Reunited Male Cat in Ephrata, PA 17522 (ID: 72909189)

Facebook Community Response

Laura S.

2 weeks ago

He was found safe and sound at home! We still don’t know where he was hiding 🙈

Lydia T.

2 weeks ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Most 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within about 500 metres from where lost. (Less for indoor cats). Some cats fear making a noise, in case it attracts predators, so might not respond to your calls. They can squeeze into the tightest crevices (sometimes become wedged in), why very thorough searches are required. I am aware of 100's of situations where a cat was accidentally locked in / trapped somewhere (eg in a neighbours shed, garage, holiday home, roof, crawl-space under a home / industrial building). Most somehow survived (eg by eating insects), many others didn't. 😞 Please thoroughly search through sheds, garages, under houses / buildings, bats, decks, neighbours' bins, skips, under bushes, between tall walls and fences, in roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. One cat recently spotted hiding under neighbour's roof solar panels. Ask neighbours to check cctv cameras. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all). Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with neighbour. If neighbours are unco-operative, suggest you involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward (bribe) for unco-operative / uncaring neighbours. 😞 Call down drains (with strong smelling food). If you can lift the grate and enter the drain, even better. (One cat found 500 metres, another 3km away in drain!). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with rolled towels or a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, with strong smelling food outside overnight. Dusk to 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken), cat carrier and torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, sit, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside & out overnight, near exit point. Also, in / near other possible hiding places / where might be trapped. If food eaten, set up a sensor wildlife camera to ensure it is your cat. Next night, try waiting nearby with food and a carrier ... Or if safe, gradually (each night) move the food into your yard / home and close door from behind (while cat is eating). As a last resort (as lots can go wrong), place a humane cat trap on level ground, in a safe, discreet location. Google how to use safely, monitor closely. (Do not leave a trap unattended! Some people release distressed cats, or harm / / steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). 😞 Put a towel over trap, to keep cat calm. Don't open until safe at home (or at vet). Posters with reward tacked high on telegraph poles / noticeboards, in plastic sleeve. Also, circulate leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (cats most likely to escape / become lost, within a month of a move): begin an intense, comprehensive search asap & leave food out / doors open, starting close to the new home, spreading outwards. Unpredictable what might do next: One cat travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later. Do all advised at old address, too ... Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try to head back to previous home / territory (& become lost, or worse). Many cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open. Use dowell to limit opening to no more than 2cm). Spray bottle near door. Preferably not in a room with the door leading to outside. (Better a room, with a couple of doors closed , before reaching an exit door). Cannot stress enough, be extra vigilant !! New / timid cats & kittens are prone to hiding / getting stuck under / behind / in, furniture. So also check in / behind / under drawers, wardrobes, low lounges / beds, recliner chairs (don't move leg rest until double-checked), behind fridges, washing machines and dryers. (Always check inside before using, as cats have in these :-( ). Also, behind kitchen cupboards / kick-boards. Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces. Do all of the above many times (in case your cat moves around). Track down where any vehicles (eg tradies / removalist vans) which puss might have entered: call the driver to ask where travelled to. Check cctv cameras & do all of the above there, too. 😞 🙏 Please consider keeping your precious cat indoors and / or invest in a very secure cat enclosure, or catio. (Research has found it adds 10+ years to average age of cats. Safer for cats and wildlife). As responsible adults, we curb children's freedom to keep them safe, similarly for cats :-( 🙏 Update microchip details / ensure correct. Not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate! (One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Ideally, vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan. (Don't solely rely on microchip).🙏 Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have found, your cat. Seek independent evidence (eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc & watch out for AI generated pics, using your cat pic), before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Rick M.

2 weeks ago

Rent or borrow a humane trap. The SPCA and other animal shelters rent them out for $100. When you return the trap you get your $100 back. Place the trap near where the cat escaped. Put some of the cat's favorite food and treats inside of the trap along with an article of your clothing with your scent on it. This method worked for me on two different occasions. If you trap the wrong cat or some other animal, put a blanket over the trap leaving the door exposed. Stand behind the trap and release the animal. Reset the trap. Time is of the essence so do this asap. Good luck and God bless.

Mona M.

2 weeks ago

Praying for a safe return. Please contact your local news station and share any security‑camera photos or video of your cat. They can put it on TV so the community can help identify them someone may recognize the cat and report it. Also call shelters, police departments, and local vets. Lost pets are often picked up and taken to shelters in surrounding areas without the owners knowing. A friend’s pet sat in the SPCA for 12 days before being found, so start checking right away. Also, please share this on your Facebook and to the Nextdoor Neighbor and/or Ring apps for your area for more visibility. Not everyone is on fb or on Neighbor and/or Ring apps.

Mona M.

2 weeks ago

Praying for a safe return 🙏 ❤️Most cats are scared when they get out. They find first safe spot and this is where they stay, this is usually within a half block from your home in any direction. Best time to look is after midnight and up to 3 am when the scary daytime noises stop. Sit outside your house, near the place kitty escaped from. Stay put for at least an hour, talking in a normal tone so kitty can hear you. Have familiar smells with you, like litter box or favorite food or treats. If weather is mild, consider sleeping on your porch. Do this every night, same time...between midnight and 3 am. You could also try walking around the neighborhood. Take a flashlight and shine it to watch for the glow of cat eyes. Take a can of food or treats to shake. something your cat loves. Softly call kitty name. You may have to go several nights in row, at same time. Kitty will be cautious; must know it is you before she shows herself. Listen closely for soft meows...she wants to be found. Don't give up, cats are resilient and smart. I would be so bold as to say 95% of lost cats are within a hundred feet of house but are not found because owner gives up. Cats can be missing for weeks and months, being steps from your house. Many good stories of cats coming home, even after much time passes. Hang flyers in neighborhood. ..people need to know she is missing, so they don't assume she is a stray if they see her. I found my cat after putting flyers on house for blocks in my neighborhood. People have seen her, someone may be feeding her...you have to get word out IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Have neighbors check garages and sheds. She could be trapped in one of those locations. Contact shelters and stay in touch with them. Most importantly, have faith and be consistently persistent in active regular searches AT NIGHT. good luck with getting her back. It will happen. Believe.

Mona M.

2 weeks ago