Lake Forest, CA Lost Male Cat, Toulous Is Missing

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April S.

2 months ago

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Lauren E.

2 months ago

I lost my kitty Nicholas at an Irvine apt complex 15 years ago. At that time I could find no information on how to find him. Luckily I found him three days later. I put these tips together to help others find their lost babies. TIPS TO FIND YOUR CAT: 1. Kitties usually stay close by their home, they hide in a bush or some small dark place and just sit and wait. Even if you call them, they may not come because they are freaked out and scared. 2. A cat's world is centered around scents. They will not be familiar with the outdoor scents because they have never been there before. To help them smell their way home, put things outside that smell like home, like you. A used towel, dirty shirt, dirty shoes. Leave the items out and sit with the door open as much as possible. If the kitty comes back in the door just remain calm and talk to the kitty normal until you can close the door behind him. 3. Do not put food out, you will attract other animals that may keep your cat away. You can walk around with smelly food or shaking treats, but don't leave it outside. 4. Walk around the neighborhood calling your kitty normally. Don't use a panicked voice, it will scare the kitty more. Best to only have people whose voice your kitty would normally come to. They will not come to a kind stranger helping you search. The kitty will catch your scent and hear your voice, and follow it back to your house. Most cats are within 200 cat yards. Which means if there is a fence, you couldn't get over, you would go around, but the cat could go right over. So keep that in mind when checking out 200 yards. 5. Pass out fliers to neighbors and talk to everyone, especially kids and dog walkers. It is a great idea to offer kids $20 if they find your cat and can tell you where he is. Kids love money and a challenge. 6. Check closed garages. Listen for meows when you call. 7. Use a flashlight under bushes and dark places, even during the day. The light will reflect off their eyes. This is how I found Nicholas, in a bush I walked by at least 20 times and didn't see him until I used the flashlight. 8. Sleep with the windows open, you may hear them crying at night. Lost kitties feel safest coming out late at night-early morning. 9. Check the shelter every day. 10. If your lost cat has a cat friend at home, take the cat or dog you have at home out in a secure carrier or on a leash and walk around with him or sit with him outside. Hopefully the other lost cat will hear and smell him. Dogs are good at finding lost cats. 11. Social Media - Facebook, Nextdoor, CraigsList, and PawBoost Lost & Found. 12. Vets have told me that indoor kitties that get lost are too scared to come out of hiding, even for food. It could be at least 10 days before your kitty gets hungry enough to come out of his safe hiding spot, so don't give up too soon. Once kitties do come out they will make a big circle around the area trying to find something that smells like home. So the more you walk out from your house and back, like a wagon wheel formation, the more your scent out there for kitty to follow when he gets brave. 13. If you have a garage, leave it cracked open, kitty may find his way back in. 14. Be careful of scammers. There are terrible people out there that pretend they have your cat but can never find time to meet up with you to return the cat. They are trying to make you frantic to give them money. 15. Check trees too, just found my cat 20 feet up a tree, couldn't get down. 16. Check inside, cabinets, closets, behind books. We have found cats sitting behind books on shelves, sleeping inside clothes in the closet, and in a hole in the wall behind a wall unit. 17. You can purchase a Havahart cat safe trap from Amazon. Watch the video on how to use it. Do not leave it unattended because you don’t want to try and release an angry raccoon. If you watch for a distance you can chase off wild critters. Have a plan if you catch another cat. This other cat may be keeping your cat away. So hopefully your shelter will take him. Maybe he is lost too and you saved him. Or maybe he is a stray and having a check up at the shelter will benefit him, and give your cat a chance to come home if this cat was keeping him away.

Sandra H.

2 months ago

Lost Cat Recovery Checklist Immediate Actions ■ Start searching close to where she got out (cats usually hide nearby). ■ Check high & low hiding spots: under cars, porches/decks, shrubs, garages, sheds. ■ Ask neighbors to check open garages/sheds and closed spaces before shutting doors. Best Times to Search ■ Search during quiet/dark hours (best: 12am–7am, especially 1–6am). ■ Use a strong flashlight at night to spot eye reflection. Calling & Approaching ■ Call for her during still hours (overnight/early morning). ■ If you see her: stay calm and quiet (don’t chase). Scent Lures (Safe Options) ■ Put outside: her bed/blanket or your unwashed clothing/bedding. ■ Place scent items near the trap and/or leading toward the door. ■ Do NOT place a litter box outside (can attract predators such as coyotes). Food / Feeding Station ■ Set up a feeding station and feed during the day only. ■ Do NOT leave food out overnight (attracts wildlife & scares cats off). Humane Trap (Highly Recommended) ■ Get a live/humane trap ASAP. ■ Use food only inside the trap (don’t leave food elsewhere). ■ Cover trap with a tarp/blanket for safety and comfort. ■ Check trap frequently—never leave it unattended overnight. ■ In harsh weather: check every 30 minutes. Outreach (Very Important) ■ Post flyers around the neighborhood with phone number (day/night contact). ■ Bring flyers to local vets, shelters (go in person every few days if possible), and pet stores. ■ Tell your mail carrier (they notice roaming pets). ■ Ask known stray feeders/rescuers if they’ve seen her. Mindset ■ Keep checking at different times daily. ■ Don’t give up—cats can be found weeks or months later

Kimberley S.

2 months ago

🚨 LOST INDOOR CAT – URGENT TIPS TO HELP BRING THEM HOME SAFELY 🚨 If your cat has gone missing and is usually indoors, here are critical steps to take: 🏠 Create a Safe Way for Your Cat to Return • Leave a door or window open (ideally the one they escaped from), even overnight - cats often return in the quiet late-night or early-morning hours. • Crack your garage door slightly to allow safe entry. • Place your worn, unwashed clothes up off the ground outside - your scent can help guide them home. • Do NOT place food, water, or litter boxes outside - these can attract other animals and deter your cat from returning. 🐾 Help Them Feel Safe • If you have other pets, keep them secured in a separate room to avoid scaring the missing cat away if they return. 🧭 Search Nearby and Alert Others • Cats typically don’t go far - they may be hiding under decks, in bushes, sheds, garages, or yards close to home. • Talk to your neighbors and ask them to check around their property. • Request that neighbors check doorbell or security cameras (like Ring) for sightings. 📣 Spread the Word – Not Everyone Uses Social Media • Put up physical signs ASAP - include a clear photo and contact info. • Post online in multiple places: • Facebook (your page and local lost pet groups) • Nextdoor • PawBoost Lost & Found • Ring Neighbors app ⚠️ Beware of Scams • If someone contacts you saying they have your cat and asks for money or asks you to verify a code, do NOT respond - this is a scam.

Kimm L.

2 months ago

HOW TO FIND YOUR LOST CAT - “Indoor only" cats never wander far from their home. When they get out, they go into survival mode and hide in SILENCE. Despite all attempts, they will NOT respond to you. Cats that get out will typically become afraid. When afraid, they will seek safe haven under a deck/house, an opened garage (keep your garage door opened a crack) or in a bush. Sadly they will not meow when called as meowing would give up their location to a predator. This behavior has nothing to do with whether the cat loves you, whether it recognized your voice, or whether it can smell you...it has everything to do with the fact that a frightened cat will hide in silence. You have the highest chance of finding your cat by conducting an aggressive, physical search of your yard and your neighbor’s yards. Late at night and EARLY in the morning (2 - 4 am) is the best time to find a missing "indoor only" cat. Don't give up! It can take WEEKS to find a missing "indoor only" cat. Use a flashlight late at night and look in trees, under cars and in bushes. Try to look for the glow of his eyes. While some cats may return within a few hours or days, others may take up to 10-12 days before they break their cover. Once their hunger and thirst gets to a maximum, they snap out of it but this is a dangerous time because they then come out of hiding and are at risk of predators. If possible, leave the door or window open from which they escaped. 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 continue to look for him EVERY night, as late as possible. Research shows that he’s close by. Don't give up! Interestingly...The new evidence is to NOT leave the litter box out as it can attract aggressive cats or other predators which can displace the cat further from its home. Cat litter attracts predators. In fact, some coyote trappers use cat litter as bait. Ever wonder why cats bury their waste? They don't want to advertise their presence to predators! A litter box placed or sprinkled around the home may put your cat at risk of being ed by a predator before you can get him back in the house. You can also put some of your recently worn unwashed clothing, pillowcases, etc., that has your scent on it in a box on top of a blanket or towels outside your door in case your kitty comes home while you are not there and it has a place to bunker down. There is no single trick to recovering a lost “indoor only” cat, but there are methods that are highly effective. Use ALL of them! Praying your kitty returns soon or is found safely. 🙏🙏🙏 you may also want to check your shelter in person as they don’t always list found intake cats on their website.

Rosemary P.

2 months ago

URGENT You must act quickly as you know it’s very dangerous outside. It’s critical that you get flyers up today. Post everywhere post on all lamp posts and stop signs for miles and miles. The best tape to use to hold them down is duct tape. Other tapes can be flimsy and the Flyers can fall down. Make sure these are up every day. This can save your Cats life. Often people have told me that when they posted flyers someone saw their cat roaming and called them even if their cat was a few blocks away from home. In addition it’s critical that you call your shelter and report your cat lost. Often people will find stray cats and take them to shelters. You must let your shelter know today and fax a flyer over there, continue to check in with them. In addition, it’s critical that you check all your neighbors backyards as cats can often jump fences and hide there. They can also hide in their neighbors. Garages so please check. Knock on everybody’s doors today and ask if you can check. If they are not home go back later and check. In addition, walk everywhere and look for your cat cats can be several blocks away from home. Call your Cats’s name. When it gets dark out, you must go out with a flashlight and look for your cat. Post on all lost pet sites and nextdoor.com your Neighbourhood watch. Post every day. Get all your family and friends to get out and look for your cat. I pray you get your baby back as soon as possible. If your cat was indoors, only it will be very close to home because it will be scared to be outside. It will be hiding under something.

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