Greater London, England Lost Female Cat, Spirit Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Karen J.

8 months ago

Knock personally on all surrounding neighbours doors. Cats can travel quite far so you will need to consider all the roads around your property and a little bit beyond. Ask them to check their sheds and any outbuildings check their sheds/gardens. Leaflet the area within a 1 mile radius with contact details and a photo . Flood the area with posters. Remember lots of people are not on social media sites.

Lydia T.

8 months ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Research indicates many 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within 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 get 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, in bins, skips, bushes, between tall walls and fences, roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all. You are more likely to do the thorough search required. Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with your neighbour). You might need to offer a reward 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 away, another 3km, down a drain). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain & leave strong food outside overnight. 10pm - 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours or hot BBQ chicken) and a torch, when no cars: call calmly, stop, listen, wait. (Cats eyes glow with a torch). Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside. Leave strong smelling food (eg Whiskas cat food meat and fish flavour, sardines, BBQ chicken) out overnight, near exit point and near / in 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 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 steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). Put a towel over trap to keep cat calm. Posters high on telegraph poles, noticeboards and leaflets (pay postman). CCTV cameras. Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. Do all at previous address, if puss recently moved home. (One cat recently travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later). Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try o head back to previous home or territory. Most cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open). 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, cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces where might be trapped. 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 where went to, check cctv cameras & do all of the above there. 😞 🙏 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). 🙏 In Australia, at least one microchip organisation (Homesafe) has gone bust, which means microchips won't show up if scanned! (Cats need to be registered with another microchip organisation, with updated details, inc if lost). Also, not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate.(One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Request vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan 🙏 (Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have already found, your cat. Seek independent evidence eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc, before providing personal details or money). Don't give up searching ... 🙏

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