Norfolk, VA Lost Male Cat, Neko Is Missing

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Dianne B.

2 hours ago

Talk softly when calling late night and during the night to early morning when it quiet out .. Might wait in between to see if you hear them meow nearby .... For indoor cats if there is any way you could leave your door garage door or window slightly ajar if possible they know where they got out and will often come back in on their own .. If you didn't see them get out check deep dresser drawers, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, under beds in box springs, behind the frig, the stove, behind or under the sofa, under or in the recliner the washer/dryer or inside if left open .. basement crawl space .. attic .. anywhere small or behind a cat can hide they will! If out cats will hide during the day and are more active late evening near dark to early morning , daybreak ... have a spot light to shine to see eyes in the dark .. they are usually close by and will often come back to the door .. or hide under bushes or decks to feel safe ! Also check crawl spaces under houses , garages, sheds of neighbors nearby ...No food out after dark it will attract area strays and wildlife to the area ... check culvert pipes .. storm drains .. up trees .. and colder weather they will get under car hoods for warmth and on tires also ...this can happen and they could be miles from home . Cats in a new home need at least 30 days to adjust to a new area and may and will travel to get back to their old home .. In some cases a set trap may be needed and monitored! A Trail cam or night vision goggles can help to monitor the areas outside! Post to Nextdoor Ask neighbors to check their Ring Doorbells... Beware of loose and roaming dogs in the area as they will chase and your cats! For automatic garage doors please place a 6x6 block or cinder block so that the door will not come all the way down and trap your pet as they can be injured! Check with area Shelters, Animal Control, and Vets offices also put flyers ... Am sure you have tried most all of these! Don't give up!!

Tricia D.

24 hours ago

STEPS FOR FINDING LOST CATS Step 1: The ABSOLUTE quickest and easiest way to find a lost indoor-only cat is to open the exit it escaped through for several days. Typically, the cat will return to the home on its own. If this is not possible, crack an attached garage door, enclosed porch, or window (providing something for the cat to step on). This is essentially using part of your home as a “trap”. Turn off the lights outside the house. Keep it as quiet as possible outside the home, especially at night. The key is to create an environment where the cat feels safe to return. Step 2: Put scent items outside the exit the cat escaped, or in the enclosed area you have cracked. Also, place scent items just outside the door of the “trap”. Cats have an amazing sense of smell, and the smell of home calms them and lures them back. Scent items can include (use as many as possible) litter box, slept on sheets/pillow case of owner, owner’s worn clothes/shoes, cat’s bedding, cat tree, and toys. Use items the cat is particularly attached to. Step 3: Post the cat on local lost and found pet sites. Include the cat’s identifying color, area lost (be specific with street name, neighborhood, city), and date last seen. This information helps others find your missing post through searchable keywords. Nextdoor and Pawboost are free and commonly used across the country. Neighborhood sites are also important. For local pet owners, post on Lost and Found Pets Hampton Roads. Step 4: Make sure to visit your local animal control in person. File a lost report and bring the shelter a flier. Find out if your report becomes inactive after a certain number of days, and make sure to update it as needed. Many pets find their way to the shelter months after becoming lost. Step 5: It is extremely important to use fliers for your area. In the case of an indoor-only cat, a flier should be on every door within a 7-house radius. You will need approximately 150 fliers. This is work, but highly effective. Input your address in Google search, and draw a map of a 7-house-length radius around your home. This is the area to blanket with fliers. Step 6: Physically searching for your cat can have some drawbacks. Walking the neighborhood calling can actually lure the kitty further from home, and also keep it more in hiding. Instead, it is best to call from the exit where the cat escaped. Make sure the calls are soft and familiar. The owner should be seated and have all lights outside turned off. This is less intimidating to the cat and makes it feel safe. We do not recommend doing this in the early morning hours, as this can keep the cat from returning home. Step 7: Should you search for your cat, make sure it is someone the cat is familiar with. A neighborhood search can also move the cat further from home and keep it in hiding. The cat needs time to settle down, and movement will continue the survival mode mindset. Search quietly and softly, looking under nearby sheds, open crawl spaces, decks, etc. At night, utilizing a flashlight to look for the cat’s eyes can be fruitful. Again, we do not recommend the search to be lengthy or during the early morning hours, as this can prevent kitty from simply returning on their own. Noises of people walking around and doors opening can actually spook the cat while it is on high alert. Step 8: Place a baby monitor outside the door the cat escaped, preferably a video monitor. This can allow you to hear your cat meowing or scratching at the door. You may also want to use a trail camera. If you should put food by the door your cat escaped, it is highly recommended to have a camera on the food to know what animal is coming to eat. If it is not your cat eating the food, then you will either want to remove the food altogether or trap the animal. Once you have your cat on camera eating, you will want to use a humane trap. Elaine Jones

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