Cortlandt, NY Lost Female Cat, Zaza Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Linda T.

13 hours ago

Most Effective Ways to Help a Lost Cat Find Home: Immediately: Search at dusk and dawn — cats are most active then and more likely to respond Call their name in a calm, quiet voice — not loud, which can frighten them further Shake their favorite treat bag or food container — that sound is deeply familiar Leave their litter box outside — this actually IS very effective because the smell is extremely strong and distinctly theirs Leave your worn clothing outside — this does help, combined with other methods Actively search: Check hiding spots — under porches, decks, bushes, in garages Ask neighbors to check sheds and garages Search within a 3-5 house radius first — scared cats often hide very close by Spread the word: Post on Nextdoor, Facebook local groups, and Lost Cats of Saratoga groups Create flyers with a clear photo and your phone number Contact Saratoga County Animal Shelter immediately Leave familiar things outside: Their litter box (most effective scent item) Their bed or blanket A bowl of their food

Linda T.

1 day ago

First it is suggested that you crack your windows open as the one thing an indoor cat knows is the smell of their house. Second, when an indoor cat gets out they are usually very close to their home - usually a couple of hundred feet. They will find some place to hunker down and stay there until they are hungry or thirsty. They will come out in the middle of the night (not at dawn or dusk when predators may be around). Do not leave lights on as cat may feel more secure venturing out when it is darker. It is also suggested if it is safe to do so to leave door that tge cat got out of cracked opened with a bowl of water and bowl of smelly food like tuna inside door with camera on the door that will alert you when there is any movement. Put out an article of your unwashed clothing and bedding- they can recognize the scent and it may help them find their way home. Indoor cats do not travel far they may be hiding nearby- check under porches, bushes and even under a parked car. If you call her/him, call gently- do look while it's dark and quiet- - Put flyers with photo and decent reward in your local Stewarts; post on Steve Caparizzo's FB page and your neighborhood Nextdoor app as well as Pawboost asap! Notify your neighbors!! Let the animal shelter and the own animal control officer know as well. Post a flyer with the cat's picture and a reward in local Stewart's etc. If someone has picked them up, seeing the flyer with a reward may motivate them to return the kitty to you. All that helped me get my boy back. I will pray for your cat’s safe return real soon! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Shubh M.

2 days ago

Most lost cats come home/ are found between midnight-5 am so that’s a good time to look. Door to door with flyers in the area and flyers with nearby vets and shelters really helps. If sighted, It’s better not to chase, lost cats are even more skittish and spooked outside and will even run from their owners. If possible, it’s better to sit at ground level and talk in a normal voice, which will bring them closer to you. Even better, bring some food, smellier the better - tuna, shrimp, rotisserie chicken. If you can safely leave a door or window cracked open specially at night, the cat might walk back in. They can get locked by mistake in sheds garages and basements, ask neighbors to check and if they can leave doors open for a while. A frightened cat in hiding probably won’t come out when people are around.

Nayak S.

2 days ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Julielyn L.

2 days ago

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Donna G.

2 days ago

Shared

Kate B.

2 days ago

Shared

Margie C.

2 days ago

Humane Trap ASAP

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Betty N.

2 days ago

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Tracey D.

2 days ago

I’m so sorry. My cat was missing for 18 months and it was terrible. I did find her and want to share what worked. Don't give up! It's important that you do a few things. 1. Cats rarely travel far so make sure you check every shed, basement, etc that she could have gotten trapped in or might be hiding in. Check even if you’ve previously checked because sometimes cats wander off, get injured and then return and hide. 2. Make flyers (Pawboost has a free flyer and will post online as well as offer hints for finding her) with her picture and hand them to your neighbors. Ask them to check their basements, sheds, etc. People are much more invested in the search if they've talked to you personally rather than just seeing a flyer or a post on social media Scour the neighborhood and keep a list of all the homes that have received a flyer and talked to you. 3. Since not everyone is on social media, post the flyer at local businesses, grocery stores, libraries and vet offices - every place you can think of. 4. Make sure ALL vets, rescues and emergency clinics ( there are more than you think!) have the flyer and your contact information. If she gets injured, someone may take her directly to a vet for care. 5. Give the flyer to shelters and rescues so they can be on the lookout if someone brings her in as a stray. I would check IN PERSON every few days as the shelters are overwhelmed and may not get back to you. Or honestly notice it’s your cat. Make sure you check the feral/barn cat admissions too. Many scared cats are miscategorized as feral. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is to go in person and to go often. 6. Ask neighbors if anyone has security cameras and see if you can review the footage. Ask to set humane traps once you’ve narrowed her location. Mackerel and KFC seem to work best as bait. Make sure you monitor the traps closely so no animals die of heat/cold or are attacked by predators while in the trap. 7. If she is microchipped, contact the company to alert them that she is missing and to make sure your contact information is up-to-date. 8. Post in all the lost pet groups and any community groups for your area on social media. Again, there are more than you think! Post regularly until you find her. 9. Make sure you replace the flyers regularly, post relentlessly on social media and keep checking with rescues, vets and neighbors. Keep posting! Don’t give up! There are millions of cats in shelters who never get reunited with their families because people give up too soon. I hope you find her soon!

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