Palmdale, CA Lost Female Cat, Ruby Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Gail V.

4 months ago

Is this your cat

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Lydia T.

4 months ago

Stressful! Please be open to many possibilities. Most 'lost' cats are hiding (or locked in / trapped, prevented from returning home), frightened (especially if chased or injured), possibly disoriented, within about 500 metres from where lost. (Less for indoor cats). Some cats fear making a noise, in case it attracts predators, so might not respond to your calls. They can squeeze into the tightest crevices (sometimes become wedged in), why very thorough searches are required. I am aware of 100's of situations where a cat was accidentally locked in / trapped somewhere (eg in a neighbours shed, garage, holiday home, roof, crawl-space under a home / industrial building). Most somehow survived (eg by eating insects), many others didn't. 😞 Please thoroughly search through sheds, garages, under houses / buildings, bats, decks, neighbours' bins, skips, bushes, between tall walls and fences, roof and wall cavities, on top of rooves, in trees, vacant homes / buildings (even neighbours on holidays), construction / storage areas, etc. Ask neighbours to check cctv cameras. Don't trust neighbours to search!!! (Or at least not as thoroughly as you. Some don't search at all). Best ask permission to search yourself, or go with neighbour. If neighbours are unco-operative, suggest you might involve police to do a welfare check and to keep the peace. Alternatively, offer a reward (bribe) for unco-operative / uncaring neighbours. 😞 Call down drains (with strong smelling food). If you can lift the grate and enter the drain, even better. (One cat found 500 metres, another 3km away in drain). And /or create a temporary, stable ramp (eg with rolled towels or a branch of wood) from inside to outside of the drain, with strong smelling food outside overnight. Dusk to 5am walks with strong smelling food (eg Whiskas sardines, salmon & meat flavours, or hot BBQ chicken), cat carrier and torch. When no cars: call calmly, stop, sit, listen, wait. Leave a door open if safe, with strong smelling food inside & out overnight, near exit point. Also, in / near other possible hiding places / where might be trapped. If food eaten, set up a sensor wildlife camera to ensure it is your cat. Next night, try waiting nearby with food and a carrier ... Or if safe, gradually (each night) move the food into your yard / home and close door from behind (while cat is eating). As a last resort (as lots can go wrong), place a humane cat trap on level ground, in a safe, discreet location. Google how to use safely, monitor closely. (Do not leave a trap unattended! Some people release distressed cats, or steal the trap with cat in it! Remain nearby). Put a towel over trap, to keep cat calm. Don't open until safe at home (or at vet). Posters with reward tacked high on telegraph poles / noticeboards, in plastic sleeve. Also, circulate leaflets (pay postman). Vets, pounds and animal welfare organisations, regularly with photo. If has escaped a new home (most likely to escape / become lost, within a month of a move): begin an intense, comprehensive search asap & leave food out / doors open, starting close to the new home, spreading outwards. Unpredictable what might do next: One cat travelled 26km to previous address, arrived 6 weeks after lost. Another found 500 metres away from where lost, 7 months later. Do all advised at old address ... Most cats need to be locked in for 3+ weeks to bond to a new home, otherwise sooner or later might try to head back to previous home / territory (& become lost, or worse). Many cats are escape artists until bonded to a new home! (eg breaking through mosquito netting and forcing sliding doors / windows open. Use dowell to limit opening to no more than 2cm). Spray bottle near door. Preferably not in a room with the door leading to outside. (Better a room, with a couple of doors closed , before reaching an exit door). Cannot stress enough to be extra vigilant !! New / timid cats & kittens are prone to hiding / getting stuck under / behind / in, furniture. So also check in / behind / under drawers, wardrobes, low lounges / beds, recliner chairs (don't move leg rest until double-checked), behind fridges, washing machines & dryers. (Always check inside before using, cats have in these :-( ). Be extra careful moving furniture! Behind / under kitchen cupboards & rangehoods, or any other spaces. Do all of the above many times (in case your cat moves around). Track down where any vehicles (eg tradies / removalist vans) which puss might have entered, call the driver to ask where travelled to. Check cctv cameras & do all of the above there. 😞 🙏 Please consider keeping your precious cat indoors and / or invest in a very secure cat enclosure, or catio. (Research has found it adds 10+ years to average age of cats. Safer for cats and wildlife). As responsible adults, we curb children's freedom to keep them safe, similarly for cats :-( 🙏 Not all vets are aware: microchips can migrate! (One cat's microchip recently located in arm pit!). Ideally, vets to do an extra thorough, all over body scan. (Don't solely rely on microchip).🙏 Be aware of dodgy scams or people offering to find, or claiming to have found, your cat. Seek independent evidence eg ask for photos or distinguishing features, do reviews, etc, before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Karen K.

4 months ago

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Elene M.

4 months ago

TIPS TO HELP FIND LOST PET:✅Place his/her bedding, your shoes, a piece of your unwashed clothing (such as a sweatshirt, blanket, pillowcases) and food/water outside *if there is coyotes in the area bring the food in at night*.🚫Do not put litter box outside. Putting the litter box outside can attract predators and other cats which might keep your cat from returning home🚫*Putting out the other items listed above, are scents only your cat will recognize* ‼️ They might be nearby and can’t figure out how to get inside ***IF you have a garage or door/sliding door that can be left open*** Leave the garage/ or door cracked for them and place the shoes, bedding, jand unwashed clothing in the garage‼️ ✅Walk around the area calling them calmly early morning and late evening when it’s quiet & shake a bag of treats or a squeaky toy, something they would recognize. ✅If he/she is microchipped contact the microchip company to report him/her lost and make sure your contact info is up to date. ✅Hang flyers (use a bright color board or paper) with picture in your neighborhood, surrounding areas, local shopping centers, businesses, vet's offices, groomers, etc. within a five mile radius from your home. ✅Go door to door with the flyers as well and try to speak with people when handing out flyers. ✅Make a sign with his/her picture and put it in your front yard stating he/she is missing. ✅File a lost report with the shelters in your area and surrounding area shelters ✅Check shelters in person, daily if possible. Ask to see the animals in isolation too. ✅Check shelter websites daily (as it is updated hourly) ✅Check shelter found reports for found postings but not at the shelter. ✅Take a flyer to the shelters. ✅File online with petharbor, pawboost ✅Post on area lost and found pet and community Facebook pages, area shelter Facebook pages, newspapers, nextdoor and Craigslist under "pets" and "Lost and Found". Cats usually are close to home. Hang clothes with your scent out. Ask your neighbors if they would look in their yard or garage or storage sheds to see if he is there or check their Ring camera to see if he was spotted on camera. Make sure you post fliers with your contact information on it so if he is spotted they can call you and tell his location. Keep an access point open for him to slip back in your home. Look in bushes or hiding spots around your home as if he is scared he will make himself safe by finding a hiding spot. Sometimes the best time to find your cat is when the noise level is low - after hours - or early morning hours. Take a flashlight 🔦 and shine and look for the eyes 👀 under cars up trees in bushes. Good luck!

Alison T.

4 months ago

Sharing from Deborah Murphy Ross : i made business card size paper flyers w/photo and info of my cat. Taped to mail boxes within a relatively short radius. Some kids who live just up the block saw her and realized it was the cat on the little flyer the family got on the mailbox. She was home within 2 days of posting those after being gone 10 days and having placed large flyers around the area.

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