Wake Forest, NC Lost Male Cat, Ernie Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Will H.

5 years ago

The video said they can be gone for long periods of time. I hope it was just hiding out due to the storm

Will H.

5 years ago

Thanks for all of the tips. Will keep working on finding him!

Marie D.

5 years ago

Put some used litter and dirty clothes on a porch. Cats can scent for a mile or so.

Terry S.

5 years ago

I saw an orange cat tonight behind the Candlewood Suites on Retail Drive while I was walking a client's dog. After I finished with the walk, I first walked back there and then drove, but didn't spot the cat again. I didn't see this post then. I was going to bring him home.

Jane W.

5 years ago

Shared in WF

Rita B.

5 years ago

Very important as some do not have internet or social media. Place at 3 miles out and go further as time goes on

Rita B.

5 years ago

LOST AND FOUND TRIANGLE LINK Post here if you haven’t yet, they have a great following, LOST AND FOUND PETS OF TRIANGLE LINK. They will supply you with tips for effective searching for your pet. Thank you. https://m.facebook.com/lostandfoundpetsofthetriangle/

Rita B.

5 years ago

LOST CAT TIPS Indoor or outdoor? SEARCHING EVERYWHERE IS IMPORTANT, THEY COULD BE STUCK! They act different when lost! Indoor are very close within 3-7 houses but an outdoor has ran and could be up to 17 houses away, they could be stuck and lost and need help! **If Chipped, be sure it is up to date! ** Hope you find your kitty!! The tips below come from rescuers, pet trackers and those that have taken the MAR class to find lost pets. There is a VOLUNTEER group, a TRACKER and a NON PROFIT GROUP toward the bottom of these tips that may can help with your search! Key to getting your cat back: SEARCHING, POSTERS, FEEDING STATION, SCENT, CAMERA AND TRAP! (See Details on all this below) CATS DON’T GO FAR from where they were lost...Be as proactive as possible and SEARCH NOW AND DONT GIVE UP! INDOOR CATS and Cats in unfamiliar area are scared and normally are within 3-7 houses but hiding in silence. BUT DO A THOROUGH CHECK INSIDE. Unless you saw it get out, it could be inside hiding (behind appliances, drawers, box springs etc) CATS can hide in silence for up to 14 days! Search up to 7 houses away with a high-power flashlight at dark looking for eyes, shaking a treat bag, calling name or any sound they are familiar and comfortable with. Look under/in porches, decks, vacant buildings, sheds, drainage pipes, shrubs and bushes, neighbors' garages, crawl spaces, wheel walls on cars - any place a cat could hide. TOO SCARED, THEY MAY NOT MEOW! Check neighbors’ areas too with permission! BUT YOU DO THE SEARCHING, THEY WILL NOT SEARCH AS GOOD AS YOU! INDOOR-OUTDOOR CATS are normally within 17 houses. Something has happened in their territory for them to run. There’s a 90% chance they are “STUCK” somewhere between your house and the next 17 houses. SEARCH NOW EVERY PLACE A CAT CAN GO IN before it’s too late! When an indoor/outdoor cat is lost it is considered an emergency. Cats do not run away from home as dogs tend to do. It means that something has happened to upset the cat’s routine. It could be that it was scared of by a noise or predator and possibly stuck somewhere and not able to get freed or lost! Search up to 17 houses away with a high-power flashlight at dark looking for eyes, shaking a treat bag, calling name or any sound they are familiar and comfortable with. Look under/in porches, decks, vacant buildings, sheds, drainage pipes, shrubs and bushes, neighbors' garages, crawl spaces, wheel walls on cars - any place a cat could hide. TOO SCARED, THEY MAY NOT MEOW! Check neighbors’ areas too with permission! BUT YOU DO THE SEARCHING, THEY WILL NOT SEARCH AS GOOD AS YOU! LEAVE gates, porches, garage doors open so they are able to get back in! Do you have another cat that they live with? Try recording their meows to take with you when searching. This helped one lost cat come home! PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO ASAP TO GET ON THE FAST TRACK TO BECOMING A KNOWLEDGEABLE SEARCHER: How to Find a Lost Cat: https://youtu.be/g2eCoC63B9I (1) SEARCH TO ENSURE THEY ARE NOT STUCK SOMEWHERE! See above base on being indoor or outdoor how far you should search. They could be stuck in yours or neighbors garage, shed, crawlspace, ditches etc. go out at dark with high power flashlight, looking for their eyes, shake treats or smelly food like tuna, call in normal tone, listen for them, let them come to you. Cats hide in silence up to 14 days! Ask neighbors to let you look, don’t rely on them to search as good as you would. YOU DO THE SEARCHING! (2) NOTIFY Animal Control, file a report and GO IN PERSON TO SHELTER checking all cats every 2 days (3) ADS: www.lostmykitty.com,use free option - will send a fax blast to closest vets, shelters in your area. Craigslist, Facebook for your county and state sites such as: https://www.facebook.com/LostFoundDogs.NC/ ( it says dogs but they post all pets) and https://www.facebook.com/groups/769692416445474/, and https://www.facebook.com/groups/227490450607656, and https://www.facebook.com/groups/215658275176038/?ref=share, and https://www.facebook.com/groups/432540950208155/?ref=share, Nextdoor.com (be sure to use the universal option to share pet post everywhere), pawboost.com, petharbor.com, http:/trianglelostpets.org petango.com, https://www.helpinglostpets.com/ https://www.tabbytracker.com local newspaper *YOU CAN ALSO BOOST YOUR FACEBOOK POST TO GET IT TO MORE PEOPLE (COST SOME TO DO THIS) (4) CONTACT local vets, groomers, pet stores, local rescues. (5) NOTIFY NEIGHBORS by making flyers (4 to a page) and handing out to all neighbors, delivery people in your area (mail carrier, fed ex, etc) (6) POSTERS - GET THEM OUT ASAP! Poster sized neon signs at all the intersections in all directions for a 17 house radius (3 mile radius) and go further the longer they are missing. Make them big, bold and neon! Place one in yard, businesses in area, tag your car. Use sheet protectors to keep dry, use this Flyer template here: https://search.petfbi.org/flyer.html (7) FEEDING STATION/SCENT TO LURE HOME: Buy several cans of mackerel and drain the juice into a spray bottle. Add several ounces of water to the mixture and select the "stream" setting. Spray the upper branches of trees and bushes in the area leading up to and around the food station. You can use can cat food and smear on trees and on ground leading back toward your food station setup. The smell can help lure to the food station. Repeat every 2 days unless it rains. If it rains, spray again when rain stops. Set up a food station with a bowl consisting of "stinky" food - sardines, canned cat food, boneless cooked chicken, etc. and a bowl of water and a camera. Position the camera so that you can see the food on camera to see who is eating. Also, leave a scent item of yours such as a stinky pair of socks, dirty shirt, shoes close to the food station. Once spotted on camera, buy or borrow a humane trap and cover with something like your dirty shirt or sheet. Can you leave door open where they got out safely? If you have a garage, leave it open slightly with feeding station set up and camera. (8) Place SMALL AMT. of their used litter in a in plastic bag with an opening for scent to get out but hung up where predators can’t reach (9) HANG out worn clothing, blankets, etc with your scent on it, their bedding to help them smell their way home (very keen sense of smell) (10)CAT CONSULTATION with this cat search expert: Kim Freeman/Lost Cat Finder https://www.lostcatfinder.com *GATHER A PET SCENT ITEM TO STORE (in case you decide on a track later if spotted): Put on gloves, gather scented item from your pet, if it’s a big bed or something big, wipe down with some cotton gauze and place the toy and/or gauze into plastic bag and place in freezer. Place pet name and date on bag! More great tips here: https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/lost-cat-behavior/ Try calling Tracey, she is a volunteer who is MARS trained and can possibly give some advice: https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/mar-directory/cppi-piedmont-region/?fbclid=IwAR0x-NskTgDFEr-BmKIHEmfqu9IBvgRazJga2sd1givctMspPwt-NrHaI3s Here is the link to a volunteer group who can help you plan your search at no charge, Missing Animal Response trained: https://www.facebook.com/LARGcares/ Contact Erin with this great non profit group who uses a variety of tools to help missing pets get home in NC https://www.facebook.com/k9soncall/ Contact to track or consultation: https://www.facebook.com/TheFelineFinders/ Try calling Baylinda Brown, 919-418-7953 a tracker with her dog, Bravo who can help with a recovery plan and help with effective flyers: https://bravok911.com When you spot them, don’t chase, try this: https://www.animalwised.com/how-to-approach-a-scared-cat-2515.html?fbclid=IwAR0lYxG9AaYNGkOOPLRHHZK9o4gT1QPRP-Z8ibmhy4IXgq1JX-t5rivT5D8 GO TO THE SHELTER AND CHECK FOR THEM ..about 85% of pets that are adopted from shelters are strays and their owners never came for them...

Karen S.

5 years ago

Call Safe Haven For Cats and borrow a cat trap . - bait as they direct - cats are usually close to home but get spooked and won’t come - put up flyers - check shelter often - cat a pet tracker To track your cat - look under houses , in sheds, in drain pipes abs sewers

Robi Q.

5 years ago

Poor baby! I hope he is home soon

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