Palo Alto, CA Lost Male Cat, Junior Is Missing

Damia F.

2 years ago

Dear guardian, please do not give up..hoping to give you a boost of energy and inspiration to dedicate today to starting over and doubling down on your coverage.......PRINT more flyers to post up beyond your block and on your block if the old ones are worn .... put new ones in the poly clear sheet protectors with the opening facing down so they last...and continue talking to neighbors TODAY, dog walkers.....IMPORTANT: continue to call for Kitty throughout the day ESPECIALLY at night 10pm-6am..take a walk around the block after 9pm and keep calling for kitty in a calm voice. During the day, knock on your neighbors doors again to remind them that kitty is still missing and you need their help to spot him...ask neighbors with RING cameras to check their footage...PLACE A CAMERA facing out the escape door with food and watch footage daily - you can't believe how many times a cat will return home - eat - has no way of getting back inside and the owners stops going out at night so the cat disappears back into the night...you may see other cats, raccoons and other creatures eat the food..that's ok...replace the WET food only (raccoons LOVE dry cat food so wet is better) you can buy motion sensor camera on amazon over night - connect to wifi...OR a wild life camera with playback feature (battery operated - no wifi needed) ...continue to check the shelters online daily and in person once a week. Many cats are reunited long after a month of being 'lost' - don't stop searching every day every night...keep posting updates on Nextdoor and here - keep flyering and spending the word in person...sending you LOVE ..xoxo Damia Foti

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Damia F.

2 years ago

Tasha Brooks oh wow good to know...ignore that part of my LONG post ... Do you know if he got out in the front or back? Do consider updating your location to say the street you live on and the nearest cross street. If he got out from the back, include all 4 streets of your block ..call for him late night when it's quiet out...leave a way back in...consider facing a motion sensitive camera which door he escaped , facing the food bowl ...sometimes scared cats will actually eat the food and still hide out...( though he could be stuck at a neighbor's residence). ..praying for your sweet angel to get back home. xoxox

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Damia F.

2 years ago

Lost Cats tend to hide nearby in SILENCE and may come forward during the day though most come forward late night...most times I’ve found lost cats within 1-3 houses away - many times kitty is hiding within the property (basement..laundry room..in the nearest bushes in complete silence) or just next door! And UNLESS your kitty is SUPER FRIENDLY to complete strangers, the likelihood of kitty getting picked up and brought to SF animal care & control (SFACC) is just not reality ..at least not for a long while..shy or skittish cats either have to be purposefully trapped or they may eventually get so desperate that they finally approach a (hopefully nice) human. This is why you must take ACTION! Call out for kitty in a NORMAL calm voice throughout the day and especially LATE NIGHT. During the day, spread the word to neighbors knocking door by door, distributing door notes and posting up flyers. Print a google map of your block with address #s showing and take notes on who you spoke to and who to keep trying (if not home) this systematic approach helps you stay on track in making sure every single resident is aware of your kitty and ask them to search their garages, storage units, yards, under porches …. Kitty could be hiding nearby OR STUCK - so you must cover ALL possibilities! Do NOT give up whatsoever...Lost Cat ‘Clementine’ was finally spotted after 29 days 1.5 yards away! a neighbor who we flyered and spoke to 2 weeks earlier spotted kitty in her backyard and we ended up having to trap her because she remained in survival mode and wouldn't come forward to her human (a few days later she was back to normal). And then there was lost cat ‘Lina’ of 2 weeks was spotted returning home (video footage in backyard) but was too scared to come inside - the owner had to coax her for hours and hours for 2 nights...each cat is different and needs our patience and determination… It is in your hands to remain determined and take much needed action. I've had 100% success rate finding lost cats by following my own advice. I’m passionate because I know how stressful it is with kitty out there. Search for kitty every single day and night. And Do NOT lose hope! You WILL find kitty. Let me know if you need help creating the Flyers or the ‘5 on a page Door Notes’ (free on www.happycatlady.com) I'm happy to send you final draft for printing; Don’t worry not charge I just want to help if I can. Note: I usually order PRINTS online for pick up at the nearest Fedex (cheaper than most places) and then I call the store to ask if they can PLEASE print my flyers right away and when they learn about lost kitty - they ALWAYS do! Also , you can buy tape and the clear poly sheet protectors there to shield your flyers from getting ruined in the weather - Post flyers up around your block asap - Print out a google map of your block including across the street with the #s showing so you can mark off who you spoke to in person and which houses you need to try again - explaining to neighbors how cats hide and come out at odd times (if not stuck) is important as many people do not know about cat behavior. Buy GOOD TAPE! Wishing you love and sustained hope…xoxxoxo

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Damia F.

2 years ago

Dear neighbor. I'm so sorry about your sweet kitty. Do NOT give up... I’ve been helping neighbors find their lost cats since COVID. (hobby/obsession/passionate about cats) My heart goes out to you as I know the worry...BUT please know you can find your sweet kitty .... #1 mistake is Waiting to take action. Glad you posted. A good start! … IMPORTANT TIPS: Taking ACTION TODAY in person is CRUCIAL. Cats that are not used to being outside or get spooked by someone or something - will find the 1st place to hide and HUNKER DOWN in SILENCE - They tend to remain VERY NEAR. Cats that are scared and in foreign environment will often NOT meow/ respond to calls even from their human (at first) ...though Kitty still needs to HEAR you and keep hearing you (until kitty THINKS it’s safe to come forward) - so do NOT stop calling out... Kitty is in survival mode and meowing would give away the hiding spot to predators. Outside is strange for indoor cat..with wind & loud noises.. Be patient...Don't give up! Kitty is out there. ** NOTE: people often will see a cat outside and just think kitty is an indoor/outdoor cat and won't do anything unless they know your cat is missing! CALL for kitty consistently throughout the day and ESPECIALLY TONIGHT from 10:30 PM until 6AM (when it’s quiet, dark and cats feel ‘safer’ to move out of hiding) Set your alarm for every 1.5 hours...go out and call for kitty in your NORMAL, CALM voice & wait...shake treats (if that is something kitty normally responds to) I can’t tell you how many kitties come out of hiding during these late hours…(or you can hear meows if trapped in your next door neighbors garage or backyard for example) TODAY ASAP - PRINT FLYERS to give your neighbors and to POST UP. Print 100 Flyers and KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOORS, starting with your block - with the first 5 neighbors to the left, 5 to the right, 5-10 across the street (if escaped from front) and 5+ neighbors directly behind around the block (if escaped from back) POST UP FLYERS on streetlamps (be sure to place each flyer iinside a clear poly protective sheet cover - with the open flap facing down. Flyer sheet protectors On amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Protectors-11-inch-Binder-Plastic-Sleeves/dp/B09CFT16L7/ref=sxts_rp_s_a1_0?crid=1O8BM8WXXA00F&cv_ct_cx=sheet+protectors+heavy+duty&keywords=sheet+protectors+heavy+duty&pd_rd_i=B09CFT16L7&pd_rd_r=e640853a-89b4-4add-adaf-e80da3f26397&pd_rd_w=sJfNb&pd_rd_wg=6xrK1&pf_rd_p=ef09fc8b-f6fe-450c-ac89-05f354bc6e1d&pf_rd_r=SX1T348XMR1M3PHQ3AMC&psc=1&qid=1646501660&sprefix=sheet+protector%2Caps%2C205&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e This is so the weather doesn’t ruin them. You can also google: “protective sheet covers” or you can purchase at FEDEX store near you when you can pick up your prints (order online for pick up even if they’re closed. call once open , reference the order # and kindly ask if they can PRINT right away due to the urgency. I have found that if you’re nice, fedex staff will always will print quickly. NOTE: They sell the poly sheet protectors and tape which makes it all convenient as a 1-stop shop. MANY are NOT on Facebook or Nextdoor (or dont’ get notifications at all) so you MUST go door to door, around your block and across the street - to make sure every neighbor knows. Be meticulous - do not skip. Leave a flyer at the very least in a mailbox or taped to the door. Take notes on google map printout of which address #s didn’t answer the door and GO BACK and try again - ASK neighbors to check their yards / garages /sheds / side of house now and again at night with a flashlight to see cat eye reflection. Kitty could be stuck / trapped (this happens all the time!) and talking to your neighbors will help engage them into helping keep vigilant. Leave the ‘escape’ DOOR/WINDOW OPEN slightly now and all night with litter box outside, bedding (+food/water). If escaped from the front (and you have a garage) leave garage door open 5" with litter box and food/water inside. If kitty escape from back, leave back door slightly open with litter box + food. Leaving A WAY BACK IN for kitty to sneak inside when you’re out searching or you may be sleeping is helpful! Less than 10% percent of cats return home on their own...Do not stop searching for kitty every single day/night (though praying for your reunion today). kitty needs you to search in all these ways online and IN PERSON - BE persistent. BE determined - RE: Online, Post on www.Nextdoor com under ‘lost & found’ and ‘cat owners’ and report on ‘Pawboost’. ** Also post on Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lostpetinsanfrancisco/. Send your Lost Cat flyer to SFACC to this email: sfacc.frontdesk@sfgov.org to report kitty is lost as well as 24petconnect.com (was previoiusly petharbor) and then check back regularly for found pets in your area. Everything you do adds up to help find kitty! Stay positive...Your kitty is most likely hiding NEARBY. You will lose sleep searching late night and that's ok - set your alarm over and over - I can't tell you how many people find their kitties between 10pm-6am! You can do this! Wishing you sustained HOPE dear neighbor and Praying for kitty’s safe journey home to you soon. xoxo , damia foti 650.339.6619 FLYERS: Download a flyer ‘template’ to use on www.happycatlady.com The flyer offers a reward for anyone who sends you a photo of your kitty...to hopefully motivate neighbors to search more than once and to keep your flyer so if they do see kitty they’ll call text you...and no to approach and potentially scare kitty. Also if someone sends you a photo of your kitty you know it’s not a scam. * NEW * ‘DOOR NOTES / SLIPS: ( 5 per page TEMPLATE) These are a great alternative to using the full page flyers for door to door distribution. I use the full page flyers to post up in the neighborhood and I use the smaller door notes to distribute door to door :https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lpD_hsqdPD1AFLYZmhyMEXvirsI0rNv1F5ebgxyNCxY/edit?usp=sharing’ Download then edit with your kitty’s info P.S.** BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS **who will text you saying they saw or have your kitty and need YOU to PROVE who you are by giving other phone numbers etc .that’s a scam - or they will tell you meet them somewhere BUT WON'T Send you a photo of Kittie (they'll make up any excuse) Please ignore or tell them to bug off!. Believe me, If a neighbor sees your cat they will give you info freely and not play any weird ‘prove it’ game… LOST CAT BEHAVIOR: https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/lost-cat-behavior/?fbclid=IwAR2TVTKr_650EgLcxKatx88r-TIS2K5y6_X2E3-SmYzBsdra1upM2a5qomk