Rockford, IL Lost Male Cat, Thomas Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Claudette L.

2 days ago

Shared and praying for a safe return 😢🙏🙏🙏❤️

Kat E.

2 days ago

It might be worth trying to trap him. You can trap during the day or at night. Either time can work. Use nice bait like sardines or tuna or rotisserie chicken in a dish you place at the back of the trap. Drop a few small pieces of bait at the front and on the floor of the trap to lead him to the back of the trap. D a towel on top of the trap so the cat can see out of both ends. You can try it without the towel over the top too. You can put one of his blankets, newspapers, cardboard or a puppy pad on the floor of the cage. If you’ve been leaving food out and it’s being eaten, don’t leave food out before the time you want to trap him as you want him to be hungry. Have a sheet or large towel handy to cover the entire trap as soon as he goes in it as it calms them down right away. Place it in your yard by some bushes or near a deck or slightly hidden, but it’s easy to monitor. Never leave it outside or set when you are not home or awake to keep an eye on it and can listen for when an animal goes in it. Harbour Freight has traps for $20 or PAWS, 7282 N Cherryvale Mall Dr, has traps you can rent for a $20 refundable fee. I think they only take cash. They are open M &T 11-3, closed Wed & Sun, Th-Sat 11-3. 815-299-7297.

Kat E.

2 days ago

Go outside at dawn and after dusk with a flashlight and shine it in the grass, in bushes, under decks, porches, crawl spaces, window wells, in garages, under cars, up in the trees, across the street in bushes and look for his eyes to reflect back at you. Go outside and listen for sounds of movement. Walk around the neighborhood and call him. He is probably nearby. If you can, get a trail camera to help see if he is in your yard at night. Ask permission for you to go and check in your neighbors’ garages in case he was locked inside and is afraid to come out. Check their yards, sheds, window wells, under porches, under the house and up in their trees too. Crack open your garage for him to come back inside. Put some of his bedding inside the open door and a dish of some smelly food or treats to lure him in. Cats lost outside usually stay quiet because they are hiding from potential predators. Look down in the storm sewers too because cats can jump down there to get away from a car or predator. Check under cars near your home too. Check out your doors from time to time at night, especially between 1-5 am, in case he is trying to come back inside. Open the door, call him quietly and listen for movement or sounds as he may need a minute to come out of hiding. Try holding a door open for him to come in when you are calling him. Put up flyers with his photo and give one to your neighbors and your mail person as they go all over the neighborhood. Keep checking at Animal Services in person every day if possible to see if he was brought in there. If your lost cat was not microchipped and wasn’t wearing a rabies tag, it will only be held for 24 hrs. and then put up for adoption. They give these cats a new name when they come in without identification, so don’t look for your cat by name if it wasn’t chipped or vaccinated. Also check the online adoptable cats everyday as they do take cats to PetSmarts in Wisconsin. Animal Service’s hours are M 11-7, T-F 11-5, Sat 11-4, closed Sunday. Check the listings for adoptable cats at the area rescues like Noah’s Ark, TAILS, PAWS and Friends Forever in case he was taken to one of them. If he is chipped, notify the chip company that he is lost and be sure they have your correct contact info. Post his photo as a lost cat on Next Door, Lost Dogs/Cats in Rockford on Facebook, and winnebagoanimals.org. Include your phone number, especially on Pawboost. Don’t put out the litter box as it will attract predators. Instead, put out clothes belonging to his favorite person(s). That will be familiar and help him get home. Most people who find a cat are good about getting it right back to the owner. If you are offering a reward, you may be contacted by scammers. * A scammer may request payment before showing any proof they have the pet. * Provide vague or manipulated images (can use AI to alter your own photos to look like they have the pet.) * Refuse to meet or allow you to see the pet unless you send money upfront * Ask to communicate outside of normal channels. Telegram is often used to scam people. These are tips from Pawboost on how you handle the scammers: * Ask detailed questions about your cat’s unique characteristics that aren’t shared publicly. Scammers typically can’t answer this * Have them take a photo or a video with your pet, showing a hand gesture that you ask them to make to prove they have your pet in real time. * Verify contact information. Be cautious if someone refuses to meet in a public location or communicate through traceable methods. * Please be careful with anyone claiming to have your cat and asking for a 6 digit google code to prove you are a human. It is a scam and in full force. * Beware of anyone asking for money for your cat back. NEVER send money until you have possession of your cat. Please disregard no matter how persistent the scammers are!

Stephanie R.

2 days ago

Kat Emilie hopefully since she lets him go outside! 😬

Kat E.

3 days ago

Open the garage door a few inches, put his bedding inside the open door and a dish of some of his favorite food and water to see if he comes back in during the night. Open a door and keep checking outside again during the night. Use a flashlight to search in your yard. Hopefully he will be home soon.

Kat E.

3 days ago

Is he chipped or neutered?

Kat E.

3 days ago

Please post his photo and your info on Nextdoor so people who don’t use Facebook can also look for Thomas. He’s very handsome.

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