WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAT IS LOST

IF THE CAT IS LOST FROM YOUR HOME:

Ascertain that the cat is not in the house, hiding in a favorite spot - or even a new one.  This can take a while. Remember too, cats can move from one hiding place to another. Don't assume your cat is not inside because it does not come to your voice.. something may have scared the cat or perhaps it is playing a hiding game - SEARCH WELL AND REPEATEDLY!! Look for physical evidence like animal hairs (caught under fences, on shrubs, around broken screens), paw prints, and animal droppings that may provide clues as to your pet's whereabouts.

If your pet may still be inside the house, be sure to check the following:

* In reclining/swivel chairs — inside the ledge that supports the footrest when it is extended and inside the chair itself if there are tears in the fabric
* In box spring or mattress — with a flashlight look for torn lining in box spring or mattress
* Under platform beds
* Behind the books in a bookcase
* Behind unopened drawers in a dresser
* In the chimney
* In heating ducts
* In boxes
* In cabinets
* Behind washer/dryer
* Behind access panels
* Behind the refrigerator or stove
* Wrapped in the bottom of your drapes

Notify the immediate neighbors - at least up to 2-3 blocks in all directions.  Note that many cats will not go beyond 3 - 4 houses away.

If you have a garage or shed, keep your garage/shed door open and  put a pile of some of your clothing (unwashed so it has your scent) in a cat bed with food and water available in the garage/shed.

WHERE EVER THE CAT IS LOST OUTDOORS:

WORK HARD AND WORK FAST: Your cat only has 48 hours in some kill shelters and keep in mind that some shelters will euthanize solely on the basis of the cat looking "weird"  or having a cold.  Alternatively, some shelters will adopt the cat out extremely quickly for looking like a rare purebred.  Keep trying and don't give up, sometimes it can takes weeks or months to find a cat. Note that it is NOT going to help your kitty for you to panic.  The calmer and clearer-thinking you are and the harder you work, the higher the chances that the kitty will be found.  Your baby needs you to be level-headed, logical and methodical in your efforts to find them. 

SEARCH the neighborhood the cat was lost in immediately, SEARCH that same neighborhood at night - cats may be less frightened and out in the open foraging for food at night. SEARCH repeatedly in your neighborhood calling your cat by name. Bring a flashlight and check EVERYWHERE:  inside pipes and culverts, in heavy brush, sheds, basement crawl spaces, open garages, under decks. Your pet may be stuck somewhere, extremely frightened, or injured and lying low. For lost cats and other climbing critters, check trees, roofs, and attics. You may also want to check with local dog groups, clubs and trainers to see if there are any available resources that could provide a tracking/search dog to follow your cat's scent and locate them. Walk all over places as you are searching - this is especially helpful if your cat is lost in an area unfamiliar to them.  You lay your scent and the cat knows you are/were there and is more likely to stay in that area. You can also use search services, such as those found here: http://missingpetpartnership.org/

TALK TO EVERYONE IN THE AREA - people you see in the area, children, mailmen, neighbors, passers by, etc..  While playing, children may have observed the cat.  Talk to mailmen and other delivery people who work in the area as they may see or hear about the cat. Caution them all not to try to catch it, but to contact you, letting you know where it was last sighted. Ask if anyone has moved that day, gone on vacation, or had workers in as cats may sometimes slip into trucks and vans that are in the neighborhood on jobs or be inadvertently locked into a neighbor's garage who has gone on vacation.

TELL EVERYONE: Tell every animal-loving friend and co-worker who will listen to you - you never know who will find the kitty or hear about someone who has.

MAKE UP FLYERS: (8.5 x 11 inch) with a clear, preferably digital COLOR photo and include ALL details (was the cat fixed, declawed, vaccinated, wearing a collar, microchipped, having any distinguishing markings, etc.). Do include WHERE the cat was lost (nearest major intersection) and your contact information on the flyer. The best way to get your cat back is to be as explicit and descriptive as possible on the poster/lost report and to include clear photos as well.

• Put the flyers/posters in every door or door handle of every home or apartment within a 3-4 block radius from where the cat was lost. Most cats stay within that area if not taken to shelters. Post color flyers on utility poles at busy street intersections, at local veterinary offices, pet stores, pet groomers, laundromats, and community bulletin boards.
• Give a poster/flyer to EVERY VET in a 20 mile radius and post it at every veterinarian office and every pet and food store that will allow you to put up a flyer in your area.
• Find the names/e-mail addresses/phone numbers to every no-kill rescue group in your area and send them a flyer.

SUBMIT LOST REPORTS with your local humane societies, County Animal Control, SPCAs, and shelters located ANYWHERE within 25 miles - keep calling regularly  every 2-3 days, sometimes they need reminders, information sometimes gets overlooked, and staff could change hours/days. Visit the shelters and animal control facilities yourself, if you can, and go back every 2-3 days - no matter what is posted some shelters overlook the information and only you know may recognize YOUR cat if the cat isn't microchipped. If you cannot visit, keep calling regularly every 2-3 days, sometimes they need reminders, information sometimes gets overlooked, and staff could change hours/days.

IF THE CAT USED TO LIVE ELSEWHERE, make sure that you put posters up and contact vets around where the cat USED to live since some cats will migrate back to where they came from.

ADVERTISE: Don't forget ads in local newspapers, and there are also lost pet listings online you can post on:

• http://www.lostandfound.com/
• http://www.missingpet.net/
• http://www.pets911.com/services/lostandfound/index.php
• http://www.lostapet.org/

CONTACT US and remind us every few days or let us know the cat is found and we will send notices out to local rescue lists

PREVENT  FUTURE HEARTBREAK: DO MICROCHIP YOUR PETS!
This very much helps protect them if they are lost and helps shelters find who their owner is!