Jessica B.
2 weeks ago
Cat rescue tips for indoor cats that have escaped .
If your cat is an Indoor only kitty, he/she is 99% of the time hiding right outside in your backyard or neighbors yard.
Put outside his/her bedding, or your worn clothing for the scent so your cat can smell its way back to the house. You can even sprinkle vacuum dust. It will have his or her hair /scent in it.
Also, it’s very important to get in those bushes, woods etc around your house and search for him/her. Cats are great at staying stealth quiet and staying in place for days out of fear , even staying away from their owners voice because they are frightened and in survival mode. So everyone is an enemy right now, including you.
During the day, put out its favorite stinky food, or tuna/sardines etc and water so your cat doesn’t stray for food.
And what works best, is at night, take a strong flashlight and look for you cat in the bushes with the flashlight.
If he/she is there, you will see his/her eyes with the reflection of the light.
And don’t forget to look up in the trees. It could have been chased by a coyote or bobcat and it ran up the tree.
I’ve heard this happen a few times.
Their cats were hiding in the trees!
And, if all of that doesn’t work you can set a trap ( have a heart trap you can buy at Home Depot or ask your local animal control to borrow one) and put a blanket or some worm clothing of yours in it with food!!
You might catch a raccoon or another animal. Don’t be afraid, just throw a towel over the trap and open the door, the animal will run off.
You can also get a wildlife tracker camera from Amazon or any sporting goods store.
The camera will show any movement at night and if your cat is there you will see it at night on that camera and this can help you pinpoint its location
Also, if there is a lot of rain, please make scent trails for your cat around the exterior of your house. ( Google to learn more)
Some people even say, leave a window or door cracked open. But this I don’t know about.
One woman I know said after 15 days she found her cat with the flashlight, in the bushes in her backyard. Another woman I know said her cat was found in her garage after 40 days, it was ok.
Someone else caught their cat 30 days later by using a trap.
Another tip, call your cats name calmly at night, when it’s quiet, try sitting outside, shake treat bags too. ( but do this when it’s quiet out) cats tend to move around at night when there is no noise .
Also, ask your neighbors to check their garages, sheds, under decks etc.
Do this every day and night until you find him/her. Don’t give up, it can take weeks but your cat is still most likely around trying to survive.
It’s also very important to create flyers and put them around town in people’s mailboxes too.
Keep your cat’s photo out there on social media, so people remember.
Someone lost their cat and 6 months later, it was spotted and trapped 3 towns away because she kept the cat’s photo circulating.
Also, make sure your cat is not locked behind the pantry door or in a crawl space or somewhere else in your house.
Cats hide REALLY well when scared or if new animals or people are in your home.
