Beatrix is Missing in Decatur, GA

Susan G.

2 months ago

ESCAPED APARTMENT KITTIES - The following are words from Lovy Myers, a lost cat recovery expert: As a Lost Cat Professional, I have recovered many apartment kitties. All escaped cats will be nocturnal. He/She will usually try to come Back in the bottom floor apartment patio door or sometimes the hall door if that is how he left or it's more accessible- but the kitty knows exactly where their territory intersects the earth -just like your phone GPS so they are not confused by similar doors/buildings/patios etc- they know exactly where their home territory is on the ground . Also search in the areas around where he ran with a flashlight after dark in places he could hide - woods and storm drains. Be stealth. Don't chase or approach. Leave the escape door open while doing this- because if the cat runs- it will likely be to that door. If seen, sit and coax. Always just talk calmly like you do at feeding time- making the feeding noises - it's not about food at this point but about hearing the calm Owner's voice and familiar sounds and returning to his territory. . Repeat every night late after all activity in the area stops. The kitty - if not found in the searches earlier in the night- will likely try to re-enter after it's very quiet - late night to dawn. If it's safe to tape the patio door open cat height and width and shorten your metal brace then the kitty will likely just come in - or you can monitor the patio with a wifi camera that sends you pictures of movement - and you could simply let him in - but don't make sudden movements or hide behind the door- just open it and go back to normal and ignore. I usually don't put out food at all if I'm using the open door because you don't want to encourage other cats or critters. You can also trap on the patio if you are more comfortable doing that..depending on the stray population you may get other cats that will need to be released immediately. After day 4, if you are still leaving the door open you might leave a bit of dry food on that patio with a camera but his main concern in the first few days is getting back in his territory - not food. But having a food source after day 4 will long term keep him close so I start to feed and film after day 4 and food can also be left in a trap but always trail food into the trap- one- so that the kitty will get a bit of food if not willing to go in trap yet and two- to entice the cat to enter the trap. You can usually borrow a trap locally or buy one at Tractor Supply etc. The cat may also join up eventually and eat with other cats fed outside so make sure you give flyers to all the ground floor apartments and find where others feed cats in the area. Place flyers at the mail area and get the Management to send out an email about your lost kitty. Also put up LOST CAT signs around the complex and adjoining areas. Some kitties move to the quiet single family residential areas close to the complex to find shelter from rain and may find food there - but most will come back to their exact apartment territory and try to get in. Some also seek shelter from rain in the bottom stairwells if there is cover there or under parked cars but all cats will find shelter when it rains. Good luck!! Lovy Myers is a pet recovery expert.

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