Rockford, IL Lost Male Cat, Pretzel Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Kat E.

2 weeks ago

Go outside at dawn and after dusk with a flashlight and shine it in the grass, in bushes, under decks, porches, crawl spaces, window wells, in garages, under cars, up in the trees, across the street in bushes and look for his eyes to reflect back at you. Go outside and listen for sounds of movement. Walk around the neighborhood and call him. He is probably nearby. If you can, get a trail camera to help see if he is in your yard at night. Ask permission for you to go and check in your neighbors’ garages in case he was locked inside and is afraid to come out. Check their yards, sheds, window wells, under porches, under the house and up in their trees too. Crack open your garage for him to come back inside. Cats lost outside usually stay quiet because they are hiding from potential predators. Look down in the storm sewers too because cats can jump down there to get away from a car or predator. Check under the hood of your car before starting when it gets cold out. Check under cars near your home Check out your doors from time to time at night, especially between 1-5 am, in case he is trying to come back inside. Open the door, call him quietly and listen for movement or sounds as he may need a minute to come out of hiding. Try holding a door open for him to come in when you are calling him. Put up flyers with his photo and give one to your mail person as they go all over the neighborhood. Keep checking at Animal Services in person every day if possible to see if he was brought in there. If your lost cat was not microchipped and wasn’t wearing a rabies tag, it will only be held for 24 hrs. and then put up for adoption. They give these cats a new name when they come in without identification, so don’t look for your cat by name if it wasn’t chipped or vaccinated. Also check the online adoptable cats everyday as they do take cats to PetSmarts in Wisconsin. Animal Service’s hours are M 11-7, T-F 11-5, Sat 11-4, closed Sunday. Check the listings for adoptable cats at the area rescues like Noah’s Ark, TAILS, PAWS and Friends Forever in case he was taken to one of them. If he is chipped, notify the chip company that he is lost and be sure they have your correct contact info. Post his photo as a lost cat on Next Door, and Lost Dogs/Cats of Rockford on Facebook, plus winnebagoanimals.org and include your phone number, especially on Pawboost. Don’t put out the litter box as it will attract predators. Instead, put out clothes belonging to his favorite person(s). That will be familiar and help him get home. If someone says they have your cat: Ask detailed questions about your cat’s unique characteristics that aren’t shared publicly. Don’t show photos with every angle of your cat, so you can decide on something only you would know or be able to see when he is with you. Scammers typically can’t answer this correctly. Never send money to anyone claiming to have your pet unless you have confirmed it’s yours. Verify contact information. Be cautious if someone refuses to meet in a public location or communicate through traceable methods. Please be careful with anyone claiming to have your cat and asking for a 6 digit google code to prove you are a human. It is a scam and in full force. Also, beware of anyone asking for money for your cat back. NEVER send money until you have possession of your cat. Please disregard no matter how persistent the scammers are!

Kat E.

2 weeks ago

Please post Pretzel’s photo and your phone number on Nextdoor so more people can look for him who may not be using Facebook.

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