Top 10 Tips on How to Find a Lost Cat

And here you go again: your loving cat is not to be found anywhere and it there is no sign that they will be coming home anytime soon. You know of course that cats are devoted to their independence and their patch. But then again even though it has previously occurred before, when you have lost your cat it gets you worried.

Odds of Finding a Lost Cat

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 1 in 5 pets will get lost after being frightened by loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks. But they also say a third of all missing cats will be found by their owners by making a simple search of their local neighborhoods, with 75 percent of lost cats ultimately finding their way back home by themselves. Nonetheless if you have lost your cat, you know how extremely distressing it can be for every single member of your family.

How Long Do Cats Go Missing For?

Cats are well known for being extremely independent animals so lots of cat owners are happy to let them, without any restrictions, wander their neighborhood however they like. On the whole owners will discover that their cat will happily return back home each night. They do this all the time without going getting lost for more than just a couple of hours. It is even safe to say that when they go missing for a couple of days this is not necessarily a cause for concern. When you learn their routines, you will be more likely to worry if their disappearance is out of the ordinary.  But it is regrettably not always true that a lost cat will come right back home. When a beloved cat does not return home for more than a couple of days this can be a worry for owners, mainly because most home loving cats do not have the capability to effectively fend for themselves for any substantial length of time.

How to Look for a Lost Cat in Your Home

Make sure to that you search everywhere thoroughly, check the stairwells, empty boxes, storage closets, in the basement, basically in all rooms that may have had an open door left ajar. Also, check with neighbors if they have seen around or if they have taken in your cat. The majority of lost cats will not usually have gone far from your home. Most are discovered hiding somewhere in a forgotten corner of your home or even just somewhere outside your front door. Once outside however, your cat may be scared of all human voices and so might not recognize yours if you are calling from your front door. It is crucial not to be disheartened if they do not respond. Call to your cat using an upbeat voice, the caring voice that you usually use to greet them with.

Top 10 Tips on How to Find a Lost Cat

• Have an action plan ready – Firstly, do not panic, check around your home and yard as cats can be sneeky little things and will hide in all kinds of places away from you. After you have searched every corner and crevice and are confident, they are not in your home then you need to start to check outside. Check outbuildings and shady places particularly if the weather is scorching as they will frequently attempt and discover a nice cool place to relax.
• Create fliers which clearly show your cat’s picture, a contact number where you can be reached immediately, and any info about a reward if wish to offer one. It is important to provide a good description of your cat so that people will be able to recognize them when they are on the lookout, but equally do hold back an distinguishing markers so that you can use this to confirm whether someone calling you really has found your cat or not.
• Put your fliers up around the area of your home and anywhere around your cat was last seen or is known to frequent. Post fliers in grocery stores, at the vets, in animal shelters, in fact anywhere that the flier will have a chance to be seen by loads of people in your neighborhood. Walk through your neighborhood and as you put up your fliers in the area where your cat was last seen as frequently as you can, and also get your friends and family members to do just the same. It helps to talk to neighbors and let them recognize that you are anxious to find your cat. Ensure to take an ample number of fliers with you as you talk to people so you can pass them out.
• The internet and in particular social media is a brilliant tool to help you to track down a lost cat. It can really help if you have a Facebook and Twitter page so ensure that you add the message about your lost cat on there and inform all of your friends to be on the lookout. You can request that your friends could equally notify all of their friends so that in a short space of time, you will have achieved a much wider search area. Equally post about your lost cat on your local animal shelter social media pages too.
• Talk to animal experts. Take a trip to your local animal shelters and rescue organizations. You may wish to log a lost cat report with every single shelter within a 10-mile radius of your home, and go there as often as possible to check if they have had any new cats bought in. Get the word out to all the veterinary clinics in your area. Many people who do find lost cats will get them to their own vet or the closest one to where a cat is found.
• You could try leaving some of your cat’s favorite cat treats outside and do put out fresh water in case they discover their way back. You may even contemplate puting food in a humane cat trap that will keep hold of your cat if they come back in the middle of the night.
• How to find a lost indoor cat can be even more challenging. Concentrate on a smaller radius around your home when searching for a lost indoor cat. Whereas with dogs, who frequently have the energy and incentive to travel far from home, cats typically do not go that far. Cats usually chose to stay close to their house. Even when you have only had a cat in your home for a short time, it is likely that they will be able to recall and even recognize your scent. Placing objects within a short distance from your house will be of assistance in alerting your cats memory so they can find their way back home.
• Watch the time. Complete some online searches for cats which matching your description at different times of the day. It is possible that someone has noticed your cat in the early evening so search for your cat at precise times of the day. Due to the fact that cats are nocturnal animals, they will be more likely to be active during the night. Cats like the early mornings too as at this time of day it is quiet and will seem safer to them due to the lack of cars on the roads. This nocturnal behavior can definitely hamper your search for your lost cat. You may wish to walk around your yard with flashlights that are dimmed a little so that they are not bright enough to possibly scare your cat away. Pay precise attention to any rustling of bushes as your cat could be hiding in them.
• Do not give up on your search for your lost cat too hurriedly and be patient with your search as it may take some time. Remember that even cats gone for weeks have been known to return to their owners at some point.
• Take care of yourself and your family too. It can be very easy when a much-loved cat is missing for their human family to lose sleep, get distracted from normal daily routines, skip meals, and generally get stressed with all the worry. It is important to practice self-care to the best of your ability during this anxious time. Try to make some time to take care of yourself by eating healthy and doing some amount of exercise each day.

With any luck within a few hours or days you will be able to find your lost cat. Most cats are not gone for long. When they are back, check your cat for any wounds or as a precaution look for any cuts or scrapes which might need instant veterinary care. At first, keep your cat separated from other cats in your home until you have made sure that they are healthy and that they are peacefully and happily back home.

Sources:

1. Lost a cat – Cats Protection
2. How to Find a Lost Cat – PetMD