Wilmington, NC Lost Male Cat, Merlin Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Victoria G.

4 weeks ago

Beautiful kitty. So sorry he’s lost!😢 ALWAYS leave your garage door cracked open 24/7 so your cat has a safe place to get inside all the time. Your cat will often show up when it’s dark outside. COYOTES are a huge threat to cats in New Hanover County!! NEVER let your cat outside when it’s dark and check on him/her often if outside In daytime. Coyotes come into most neighborhoods at night. If very hungry due to overdevelopment in NHC, they are often hunting our neighborhoods in broad daylight!! Coyotes have been sighted during the day in Echo Farms, Pine Valley neighborhoods and many others. They took one of our cats in Sept. 2019 around 6 AM in the morning when it was dark and we didn’t know about the coyotes. He could be stuck in someone’s shed, crawlspace, or in street storm drains, up in a tree, etc. Time is the key. Be very proactive in searching for your cat. Keep walking around and calling their name so they don’t run away. And don’t give up for at least several weeks. Post him/her on lots of Lost and Found Pets websites in New Hanover County. Especially post your cat on Pawboost. PawBoost features a ready-made poster that you can print out and leave on your neighbors doorsteps. Leave your cat’s poster on as many neighbors doorsteps as you possibly can distribute. Your cat is very, very likely HIDING somewhere close by. That’s what they do during the day for their protection. Cats don’t usually wander more than 4 to 5 houses away. Go outside and walk around calling your cat’s name softly. If he or she is nearby, they will hear you. Cats often hide under bushes or anything they can squeeze under or into. Like cars, decks, storm drains, sheds, etc. Ask neighbors if you can walk around their yards calling him or her. When it’s almost dark, like around Dawn and Dusk, and anytime it’s dark, take a flashlight and walk around calling and looking for your kitty. Cat’s eyes will glow in the flashlight beam. Leave a Window Open in your house during the Day and All Day so that your cat can easily climb into the house. Leave it open from Dawn, until bedtime. Keep walking around your area, calling your cats name softly. Bring his/her dry food treats with you and shake the container so kitty can hear it. Put pieces of your unwashed clothing around the yard because it has your scent on it and he can smell familiar scents from very far away to help him find his way home! Leave their cat bed on your front porch or deck and also put their cat litter box in your yard ONLY during the DAY because at night the litter box will attract predators. It’s IMPORTANT to leave ways for your cat to get inside the house if you are not home and also after dark when your cat will be more likely to feel safe to leave his/her hiding place. You can also set a safe cat trap in your yard but Only during the Day. At night you will attract wild animals. Cover the top and sides of the trap with a towel. This is to keep your cat from being scared if he/she goes inside the trap and you can’t release them right away. Put smelly, fishy food inside the trap like human tunafish or cat food salmon or mackerel. Don’t leave the fishy food in the can but put it in a small cat food bowl so the cat can actually eat it. He is probably very close to home so keep doing these tips and don’t give up, it could take days or weeks❣️ Talk to as many neighbors as possible right away. Getting the word out immediately in your neighborhood is very, very critical. Some neighbor may have seen him and not know where he lives!! I’m so sorry he’s lost and I hope you find him. 💕💕🙏🙏🐈🦋🌻

Karen S.

4 weeks ago

Put articles of clothing and shoes on the porch Spread some used litter around the house and yard area Look for her late at night and early in the morning when it is dark and quiet Use a flashlight to see her eyes Probably close by and hiding Keep calling kitty kitty calls and meow sounds Don't give up

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