Damia F.
2 years ago
I'm so sorry about your sweet kitty. IMPORTANT TIPS: Taking ACTION TODAY in person is CRUCIAL. Cats that are not used to being outside or get spooked by someone or something - will find the 1st place to hide and HUNKER DOWN in SILENCE - They tend to remain VERY NEAR. Cats that are scared and in foreign environment will often NOT meow/ respond to calls even from their human (at first) ...though Kitty still needs to HEAR you and keep hearing you (until kitty THINKS it’s safe to come forward) - so do NOT stop calling out... Kitty is in survival mode and meowing would give away the hiding spot to predators. Outside is strange for indoor cat..with wind & loud noises.. Be patient...Don't give up! Kitty is out there.
CALL for kitty consistently throughout the day and ESPECIALLY TONIGHT from 10:30 PM until 6AM (when it’s quiet, dark and cats feel ‘safer’ to move out of hiding) Set your alarm for every 1.5 hours...go out and call for kitty in a CALM voice & wait...shake treats (if that is something kitty normally responds to) I can’t tell you how many kitties come out of hiding during these late hours…(or you can hear meows if trapped in your next door neighbors garage or backyard for example)
TODAY ASAP - PRINT FLYERS to give your neighbors and to POST UP. Print 100 Flyers and KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOORS, starting with your block - with the first 5 neighbors to the left, 5 to the right, 5-10 across the street (if escaped from front) and 5+ neighbors directly behind around the block (if escaped from back) POST UP FLYERS on streetlamps /trees in clear poly sheet protectors so they withstand the weather + rain. example→ google search “ Amazon Basics Clear Sheet Protector for 3 Ring Binder, 8.5" x 11" - 100-Pack ”
MANY are NOT on Facebook or Nextdoor (or dont’ get notifications at all) so you MUST go door to door, around your block and across the street - to make sure every neighbor knows. Be meticulous - do not skip. Leave a flyer at the very least in a mailbox or taped to the door. Take notes on google map printout of which address #s didn’t answer the door and GO BACK and try again - ASK neighbors to check their yards / garages /sheds / side of house now and again at night with a flashlight to see cat eye reflection. Kitty could be stuck / trapped (this happens all the time!) and talking to your neighbors will help engage them into helping keep vigilant.
Leave the ‘escape’ DOOR/WINDOW OPEN slightly now and all night with litter box outside, bedding (+food/water). If escaped from the front (and you have a garage) leave garage door open 5" with litter box and food/water inside. If kitty escape from back, leave back door slightly open with litter box + food. Leaving A WAY BACK IN for kitty to sneak inside when you’re out searching or you may be sleeping is helpful!
Less than 10% percent of cats return home on their own...Do not stop searching for kitty every single day/night (though praying for your reunion today). kitty needs you to search in all these ways online and IN PERSON - BE persistent. BE determined - RE: Online, Post on www.Nextdoor com under ‘lost & found’ and ‘cat owners’ and report on ‘Pawboost’. ** Also post on Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lostpetinsanfrancisco/. Send your Lost Cat flyer to SFACC to this email: sfacc.frontdesk@sfgov.org to report kitty is lost and then check back petharbor daily for found pets in your area.
Everything you do adds up to help find kitty! Stay positive...Your kitty is most likely hiding NEARBY. You will lose sleep searching late night and that's ok - set your alarm over and over - I can't tell you how many people find their kitties between 10pm-6am! You can do this! Wishing you sustained HOPE dear neighbor and Praying for kitty’s safe journey home to you soon. xoxo , damia foti 650.339.6619
FLYERS: Download a flyer ‘template’ to use on www.happycatlady.com The flyer offers a reward for anyone who sends you a photo of your kitty...to hopefully motivate neighbors to search more than once and to keep your flyer so if they do see kitty they’ll call text you...and no to approach and potentially scare kitty. Also if someone sends you a photo of your kitty you know it’s not a scam.
* NEW* ‘DOOR NOTES / SLIPS: ( 5 per page TEMPLATE) These are a great alternative to using the full page flyers for door to door distribution. I use the full page flyers to post up in the neighborhood and I use the smaller door notes to distribute door to door
:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lpD_hsqdPD1AFLYZmhyMEXvirsI0rNv1F5ebgxyNCxY/edit?usp=sharing’ Download then edit with your kitty’s info
P.S.** BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS **who will text you saying they saw or have your kitty and need YOU to PROVE who you are by giving other phone numbers etc .that’s a scam - or they will tell you meet them somewhere BUT WON'T Send you a photo of Kittie (they'll make up any excuse) Please ignore or tell them to bug off!. Believe me, If a neighbor sees your cat they will give you info freely and not play any weird ‘prove it’ game…
