Winter Springs, FL Lost Female Cat, Sami Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Celeste G.

5 months ago

🙏💞🐾

Diana E.

5 months ago

I’m so sorry your mom's beautiful exotic looking lynx point Siamese cat got outside, but please ask her not to despair. Sami is likely hiding close to her escape route, too frightened to come when called or emerge in the daylight. Tell your mom most indoor cats will attempt to return on their own, usually within the first few nights if the conditions are just right, so if she knows what to expect and how to react, she could have her back inside by morning. I've recovered many escaped cats and have a full set of instructions, but I’ll withhold them for now, hopeful your mom won’t need them. This is what I suggest she do and when: DURING THE DAYTIME alert nearby neighbors in case Sami is hiding just beyond her property (under a vehicle, outdoor furniture, shrubs, or in a garage, shed, or carport, etc.), then, if there’s time before dark and she can search SILENTLY without dislodging Sami from her hiding spot, focus her efforts close to home and tiptoe around in the daylight using a flashlight, but be quiet and discreet so as not to frighten her (shhh! DO NOT CALL or shake treats), check every crack and crevice, look in, under and around sheds, vehicles, furniture, under foundations and porches, into trees etc. but suspend searching when it gets dark to give her the chance to return voluntarily. IMMEDIATELY (if you see this comment overnight) or AT DUSK lay a familiar blanket or worn teeshirt flat on the doorstep where Sami escaped (DO NOT USE a litter box, bedding, trap or anything obvious -- it's there for scent only) to give her the confidence to come out of hiding, and place tempting food in front of the door (making sure your mom can still open it when she returns). Have your mom call her softly to provide a familiar sound and direction, then watch and listen closely from inside (DO NOT GO BACK OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT!) and if she sees Sami approach and settle on the food be very careful not to startle her as she slowly and quietly provides a clear path back inside. If she can't wait up, set an alarm and watch again just before sunrise -- it's a popular time to return. Please let me know what happens tonight and if she's not back by morning, I'll provide more detailed instructions. Also, although some suggest putting out kitty's litter box, EXPERTS WARN AGAINST IT. I've never used one in all the times I've been successful recovering a lost cat. Please read this to learn more about why it's neither necessary nor recommended: https://www.facebook.com/notes/lost-cats-georgia/why-we-dont-recommend-putting-your-lost-cats-litter-box-outside/1101245526665296/

Ri M.

5 months ago

Post on Nextdoor and Ring apps. Ask neighbors to check car hoods, garages and sheds immediately. Make sure to tap hoods of the car around. Keep an entryway open for cat to get in. Buy or loan a live cat trap from online stores or local tnr groups. Leave your garage open with cat to enter. Put some food and your clothing there for smell. Get a motion sensor camera to detect when cat is around your property

Damien C.

5 months ago

Dixie Niklowitz Yeah

Dixie N.

5 months ago

Damien Christopher thank you for adding not to put the litter box out, too many think it's ok but it will draw other cats, critters and coyotes.

Karen C.

5 months 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 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.

Kevin M.

5 months ago

Go around late at night calling them with food and flashlight to catch their eyes. Check around your neighborhood under houses and in small places where they may hide. Put stuff out that has yours and their scent on it. Hang flyers around for people to see. Check shelters and vets daily. Update chip info if they have a chip and its has not been update since a move. Ask neighbors to check in their garages incase they ended up trapped in one. I pray you get your baby back safe and soon.

Deborah N.

5 months ago

Diana Ellis

Damien C.

5 months ago

The only way a lost cat can find its way home is with its nose. They have to use their sense of smell to get home again. Put anything outside that smells like their territory. Put the pajamas you slept in outside because you probably sweated in them. Put out their food your stinky socks your smelly sneakers anything you can think of that the cat will recognize by smell. Cats usually stay within a five house radius of their own home for up to a week or so sleeping in the bushes during the day and coming out at dusk and dawn. Those are good times to take a walk shaking the treat bag calling out but cats also tend to come out and walk around very late at night. Try to keep a door cracked if you can whether it's the garage or whatever or a window cracked so you can hear them if they call out for you. Put this on all of the neighborhood pages as well as lost and found pets sites. Knock on the neighbors doors and make sure they know you're looking for your cat. Good luck PS cats can smell up to one mile away from their own house. Absolutely no litterbox outside or food. Never give up.

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