Falls Church, VA Lost Male Cat, Bandit Aka Milo Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Tara S.

4 hours ago

Does your cat have any experience with being in the outdoors prior to your adopting him? If not, he is probably hiding very close by, either in your yard or within three houses of you in all directions, including behind you. If possible, after the rain ends, crack the door open that he escaped from and put a food bowl just inside. He will hide during the day and come out at night to try to return. Sometimes they come in the middle of the night when you’re sleeping. Many cats have returned through an open door. If you can’t leave the door cracked open, then put a food bowl just outside the door that he escaped from. If you have a security camera of any kind, point it at the food bowl so you can see when he’s there. Hopefully the camera will notify you. Go outside at night with your flashlight and just shine it around your yard looking for glowing eyes. During the day, look all over your property, under deck, sheds, in any holes that are big enough to fit his head. Also walk up down the street within a few houses of you, sweeping the flashlight around bushes and under cars. During the day, knock on neighbors’ doors at least three houses in each direction, including behind you, I asked them if you can look around their property because he will be in his hiding place during the day. Look look under barbecue grill and bicycle cover covers. Cats love to hide under those. Or tarps. Check inside garages and sheds if they’ve been used since he went missing. Make sure you have a very good flashlight, a cell phone flashlight is not powerful enough to see way back to the far reaches of a deck. Bring a flyer with you so that when you knock on doors, people can see why you’re there and they’re more likely to open the door. It’s really important that you search the properties close to you. ‼️ ask your neighbor to check their security camera footage to see if he has been on their property. This is very important! And then asked them to please keep a close eye on it going forward because he’s going to show up somewhere. If he has any experience with the outdoor outdoors, he might wander further and not follow this pattern. You might have to look further away, but still start out close. Also, pay attention to storm drains right in your area. They go in there a lot, if there are any that are 5 feet deep or less, talk to the drain and see if you hear any responses. Not knowing how long you’ve had him, I don’t know whether your voice would be a comfort to him but if it would, sometimes just going outside and talking for at least 10 or 15 minutes can give him the courage to come out from wherever he’s hiding if he’s close enough, which it often is. I live very close to you and I have cameras that we could use to help visualize him. If you want to contact me privately, send me a text at 703–5 77–9553.

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