Florham Park, NJ Lost Male Cat, Skunky Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Marie S.

7 months ago

Here are some tips that I found on finding a lost cat...... First, please do not panic, stay calm, your cat needs all of your energy to help bring him home. Indoor cats don't travel far from home. 90% of missing cats are usually hiding nearby, within a 5 house radius of your home. Draw a circle around your home and go out 5 houses in every direction. This area must be searched thoroughly and knock on every single neighbors door. Install a security camera to see if it shows up at night or during the day when you’re not out looking (if you can’t afford one, see if you can borrow one from someone ). Put food and water outside by the door if you think he got out. Check all possible hiding spots on your property and around bushes. Check storm drains, inside sheds, and garages and look up in trees and under cars. Check the same spots multiple times. Let your neighbors know and ask if they can check their property, sheds and garages or ask if they'll let you check. Cats are most active in the early morning and late at night. At night look around with a flashlight. A cat's eyes will reflect the light. If your neighbors have a security camera ask if they could check it. Put flyers up around the neighborhood too. Let the local vets know and even go to the shelter that takes in animals from your town. Leave a flyer with both. Let your police department and animal control officer know too in case anyone finds him and contacts them. Leave them with a flyer too. Put out the cat’s bed or towel and some of your unwashed clothing so that they can catch their scent and yours; If your cat is indoor only, you must set a humane trap immediately....(Google local rescue groups in your area to borrow one or call your local shelter and ask them for one or ask them to help you trap). Get lots of tuna in vegetable oil NOT Water, because it is very smelly, and does not freeze in cold weather....if you know the direction your cat went, SOAK the ground with tuna juice from two different directions, one from the direction your car went and one from another direction close by up to the door of the trap & put very little bits of tuna along the way on the tuna juice trail, up to the front of the trap and then very little bits of tuna through the trap to the back of the trap where you leave more tuna on a paper plate .....(on the outside of the trap and through it leave only VERY LITTLE bits of tuna, you want the cat to be hungry and go to the back of the trap); this MUST be monitored at all times and in the heat must be changed out every hour... do not sit close... you want to be able to see it but you want to make sure your cat comes in close, things should be very very quiet and if it’s getting dark, lights should be low outside and inside the house; On top of the trap put UNWASHED clothes you have worn, (T-shirt/socks) and on top of that cover it with a towel that you also used so all these items have your scent on it; If this is an indoor/outdoor cat you can also use the tuna juice trail leading up to a bowl of tuna… This also MUST be monitored.... Only people who your cat is comfortable with should be searching for her; Everyone should have a BRIGHT flashlight with them at daytime and night time, search every area thoroughly, checking every inch, lost cars can curl up into such tight balls...look under anything with a tarp on it, pool covers, grill covers, furniture covers, in any kind of a hole or crevice, all the way under porches, under bushes, in bushes, in trees, all the way underneath sheds within that 5 house radius, many cats hide all the way under sheds ... please ask your neighbors if you can search their properties thoroughly, please check all their garages every square inch, under cars, anywhere a cat could hide, sewers, water basins if they are by you, again every square inch... Make up flyers with a really good picture of your car that is large, put “Missing” at the top and the date.. put your phone number underneath in big bold letters that can be seen clearly and the cat’s name… Deliver posters to as many neighbors as you can, also give them out to all local delivery people, the mailman, fed ex man, workers in the area, dog walkers, all of them see so much… Bring them to the local police, animal control, vets offices and animal shelters, starting within a 2 mile radius of your home (you may have to go out further later if your cat is not found) …Also ask all local businesses if you can put flyers up in their windows; put them up for at least a 2 mile radius on telephone poles, etc.; Go to all local animal shelters at least every other day and call them on a daily basis..You must go there yourself because they are overwhelmed and there are Night people that may not realize that your cat has been brought in.. Do NOT put a litter box out as it will attract Feral cats and other predators who will scare your cat away and will catch mouse droppings and bird droppings and change the scent. Go out at night and walk slowly, looking for the shine of your cats eyes with a BRIGHT flashlight, usually they are most active half hour before and after sunrise and sunset.. when you are searching call your kitties name softly and then really listen to see if you can hear him.. remember they are usually within a 5 house radius... If this is the only cat in the home, and you can, leave your screen door open at night & sit there quietly, you’re cat may come right in the door or leave a window open that your cat can come home thru... if you have a garage, leave the garage door open slightly... keep the lights low in and outside your house and keep things inside and outside your house very very quiet, so that it does not feel threatened by coming home; Some cats come home on their own, some you must search for, and some you must trap with a humane trap… Some cats who get out are so terrified they will revert to some feral behavior and hide even though their owner might be very close by and calling...... for these cats you have to trap them. Cats who are indoor/outdoor will also mark their territory with the scent glands from their mouth when they rub their face against a tree, etc. and they also have scent in their paw pads that they will follow to go back home, but when it rains these scents are diminished and then they cannot find their way home. That’s why it is imperative to begin searching immediately for them. There’s a site called LostMyKitty. They offer a service that does Amber alert phone calls to surrounding houses for a fee. If you decide to use this service, choose the free option first. Keep repeating everything and take all of the suggestions. I hope these tips help and you find your cat soon. Your cat wants to come home, keep the faith and don’t give up. See video below. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15zkDNZJnB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Marina F.

7 months ago

Mil bendiciones 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

Marsha S.

7 months ago

Praying for his quick and safe return home

Marita A.

7 months ago

Put his favorite human's used shower towel outside. The scent will carry.

Epn K.

7 months ago

I am feeding a black and white cat in farmingdale NJ When did this cat go missing ..I live here 3 mos. Otherwise put dirty liter pan outside. Smells for miles.

Lisa K.

7 months ago

🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

Ana C.

7 months ago

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Donna W.

7 months ago

Photos in neighborhoods walk neighborhoods day and evening talk to neighbors check shelters I hope you fine sweet kitty safe 💗

Peter H.

7 months ago

petfinder.com/cats-and-kittens/information/lost-and-found-cats/top-10-tips-for-finding-lost-cats/

Jill V.

7 months ago

Do not lose faith. Cats can hide out once out. They are resourceful. Are there any colonies of feral/strays near. If so see if you can get in touch with the feeders... give then a flyer. There are folks whose cats find a colony to eat at. Repeat your steps. Handout flyers again, to to everyone again and again. Folks can have short memories. Are there cameras or ring door bells in area? Perhaps neighbors would be kind and look on the videos. Keep checking. Not everyone will see all Facebook postings and some are not even on Facebook nor on a specific page(s). It is best to see if flyers are still up, write "still missing as of" with current date on them. It maybe someone picked up your cat and does not know who the cats belongs to. They may think the cat is a stray or dumped. Keep calling the rescues. Shelters and animal control (even bordering towns if near a boarder). They get busy and things may get lost in the mix. You have to keep checking, they can have lot of volunteers etc and word is not always pass on to next shift. Call shelters daily, stop by with picture or flyer. Walk through to see if your pet is there at the shelter. Check with local vets. Someone may have brought your pet to one. Many Vets have boards for flyers or allow one to be put up. Does cat respond to treat bag or dry food box shaken? If so shake periodically. Early AM, in between, evening and later in nite we'll after dark when more peaceful. Cats perfer when afraid hiding till after dark. If you see them, sit. They respond better ifnon their level. Animals if afraid can have odd unexpected responses to even owners. They go into.a survival mode. Get the word out to anyone you can, like retired seniors, senior centers as they are out and about the community and neighborhoods. If you already have Flyers with picture, get them put in high pedestrian traffic areas as it does help. Tape up where ever you can and are like poles, Coffee stops, stores if they let you or have bulletin board, parking lots, local gyms etc. Also talk to mail person, UPS and Fed X people crossing guards, school bus drivers, garbage and recycle collectors, joggers. Dept of public works folks in your town or the town lost in. Firemen , flyer at local firehouse. Dog walkers, they are out there and see things. If in condo or townhouse or near one, do they have community bulletin boards. Hand out flyers wherever you can. More eyes the better. Re check flyers, weather or people can take them down. Keep handing out to people as they can have short memories. Keep info current when you repost or put flyers up again. To be current write, "still lost as of" with current date. Most indoor cats stay close at first. They are scared once out. Ask neighbors to be on look out and to check their yards, under porches, decks, under cars especially at night, crawlspaces, window wells, under bushes etc. Even under cars. Put out an article, unwashed that owner used like a towel the owner used or clothing they wore like a tee shirt. Put it near a door steps, on a deck, patio. Owners scent is important. Put out a smelly food like tuna. Water too. Monitor different times of day, especially after dark. Some say put out some litter from their box, used so their own scent is at your door, patio etc. Others say no it attrats other animals and may scare your cat off. Some have left an access to home open, placed food near and cat comes in. Not sure that is something one can do in many cases. It is important to go out after dark with bright flashlight, they hide. If scared. Look under porches, cars , bushes. Flashlight helps you see their eyes in hiding. Ask neighbors if you can check their yards, under bushes after dark. Ask if you can check their property! Being nocturnal when afraid they hunker down till dark. Talk as you normally would when walking your cat knows your voice. Listen for a cry, they may trapped in a shed, garage, down a storm drain, they do hide when afraid. Basically talk to anyone you can. Sit out night time and talk calmly if near the may cry or be brave enough to come out. Have treats ready. Check area with dyer vents, source of heat when on. Cars and in wheelwells of cars, engines when warm are a heat source. If near wooded areas, park or places like a cemetery look there. They like seclusion when afraid. Talk as look again they know owner's voice. If you live near beach area, check dunes and under entrances to beach. Also, some beach areas, towns and other places also have communities of feral cat colonies, check them out and give flyer to people who feed them. Know folks this worked for for. Their cat was eating with a colony. Humane traps work well place a food in them likes and place in area cat is lost ND spotted or your yard. Check frequently with weather hot or cold or wet you do not want a cat to be exposed to elements in a trap for long. You can use posterboard from Staples or another store and use bright florescent markers These are easy to place on your lawn, a friendor relative in area, at intersections, can be crucial for sightings. All you need is those markers, a photo of your cat to paste on and your phone number at the bottom. The same procedure is used for flyers. Sign on lawn f possible, big and bright colors especially if in high traffic area, busy roads or blocks. This can also help get exposure for you, sign on your car! As you drive around people see it. If parked folks will see it. Flyers are imperative, of course, but this is a simple way to increase visibility tenfold. This is an excellent way to increase sightings. Maximum exposure. Google lost pets in your county/town, actually both. Google Pawboost page, as exposure is so important. So many counties have FB sites. Lost Pets Of Monmouth County, one for Ocean County , Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Es. Mercer Middle, Sus, Union. Lost and found Pets South Jersey , Lost and Found Central Jersey and Lost and Found pets North Jersey all FB pages. Depends where you live. If you boarder another county, put it on both. If your town has a face book or web page or "Patch" news outlet and allow posts, post there. Look for posts from those looking for owners of lost cats or a found cat and trying to find the owners . You can search to see if your cat was found. Best wishes to all trying to find your baby. They can be very scared and hiding Can hide out a long time, coming out only in after dark. If no success, start over. Keep posting, keep flyers up and talk to everyone even if you have spoke to them before.