Pretoria, GP Lost Male Cat, Snoppy Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Gideon C.

4 weeks ago

I got this from a Durban animal group. It has helped a lot of people get reunited with their missing kitties Missing cats: The search has to start immediately. Don’t wait 3 days because a cat can travel a km every 2-3 days. 1. Put food out in your garden (Pilchards or chicken) immediately and watch the bowl while calling his/ her name. 2. Give some food to your immediate neighbours - if they see him, they will most likely not mind putting food out and keeping an eye on it. 3. Call your cat as soon as you’ve discovered him/ her missing. Keep calling to keep the cat close by. 4. Be loud, don’t worry about the neighbours. 5. If microchipped, activate the cat as “missing” on the cat’s microchip (via the app). Always make sure your details are up to date. 6. Notify all vets in the area. 7. Report to the all SPCAs in the area and physically go there to check the cats that have been brought in. They most likely are too busy and won’t call you. 8. Post on all whatsapp groups and Facebook. 9. VIP: State ALL details on the cat: area, breed, colour, , sterilised, microchipped. Eg if she’s a calico, state “calico”. If siamese or a black cat, state that. This makes it easier for people to search for and find the post. 10. For Facebook, tag ALL the lost/ missing pages you can find and make sure you are FOLLOWING them. Also check that your notifications are ON for the post. 11. Check back for any updates or replies. Don’t post and then forget about it. Update the post if the cat is found. 12. Have colour posters made and put them up in your areas, at shops, vets, schools, businesses etc. 13. Hand them out to security guards. Check in with them regularly, they are the eyes and ears on the streets when it’s late and cats are most likely to be wandering around. 14. Scent: 15. Walk the streets away from and back to your home on all routes available, in slip-slops or barefoot if possible. 16. Shake the food bag and call, especially early mornings 4am-6am and in the evenings when the roads are quiet: from 4pm onwards, start later for busier roads. 17. Drop little bits of used litter on the pavement along the way (Hansel and Gretel style). 18. Call near the drains too. Cats hide in them and you don’t want him/ her getting lost in the maze. 19. Ask neighbours to check all sheds/ garages/ gardens etc. Cats get locked in quite often. 20. Put unwashed laundry in your front and back gardens. He/ she needs your scent to find the way home. 21. Find out if there are any feral colonies around and who the feeder is. 22. Contact all local rescues near you. If someone thinks they’ve seen your cat in their garden, ask them to put food and water out and ask them to keep any dogs and children away. Get there as soon as possible with food, a carrier and his/ her blanket. If they feed the cat, he will more than likely stay there. Take a carrier, sit down near him and reassure him that’s you. It will take some time for him to trust that it is you, so be patient. Lure him in with food right at the back of the carrier. Once he is eating inside, close the door. Cats are scared when lost so you need to be very calm and quiet when you do this. Speak in a low, calm voice. NEVER try to grab a frightened cat because they will jump out of your hands and bolt. Once home, keep your cat locked in a room with NO escape routes for at least two weeks to “ground” him at home. Make sure your housekeeper and kids know to not open any windows or leave the door open. Spend lots of time with your cat in the room. If your cat is allowed to wander off your property during the day, that in itself is a danger, try to avoid that if at all possible. Even though they are more active at night, they will get used to being inside. Cats should never be allowed to wander at night. Calling an animal communicator is also an option, many have great success. Animal communicators Alyssa Smith 0794947200 Shonelle Deolall 0836539320 Cherece Du Plessis 0846461909 If you go this route, please understand that a cat doesn’t have Google Maps in his head, he can relate images which we have to find and / or interpret. Doing the groundwork is the most important part of finding your cat. A communicator can get you close, you have to do the rest. It can be very hard and very daunting, don’t give up - your cat is relying on you to find him, or he may be convinced to overcome his fear and seek help from another human. NB: If you have moved to a new home, your cats must be locked in a room for 3 weeks and then inside the home for another 2-3 weeks. Outside time should be supervised with a harness and please make your home cat-safe (electric fences are very effective). NEVER: take your cat to a vet/ the beach/ a park/ in your car in a box or in your arms. This is the fastest way to lose them, no matter how chilled and loving they are at home. Once out of their “safe space”, the unfamiliar sounds and smells will frighten your cat and he will become a single-minded machine, intent on escaping and hiding. Only ever transport your cat in a secure carrier. Always double-check the clips and the door. While still young, calling your kitten by his name often will help him to learn it, recognise it and come to you. By Take Me Home Kitten Adoptions - Durban

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