Donna M.
5 years ago
YOUR CAT IS CLOSE TO HOME. A cat/kitten that gets out of their home are scared and they will not go far. They will hug the foundation of your structure before finding a hiding spot to hunker down. Go outside and look around your house to see if your cat could have gotten behind something or under your house. On your search, talk to your cat in a normal upbeat voice like you always do using your cat’s name a lot. Listen carefully for the slightest meow. Cats are programmed to stay quiet when scared or hurt so they don't attract predators. Chances are a scared cat will not come to you. You have to listen for your cat.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR CAT’S HIDING ABILITIES. They can and will get into the smallest of places. KEEP IN MIND...If their head fits through, their body will follow. Look under decks, sheds and vehicles (use a flashlight during the day when looking under decks, homes and sheds for eye shine). Look under and inside bushes pulling apart the limbs to look at middle stem and inside bushes. Look inside full trees especially the middle stem and look up in trees, could have climbed tree. I found displaced lost cats hanging on the middle stem of fir tree. Found them under sheds and under homes. You have to think like a cat and look for your cat. Make your neighbors aware immediately and do the same at neighbors houses but get permission to look.
Put dirty litter box outside preferably at exit point. Put outside your dirty laundry and something with your cats scent. Sprinkle some of the dirty litter on your yard as well. The more familiar scents the better for cat to return. They have extremely good noses.
If you have a garage leave the door cracked open at all times, just enough for your cat to get inside, about 7 inches. Put food and water along with bedding inside garage and some of the dirty litter. You can put the dirty litter in a shallow box or even an opened garbage bag if you don’t have a second litter box. If you don’t have a garage, you can use a large box or storage container. Turn it on its side with opening towards your structure near exit point. Make bedding inside with your dirty laundry and put dirty litter box near it.
You can also leave your entrance door opened and sunroom door opened the same way. Your cat may enter when he/she smells the house. Leave other pets in a locked room so they don't get out.
If you do not see your cat during the day, DO NOT PANIC and DO NOT assume your cat is no longer close to home. You most likely will not see your cat during the day. Cats will come out of hiding anywhere between 7:30pm-8 am. Keep your eyes opened all night. Most have found that their cat will return 1am-3am anywhere until 6 am-7 am. It’s important to be on constant lookout. At night use a flashlight to look for eye shine. Bring wet food with you and open the can at night when all is quiet. The sound goes further than you think. You can record the sound of canned cat food opening and play it over and over again on your search. You could also use a treat bag while searching and talking in a normal voice using your cat’s name often. Remember Cats can get into and under the smallest of spots. Look everywhere. Again.....If their head can fit, their body will follow. Once eyeshine is seen, turn off flashlight so it doesn’t scare the cat. Talk to your cat in a normal voice. Tap the top of can of cat food with spoon pretending to feed or play with the treat bag. This will take time and patience.
REMEMBER Cats will come out at night when all it quiet. Usually 7:30pm - 8 am. Keep your eyes opened throughout the night.
Best is to borrow or purchase a humane trap and set it at exit point. Use smelly canned cat food and sardine or tuna juice.
