Cheryl M.
3 months ago
First - are you sure she actually got outside? Cats can hide and get stuck in the craziest places. But also recently read of a cat that got spooked and ran into a neighbors shed and was in there for 20 days before anybody looked. You simply must go to your neighbors and ask them to check their garages and sheds. And all of the following advice has been very successful …🐈⬛Kitties usually don't go far at first. Your kittyneeds *YOU* to do these things to find her/him!
✳ BE PROACTIVE!! Kitties without a food/water source and shelter will likely continue moving until they find them. You need to attract her/him back home.
They are very often only within a few houses or buildings to start.
🍲💧Keep replenishing a feeding station set up with fresh water and smelly food to attract, like warm tuna. Best to put in view of a camera so you can see if kitty eats the food. If you have a garage, prop it open 6 inches with smelly food trailed to inside.
🧦 Put out scent items: some of her/his toys and bedding, along with your DIRTY laundry (socks, pillowcases).
🔦 Check in trees. When dark out, look for her/his eyes with a flashlight under bushes, decks and other safe hiding spots. They hunker down, but will come out more between DUSK and DAWN when it is quiet. Use a familiar noise, like shaking a treat bag, to attract. Speak quietly and softly. if they don’t come out, don’t assume they are not there. Once outdoors, many go into survival mode, and hide even from you so you must be diligent.
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✅ Make sure neighbors in a minimum two block radius have your contact info with kitty's pic, as most seeing your social media posts don't live right around you. Ask them to check their cameras, sheds, garages, window wells and under decks.
‼️FLYER, FLYER, FLYER‼️It's the best tool you've got! People don't pay attention to loose cats like they do dogs. Reward inspires some to look harder.
✴ Most people people that see your social media posts don't live right by your home, so flyers are VERY IMPORTANT to make everyone that lives directly around you are aware.
👀If someone picks kitty up, they may not know who she/he belongs to. You need as many eyes looking as possible. *500 PAIRS OF EYES LOOKING IS BETTER THAN ONE*
⭐️Bright colors, simple BOLD letters, with your number and a big pic of your kitty on neon paper. Can be attached to trees and poles with shrink wrap or Cling wrap.
➡️ Other ideas:
1. Put a sign up in your front yard. If the sign is up, neighbors and people passing by know she/he is still missing.
2. Give one to the local mail carriers.
3. Put on on your car window.
4. Driveway drops: a mini flyer (print 4 on one letter size piece of neon paper) in a ziploc bag with a rock for weight. Drive and toss on to driveways like a newspaper.
5. Pass out the mini flyer to anyone out walking their dogs, pushing strollers, etc.
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☎️ Contact the microchip company so kitty will be flagged as lost. Make sure the chip is registered properly to you (ie. not where kitty was adopted from - or where chip was implanted) and your contact info is current.
🚨Alert surrounding PDs, Animal Controls, shelters and vets. Go take flyers to all of them - and walk through the shelters to check if your kitty is there. Follow up every few days even if they take a report.
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🔔Alert residents about your lost kitty, and to please check their cameras through:
1. RING Neighbors App
2. Nextdoor App
3. Citizens App
4. Local neighborhood watch and lost pet pages/groups on Facebook.
✴ On all posts, list:
1. The town you live in and the cross streets near you.
2. Pics of your kitty.
3. Phone number - and ask people to contact you directly via call or text with any info so you don't miss anything.
Your info should be brief and specific, as people are scrolling through quickly. (ie LOST CAT: Town/cross streets... female/male, coloring, if chipped, phone number, etc.)
Ask everyone to take picture or video of any kitty they think might be her/him and send it to you. This can help confirm if it is or isn't your kitty. If it is, flyers need to be hung in the area of the sighting, especially if new from where she/he was seen prior.
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‼️Be careful with scammers‼️They may contact you saying they have your kitty and ask for verification codes or money. People actually trying to help you will not ask for those sort of things.
..... and most of all don't give up hope. And stay proactive.🐾♥️🐾
