Linden, NJ Lost Male Cat, Fatty Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Anna S.

2 months ago

This cat was taken to AHS in Newark in case you think it’s yours!

Anna S.

2 months ago

I posted that this cat was seen around Roselle, not sure if it’s the same one because it’s about a mile from linden.

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Chrissy S.

2 months ago

💕🙏💕

Tina M.

2 months ago

First put out a big bowl of water. Then, did you try the kitty litter trick? Take some litter from their box and sprinkle outside leading to your door then call them constantly especially at dawn and dusk and when it's quiet. Kitty will follow its scent and your voice home. It's no doubt scared and hiding. You can also try a stinky can of sardines! Or if kitty is a cuddler, try putting an article of your clothing by your door. Also check area garages, under car hoods, shelters, Nextdoor and Pawboost for found kitties in and near your zip. Don’t give up. And post flyers around your neighborhood. Good luck! And please keep your kitty inside if you let it out!! Between coyotes, diseases, bad actors and cars, there are so many ways harm can come to them. Finally, if your kitty isn’t fixed, please spay/neuter!

Linda W.

2 months ago

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Lydia T.

2 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, under bushes, between tall walls and fences, in 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 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 harm / / 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 (cats 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, too ... 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, 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, as 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, too. 😞 🙏 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 :-( 🙏 Update microchip details / ensure correct. 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 & watch out for AI generated pics, using your cat pic), before providing personal details or money. Don't give up searching (some cats found weeks, months, years later) ... 🙏

Dotti H.

2 months ago

*Start asap* all these tips from all of us are really great tips... they really do work... pleaseeee keep repeating...check with your neighbors for any sightings and ask if they have cameras..go out really late at night or really early in am... middle of the night with flashlight and call for him/her and then quietly listen he/she may be hiding scared injured or stuck somewhere ...shine the flashlight around his/her eyes will reflect off of it...keep checking the shelters go in person make sure you're going to correct shelter where animal control would bring a cat from your area... they are too busy to contact you and check all the pets coming in...set up trail cameras near ur home ..they only take pics when something is in front of it moving ..so you don't have to look thru 24 hours of camera everyday... (there are great ppl out there to lend one to you and so many ppl in the community will help you look for him/her) if you can monitor, set a humane trap with really strong smell food to attract and make sure that’s the only food out for him/her…all the tips to find lost cats really really do work please follow them.keep posting and we'll keep sharing and hang lots of fliers talk to as many ppl and hand them fliers...it'Il keep him/her on everyone's mind so they are always on the lookout…concentrate on putting up fliers especially in ur area they really don't go far at all. If they do go outside or are not neutered/spayed may travel further. No litter box please it may attract predators. Prayers for your kitty out there and you find ok him/her asap!!!

Pets H.

2 months ago

🐈‍⬛LOST CATS: Please follow my (original) advice. No litter box outside, no food outside. It will attract other animals including other cats who will keep your cat away if trying to return home. If you have a garage- set and MONITOR a humane cat trap on your garage at morning dusk and evening dusk especially. Use to food I lost below. Cover the trap with a towel. ⬇️ Distribute Flyers- by knocking on doors to your neighbors and handing them out, and posted them on poles etc. as well even to any businesses close by? This step is crucial to recovering your cat! Speak to people in person. I cannot stress enough, the importance of knocking on doors speaking to people and handing them a “lost cat” flyer at the same time. This is how you get sightings and this is what will bring your cat home. GARAGE- If you have a garage set and monitor the humane trap in the garage leaving the garage open a little for the cat to find its way in. Please use the food I recommend and heat in microwave for 10 seconds before putting in the human trap. Must be home and MONITOR the trap. If you get a sighting you need to set and MONITOR a humane trap at the sighting location right away and at morning dusk. *NEVER LEAVE A TRAP UNATTENDED. You can use rotisserie chicken and Friskies Whitefish and Sardines canned food as bait. Cats usually stay within a one mile radius from home. Most are found very close to home as in a few houses away or next street over. They are usually found (after getting sightings and with trapping) very close to their own home. Some come home on their own, usually in the overnight hours. Concentrate on canvassing your own neighborhood, however, in case the sighting was not of your cat. Cats don’t usually go far. They usually will try to return home between 10 PM and 5 AM with peak hours being 3-5 AM. Put a worn shirt of yours on your porch or near the door and continue to replace with a fresh one daily. Do NOT put a litter box outside. It will attract male unneutered cats who will spray property and chase your cat away if trying to return home. Some cats stay hidden for 3 weeks traveling at night. Flyers generate sightings.

Marcia O.

2 months ago

They usually don’t venture far. It’s probably scared & hiding near by in bushes or an open garage. Most kitties will stay put in their safe hiding spot. ( if they’re not fixed they can wonder further, depends on circumstances) Ask neighbors to check their sheds, decks, garages. They usually venture out at night after 24-48hrs when they start getting hungry. The “witching” hour when they come out is 3am. If you see your pet, don’t try to grab it, it’s still on survival mode and will run. Just sit down maybe with some treats and let your pet come to you. (Remember, never put the litterbox outside. Other cats will mark it & scare your cat away. Just in case, also set some humane traps near by, hide them in the bushes where your pet might hide. Good luck & don’t lose hope. Pray to St Anthony, he hasn’t let me down. 🙏🏻🐾

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