Columbus, OH Lost Male Cat, Tom Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Cody W.

2 months ago

I left a VM for you. Kitty showed up last night looking like your kitty.

Deirdre G.

2 months ago

Trap & camera are key!!! Our boy was finally trapped after 45days! Seen almost nightly on camera. Local the entire time!! Don’t give up! CHECK GARAGES ETC!!

2 months ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Feather M.

2 months ago

You might try a live trap, they are fairly cheap, my Jane wanted to come back but was too overwhelmed and scared, she had made a home under a backyard shed across the street. Eventually she was found eating hamburger in the trap on my front porch and all was right again. It took about 3 weeks for her to show up and i did have to release squirrels and possums along the way which were easy. Tuna in oil also makes a lot of scent. Make sure there's water too. If its cold out, wrap the trap in a blanket and make sure to check it often, check it often no matter what the weather is. In fact, best to keep a camera on it. I believe in Jane's case, the live trap was her only chance. Best of luck and a swift resolve for you I hope

Jeannie W.

2 months ago

Here are a few things you can try. Cats usually don’t go far. They just hide well. Cats are very active at dusk and dawn. So first of all you can go out and call for him. You can put his food/water, and lots of cat nip outside your house to help draw him back. Also, put your cat's bedding that has your cat's scent on it outside to attract your cat back to your home. Also putting your own unwashed clothes or bedding out . Cats run on scent and this is highly effective in luring your cat back home .PetMD backs this up, can help lure the cat back home, as it's a comfortable and familiar smell. Shake the treat/food container outside. Check garages, especially under porches and decks,dense bushes, etc. Get one of those strong flashlights they will catch a cat's reflective eyes two blocks away and save you tons of time!!! Do not leave the food out overnight as it will attract other animals that can scare the kitty away. Go to your neighbors and let them know your kitty got out and give them your contact info. Walk your neighborhood and talk to people as you can. Take a flyer TO your local vets office and shelter a face is better than a thousand words of description and check every couple of days in person if possible Sometimes it can take weeks or months to find your kitty. Also post with Pawboost and Sam the Parrot about your missing cat. Many times cats are found within a couple hundred feet of their homes. Post fliers around your neighborhood with your phone number that people can call day or night. And talk to your mail carrier. They see lots of animals. If they see a strange kitty around, they may recognize it as yours. Make sure you call local animal shelters, etc Best time to look is between 1-6AM Get a humane trap ASAP! This it's the best chance at retrieving your cat. Line it with newspaper. The ONLY food you leave out should be in that trap. Do not leave the trap set for long periods of time unattended, especially overnight. The most importantly do not give up hope! Open your garage door a little. Don’t put the litter box out. 🙏🏻Also take a flashlight out at night and look in and under things to see if you can see the kitty’s eyes.

Melinda H.

2 months ago

The best time to look for a cat is late at night after the daytime sounds settle down. Go for a walk and take a flashlite scan into the trees and under bushes. A cat can fit in any hole that they can fit their head thru they have collapsible shoulder blades. Most indoor cats stay close to home but come out at night. Most important is to make your presence known. Go out every half hour after 9pm and call for them and stop and listen it's amazing what you can hear late at night. Get your voice and scent out there. They are looking for you also. Look for glowing eyes at night. If there is a dog sibling that the cat likes take the dog on the walk. If you open canned cat food or shake treats do so on your walk. If the cat has a noisy toy shake it on your walk. Make posters and put in every business within a mile of the home. Let your mail carrier know. If there are teenagers in the neighborhood let them know they love reward money and being a hero. Check all local shelters. Let local veterinarians know your info. If there is a feral colony near you check it out. If you can find the feeder of the colony give them your info. Make large signs and put in neighbors yards at least a mile radius of the home. This ensures that everyone in the area has the info. Put post it notes on your neighbors doors to look in sheds and garages. Post on every Facebook forum in your area. Post on Pawboost and For the love of Louie. Check Humane Society. So important to make your presence known every half hour after 9pm. Make a bed out of the cats carrier and put soiled clothes from inside the home around the bed. Put it as close to the house as you can. Leave a shed or garage open check them often. Camp in your yard. Most indoor cats are found late at night. Don't give up. Do not put food out or litter it attracts every animal in the area including raccoon opossum feral cats and coyotes. Your cat will know that there is food inside and that is incentive to keep them close to the house. If you are outside that's OK but take it in when you go back in. If your cat sees a predator eating their food it might make them retreat further. Most important is to let them know you are looking for them. Hope you find your baby

Ri M.

2 months ago

Post on Nextdoor and Ring apps. Ask neighbors to check car hoods, garages and sheds immediately. Make sure to tap hoods of the car around. Keep an entryway open for cat to get in. Buy or loan a live cat trap from online stores or local tnr groups. Leave your garage open with cat to enter. Put some food and your clothing there for smell. Get a motion sensor camera to detect when cat is around your property

Sandra H.

2 months ago

Lost Cat Recovery Checklist Immediate Actions ■ Start searching close to where she got out (cats usually hide nearby). ■ Check high & low hiding spots: under cars, porches/decks, shrubs, garages, sheds. ■ Ask neighbors to check open garages/sheds and closed spaces before shutting doors. Best Times to Search ■ Search during quiet/dark hours (best: 12am–7am, especially 1–6am). ■ Use a strong flashlight at night to spot eye reflection. Calling & Approaching ■ Call for her during still hours (overnight/early morning). ■ If you see her: stay calm and quiet (don’t chase). Scent Lures (Safe Options) ■ Put outside: her bed/blanket or your unwashed clothing/bedding. ■ Place scent items near the trap and/or leading toward the door. ■ Do NOT place a litter box outside (can attract predators such as coyotes). Food / Feeding Station ■ Set up a feeding station and feed during the day only. ■ Do NOT leave food out overnight (attracts wildlife & scares cats off). Humane Trap (Highly Recommended) ■ Get a live/humane trap ASAP. ■ Use food only inside the trap (don’t leave food elsewhere). ■ Cover trap with a tarp/blanket for safety and comfort. ■ Check trap frequently—never leave it unattended overnight. ■ In harsh weather: check every 30 minutes. Outreach (Very Important) ■ Post flyers around the neighborhood with phone number (day/night contact). ■ Bring flyers to local vets, shelters (go in person every few days if possible), and pet stores. ■ Tell your mail carrier (they notice roaming pets). ■ Ask known stray feeders/rescuers if they’ve seen her. Mindset ■ Keep checking at different times daily. ■ Don’t give up—cats can be found weeks or months later

Shannon M.

2 months ago

He is most likely scared so they dont usually go more than 5 houses any direction- go out at dusk and dawn starting now and search all nearly bushes and possible hiding spots with a flashlight- gently call their name, shake treats and listen closely - also post on pawboost and petfbi, set up a camera and buy/borrow a humane trap

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