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Here is Kitty Kitty! Cats do not come with built-in GPS, and will sometimes wander far from home. Use these tips for finding a missing cat to help ensure a happy ending.
Losing your beloved cat is very devastating, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be reunited. While some cats do manage to make their way home on their own, you should take as many steps as possible to alert your community about the missing cat so that others can help you locate it as soon as possible. Attics can fall victim to predators, the elements, abusive humans, and cars, so getting a home ASAP is imperative.
Don’t panic – keeping your changes organized helps promote a happy reunion. Here are some smart tips to keep in mind when trying to locate a lost cat.
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Head outside and start searching
One of the key elements to finding a lost cat is not to waste any time. Bring your cell phone with a picture of your cat with flashlight and your favorite cat items. Stay calm and call your cat. Look around your house and then ring the neighbors’ doorbell to see if you can search their yard and ask if they’ve seen your cat. While searching, you can also ask pedestrians if they have seen a cat.
Ask your neighbors to search through their barns, garages, under porches, and in the RVs to find your cat. Sometimes cats get stuck inside with no way out, so it’s important to check these areas.
Related: Findster, a GPS pet tracker with no monthly fee
Post flyers with your contact information
Post flyers around town with a clear, color photo of the cat, a description of it, and the date it was last seen. Offer a treat if you’d like, as some people will work harder to find a cat and will be more excited to call you when they find it if they know there is something in it.
In addition to your contact information, it’s also a good idea to ask people to check their garages, sheds, etc. Don’t add too personal information, such as your address, name, and the amount, if any, reward you’re offering.
Contact local animal shelters
Contact as many animal shelters as possible to tell them about a missing cat. They may have you go to the shelter to leave flyers and fill out a short report so they can alert you in the event your cat is found and brought in by a stranger.
It’s also worth calling your vet, as well as other local vets, to tell them about a missing cat, in case someone brings in a kitty that fits the description.
Share about your cat on the Internet
You can post about your lost cat online at sites such as lostpetdirectory.net, craigslist.org, tabbytracker.com, and missingpet.net.
Put the same information that was found on a flyer on your online listing, although if you can go into more detail, do so without giving away too much personal information for security.
And use social media to your advantage. Post missing cat information on sites like Facebook and Twitter, and ask friends to spread the word. The more people you can look after a cat, the better – you need all the help you can get.
Leave food and water, and set up a trap
Leave a bowl of food and some water outside your door for the cat to find in case he is in the area. Indoor cats tend to get scared when they are outside on their own, so it may take a cat until they feel comfortable and safe enough to come out of hiding. Eating will encourage him to come home.
You can also ask a local rescue group to offer you a trap that you can set up in an attempt to catch your crate.
Don’t give up
Don’t put a time frame on when to retrieve your cat. Sometimes a cat can be found in a matter of hours or days. Others find their cats after a week or so. Don’t give up, keep spreading the word about your missing pet, and search the area regularly at different times of the day and night while calling your cat in an effort to find him soon.
