Ruth C.
4 months ago
These are tips I share: please adapt to your situation. First, please be certain your cat isn’t sleeping or hiding anywhere (my cats do that, while I’m certain they might have sneaked out - sleeping under a bed or in a closet).
If you can safely (other pets secured) leave a slider, door or window cracked open (garage door, a little too) sometimes cats will return on their own.
Put some items with your family’s scent on it (unwashed underwear, socks, shirts, pillow cases, etc.) and smelly canned cat food or tuna fish (rotisserie chicken, mackerel or sardines work best) and water. Put a trail of cat treats to your door (only if no coyotes in your area.
Place your kitty's bed out. Indoor cats that escape are usually no further than 10 houses away or a block away, but keep looking. Do it now! Keep searching!
Ask neighbors if you can look for your cat on their property. Sometimes cats will try to come back inside very late when it's dark and quiet when they feel it's safe to come out. Cats generally stay close by, so look under bushes, cars, up trees..
Most indoor cats go into survival mode and hide. Most will not respond when in "survival mode." Call your cat's name softly, listen for a meow, and look for eyes with a flashlight. Best time is the middle of the night. Leave a garage door open enough so your cat can return.
Ask your neighbors to check their garages, a favorite hiding place. Also post on Nextdoor.com, Craigslist, too. Post lots of neon colored flyers in many places.
Ask your neighbors to check their Ring app. which you know shows videos of what people’s cameras have seen. Put a “Lost Cat” sign on your property. Post brightly colored flyers. Ask your neighbors. File a lost pet report with the Humane Society. Text "Lost2Found" to 858-726-5678 provided by SDHUMANE. Check daily online for found stray cats photos on the San Diego Humane Society's website: sdhumane.org and SDDAC.com (Animal Control). Hope you find your kitty soon. 🌻 Note: suggestions I’ve made brought back several cats by leaving a door open and also leaving unwashed clothing nearby. The unwashed clothing seems to really get them home. Perhaps a box outside, too. Cats are also found underneath nearby cars, up trees and in neighbors plants/flowers. Hope these tips work for you. Good luck
