Finding a missing cat
Ok, so kitty has done a disappearing act.
Assuming you don’t have a GPS tracker (or it’s on the blink), first remember the advice from the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and...
Don’t Panic!
Yes we know that's easier to say than do, but most cats come back after a few hours (although it seems like days!) especially if they are hungry and you are shaking their favourite treats!
While you are waiting, check your home thoroughly. They may have found a new place to hide, particularly if they are ill or injured. Go room by room, and shut the door when you are in there so they can’t sneak out behind you. Leave no space unchecked, however small. Cats, even fully grown ones, can be perfectly comfortable in spaces so small you would never believe it possible. Use a torch or the app on your phone if you can, as you might spot the reflection in their eyes. Shut the door once you have thoroughly checked a room just in case you missed them. Periodically repeat the procedure and recheck each room one at a time - you might hear or see them scurrying back to their hidey hole!
Check garages, sheds or outbuildings that have doors. Even if you don’t recall going in the shed, it’s worth checking. Check dustbins, water butts, compost bins and outside storage boxes.
Visit neighbours either side, to the rear, across the road and near your garden. Ask them to check sheds and garages as your cat may continue to hide if a stranger starts calling them.
Studies show the majority of “lost” cats are very close to home, so search the local area. The best time is the early morning around dawn and in the evening around dusk, when it’s quiet and cats are most active. Take a torch, even in daylight, to check dark corners and under bushes. Again, the reflection in their eyes is visible from quite a distance. Take their favourite treats and rattle the tin/packet frequently. Call your cat in your normal voice (don’t shout, as it won’t sound like you) and listen carefully for any response. Remember that cats have better hearing than dogs, so they will be able to pick up your voice from quite a distance.
If your cat uses a litter tray, put it outside, as they may be able to follow this scent back to your garden. The contents of your hoover, the cat’s bed or some unwashed socks are good additions/alternatives. Anything that will remind them of home. Cats have an incredible sense of smell, so they can pick up a familiar scent from much further than you'd think.
If your cat is microchipped, contact the microchip company and register them as missing. You can easily change their status back once they return, so mark them as lost as quickly as possible. If you have changed your contact details, ensure they are updated on the database as a matter of urgency.
Find a recent photo of your cat – particularly one that shows distinguishing features. A photo of your cat curled up and sleeping, while cute, isn’t especially helpful. Their collar may have come off ,so don’t rely on an identity tag being seen. Write down all relevant details and contact all of the following:
- Local vets
- Local animal homing charities
- Local newspaper & local magazines
- Social media residents’ groups and lost/found animal pages
- Lost pet databases: AnimalSearch, Pets Reunited, and CatLost are examples
Make posters, including a large, clear, recent photo and a couple of smaller ones showing your cat from different angles. Put the posters up in the local area and post some through letterboxes in nearby streets.
If you have recently moved, you should extend the search to your previous home as well. Ask old neighbours to keep an eye out and tell the new owners.
Above all...
Don’t ever give up!
Most cats come back after a few hours...although it seems like days!