Burpengary East, QLD Lost Male Cat, Dobby 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) ... 🙏

Suze C.

2 months ago

Chances are your cat is hiding close by, on your property, or a neighbours. In a shed or under the house, shine a torch under there looking for the eyes. Search your property and surrounds thoroughly during the day - up trees and under bushes, in drains, vehicles, under your house and deck, in garages/sheds, look in all nooks and crannies absolutely everywhere. At night go walking around the streets late or around midnight and 2 or 3am when it's quiet. (Do not go just once) take a torch, take cat biscuits, and shake them or tap on a can calling the cats name softly (try not to sound distressed). Especially shine the torch into the storm water drains in yours and nearby streets. This is a favourite place for frightened cats to hide out in. Roast chicken is good to bribe them home.. Spend at least half an hour to an hour looking each time and walk slowly. The quicker you start the more chance of early success. Hearing your voice nearby sometimes encourages cats to come out of hiding and come home. Door knock all the neighbours too and ask if you can check their properties and hand them a flier with kitty's photo and your contact details. . Use a humane trap baited with roast chicken, or cooked prawns, something that smells delicious. These traps can be borrowed or hired. Make up posters and drop leaflets in letterboxes all around the neighbourhood and further afield including your nearest Community area. Flag microchip as missing (you can also flag as not for adoption) Council have changed the law of cat ownership. All cats have to be contained on your property, either indoors or in fenced catio's. Rangers are trapping in all areas now, so regularly check the pounds websites, although visiting is preferred as no one knows your cat like you. Cats can be only a few houses away or less and still not manage to find their way home.

Janine T.

2 months ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Russel M.

2 months ago

Prayers to St Francis of Assisi and St Anthony & St Gertrude of Nivelles for a safe and speedy return.

Juliette B.

2 months ago

🙏💔🙏💔 Shared with hope.

Gail P.

2 months ago

❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

Cherie S.

2 months ago

Try going out late at night or really early mornings when it's quiet and there more likely to come out off hiding or hear you calling and shaking cat biscuits as you walk your neighbourhood also check out street drains and call down them a favourite hiding place and ask neighbours or do a letterbox drop and get them to check sheds and garages incase it's accidentally got locked in or hiding also makesure microchip is up-to-date with correct phone number and details and ask them to put a red flag against it as missing. You can also try a torch at night to see shiny eyes reflecting back at you if there hiding under low shrubs and buildings and vehicles or neighbouring properties. Contact local vets and pounds even 24hr vets incase it's been found and taken for a microchip scan.

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