Chester Springs, PA Lost Male Cat, Dexter Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Shirley D.

2 weeks ago

Local shelter or rescue may have a trap to borrow.

Sharon L.

2 weeks ago

Borrow a trap from your veterinarian. Set the trap close to where cat got out. Put food in the trap and put a worn Tshirt of owner in the trap for scent. Cover the trap with a towel or cat’s blanket.

Donna W.

2 weeks ago

Leave a door open into garage basement or shed giving kitty a safe haven to run into.

Donna W.

2 weeks ago

Most cats are scared when they get out. They find first safe spot and this is where they stay, this is usually within a half block from your home in any direction. Best time to look is after midnite and up to 3 am when the scarey daytime noises stop. Sit outside your house, near the place kitty escaped from. Stay put for at least an hour, talking in a normal tone so kitty can hear you. Have familiar smells with you, like litter box or favorite food or treats. If weather is mild, consider sleeping on your porch. Do this every night, same time...between midnight and 3 am. You could also try walking around the neighborhood. Take a flashlight and shine it to watch for the glow of cat eyes. Take a can of food or treats to shake. .something your cat loves. Softly call kitty name. You may have to go several nights in row, at same time. Kitty will be cautious, must know it is you before she shows herself. Listen closely for soft meows...she wants to be found. Don't give up, cats are resilient and smart. I would be so bold as to say 95% of lost cats are within a hundred feet of house but are not found because owner gives up. Cats can be missing for weeks and months, being steps from your house. Many good stories of cats coming home, even after much time passes. Hang flyers in neighborhood. ..people need to know she is missing, so they don't assume she is a stray if they see her. I found my cat after putting flyers on house for blocks in my neighborhood. People have seen her, someone may be feeding her...you have to get word out IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Have neighbors check garages and sheds. She could be trapped in one of those locations. Contact shelters and stay in touch with them. Most importantly, have faith and be consistently persistent in active regular searches AT NIGHT. good luck with getting her back. It will happen. Believe.

Karla S.

2 weeks ago

Indoor only? I’ve been in this situation with an indoor cat escaping outside. Everything you think should work to find them is probably the opposite of what is likely to help. They’re likely in survival mode because they’re completely out of their element being outdoors. So you would think they’d come running to you as soon as they hear your voice or hear treats shaking, but that’s not how they’re thinking. They’re likely thinking if they come out of their hiding place, they’ll be extremely vulnerable to predators. You & I think, we’re standing right there, why don’t they come to me, but they’re seeing everything as a potential threat so they’re likely not going to leave their hiding place, especially during the day. If they’re indoor only & spayed/neutered, then they’re not outside having fun exploring & it’s normal for them not to respond to you when you’re outside calling them. They won’t approach strangers & will possibly even run from you if you stumble across their hiding place. You can still search for your cat’s hiding place, but don’t be surprised if you don’t find it. If you see your cat outside, do not approach, sit down & try coaxing your cat to you. Do not chase if you see them. If your cat is indoor only, then I recommend setting a motion activated camera up right outside your cat’s point of exit so you can see if it returns during the night, which is what they often do, trying to get back in under cover of darkness. Put some of your dirty laundry out there as well for scent. Do not put the litter box outside, as it will attract other neighborhood cats who will prevent your cat from returning. Only your cat will recognize your scent on your dirty laundry. You can also set up a humane trap outside the point of exit & have it ready at dark. If you do the motion activated camera first & do see your cat on it, then absolutely get a humane trap set up there the following night. Once you set a trap, do not go outside & keep the outside lights off. Monitor the trap with a camera or from an inside window. You can buy a humane trap at Tractor Supply or sporting goods/hardware stores. A trap is how I successfully caught my indoor cat. He returned in the middle of the night to where he originally got out. If you don’t have a motion activated camera, then get a humane trap set up where your cat exited your house asap & have it ready at dark. Some cats will come back inside if you leave their point of exit open after dark. If you try this, make sure other pets are secured in another room. Indoor only cats often return after dark to the exact spot where they exited your house, so a humane trap set there is important & monitoring from an inside window or by camera. If you have been going outside after dark searching for your cat, then that’s likely the problem. Your cat will not feel safe approaching your house if you’re outside walking around after dark when they’re most likely to move from their hiding place. Let motion activated cameras do the work for sightings outside your home & leave the door ajar for them to come back in. Otherwise, you need to set a humane trap outside the exit point at dark & stay inside your house once the trap is set. For tonight, try leaving the exit point open a little at dark & into the night if possible. Secure other pets inanother room if necessary. Leave inside & outside lights off & keep house quiet. If your cat walks back in, wait until they’re well inside before slowly walking to the door to close it. Use a motion activated camera if possible to alert you of movement approaching.

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