Haines City, FL Lost Male Cat, Bailey Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Line B.

3 months ago

Thank you for all the comments. He is still missing but I have a lead at the animal rescue that I will call tomorrow. I’m hoping it’s him 🤞🏻🥺

Kandace S.

3 months ago

Shared 🙏 ❤️

Denise M.

3 months ago

Put flyers all around too, cause not everyone has internet. Check with neighbors to look in garage and sheds. Go in person to Animal Control ASAP, in case kitty taken there. Go immediately, they dont hold animals very long. I seen a cat recentlu gone 105 days and returned home, and some cases even longer. Gives us hope. Sending lots of prayers your kitty returns home. Also check Pawboost site for Found Cats & other Lost/Found sites.

Diana E.

3 months ago

I’m so sorry your beautiful tuxedo cat got outside, but please try not to despair -- Bailey is likely hiding close to his escape route, too frightened to come when called or emerge in the daylight. Most indoor cats will attempt to return on their own, usually within the first few nights if the conditions are just right, so although it's been longer, if you know what to expect and how to react, you could have him back inside by morning. I've recovered many escaped cats and have a full set of instructions, but I’ll withhold them for now, hopeful you won’t need them. This is what I suggest you do and when: DURING THE DAYTIME, alert nearby neighbors in case Bailey is hiding just beyond your property (under a vehicle, in a garage, shed, or carport, etc.), then, if there’s time before dark and you can search SILENTLY without dislodging him from his hiding spot, focus your efforts close to home and tiptoe around using a flashlight, but be quiet and discreet so as not to frighten him (shhh! DO NOT CALL or shake treats), check every crack and crevice, look in, under and around sheds, vehicles, furniture, under foundations and porches, into trees etc. but suspend searching when it gets dark to give him the chance to return voluntarily. AT DUSK lay a familiar blanket or worn teeshirt flat on the doorstep where he escaped (DO NOT USE a litter box, bedding, trap or anything obvious -- it's there for scent only) to give Bailey the confidence to come out of hiding, and place tempting food in front of the door (making sure you can still open it when he returns). Call him softly to provide a familiar sound and direction, then watch and listen closely from inside (DO NOT GO BACK OUT AFTER DARK!) and if you see Bailey approach and settle on the food be very careful not to startle him as you slowly and quietly provide a clear path back inside. If you can't wait up set an alarm and watch again just before sunrise -- it's a popular time to return. Please let me know what happens tonight and if he's not back by morning, I'll provide more detailed instructions. Also, although some suggest putting out kitty's litter box, EXPERTS WARN AGAINST IT. I've never used one in all the times I've been successful recovering a lost cat. Please read this to learn more about why it's neither necessary nor recommended: https://www.facebook.com/notes/lost-cats-georgia/why-we-dont-recommend-putting-your-lost-cats-litter-box-outside/1101245526665296/

Paula V.

3 months ago

The only way a lost cat can find its way home is with its nose. Immediately anything with the cat's scent on it and anything that stinks of you like your smelly socks something that you sweated in overnight and your stinky sneakers even your dirty clothes and your underwear! Cats usually stay within a five house radius of their own home for up to a week sleeping in the bushes and coming out at dusk Dawn and late at night. These are good times to take walks shaking the treat bag and calling for them. Cats can smell up to a whole mile away. So do that immediately and also put this on nextdoor. com and the other lost and found pet sites. Go on those sites looking at pics of found cats too. There might be a match.They tend to come home late at night or early in the morning so if you can keep a window cracked or a door cracked so at least you hear them. Good luck IF YOU HAVE FOUND A CAT: Please post this on all the lost and found pet pages in your county as well as all the neighborhood pages. Look on those pages just look at the photos try to make a match to someone that lost this cat. Almost certainly a pet that got out. I did see a similar looking cat on one of the pages. Any vet will check for a chip for free. In the meantime please give food and water to the kitty and shelter if you can.

Deborah N.

3 months ago

Diana Ellis

Kimberly P.

3 months ago

My indoor only male black cat got out once. We put out all the scents. Old blankets, our unwashed clothes, his scratch post, his empty dirty litter box, vacuum dust etc. My nextdoor neighbor would see him trying to return during the day while we were at work. Then get scared and run off into nearby woods. I started setting my alarm for 3am while it was quiet and go out calling him. Finally after 5 days I heard him crying in very thick bushes Nextdoor to our house. I saw his eyes with my flashlight. I had to literally crawl to get him. He was like afraid to move. I finally got him . They usually don’t travel far. They will hunker down close by.

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