Lake City, FL Lost Male Cat, Miso Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Kevin M.

1 month ago

Go around late at night calling them with food and flashlight to catch their eyes. Check around your neighborhood under houses and in small places where they may hide. Put stuff out that has yours and their scent on it. Hang flyers around for people to see. Check shelters and vets daily. Update chip info if they have a chip and its has not been update since a move. Ask neighbors to check in their garages incase they ended up trapped in one. I pray you get your baby back safe and soon.

Diana E.

1 month ago

Mirian San, I'm sorry this happened. Was this Miso's first outing on the leash? Did you carry him out of the house, or did he walk out on his own feet? (This may be critical to his recovery.) Did he walk from your home to the point where he escaped the leash, and how far was that from your door (in feet)? Did you chase him once he bolted, or did you observe from afar? I ask all these questions because most indoor cats will hide in the first, best spot they find and attempt to return on their own, usually within the first few nights if the conditions are just right, so there may be a way to get him back inside on his own. I've recovered many escaped cats and have a full set of instructions, but I’ll withhold them for now, hopeful you won’t need them. This is what I suggest you do and when: DURING THE DAYTIME, alert neighbors in the vicinity of the woods in case Miso is hiding on another property (under a vehicle, in a garage, shed, or carport, etc.), then, if there’s time before dark and you can search SILENTLY without dislodging him from his hiding spot, focus your efforts close to where he was last see and TIPTOE around using a flashlight, but be quiet and discreet so as not to frighten him (shhh! DO NOT CALL or shake treats), check every crack and crevice, look in, under and around sheds, vehicles, furniture, under foundations and porches, and shrubs, into trees etc. but suspend searching when it gets dark to give him the chance to return voluntarily. If Miso were chased, or if you picked him up at any time during his time outside, try this before moving to the next step: at dusk lay a familiar blanket in a quiet spot near where he was last seen. Sit low to the ground and open a can of food. Call him softly then wait for him to emerge on his own. If he does, don't make any sudden moves. Wait for him to get close enough, then pinch his scruff to calm him and DO NOT LET GO until he's safely contained (indoor cats tend to struggle). If he doesn't appear do this next: Drag the blanket back home using the same path Miso took when he was outside. Lay a familiar blanket or worn teeshirt flat on the doorstep where he exited the home (DO NOT USE a litter box, bedding, trap or anything obvious -- it's there for scent only) to give Miso the confidence to come out of hiding, and place tempting food in front of the door (making sure you can still open it when he returns). Call him softly to provide a familiar sound and direction, then watch and listen closely from inside (DO NOT GO BACK OUT AFTER DARK!) and if you see Miso approach and settle on the food be very careful not to startle him as you slowly and quietly provide a clear path back inside. If you can't wait up set an alarm and watch again just before sunrise -- it's a popular time to return. Please let me know what happens tonight and if he's not back by morning, I'll provide more detailed instructions. Also, although some suggest putting out kitty's litter box, EXPERTS WARN AGAINST IT. I've never used one in all the times I've been successful recovering a lost cat. Please read this to learn more about why it's neither necessary nor recommended: https://www.facebook.com/notes/lost-cats-georgia/why-we-dont-recommend-putting-your-lost-cats-litter-box-outside/1101245526665296/

Deborah N.

1 month ago

Diana Ellis

Denise M.

1 month ago

Try calling kitty at night/dusk when less noise, hes most likely hiding close by. Check with neighbors to look in garage and sheds. Put flyers around too, not everyone has internet. Go to Animal Control, if not home soon, in case he is taken there. Sending prayers your kitty returns home

John M.

1 month ago

🙏🏼

Mirian S.

1 month ago

Kimberly Player I hope that is the case for my cat as well. Unfortunately, we took him out and he escaped from his leash leading him to run into the woods. It wasn’t far from our home so I hope he makes his way home. Thank you for the advice it means a lot!

Kimberly P.

1 month ago

My indoor only male black cat got out once. We put out all the scents. Old blankets, our unwashed clothes, his scratch post, his empty dirty litter box, vacuum dust etc. My nextdoor neighbor would see him trying to return during the day while we were at work. Then get scared and run off into nearby woods. I started setting my alarm for 3am while it was quiet and go out calling him. Finally after 5 days I heard him crying in very thick bushes Nextdoor to our house. I saw his eyes with my flashlight. I had to literally crawl to get him. He was like afraid to move. I finally got him . They usually don’t travel far. They will hunker down close by.

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