may hear them crying at night. Lost kitties feel safest coming out late at night-early morning. 9. Check the shelter every day. 10. If your lost cat has a cat friend at home, take the cat or dog you have at home out in a secure carrier or on a leash and walk around with him or sit with him outside. Hopefully the other lost cat will hear and smell him. Dogs are good at finding lost cats. 11. Social Media - Facebook, Nextdoor, CraigsList, and PawBoost Lost & Found. 12. Vets have told me that indoor kitties that get lost are too scared to come out of hiding, even for food. It could be at least 10 days before your kitty gets hungry enough to come out of his safe hiding spot, so don't give up too soon. Once kitties do come out they will make a big circle around the area trying to find something that smells like home. So the more you walk out from your house and back, like a wagon wheel formation, the more your scent out there for kitty to follow when he gets brave. 13. If you have a garage, leave it cracked open, kitty may find his way back in. 14. Be careful of scammers. There are terrible people out there that pretend they have your cat but can never find time to meet up with you to return the cat. They are trying to make you frantic to give them money. 15. Check trees too, just found my cat 20 feet up a tree, couldn't get down. 16. Check inside, cabinets, closets, behind books. We have found cats sitting behind books on shelves, sleeping inside clothes in the closet, and in a hole in the wall behind a wall unit. 17. You can purchase a Havahart cat safe trap from Amazon. Watch the video on how to use it. Do not leave it unattended because you don’t want to try and release an angry raccoon. If you watch for a distance you can chase off wild critters. Have a plan if you catch another cat. This other cat may be keeping your cat away. So hopefully your shelter will take him. Maybe he is lost too and you saved him. Or maybe he is a stray and having a check up at the shelter will benefit him, and give your cat a chance to come home if this cat was keeping him away.

Lauren E.

8 months ago

Ines Diaz that you for the suggestion. It is nice that there are options for each person as different people take in information differently. I would be very pleased if you wanted to take my tips and make a short bullet point list and share it for every lost cat you see. The more cats we can save the better. And you have me beat, I’ve only been doing TNR and helping people find their lost cats for 20 years. I hope I have another 20 in me. Nice to know another caring soul.

Ines D.

8 months ago

Lauren Elizabeth Murphy My cat isn’t lost, I’m a Contributor. I’ve been doing TNR and helping our neighbors find their pets for almost 2 decades now. Yes, I understand what I read. I’m suggesting when someone losses their pet, they’re frantic-I’ve seen them say so. I think your advice is very helpful, but no one is going to read the entire post, too long. Here’s what I offer and have had dozens of people find their pets following the advice. Thanks for sharing.

Lauren E.

8 months ago

Ines Diaz yes each sentence starts with the short sentence of what to do. The rest of it is just to provide some additional guidance and support. I’m glad it was helpful to you. Hope you find your kitty.

Curt L.

8 months ago

Hope this little one is found safe and soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ines D.

8 months ago

Lauren Elizabeth Murphy thank you Lauren but make your advice shorter, please consider bullet points? When your cat is missing you’re frantic, don’t have the frame of mind to read a thesaurus 🙏🏼

Ines D.

8 months ago

Sad to see so many kitties go missing 30+ just this weekend. Poor baby, he must be so scared and hungry out on his own. 🐈‍⬛ When a cat goes missing, they can’t easily find their way home using only their scent. You must be proactive and look for them. Look under yours & your neighbor’s cars, bushes & hedges, look for glowing eyes w/flashlight, call him early evening when it’s quiet and they come out from hiding to eat. Posting is important, but please search for him, too. They don’t go far 3-4 houses away, they stay in one place until they are scared off by dogs, coyotes, or loud equipment. The challenge is finding him before he runs further way. Please hang flyers near the area where he went missing, it’ll get the immediate attention from pedestrians and drivers. Let your neighbors know you’re looking for him. Good luck finding this adorable little guy-this is coyote country. You’re the one that can bring him home safely, he will recognize your voice and your scent. Post on ND, check SDHS Lost & Found daily. If you’re able to find him, PLEASE please don’t let him go outside unattended. Cats have the intelligence of a 3yo, they don’t know the dangers they face outdoors with coyotes, dogs, cars, and worst of all people who don’t like them in their yard. It only takes an hour to train a cat on a leash, then he can be out doors safely. This is Coyote Country!

Rosemary P.

8 months ago

My heart breaks for you. Have you posted flyers for miles and miles? Have you called the animal shelter to see if someone dropped him off there? Fax a flyer over there of him. Keep those flyers up all the time and use duct tape. I will be praying that you get your baby back as soon as possible. Keep posting on all our pet sites and nextdoor.com your neighborhood watch.

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