There is no worse feeling in the world than to discover that your cat is missing.? It fills you with a sense of panic, but you need to put that away.? You need to spring into action and panic will not help you.
If your cat is strictly an indoor cat and you are reasonably sure there was no way for her to get out, it is time to do a house search.? Cats will run and hide for different reasons.? It could be as simple as her finding a new napping place, or she may have been startled by a loud noise or a new visitor to your home.
If you are a cat owner then you know that they can contort those little bodies to fit almost anywhere.? Here are some places to check:
Under the bed, look up in the springs too?under or behind living room furniture?TV or music Entertainment Centers?in closets (my cat can open these doors?maybe yours can too) under or in laundry piles etc.? If you are sure that kitty is not inside, you need to determine which door or window she might have escaped from, and start your outdoor search there
If kitty is an indoor cat, more than likely the outside will be overwhelming to her and she may hide herself for safety. ?Most indoor cats will stick close to home so look for signs. Fur caught on a fence; paw prints in muddy or dusty areas.? ?Check the garage, car, outdoor structures like a tool shed, or playhouse. Under porches or toys stacked in the yard. Look in bushes but don?t forget to look up too.? Kitty can run up a tree and onto a rooftop in no time flat.? Knock on doors in your neighborhood and ask them to call you immediately if they see your pet. Ask them also to notify you if they hear any noises at night that sound like cats fighting or mating.? Check to see if any neighbors left on vacation that day to be sure your pet wasn?t closed into their garage accidentally.
Hiding cats are more likely to come out at night when the neighborhood has settled down for the evening. So keep an eye open in the yard during these times. Listen for any meows or rustling sounds in the bushes.? Keep your own safety in mind at all times.? We don?t want you surprising a skunk! Call your cat during this quiet time and see if you hear a responding meow.
Tip:? Leave a piece of clothing with your scent on it, out on your porch.? A cat?s sense of smell is incredible and they may be able to track this scent to find their way home. Leave out some of kitty?s favorite food or treats and be sure to go outside and call them.? If they respond to certain noises, like shaking a dry food box, or tapping on a can of food, do those things as well.
If Kitty hasn?t come home by morning or is an outdoor cat, then here are some steps to take.? First and foremost, do not lose hope.? Many pets have gone missing for months and been reunited with their owners.? So believe that you will be together again.? Enlist the help of any family, friends or neighbors who offer it.? Having them make calls while you are out searching will double your efforts and keep you focused.
Tip:? If you have recently moved, be sure to check your old location as many times our pets will go back to what is familiar.
Tip:? If you feel your cat has been coming into the yard at night but you aren?t able to get them to come in, consider setting a trap.? There are many humane traps available.?
FLYERS:
If your pet hasn?t come home in a reasonable amount of time, you are going to want to make up flyers.? It would be best to make one and photocopy the rest, as some printer ink will smear if it gets wet.? Find as recent a photo as you can.? If you don?t have a photo and your cat is a specific breed (Siamese. Persian etc) find a photo online that resembles your pet the most and use that.? On the flyer, you will want to give a good physical description, where the cat was last seen, and your phone number.? If your cat is normally afraid of strangers, you may want to add to not approach, but call you with the location.? Keep in mind that it wouldn?t be a good idea to put your name or address on the flyer for safety reasons.
Tip:? Make sure that the phone number you leave will either have someone there to answer it, or that you have an Answering machine or Voicemail.
Tip:? It would be best to not mention a reward on the poster as you may get scam artists.? It would also be wise to leave one distinguishing feature of your pet off from the Flyer.? If you get a call, don?t offer this info, but have them tell you.? That way you can be sure it is really your pet which will not only save you valuable time, but will thwart the scam artists out there.? And they are out there.
Drop your flyers off at the homes in your neighborhood and hang on poles.
Don?t forget your local animal rescue organizations, ASPCA, and the Humane Society.? It would be a good idea to stop by the rescue places often in person. ?If your pet has been brought in very recently, the front desk may not know about it yet.? So just calling may not be enough. And keep in mind that some of these places are only able to keep strays for 72 hours, so you want to make sure that if they have your pet, you can get them safely home.
Local convenience stores in or near your neighborhood are also a good place to hang your flyers.? Don?t hesitate to hand a flyer to people walking in the neighborhood or near the store.? The more people who know, the more eyes that are looking. If you live in a bigger city, then you may have fast food restaurants and gas stations in your neighborhood.? These are also excellent places to post your flyers.
Pet Grooming salons.? If your pet is found after some time has passed, their fur may be matted and the kind soul who finds them may bring them to a groomer.
Veterinary offices.? Again, the finder may take them in for a check up so this is a great resource.
Pet stores.? If someone does find your pet and decides to keep them, they will need pet items and food.
Animal Control agencies that normally pick up strays.
Your local TV station.? Many have a pet segment at the end of their news broadcasts, usually about adopting a pet.? Ask if they would please show your flyer and information.?
Tip:? Another resource is the Police Dept.? Many times if people see a stray, they don?t know who to call, so they mistakenly call the police.? You can ask if they have received any calls on a stray cat.? But be sure to never use the 911 number which is for police emergencies.?
Put an ad in your local newspapers.? More often than not, when someone finds a lost pet, that is the first place they look to see if anyone has lost one.
If a couple of weeks have passed, be sure to update your flyer with a new one.? You will want people to know that your pet is still lost so they don?t stop looking.
Although I am a Pet Psychic, I made the difficult decision to no longer work with lost pets.? There are many reasons for this.? But there are a lot of pet psychics who will work with lost pets and indeed, many specialize in that area.? If you decide to use this resource, just a word of caution; be very diligent about your online search.? Prices vary widely.? Also be aware that animals tend to move location often.? What the psychic might see may no longer apply by the time you get there.? Many psychics charge for the initial connection and then also charge for the follow ups.? This can run into some money. Try to find one who will include at least two follow ups with their initial charge.??
Remember to never give up.? Miracles happen every day and we have all heard the stories of people who have been separated from their pets for many months, but are together again.?
When you get your pet back, you may want to consider a collar and tags in the future.? You might also want to check with your vets office to see if Microchip technology is available in you area. Good luck!
Source: http://jeannemiller.blogspot.com/2011/05/when-your-cat-is-missing.html
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