Checklist for Finding Your Lost Cat or Kitten:
-
Search your house carefully to make sure the cat isn’t
hiding in a closet or in an obscure place. Don’t forget to search
on top of your house as well and in places such as storage sheds.
Try to lure the cat out with some tuna or a favorite treat.
-
Contact your local Humane Society as soon as you can.
They will ask you to come in with a picture and information about your
pet. You’ll also be able to look at the cats they have found recently.
In addition, if someone finds or spots a cat that looks like yours
and then calls the Humane Society, they will contact you. Many
Humane Societies have websites, so you’ll be able to look online to see
if a cat that might be yours has arrived.
-
If your cat is microchipped, call the microchip company
immediately. If someone brings a lost cat to a vet, one of the
first things the vet will do is read the chip and then call the company
with the chip’s information. If you lose your cat, call the
company to verify that the cat and your current contact information is
in their records so that they can contact you if your pet is found.
-
Put up posters in conspicuous places in your
neighborhood - and in adjacent neighborhoods (cats can wander quite
far). Good places are anywhere that people will be likely to see your
posters; on "super mailboxes", grocery store bulletin boards, pet store
windows, at the veterinary clinics, groomers, and anywhere that people
visit regularly. You can also send a stack of posters to school
with your children for distribution within the classroom. Make sure your
phone number and address are on the poster, along with a description and
a recent photo—preferably color—of your cat.
-
Knock on your neighbors’ doors and ask them to keep an
eye out for your cat. Give your neighbors a poster and your phone
number.. Chances are, the cat hasn’t wandered off far, so there’s
a good chance your neighbors can help.
-
Publish “lost cat” ads in appropriate publications.
Take advantage of free listings in places like Craigslist, and puts ads
in your local paper as well.
-
Put cat food out in a bowl on your doorstep, along with
a familiar object, like a cat’s favorite blanket. When cats get
disoriented, this can help them find their way home. Keep an eye
out the front window for the cat (and keep in mind, you might get some
other feline visitors).
-
Open your garage door so your cat can enter, and put a
bowl of food and some water inside. This can be especially
effective if it rains or snows. Just be very careful to watch for
the cat as you drive in and out!
Remember, don’t give up. Cats can find their way home after weeks
or even months. Take comfort in doing what you can to find
your lost cat or kitten, and then wait. Hopefully, you’ll
open your door one day soon and experience a great feeling of relief
when you hear that familiar meow.
...And when your kitty does show up, make sure that he
or she has a micro-chip or tattoo to ensure that if your cat goes
missing ever again, you'll have a much better chance of being reunited
quickly. Keep your cat or kitten indoors to ensure that you and your
furry friend have a long, happy and healthy life together free of the
worry and danger of going missing again.
|
|
