Irvine, CA Lost Female Cat, Mingus Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lauren E.

1 hour ago

I lost my kitty Nicholas at an Irvine apt complex 15 years ago. At that time I could find no information on how to find him. Luckily I found him three days later. I put these tips together to help others find their lost babies. TIPS TO FIND YOUR CAT: 1. Kitties usually stay close by their home, they hide in a bush or some small dark place and just sit and wait. Even if you call them, they may not come because they are freaked out and scared. 2. A cat's world is centered around scents. They will not be familiar with the outdoor scents because they have never been there before. To help them smell their way home, put things outside that smell like home, like you. A used towel, dirty shirt, dirty shoes, the kitties bedding. Leave the items out and sit with the door open as much as possible. If the kitty comes back in the door just remain calm and talk to the kitty normal until you can close the door behind him. 3. Do not put food out, you will attract other animals that may keep your cat away. You can walk around with smelly food or shaking treats, but don't leave it outside. 4. Walk around the neighborhood calling your kitty normally. Don't use a panicked voice, it will scare the kitty more. Best to only have people whose voice your kitty would normally come to. They will not come to a kind stranger helping you search. The kitty will catch your scent and hear your voice, and follow it back to your house. Most cats are within 200 cat yards. Which means if there is a fence, you couldn't get over, you would go around, but the cat could go right over. So keep that in mind when checking out 200 yards. 5. Pass out fliers to neighbors and talk to everyone, especially kids and dog walkers. It is a great idea to offer kids $20 if they find your cat and can tell you where he is. Kids love money and a challenge. 6. Check closed garages. Listen for meows when you call. 7. Use a flashlight under bushes and dark places, even during the day. The light will reflect off their eyes. This is how I found Nicholas, in a bush I walked by at least 20 times and didn't see him until I used the flashlight. 8. Sleep with the windows open, you may hear them crying at night. Lost kitties feel safest coming out late at night-early morning. 9. Check the shelter every day. 10. If your lost cat has a cat friend at home, take the cat or dog you have at home out in a secure carrier or on a leash and walk around with him or sit with him outside. Hopefully the other lost cat will hear and smell him. Dogs are good at finding lost cats. 11. Social Media - Facebook, Nextdoor, CraigsList, and PawBoost Lost & Found. 12. Vets have told me that indoor kitties that get lost are too scared to come out of hiding, even for food. It could be at least 10 days before your kitty gets hungry enough to come out of his safe hiding spot, so don't give up too soon. Once kitties do come out they will make a big circle around the area trying to find something that smells like home. So the more you walk out from your house and back, like a wagon wheel formation, the more your scent out there for kitty to follow when he gets brave. 13. If you have a garage, leave it cracked open, kitty may find his way back in. 14. Be careful of scammers. There are terrible people out there that pretend they have your cat but can never find time to meet up with you to return the cat. They are trying to make you frantic to give them money. 15. Check trees too, just found my cat 20 feet up a tree, couldn't get down. 16. Check inside, cabinets, closets, behind books. We have found cats sitting behind books on shelves, sleeping inside clothes in the closet, and in a hole in the wall behind a wall unit. 17. You can purchase a Havahart cat safe trap from Amazon. Watch the video on how to use it. Do not leave it unattended because you don’t want to try and release an angry raccoon. If you watch for a distance you can chase off wild critters. Have a plan if you catch another cat. This other cat may be keeping your cat away. So hopefully your shelter will take him. Maybe he is lost too and you saved him. Or maybe he is a stray and having a check up at the shelter will benefit him, and give your cat a chance to come home if this cat was keeping him away.

Suzan R.

14 hours ago

Karina Callejas If you hang out your clothing your scent travels up to 11 miles - sharing a success story - the girl wrote that she sprayed her perfume on the 4 tires of her car and the cat was found under the car the next day. If a cat is very afraid and hiding - it is in the flight or fright mode- even with you standing above their head calling out to them - they are paralyzed with fear - and will not move. BUT she may be at the point where when you come and look for her can recognize your voice. I would not discount setting up a scent station using your clothing or worn shoes - NOT her blanket and litterbox as so many do - a professional tracker said they already know what they smell like they are looking for the owners smell. All the best.

Karina C.

16 hours ago

Thank you! I really don’t think she’s gonna find her way home. I have to go find her, she’s only ever escaped one other time since I’ve had her the last five years and that time I got her within the day because I was looking relentlessly. It’s been 4 days now 😔

Karina C.

16 hours ago

Thank you! No sheds or garages where I live, just patios and balconies 😭

Ing A.

17 hours ago

🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘

22 hours ago

bump for visibility leave your shoes outside

Joseph S.

24 hours ago

Check on other nearby streets, especially in the evening with a flashlight, calling out to her and making a familiar sound. Also, ask neighbors if she may be trapped in their garage or shed. I hope she is found soon🙏🏻

Rosemary P.

1 day ago

Please call the Irvine animal shelter and let them know you lost your cat. Someone may drop it off there. Fax a flyer of your Cat as well. Keep checking with the shelter.

Rosemary P.

1 day ago

Urgent You must use every spare second you have to look for your cat. Indoor cats are very afraid to be outside. They are usually very close to home hiding under bushes or something. Please go to all your neighbors and ask them if you can check their backyards and their garages Cats have been known to hide in their neighbors backyards and in their neighbors garages. It is critical and most important that you post hundreds of flyers everywhere. Post them on all lamp posts and stop signs for miles and miles. I’ve heard several stories where people have seen the flyers, saw the cat roaming and called the owners. Make sure you do this immediately and use duct tape. Scotch tape is flimsy and the flyers fall down. Please make sure these flyers are up every day. They can save your cats life. If the gardeners take them down, put them back up. It is critical also that you call your shelter several times while your cat is lost and ask if someone has dropped your cat off there. Fax a flyer of your cat to them. Also, when it gets dark out at night, please get out with the flashlight look everywhere for your cat and call its name. Bring cat food. Listen for it meows. Not everyone is on Facebook so please post daily on all lost pet sites and nextdoor.com. Your neighborhood watch. Make sure your post is up every day. Someone may find your cat. Walk for blocks sometimes cats roam blocks away and can be in someone’s yard. Call your Cat’s name get everyone you know to get out and look for your cat. I pray you get your baby back as soon as possible. Keep checking Paw boost every day to see if someone has posted they found your cat. Please make sure those flyers are up every single day. I could save your cat life. If you live in your apartment complex, I would ask the apartment manager in the leasing office if you could put some flyers up in case your cat jumped over there. Be sure to let her know and bring a flyer to her office. Someone may go in there and say they found a cat.

Suzan R.

1 day ago

General Information: Indoor cats are usually close to home. Check any and all hiding places in your home - closets, under side of mattress. Hang clothes with your scent on it (Worn clothing from owner) high up outside so the familiar scent can travel and guide the cat back home. Ask your neighbors to check their yard/could be accidently stuck in their garage or shed. (If applicable) Check doorbell or home camera - or ask neighbors to check their camera. Post Fliers with a picture of the cat and your contact information in the area the cat went missing. Not everyone is on Social Media and posters have worked in that if spotted a location can be provided. If a cat is scared they make themselves safe by finding a good hiding spot and often times hide in silence. Look in bushes - bring a flashlight and look for shining eyes. Best time to find your cat is in the early morning hours when the noise level is low and they feel safe. Leave an access point open for the cat to return. This is important if they do come back in the middle of the night. Prayers your cat returns/ or is found safely. Beware of scammers.

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