Alexandria, VA Lost Male Cat, Merlin Is Missing

Comments on this Facebook alert

Jennifer R.

8 hours ago

Try these tips: Indoor cats that get outside usually stay close but they will hide b/c they get scared of the new sounds and textures outside. Check all hiding places (under decks/porches, sheds, bushes, parked cars, up in trees, in storm drains or other exposed pipes). Ask your neighbors to check those areas of their yards and to open their sheds/garages in case the cat went in unseen and got locked in. Post flyers in your neighborhood b/c not everyone uses fb or knows about these lost/found pet sites. File a report with your local shelter and give them a picture so if someone brings in your cat they will be able to more quickly reunite you. Go in person and ask to see all the cats. Do not rely on staff to visualize your cat the same way you do. Do not rely strictly on pictures posted on their website in case the site is not up-to-date or not all-inclusive. Cats will come out at night to search for food so put a dish of smelly cat food outside near the door the cat most likely went out. You can also try going out at night with a flashlight to see if you can get the reflection of the light in its eyes. Shared and prayingFollow these tips...they work :) Owners of lost cats on the lost and found pet pages have said that these tips work, especially numbers 1, 3 and 5: 1. Put wet/smelly food out in the evening. Pick it up during the day or if you notice it's attracting strays. 2. Put a trail of dirty litter from the box all along the edge of your yard and along trees and bush lines close by and along side any chin trails. Do not out the entire litter box outside. 3. Put out an unwashed article of your clothing or a dirty sheet/towel/t-shirt. You can also make "scent strips" from these items and place them in trails leading to your door. 4. Go out in the evening with a flashlight and look under porches, sheds, etc. 5. You can make chum trails leading to your door by using a can of canned tuna in water (no oil) or canned cat food and a gallon of warm water. Shake well and sprinkle in trails leading to your door. 6. Your cat will be most active between dusk and dawn. Trying shaking a bag of treats and softly calling your cat's name while searching with a flashlight to catch the reflection of your cat's eyes. 7. Get fliers up right away with phone numbe r asking for sightings right away and ask neighbors to check garages, etc. 8. File a lost report with the appropriate shelter and visit *in person* often. Most cats do not go far, especially those that are not used to spending time outdoors. Every 2 seconds a pet is lost..MICROCH IP!! ! I

Linda S.

1 day ago

Try putting something of yours outdoors, it might help your cat find their way home. A blanket, or an article of clothing. Do not put a litter box outdoors it can attract predators. Try going out after dark with a flashlight and a bag of treats. More than likely, the cat is scared and afraid to come out. Good luck!

Rebecca C.

1 day ago

You may have done all or most of these but maybe there is a hint for something else to do. Look everywhere inside, outside, in, behind and under bushes, decks, porches, culverts, window wells, crawl spaces and sheds. If there have been any maintenance people in home, look in areas they might have been around in case the cat was closed in that area (walls, heating & air ducts, open floors, attics, basements/cellars/crawl spaces). Call, knock and listen for a response. In sheds, move stuff around, away from walls and especially corners as well as use a flashlight to look under shed and in crawl spaces. Also look up as there could be a spot to roost. Use a flashlight to look for eyeshine night and day inside sheds, decks, bushes, culverts, crawl spaces and under anything even if you think it is bright enough. Make flyers and take around for several blocks in all directions. If no one is home, leave a flyer in the door or mailbox. Ask neighbors if you can look around their property including garages and in, around and under sheds. Have a flashlight with you. Ask if they have seen the kitty or if they do to contact you. Put out some cat food to try and draw towards the house. Use trail cameras outside around the house to see if cat is coming back during the night. Check all areas every day. Cats will move around to stay safe, especially at night. Put out some of your clothing, a cat bed or even a cat tree from the house if it is a small one. Saw a post where someone did that and they came out the next day and found the cat in it.. Contact all vets in the area, the SPCA(s) for your area and Animal Control. Hope your beautiful kitty comes home from the adventure soon. Maybe this will help.

📷 View photo on Facebook

Paxie W.

2 days ago

I am not an expert, but after ours went briefly missing I have a few tips to share. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Look in storm drains. Bend down and look, dont assume they can hear you calling for them. Even if you are next to it calling out, they may not hear. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Walk the surrounding areas during quite times of the day, especially in late at night and early mornings. Take treats to shake or cans of food to tap. Cats are most likely to be active and venturing out of hiding during those times. Cats are naturally more active during dusk and dawn, and may be less likely to be seen during the day. Additionally, many cats will attempt to return home within the first week, often in the middle of the night. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Don't put out their litter, but do put out a load of your laundry. Your baby knows your scent. Litter might attract territorial aggressive strays or ferals that might fight or chase away your baby. They won't care about your laundry though. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Tell your neighbors. Ask the delivery people, garbage & recycling people to keep an eye out. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Notify the microchip company and make sure they are still in their system 🐈‍⬛✔️ Use free online sources like Canva to make flyers to put up. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Contact the local shelters to alert them. They will check the pets that came in and will be on the look out for yours when new ones come in. They also have resources/suggestions, and can loan you traps. **if you use a trap, check it often as raccoons will injure trapped cats. Do not leave it alone over night. ⚠️ Set your alarm to wake up to check it 🐈‍⬛✔️ Contact the vets in the surrounding area. Someone might take your pet in to see if they have a chip. Leave your info with them just in case someone does. 🐈‍⬛✔️Reach out to local rescues to alert them. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Register them on websites like Petco Lost Love and PawBoost. One will create a flyer for you to print out and both can be used to share on social media. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Check out websites like 24PetConnection , nextdoor neighbors, and the shelters periodically to see if they have been listed as found. 🐈‍⬛✔️ Don't give up.

Karen C.

2 days ago

Put out his water and food bowls with strong smelling food. Put out items with your scent on them. Go out VERY late at night with a flashlight looking for his eyes and call him quietly. Look in sheds, garages, bushes anywhere a cat can slip into. Post on nextdoor.com More people will see this. Indoor cats stay close to home. Praying he's safe and home REAL SOON 🙏 ❤️

Merlin is Missing in Alexandria, VA

Comments on this Facebook alert

RESCUE

SQUAD

Merlin is Missing in Alexandria, VA

Comments on this Facebook alert

Help this alert reach more local people Help more people see this pet

RESCUE

SQUAD