Lost Cat and How to Find Your Pet

Finding your beloved lost family cat, and taking steps immediately will help in the outcome of your search. As soon as your cat doesn't return home at his/her usual time, is the time to get started.

Where do Cats Hide?
Cats are known for finding the best hiding places ever. Behind furniture for example, we had a cat hide inside a reclining chair, you couldn't see him until the foot stool was lifted carefully. Other hiding places include, behind the refrigerator, inside boxed springs or mattress, behind books in a book shelf, wrapped in drapes, in the chimney, heating ducts, inside rolled up carpet. Your cat can slip inside an unused room, as you shut the door. Pantry doors, that don't close all the way. Their little paws can work wonders at being mischievous. Take each room and go over it piece by piece, dirty clothes and all. Outside areas include wheel wells of cars, trucks and garages. It's time to take further action, if kitty doesn't show up.

Enlist help from other family members and their friends, to move the search along faster. Have the geeks print fliers with your kitty's photo and name; adding the word Reward, your phone number and a back up number. Leave off at least one identifying mark. I'll explain later. Check the neighbors first, look in local trees yes trees. Once my cat got scared into climbing a very big tree, I heard him meowing. This was a very large tree and took some added help and a very tall ladder to get him down.

Where to Look Who to Ask:
Leave the fliers with the neighbors to remind them, you need their help. Local businesses will let you post your flier. Ask the, UPS delivery, FedEx, postman, construction workers, Veterinarians. Contact ASPCA, shelters, animal control all with thin a 100 mi radius. Please remember you have to physically go to these places, they are crowded and will only keep some animals 24hrs before putting them to sleep. Sad but true. Go more than once, go daily.

Start as soon as you suspect your cat is lost. But the best time to get your kitty's attention is from dusk till dawn when they are out searching for food. Be sure to take your cat's favorite food on your search open it up so he or she can smell it. Sometime this will lure them out of hiding.

Cats have a strong sense of smell; don't underestimate this in your search. Putting your used clothes outside your front door will help attract him/her home, your cats used kitty litter, walking barefoot around the perimeter of your home, using anything with your scent on it will help them find their way home.

How to Answer a Phone Call about your Cat:
Keep in mind there are scammers out their looking for a fast buck. They will call and read exactly what is on the flier, it's cruel but they will do it. That is why you need to keep at least one identifying mark kept secret they don't know about. Ask them if your cat has a one white paw if they say yes. And he doesn't it's a no brainier. If all the answers are right, please be careful and take a couple friends with you and meet in a very public place. Be sure to take your pet cage with you. Do not send cash, checks, and airline tickets to any one. Do your research.

Be Prepared:
Keep updated current photos of your Kitty. Close ups of all markings. When you are under stress these things are hard to remember. Keep these in your must have file of papers from the vet, shots and any pertinent information.

Keeping your Cat Safe:
Keep a breakaway or escape feature collar, on you pet cat, they release quickly and safely, secure but not to tight. Two fingers should fit under it. I had to cut out a flea collar from a stray I found the collar had grown into the dog's neck. Put id tags with your name, phone and the word reward on them. Most large chain pet stores have machines that you can make these cheap. Not his rabies number that will not find his way home.

Tattooing or microchip your cat, Cats have been helped back home by these inventions. Research Labs will not take an animal that has been micro chipped or tattooed. If you choose to tattoo have it done in the groin, with a registered id number. Thieves will cut it off your cat's ear. In addition to the tattoo or chip, your cat should wear a tag indicating he has been micro chipped or tattoo. Don't tattoo a kitten; the numbers will get distorted as they grow older. Most cats taken to shelters are not returned home because they have no identification marks.

Delivery people, salesman, postman, are notorious for leaving your garden gates open, when you aren't home. Put padlocks on your gates with a combination lock for your own convenience. REMEMBER people will steal your family pet to sell to RESEARCH Labatories, cults for sacrifice. So Cruel.

What doesn't Work?
Electric Fences, they do not work on cats, they also give the owner a false sense of security.

How to Move and not Lose your Cat:
Moving to a new area and home can be traumatic to your beloved cat. Planning ahead could lessen the trauma your cat faces.

Moving Day:
Remember doors will be open all day, strange people coming and going unusual sounds, unfamiliar faces and odors. Your cat will know something is up, cats are smart. Have a relative keep your cat safe for the day. If that is not possible, double check that he/she has a secure collar on with id tags. Designate a room to keep your cat in, in his pop-up (cage) with his favorite blanket, toys, food and water. Turn the TV on to drown out the noise, or soothing music. Check on him/her often and talk to him. Cats are known to get in already packed boxes, and loaded on to moving trucks ending up across the country and no way home. Put a sign on the door of the room "do not disturb."

New Home First Day:
Keep your cat in a safe room with his/her familiar favorite things until he calms down from the move and ride. You don't want him roaming around getting lost in unfamiliar surrounding. Your cat could even try to return to his old home. Feed him on his old schedule, he doesn't know about time zones. Give him/her plenty of attention to ease the trauma your cat will be feeling. Keep her routine as normal as possible. Do not just turn them loose in their new surroundings. If your cat does disappear, follow the steps above in finding them along with looking at your old home.