Lake Forest, CA Lost Male Cat, Niko Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Lauren E.

6 months ago

I lost my kitty Nicholas at an Irvine apt complex 15 years ago. At that time I could find no information on how to find him. Luckily I found him three days later. I put these tips together to help others find their lost babies. TIPS TO FIND YOUR CAT: 1. Kitties usually stay close by their home, they hide in a bush or some small dark place and just sit and wait. Even if you call them, they may not come because they are freaked out and scared. 2. A cat's world is centered around scents. They will not be familiar with the outdoor scents because they have never been there before. To help them smell their way home, put things outside that smell like home, like you. A used towel, dirty shirt, dirty shoes, the litter box. Leave the items out and sit with the door open as much as possible. If the kitty comes back in the door just remain calm and talk to the kitty normal until you can close the door behind him. 3. Do not put food out, you will attract other animals that may keep your cat away. You can walk around with smelly food or shaking treats, but don't leave it outside. 4. Walk around the neighborhood calling your kitty normally. Don't use a panicked voice, it will scare the kitty more. Best to only have people whose voice your kitty would normally come to. They will not come to a kind stranger helping you search. The kitty will catch your scent and hear your voice, and follow it back to your house. Most cats are within 200 cat yards. Which means if there is a fence, you couldn't get over, you would go around, but the cat could go right over. So keep that in mind when checking out 200 yards. 5. Pass out fliers to neighbors and talk to everyone, especially kids and dog walkers. It is a great idea to offer kids $20 if they find your cat and can tell you where he is. Kids love money and a challenge. 6. Check closed garages. Listen for meows when you call. 7. Use a flashlight under bushes and dark places, even during the day. The light will reflect off their eyes. This is how I found Nicholas, in a bush I walked by at least 20 times and didn't see him until I used the flashlight. 8. Sleep with the windows open, you may hear them crying at night. Lost kitties feel safest coming out late at night-early morning. 9. Check the shelter every day. 10. If your lost cat has a cat friend at home, take the cat or dog you have at home out in a secure carrier or on a leash and walk around with him or sit with him outside. Hopefully the other lost cat will hear and smell him. Dogs are good at finding lost cats. 11. Social Media - Facebook, Nextdoor, CraigsList, and PawBoost Lost & Found. 12. Vets have told me that indoor kitties that get lost are too scared to come out of hiding, even for food. It could be at least 10 days before your kitty gets hungry enough to come out of his safe hiding spot, so don't give up too soon. Once kitties do come out they will make a big circle around the area trying to find something that smells like home. So the more you walk out from your house and back, like a wagon wheel formation, the more your scent out there for kitty to follow when he gets brave. 13. If you have a garage, leave it cracked open, kitty may find his way back in. 14. Be careful of scammers. There are terrible people out there that pretend they have your cat but can never find time to meet up with you to return the cat. They are trying to make you frantic to give them money. 15. Check trees too, just found my cat 20 feet up a tree, couldn't get down. 16. Check inside, cabinets, closets, behind books. We have found cats sitting behind books on shelves, sleeping inside clothes in the closet, and in a hole in the wall behind a wall unit. 17. You can purchase a Havahart cat safe trap from Amazon. Watch the video on how to use it. Do not leave it unattended because you don’t want to try and release an angry raccoon. If you watch for a distance you can chase off wild critters. Have a plan if you catch another cat. This other cat may be keeping your cat away. So hopefully your shelter will take him. Maybe he is lost too and you saved him. Or maybe he is a stray and having a check up at the shelter will benefit him, and give your cat a chance to come home if this cat was keeping him away.

Ali F.

6 months ago

Hi everyone, can anyone adopt this cat? The cat stays at the place where I work in Westminster, Orange County. I feed it every day, but I can’t keep it. I’m looking for someone who can give this cat a safe and loving home.

Lauren E.

7 months ago

Richard F.

7 months ago

I think Nico is home

Richard F.

7 months ago

Someone on next door had a posted video of him

Rosemary P.

7 months ago

I’m begging you never let your cat outside again.

Rosemary P.

7 months ago

Walk for blocks and blocks. Knock on everyone’s doors. Ask if they can check their backyard and look for your cat and hand them a flyer. Someone posted that their cat was several blocks away in someone’s backyard. The lady saw their flyer up and called them so please it’s critical. You get those flyers up today everywhere

Rosemary P.

7 months ago

URGENT Please listen carefully to everything I am saying. My mission is to help people find their cats. Please get out every second you have and look everywhere for your cat. Indoor cats are afraid to be outside and they will hide under bushes or under something. Please look everywhere. It’s very dangerous outside as you know. Time is of the essence. It’s critical that you post flyers of your cat on all lampposts and stop signs for miles and miles. This will save your Cats life. I recommended this to several people and they have posted flyers and someone has saw their cat roaming and called them. Do this today. The tape that holds them up the best is duck tape. Make sure these flyers are up every day and if the maintenance workers take them down, put them back up. In addition, Cats will jump the fence into their neighbors backyards. A lady found her cat hiding under her neighbor’s barbecue. Please get out and knock on all your neighbors doors today and ask them if you can check their backyards. If they are not home, please go back this evening when they are home and check. Let them know you’ve lost your cat. Let everybody in your neighborhood know that. Walk for miles and look for your cat. Post on all lost pet sites and nextdoor.com your neighborhood watch every day. Check Paw boost several times a day because people post that they found cats. Check it for the next month. In addition, it’s critical that you call your shelter and let them know you lost your cat and fax a flyer over there immediately. Often people will drop Cats off at shelters. I would keep checking with your shelter within the next month because maybe in a week or two someone will see your cat and drop it off. I get posts from the shelter, showing the cats and dogs that have been impounded. Get all your family and friends to look for your cat. When it’s dark out, you must get a flashlight and call your cat’s name shake treats and look everywhere. I pray you find your baby as soon as possible.

Kimberley S.

7 months ago

🚨 LOST INDOOR CAT – URGENT TIPS TO HELP BRING THEM HOME SAFELY 🚨 If your cat has gone missing and is usually indoors, here are critical steps to take: 🏠 Create a Safe Way for Your Cat to Return • Leave a door or window open (ideally the one they escaped from), even overnight—cats often return in the quiet late-night or early-morning hours. • Crack your garage door slightly to allow safe entry. • Place your worn, unwashed clothes up off the ground outside—your scent can help guide them home. • Do NOT place food, water, or litter boxes outside—these can attract other animals and deter your cat from returning. 🐾 Help Them Feel Safe • If you have other pets, keep them secured in a separate room to avoid scaring the missing cat away if they return. 🧭 Search Nearby and Alert Others • Cats typically don’t go far—they may be hiding under decks, in bushes, sheds, garages, or yards close to home. • Talk to your neighbors and ask them to check around their property. • Request that neighbors check doorbell or security cameras (like Ring) for sightings. 📣 Spread the Word – Not Everyone Uses Social Media • Put up physical signs ASAP—include a clear photo and contact info. • Post online in multiple places: • Facebook (your page and local lost pet groups) • Nextdoor • PawBoost Lost & Found • Ring Neighbors app ⚠️ Beware of Scams • If someone contacts you saying they have your cat and asks for money or asks you to verify a code, do NOT respond—this is a scam.