Robin P.
5 years ago
10 Tips For Finding Lost Cats
1) Not all missing cats are lost or want to be found. Cats are notorious for hiding in impossible places. Before you assume kitty is missing, make a thorough search indoors, around the porch, garage and yards armed with a flashlight and the tastiest, smelliest treats. This is when a cat trained to respond to the “come” command pays off. If a cat is injured, trapped or hyper-stressed, they may not respond to “come”, but it improves the odds. The stats for lost cats returning home without intervention are about 2%.
2) Don’t waste time. If you know your cat is missing, grab your cellphone with a photo of your cat uploaded, flashlight and treats and head out. Begin around your house and spread out to the immediate neighbors on all sides. Where does your cat normally head? What is the most likely escape route? What are their favorite bushes or hiding spots? Crouch low under porches, scan high on roof lines and tree branches. Could something have recently happened to spook them? Construction or a new neighbor’s cat or dog?
3) While you’re searching, ask pedestrians, knock on neighbor’s doors and show the photo. Ask if you can check their garage, sheds, under the porch. I must admit I did, in my desperation trespass in neighbors’ gardens. This is no time to be shy, leave a missing cat report with your vet, Animal Control, all the other local vets, shelters and rescue groups.
4) When you return home, leave the litter box, food and water outside your door. Please note that food may attract predators, so you might not want to leave out food. Fearful cats will often slink out after dark. Leaving a baby monitor near the food may detect faint meows. Local TNR rescue rescues will often lend a trap. Using their suggestions, set up a trap. Be prepared, you may trap a raccoon or other cat. Go outside one last time to check and call your cat’s name before bedtime.
5) If you haven’t already made a missing cat poster, make one. It doesn’t have to be fancy but make sure the words “Lost Cat” are large enough to be visible from a passing vehicle or pedestrian. Choose or crop a large close-up showing details of the face and another photo showing the entire body, ideally standing up. If you’re not computer savvy, you can glue a photo on a piece of paper and use a marker to write the text by hand. Color photos are preferable especially if your cat has a unique color or markings. Copies printed on neon bright paper show well and use plastic page covers in case of rain. Include: your cat’s name, description, any special identifying marks or collar, when last seen and where (cross street), your phone and e-mail but for security reasons not your name, address or amount of reward in case you are offering one. You can also have posters adding contact info at the bottom of the page cut into four or five vertical strips that can be easily torn off.
6) Enlist family and friends to help post flyers and spread the word. Have push pins, tape and a staple gun depending on the surface. The best posting spots include street intersection poles, local bulletin boards at grocery stores, library, laundromat and community center. As many as possible. Print 4 posters on 1 page, and take ¼ page posters and scotch tape to doorknobs on houses near you.
7) Post missing cats reports at online at Tabbytracker Craigslist, local online newspapers like Patch etc. Use social networking like Facebook and Twitter. Post on https://www.pawboost.com/ and Nextdoor.com
Ask everyone to share.
