Fremantle, WA Lost Female Cat, Cleo Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lydia T.

2 months 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. 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) ... 🙏

Sandra A.

3 months ago

I hope you find your cat 🐈 soon. 🤞 - A friendly reminder to put fresh water 💦 bowls 🥣 outside in the shade of your home everyday in case your cat 🐈 is nearby. - Contact your local council's Ranger Services or pound ASAP & inform them that your cat 🐈 is lost & give them your contact phone number, your cat’s description, age, breed & give them photo(s) (preferably recent ones) of your cat 🐈‍⬛ 📸 so that they can keep a lookout for him/her. ***Important*** Ask the ranger how many days their pound holds cats for, as it could be as little as ONLY THREE DAYS (if your cat isn’t microchipped) before they can adopt your cat to another person (if they’re unable to contact you successfully). - It's better to phone or visit the pound regularly in person too to check if your cat is impounded there. Don’t just rely on checking their website, as they mightn’t include details of all of the cats impounded with them on there. You may need to book an appointment with them first if visiting them. - If your cat 🐱 is microchipped, it’s very important to check that your contact details are up to date 📅 on your cat’s microchip. You can do this on the ‘Pet Address’ website. Please see the below link: https://www.petaddress.com.au/ You can update your cat’s 🐱microchip details via the microchip company or at a vet clinic. You can even flag your cat’s status on their microchip as lost or missing. - Check vet clinics & vet hospitals. 🏥 - Go walking on your street & nearby streets; preferably at night & early morning - preferably between 2:00AM to 4:00AM to search 👀 for your kitty as those are the best times to search for a lost cat. 🐱 Take someone with you for safety & torches. 🔦 Try to see if you can see your cat’s eyes 👀 shine in the light. Take a hot cooked chicken with you & (deboned & preferably barbecued) or sardines 🐟 (if your cat likes them) with you. Take their favourite cat biscuits as well. - Call out their name when searching & try to listen out for their meows. They may not always meow if they’ve been injured or are scared. - Look under parked vehicles, 🚗 under bushes, search in nearby bushland, parks & reserves, vacant lots, car parks, outside shops (if applicable). - During the day, speak to as many of your neighbours as possible in person & ask if you can search with them for your lost cat 🐱 in their backyards, sheds, garages, under decks & check up on their roof or in a roof space etc. - Give your neighbours flyers with your cat’s description, recent photo(s) & your contact details. - Ask your neighbours to keep a look out for him or her. - Keep a record of which neighbours’ houses you’ve visited & if you’ve spoken to them about your lost cat. - Ask your neighbours if they are able to check their CCTV 🎥 footage (if they have that) for your lost cat.🐈 - During daylight hours, search for your cat in your street & nearby ones. Also check in storm water drains to see if your cat 🐈 is there. I recommend that you also post on these Facebook groups: 1. ‘Pets of Perth - Lost & Found’ 2. ‘Lost and found pets in Perth’ 3. ‘Cats of Perth lost and found’ 4. ‘Western Australian Lost Pets Register - WALPR’. - Also post on your local community group(s). - It might help you to keep a list of which Facebook groups that you post on about your lost cat to help to make it easier if you receive any potential leads or helpful advice. Wishing you good luck.🤞

Gay P.

3 months ago

I hope Cleo is somewhere safe and will be home soon.❤️

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