Castro Valley, CA Lost Male Cat, SmokeySebastian Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Sylvia J.

1 month ago

I thought I saw a cat that is similar on Carlton near Sydney way in front of a house today. I could tell if it was a tabby or looked like yours. The grass is high. I will keep a eye out for it.

HappyCatLady .

1 month ago

❤️ 🙏 I'm so sorry you haven't found your kitty yet. Call for kitty early morning and at NIGHT as you SLOWLY walk around. REPEAT LATE NIGHT…some cats that get stuck /trapped won’t meow initially but do as more time passes and they are stuck in a shed for example..During the day knock on doors ask neighbors to PARTIALLY open garages and sheds and storages and crawlspace - any place kitty could have gotten stuck - leave partially open for 2 hours allowing kitty time to escape..if a neighbor is not home, then tape a flyer to the front door using painter's tape (won't harm the door) Keep track on a printed google map so you don't miss anyone..don't give up ❤️ Don't wait for anyone online - we live all over and your kitty is near YOU and your actual neighbors who are not seeing these posts ❤️ —------------ 💕 As you may know, cats don't leave their territory. Many cats get stuck/trapped at nearby neighbors as folks open and close bats/sheds/crawl spaces/ not knowing a curious kitty snuck inside ...and folks close door and windows when they leave town on vacation - same thing. You must focus completely on in-person searching , continue to CALL for kitty LATE night and walk around as you calmly call for kitty — SET YOUR ALARM fo 12am and 3AM - yes the later the better when it’s quiet outside and if your cat is stuck they might meow back…during the day talk to neighbors flyering every single residence (tape the flyer directly onto the front door top and bottom so it stays - use painter's tape won't harm the door) Mark on a printed GOOGLE. MAP of your block and surrounding blocks as you go door to door to talk to every neighbor possible, asking them to open up their sheds /storage unit/s, crawl space, garage doors for a few hours and then close them again - allowing a cat enough time to get out (they usually do not run out right away) . REPLACE worn out flyers on every lamppost - ((((place flyers inside "clear binder sheet protectors" with the opening facing downward - tape around the sleeve opening so they last even through rain))) people have short memories you must replace the flyers AND post them to every front door if no one answers the door. AT night you will call for your baby when it's dark and quiet - walk around slowly calling in your normal calm voice and listen for meows coming from a neighbor's garage or backyard . THough many will NOT meow if stuck or injured, some WILL ! Your cat also could have hurt a back leg for example and can't jump a fence to get back home. Another reason to talk to your actual neighbors and gain permission to check ALONE under their back decks or under stair cases and crawl spaces and sheds USING A FLASHLIGHT even during the day - to catch the reflection of kitty's eyes. I can't tell you how many stories about lost cats both indoor only and indoor/outdoor cats that are found using flashlights in dark places catching the cat's eye GLOW. I also always recommend to aim a motion activated camera at kitty's escape or EXIT point - where you leave wet food before each sunset IN CASE kitty got spooked and is hiding from ALL humans and looking for food at night. Water bowl 15-20 feet away in the shade (not near the food). The most important thing is to keep taking action in person and not give up! no matter what anyone says. ❤️ damia

📷 View photo on Facebook

HappyCatLady .

1 month ago

❤️ 🙏 Call for kitty early morning and at night as you walk around slowly, and during the day knock on doors ask neighbors to PARTIALLY open garages and sheds and storages and crawlspace - any place kitty could have gotten stuck - leave partially open for 2 hours allowing him time to escape..if a neighbor is not home, then tape a flyer to the front door using painter's tape (won't harm the door) Keep track on a printed google map so you don't miss anyone..don't give up ❤️ Don't wait for anyone online - we live all over and your kitty is near YOU and your actual neighbors who are not seeing these posts ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Don’t stop searching and calling for your cat at night and early morning when it’s quiet. Last month Another lost cat was found 2 doors away UNDER the house TRAPPED under the house for a MONTH! - the neighbor heard something when she came home late and saw a very thin cat - she banged on her neighbor's door (she had seen the flyers for a month!) and he raced over and got his cat - who was SKINNY and dirty but alive!! Don't give up and don't stop taking action in person. Your cat could be stuck in a neighbor's shed or crawl space - please ask neighbors again to open up garages/sheds/storage units/crawl spaces/bats for 3 hours - allowing time for escape. Put out wet food by the door your cat normally goes in and out of ... they are often way closer than we think - just stuck and too scared to meow or sometimes they can't meow for not having water for so many days. Gain permission to go under bats ALONE - shine a flashlight under carefully - in the hopes of catching the GLOW of your cat's eyes. Continue to slowly walk and call for your cat - going right up to neighbor's garages and up against fences...let neighbors know you will be doing this at night...❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Angela S.

1 month ago

This website also has tips for lost cats as well as templates for missing cat flyers. 💗 www.happycatlady.com

Angela S.

1 month ago

TIPS TO HELP FIND YOUR LOST CAT: - Check the house thoroughly as they sometimes hide in the house in unexpected places. -Check underneath your cars, in the car engine area, wheel wells and around the bumpers. -Ask neighbors around you to check garages and sheds as they can sneak in undetected. - Put his/her bedding and a piece of your unwashed clothing outside the last door he/she exited the house from. - Hang flyers with his/her picture and post all over your neighborhood & surrounding areas. - Take the flyers door to door asking if anyone has seen him/her. -Walk your neighborhood calling his/her name and listening as he/she may be hiding in the bushes or under something. - Take a flyer to the shelter. - Put a sign in your yard with his/her picture stating he/she is missing. - Check the shelters in person. - Review shelter's found reports. - File a lost report with the shelters. Indoor only cats and limited outdoor access cats never go far. They go into survival mode and hide in silence. They will not always respond to you, most don’t. 3 AM is the best time to find a missing indoor only cat. This is the time they become most active and responsive. Place some dirty socks and pillow cases outside. Your scent will attract your kitty. If you have a garage, place the items near the garage door and crack the door enough for the cat to get in. ***DO NOT leave food or litter box outside, it can attract predators and aggressive Tom cats.*** Because indoor only cats hide so well they are not as likely to be ed by a predator. Don't give up, it can take weeks to find a missing indoor only cat. Use a flashlight as late at night as you can to look in trees, under cars and in bushes. Try to look for the glow of the eyes. Survival mode lasts 5 to 14 days. Once their hunger gets to a maximum they snap out of it & this can become a dangerous time because they come out of hiding. Make mini flyers and hand them out to your neighbors. Most people don't pay attention to posted flyers. It's VERY important that you look for the cat as late at night as you can. If you have other cats, watch them. If they are spending a lot of time looking out a certain window, that’s a good indication the missing cat is in that area. Wildlife and motion activated cameras are also helpful. If possible, it's also suggested to keep open a door a few inches at night in case the cat comes home. You can place articles of your clothing outside or some of your cat's bedding/blanket to attract them back to the house. After several days, you may want to leave some wet food outside of the door as well. Kibble tends to attract raccoons so it's not recommended. You can get a camera that is pointed at the door, you can see if cat is coming to feed at night. One lady's indoor only cat was missing for three weeks and it was coming to eat the food but was too scared to come inside. She didn't know that it was coming back to the house until she got a camera. She had to get a trap to get the cat back inside. Sending prayers for your cat's swift and speedy return. 💕🙏💕

Carrie B.

1 month ago

Immediately (NOW)walk area shake treat bag or Bang on cat food can calling for your cat multiple times during the day-and-night especially when it's quiet out. Look under all bushes and in between houses. Ask your neighbors to check cameras garage, shed backyard. Post on nextdoor, get family & friends to search every day. Search at midnight-5am too call for ur kitten, listen for her meow

Lydia T.

1 month ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Most 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within about 500 metres from where lost. (Less for indoor cats). Some cats fear making a noise, in case it attracts predators, so might not respond to your calls. They can squeeze into the tightest crevices (sometimes become wedged in), why very thorough searches are required. I am aware of 100's of situations where a cat was accidentally locked in / trapped somewhere (eg in a neighbours shed, garage, holiday home, roof, crawl-space under a home / industrial building). Most somehow survived (eg by eating insects), many others didn't. 😞 Please thoroughly search through sheds, garages, under houses / buildings, bats, decks, neighbours' bins, skips, under bushes, between tall walls and fences, in roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. One cat recently spotted hiding under neighbour's roof solar panels. Ask neighbours to check cctv cameras. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all). Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with neighbour. If neighbours are unco-operative, suggest you involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward (bribe) for unco-operative / uncaring neighbours. 😞 Call down drains (with strong smelling food). If you can lift the grate and enter the drain, even better. (One cat found 500 metres, another 3km away in drain!). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with rolled towels or a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, with strong smelling food outside overnight. Dusk to 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken), cat carrier and torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, sit, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside & out overnight, near exit point. Also, in / near other possible hiding places / where might be trapped. If food eaten, set up a sensor wildlife camera to ensure it is your cat. Next night, try waiting nearby with food and a carrier ... Or if safe, gradually (each night) move the food into your yard / home and close door from behind (while cat is eating). As a last resort (as lots can go wrong), place a humane cat trap on level ground, in a safe, discreet location. Google how to use safely, monitor closely. (Do not leave a trap unattended! Some people release distressed cats, or harm / / steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). 😞 Put a towel over trap, to keep cat calm. Don't open until safe at home (or at vet). Posters with reward tacked high on telegraph poles / noticeboards, in plastic sleeve. Also, circulate leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (cats most likely to escape / become lost, within a month of a move): begin an intense, comprehensive search asap & leave food out / doors open, starting close to the new home, spreading outwards. Unpredictable what might do next: One cat travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later. Do all advised at old address, too ... Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try to head back to previous home / territory (& become lost, or worse). Many cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open. Use dowell to limit opening to no more than 2cm). Spray bottle near door. Preferably not in a room with the door leading to outside. (Better a room, with a couple of doors closed , before reaching an exit door). Cannot stress enough, be extra vigilant !! New / timid cats & kittens are prone to hiding / getting stuck under / behind / in, furniture. So also check in / behind / under drawers, wardrobes, low lounges / beds, recliner chairs (don't move leg rest until double-checked), behind fridges, washing machines & dryers. (Always check inside before using, as cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces. Do all of the above many times (in case your cat moves around). Track down where any vehicles (eg tradies / removalist vans) which puss might have entered: call the driver to ask where travelled to. Check cctv cameras & do all of the above there, too. 😞 🙏 Please consider keeping your precious cat indoors and / or invest in a very secure cat enclosure, or catio. (Research has found it adds 10+ years to average age of cats. Safer for cats and wildlife). As responsible adults, we curb children's freedom to keep them safe, similarly for cats :-( 🙏 Update microchip details / ensure correct. Not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate! (One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Ideally, vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan. (Don't solely rely on microchip).🙏 Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have found, your cat. Seek independent evidence (eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc & watch out for AI generated pics, using your cat pic), before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Ri M.

1 month ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Suzan R.

1 month ago

General Information: Set up a scent station. Hang clothes with your scent on it (Worn clothing from owner) high up outside so the familiar scent can travel and guide the cat back home. Ask your neighbors to check their yard/could be accidently stuck in their garage or shed. (If applicable) Check doorbell or home camera - or ask neighbors to check their camera. Post Fliers with a picture of the cat and your contact information in the area the cat went missing. Not everyone is on Social Media and posters have worked in that if spotted a location can be provided. If a cat is scared they make themselves safe by finding a good hiding spot and often times hide in silence. Look in bushes - bring a flashlight and look for shining eyes. Best time to find your cat is in the early morning hours when the noise level is low and they feel safe. Leave an access point open for the cat to return. This is important if they do come back in the middle of the night. Prayers your cat returns/ or is found safely. Beware of scammers.

HappyCatLady .

1 month ago

🐱💖 Real life Examples of REUNITED INDOOR / OUTDOOR cat cases I was involved with - and why you must cover all possibilities🙏 🐱 Missing cat 'PRETO' INDOOR/OUTDOOR cat - was found 1 week later - trapped in a garage, inside a HOLE going under the garage. His guardians each night would walk around very slowly calling for him in a CALM, NORMAL voice. They crinkled his treat bag and kept calling calmly. He finally meowed after 7 nights - after the 400th call!!! 🐱Missing cat Bowie was found stuck in a tree 30 feet up - an arborist was hired to get up that high after being missing for 1 week! 🐱 LOST cat ‘Squirrel’ (Indoor/outdoor) was found on night 13 hiding disorientated inside the front stair deck of a neighbor’s home. The guardians had shined a flashlight there every night and this time ‘Squirrel’ was there! He did not meow when his guardian’s called… 🐱Lost INDOOR/OUTDOOR adventurous cat "HOUDINI' was found trapped in a neighbor's shed! He didn't meow until night 6 as the guardians calmly called out from the backyards . The neighbor wouldn't allow them to check the shed where they could hear faint meows coming from; they had to call the police to gain entrance and once they got into the shed there was HOUDINI!! now safe home. The neighbors said they never used the shed and didn’t know how the cat got inside . Wow! 🐱Lost cat ‘Hugo’ indoor/outdoor was found 2 backyards away after 2 weeks, a bit confused and disorientated. His guardian Ann was calling for him walking in the connected backyards each night and she found him where she’d looked many times before. You just never know! Try again and again 🐱 Lost cat Tazzy was stuck under a neighbors house for 3 weeks before guardians found him by gaining permission and going under with a flashlight and shined/caught the GLOW of kitty's eyes! He never meowed though they would call for him every nightt. 🐱Lost cat Neo was found injured in a neighbors yard after 3 months MISSING! 🐱Lost cat ‘Blue’’ was spotted by a neighbor who I had spoken to in person and given a flyer - this was 4 weeks later! 🐱Lost cat ‘Bella’ was spotted by a neighbor on a RING CAMERA and called because he saw a FLYER on the lamppost - 6 weeks later! 🐱💜COVER ALL POSSIBILITIES - talk to neighbors. Continue to FLYER Door to door . Post up flyers on both sides of every lamppost ASK neighbors to open any space they may have opened and then closed that kitty may accidentally have gotten closed inside - give kitty time to escape on THEIR time - ASK neighbors to open shed, garage, crawl space for an hour or so... 🐱💜 Call for kitty CALMLY and walk around when it's very quiet outside (LATE NIGHT / early morning before the sun comes up) ..Stay strong. Don’t give up! 🐱💜🙏 💜🐱 Call your cat’s MICROCHIP company to report kitty LOST - make sure kitty’s chip is registered with your current contact info 💜🐱 Sending you Love and unwavering determination. 💜🐱damia foti ( www.happycatlady.com)