Irvine, CA Lost Male Cat, Maomao Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lauren E.

1 week ago

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.

Carrie B.

1 week ago

Immediately (NOW)walk area shake treat bag or Bang on cat food can calling for your cat multiple times during the day-and-night especially when it's quiet out. Look under all bushes and in between houses. Ask your neighbors to check cameras garage, shed backyard. Post on nextdoor, get family & friends to search every day. Search at midnight-5am too call for ur kitten, listen for her meow

Joe M.

1 week ago

Get your flyers up! Do not rely on social media alone, most of my missing animals come home, because of physical flyers! I do 8X11 in the immediate area 4 per block, the bigger the area 3 per block and so on. I've had the most success with the 4 per page mini handouts of the same flyer. I will give these to the Mailman, UPS, Fedex, Garbage man, Gas stations, Grocery stores. Also fluorescent backgrounds at major intersections 8X11 or bigger. Also law enforcement and animal control. More than likely, it's not going to be your eyeballs.That bring your pet home.Also not everybody has social media. So we need as much help as we can get from the community. So make it easy for them to get a hold of you. and remember the harder you work, the luckier you get! I hope these suggestions help you get your animal home soon and safe. 😉

Ruth O.

1 week ago

Lost Cats‼️ Indoor only cats and limited outdoor access cats never go far. They go into survival mode and hide in silence. Most of them will not respond when they are in survival mode. 3 AM is the best time to find a missing indoor only cat. This is the time they become most active and responsive. Sit and quietly call for your kitty. Try to stay low, standing is intimidating to cats. Place some dirty socks and pillow cases outside. Your scent will attract your kitty. If you have a garage, place the items near the garage door and crack the door enough for her to get in. DO NOT leave food or litter box outside, it can attract predators and aggressive Tom cats. Because indoor only cats hide so well they are not as likely to be ed by a predator. Don't give up, it can take months to find a missing indoor only cat. Use a flashlight as late at night as you can to look in trees, under cars and in bushes. Try to look for the glow of her eyes. The best chance of you being reunited with your cat is to do a methodical search of the area. Most indoor only cats will be within 160 feet of your home. Survival mode lasts 5 to 14 days but can last longer. Once their hunger gets to a maximum they can snap out of it but this is a dangerous time because they come out of hiding. The majority of cats will try to make a break for home on the 5th night. In addition to posted flyers, make mini flyers and hand them out to your neighbors. Some people don't pay attention to posted flyers. It's VERY VERY important that you look for her as late at night as you can. If you have other cats, watch them. If they are spending a lot of time looking out a certain window, that’s a good indication the missing cat is in that area. Wildlife and motion activated cameras are also helpful. a lot of people are successful trapping their indoor only cats. If you decide to trap, you must watch the trap closely, predators can a cat in a trap.

Rosemary P.

1 week ago

URGENT YOU MUST USE EVERY SPARE SECOND YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR YOUR CAT. It is extremely dangerous outside and unsafe as you know. It’s my ministry to help people so please if you can do what I’m asking you to do. First of all if your cat was indoors it will be very close to home. Indoor cats are terrified of being outside. They are close to home hiding somewhere. Often they will be hiding in bushes or under something or jump your fence and go into the neighbors backyard. They can also go into your neighbors garage. Please knock on all your neighbors doors today and if they’re not home, go back in the evening and see if your cat is over at their house. This is critical. In addition, most importantly, you must post hundreds of flyers everywhere. Post on all lamp posts and stop signs for miles and miles. The tape that holds them up the best is duct tape. Scotchtape is flimsy and often the flyers fall down. You must make sure these are up every single day. Many people have reported because they had flyers up someone saw their cat roaming and called the owner. It saved their Cats life. In addition, not everyone is on Facebook so it’s critical that you post every day on all lost pet sites and nextdoor.com your neighborhood watch. It’s also critical that you call your local shelter because often people will drop Cats off there. Call the shelter more than once and be sure you fax a flyer over there. When it gets dark out, you must go out at night with a flashlight and look for your cat. Call its name and listen for meows look everywhere with the flashlight. Leave your garage door cracked open so your cat has a way to come back in your house. Also walk for blocks sometimes Cats can be blocks away in someone’s yard. I pray to God that you find your baby as soon as possible. It’s always good to have a tracker on your cat which tracks where they are.

Kimberley S.

1 week 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.

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