Pam G.
6 months ago
LOST A CAT? WHAT TO DO: đž
âLeave food/water out for her if you can do so without attracting wildlife. Also try some tuna. Cats usually donât go too far unless chased or to seek food/shelter, so you want to keep your cat close by providing food. If you can, leave a USED litter box outside in front of the door or area where she went missing. Other items that might help guide her home (by scent) are the blanket or pet bed she slept in and some of her favorite personâs worn clothing or unwashed bed linens.
âFile a âLost Pet Reportâ on Palm Beach Countyâs SNAP page. Also, check the FOUND listings on SNAP a few times daily. If your cat is found by a good samaritan they will hopefully post there. If your cat was brought into the shelter, the shelter will post them there. Thereâs no âstray holdâ for cats so you really need to check often:
âFile a report with Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Also check the FOUND listings on that site periodically.
âOther good places to post your cat as lost and to check if anyone found him are: Next Door, Craigâs List, Facebook Lost/Found Pet Groups, and Ringâs âNeighborâsâ App.
âCrack a window open at night to be able to hear any meowing outside. Is there a garage or enclosed porch door that you can leave ajar with food/water, used litter box and worn clothing items inside the door?
â Ask neighbors and people in the area to check their garages/sheds/bats, under decks, storm drains ANYWHERE he might try to HIDE or become TRAPPED (look under, inside of, & on top of places.) Search upwards too (trees, roofs, ledges). Help them search if possible.
âPrint flyers. You can print free LOST PET flyers via the pawboost website. Write REWARD on it to give the finder an incentive to return your lost pet. Flood area with these flyers (if possible, at least a 5-6 block radius). Go door to door in your neighborhood passing them out and talking to people. Visit vet clinics and pet stores in your area and ask them to post your flyer in their storefront window or bulletin board. Put one in your car window. Also give one to the local mailman, garbage man, joggers, dogwalkers, meter readers, neighborhood kids, and to UPS, Fed Ex, & Amazon drivers (they cover a lot of ground.) Put one on your mailbox. Post flyers on telephone poles with plastic covers (sheaths) that will protect your flyer from rain. The flyers wear out so replace them monthly.
âAt night go out and shake a bag of treats, or a bag/box of dry catfood, or carry an opened favorite catfood can or tunafish can as you walk looking for her. Most cats are active during the quiet hours of the night between 1am and 5am but that can vary.) Call her name QUIETLY and LISTEN OFTEN for a response. She could be hiding, or trapped somewhere close. Use a flashlight (even in the daylight) to see if you can catch the reflection from her eyes. You may have to literally search through bushes, etc, especially if heâs really very frightened.
Remember, you might be right near him calling his name but heâs so terrified he might not respond for a while so RECHECK places. Check all possible places he may have crawled into to hide or seek shelter or has become trapped in.
âIf your pet is microchipped make sure the chip is registered and contains your current contact info. If you never registered your catâs microchip itâs basically useless. If you donât know what the chip number is then contact the vet clinic or shelter that chipped your cat and ask them for it. You can register the chip with any microchip company- it doesnât have to be with the company that manufactured the chip. (For example, you can register a âHome Againâ chip for free with the company â24PetWatchâ. )
