Chattanooga, TN Lost Male Cat, Oliver Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Terry G.

3 weeks ago

Prayers sent 🙏🙏

Lori O.

3 weeks ago

I can’t stress enough how you need to look with a bright flashlight in the dead of night to find him and stay persistent till you do. Cats usually don’t go further than 2-3 houses away even after weeks and months. So look close by. Here are a list of tips besides the most important one. I'm so sorry about your baby.🥺💔 Most cats stay close to home so it is critical to stay as proactive, and persistent, as possible. ●Crack your garage door or leave a porch door open where they got out so it can get inside. Cats return at night when you're sleeping so you miss them. This also ensures if your cat was chased away, it can sneak back inside when it can. ●Check everywhere outside even in drain pipes and drains, in logs, under bushes and cars, up in trees and anywhere it's collar could get hung. Use a BRIGHT flashlight after dark as it will make your cat's eyes glow and very easy to spot through bushes or under things. Much easier than daytime searching when they are hunkered down and hiding in plain sight. They won’t respond to your call. They are scared even of you. ●Check under your house and your neighbor's houses, in sheds, garages, basements, etc. ●Indoor-only or new to the area lost cats tend to not recognize their owners outside because it is a different environment and they are scared. Sit outside every single day especially in the morning and at dusk/night so your cat can get used to you being there. ●Put food in a plastic container with a lid and periodically shake it and call your cat's name. ●Print flyers with their picture for neighbors and businesses in the area. ●Put picture posters in public areas, like on street signs and in your front yard, and offer some type of reward, if you can. ●Put the reward amount on the flyers and posters. A reward will incite people to intentionally be on the lookout for your cat or to return it to you. ●Work with a cat rescue to immediately set a cat trap or you can purchase one at Tractor Supply, Home Depot or on Amazon and set it yourself. You will need to monitor the trap(s) so cat isn’t left stuck inside and vulnerable to other animals. Put human tuna in the back of the trap so they will go in enough for door to close behind them. Cover trap with your dirty towels or sheets with your smell. ●Post on the Ring app, Nextdoor app and Pawboost and visit pet rescues/shelters in person regularly to see if someone has found your cat and/or has taken it to one. Give them a flyer and report your cat as missing. ●Consistently visit rescues and shelters. They only hold a cat 3 to 5 days without a microchip before putting it up for adoption, and only for 7 days with a microchip. Even if the cat has a microchip, the chip can float and be missed by the scanner. ●Set notification alerts for the Facebook lost and found pets groups in case someone has found your cat. - buy small cameras to put outside for $10-15. The camera will alert you when movement is spotted. Monitor especially between midnight and 5 am. (Sorry) - Consider a recording of your voice outside your home and also their and your smell….(bed) cats can smell up to a mile away. - Where cats get out of the house/car is where they go back too when trying to get back inside your home. Even where they escape out of a car. They go back to that spot. - Stay persistent or you won’t get your cat back. Persistence pays off. No one loves your cat like you do! Your cat needs you to find them and bring them back to you and your loving home! - won’t get your cat back. Persistence pays off. No one loves your cat like you do!

Courtney W.

3 weeks ago

Oliver is likely scared and hiding, and probably close by; cats typically don't roam more than 5 houses (radius) from home if indoor/outdoor. If Oliver is an indoor cat, he is VERY nearby. Curious cats can get trapped in sheds, garages and outbuildings; ask neighbors for permission to look in those areas, and in bushes, up trees, in storm drains, and under decks. When searching when dark, use a BRIGHT flashlight (not from your phone) to reflect light in his eyes to help find him (this tip has recently worked for two local families to find their lost cats). Use his sense of smell to lead him home; put out food and water, his cat pan, and some clothes you've recently worn. Be cautious of scammers offering locating and Drone services, or asking for money for emergency veterinarian services or transportation; scammers have been active on local lost pet posts. Be persistent in your search; don't give up hope.

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