Tips for owners on how to find a missing cat on the day it went missing and over time

Cats are amazing pets. Many people simply adore them. When I look at my pet, I always think that this is the closest relative of lions, tigers, panthers and other wild representatives of the cat family. This is probably why our pets have such a wayward character.

Everyone is obviously familiar with the situation when you want to pet your cat or when you try to hold it in your arms, an active protest arises from the pet. And vice versa, if they decide to show their affection to you, whether you like it or not, you will have to endure it, they will never leave you alone. All this only confirms the truth that the cat walks on its own. There is another manifestation of her wayward and, to some extent, obstinate character. This is when a cat suddenly disappears into a closed apartment.

Where to look for her hidden places?

As many cats as there are, probably, there are as many secluded places where they can hide within the apartment. But, talking with other owners of these animals, I discovered one pattern for myself. After all, they have common favorite places where they like to hide. I’ll tell you about them now. I ask the cats not to be offended by me for giving away their secret.

Cabinets

Cats love to climb into closets and sit there among clothes and linen. And enjoying the cleanliness and peace, they fall asleep peacefully. It is not clear whether their sleep is so deep and sweet that they do not wake up when their owner calls them. It is possible that your pet can hear everything perfectly. And he doesn’t respond because he doesn’t want to interrupt his idyll of afternoon sleep. Or maybe this is simply a manifestation of the harmfulness of her capricious and proud character.

Under the bath

Under the bath is warm, dark and cozy. There, our pets especially like to disappear during folk festivals, celebrated with loud volleys of fireworks. After all, everyone probably knows that cat ears are so delicate that any loud sound causes them great discomfort. When a cat hears the incessant firing of fireworks, it gets scared and tries to run as far as possible from these disturbing sounds. From my own experience I was convinced that you can call her and look for her for hours. He'll only come out when it's quiet outside.

On the loggia

There was a case in my life when a cat got lost in a closed apartment. And it was impossible to find her for many hours. Everything was done to search for her: the ringing of the bells of her favorite toys, the sound of food rustling in the box, and the slamming of the refrigerator door. Believe it or not, I even went outside into the courtyard of the house, asked passers-by about the cat, and called her affectionately.

By evening it became clear that the cat was missing. After crying a lot, I decided to print advertisements on the search for a cat. All that remained was to start the print when my sleepy little loser appeared in person in the doorway of the loggia. It turns out that she slept there all day under an inverted pelvis. She slept well, gained strength, and then at night she gave chase with an imaginary animal. All this was accompanied by her victorious screams and stomping paws.

Behind the curtains near the battery

If the cat is missing and the heating season has already begun, look near the radiator behind the curtains. Cats really like this cozy and secluded place. How warm, dry, no one sees her, but she herself has a great opportunity to eavesdrop and observe everything that happens. When you search, be sure to pull back the curtains and look below.

A few more places to look:

• In a toy box.
• In a crib.
• Under the blanket on the bed.
• Under the bed.

Of course, each apartment is designed differently. For this reason, I advise you to take note of where your cat appears after a long absence. So, by trial and error, you will be able to find the secret hiding places of your pet.

Start your search as early as possible

Don't wait for your pet to come home on its own. The search should begin as soon as you discover the loss. Most likely, the cat, frightened by the street, hid in a secluded place not far from the house. Of course, in this state she simply cannot find her way back.

In order for the search to be effective, follow a number of simple rules:

• Keep calm. There is no need to scream, cry or panic on the street. The cat may be frightened by loud noises. Call her calmly, without unnecessary emotions.
• Choose a time. The ideal time to search for a missing pet is evening, night and early morning. The street becomes quieter, and the animal may dare to leave a secluded place.
• Pay attention to secluded places. As a rule, a frightened pet will look for a quiet place, so most often fugitives hide in basements, attics, and under stairs. Sometimes they can be found on a tree.
• Dress more comfortably. When going on a search, wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Most likely, you will not only have to walk a lot, but also explore hard-to-reach and rather dirty places.
• Ask for help. Include neighbors, friends, janitors, and even children playing in the yard in the search. The more people know about the loss, the higher the chance of finding a pet.
• Place “baits”. Place bowls of food near the house. A hungry fugitive may follow the scent. But be prepared for the fact that the food will also attract stray animals.
• Tell us about the loss. Post notices about a lost cat not only in your yard, but also in neighboring ones. The coverage rule also applies here: the more, the better, but not less than 100 ads. Be sure to check them every two to three days, as many may be torn or simply taped up. You can also turn to social networks for help. For the search to be effective, the ad must be detailed.

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What to do if you couldn’t find the cat right away

If the pet is not found immediately, then they begin making advertisements. Advertisements are printed on A4 paper, not saving cartridges and leaving space for tear-off sheets with phone numbers. The ad text states:

• pet's gender;
• nickname;
• size (large, small);
• coat color and length;
• the breed of the cat; in cases of a rare breed, its characteristic features are indicated;
• distinctive features of the pet (for example, blue eye color, the shape of the spot on the chest, the presence of “socks”);
• need for care in the presence of illness;
• a good photo of the pet;
• information about the reward must be indicated, since for some people it can become a motivator for efforts to catch the cat or for the decision to return it to the owner if the pet is caught, but the finder does not want to return it;
• date and place where the pet went missing;
• owner's contacts, which are duplicated on tear-off slips.

When composing the text of an advertisement 1-2, there is no need to publish the distinctive features of the pet; when communicating with people who may have found the cat, you should ask security questions about these differences, this will especially help when communicating with scammers.

Sexual behavior often brings a domestic cat into the company of stray cats

Advertisements are posted by:

• next to the entrances;
• on existing notice boards;
• in grocery stores;
• in the housing department and at the post office;
• in veterinary hospitals and veterinary stores;
• close to kindergartens and schools;
• at transport stops;
• in car parks.

Paper advertisements need to be updated regularly. In addition, advertisements are posted on the Internet:

• on social networks, especially in animal owner groups;
• in instant messengers, where groups have also been formed;
• on general classifieds sites;
• on specialized forums on finding and adopting animals;
• on local online news portals.

They also study advertisements about animals discovered and adopted, as well as about matings, if the pet is purebred and not sterilized. Since paper newspapers are still popular, you need to place an ad there too. If financial resources allow, it is possible to disseminate information about the lost pet through local television and radio. You can attach an ad to the rear window of your car.

Photo gallery: samples of missing cat notices

Very good ad, informative photo, reward information included

Less informative ad, but eye-catching

Ad of average information content, attracting attention and evoking an emotional response

In addition to announcements, they regularly call places where animals are kept and where they can deliver a found cat:

• the city temporary holding center for pets is a priority, since unclaimed animals will be euthanized there;
• veterinary hospitals;
• zoo shelters;
• breed nurseries;
• volunteer animal protection organizations with a network of home foster care.

Further search consists of continuing to inspect the territory and updating the advertisement data; cats are very often found in places that have already been subjected to repeated inspection, especially in basements, where up to 90% of lost pets are found. The morning time between 3-7 o'clock may be fruitful for searching, since the city is quiet, and the pet can hear the owner's call and even respond; the calling can be supplemented with another sound familiar to the pet, for example, shaking food in a bowl. In silence, the cat may even leave the shelter and go in search of food, and it will be easier to detect. By listening carefully at this time, you can catch the cat's meow, as well as the sounds of cat fights, since local cats, defending the territory, will drive out the newcomer.

Highways pose a certain danger to cats, although cats tend to avoid them and get run over much less often than dogs. Downed pets are often taken to the nearest veterinary clinics, where they should already have directions. In order to exclude the possible death of a cat on the road, it is worth checking from time to time the sides of the roads in the microdistrict, where dead animals are usually removed before being removed by road services.

Cats often warm themselves by climbing onto a car wheel.

Often people who want to help receive information about a similar animal that regularly appears in a certain place. This data must be checked when going to the indicated places with your pet’s food and toys. Some authors indicate that even litter from a tray can help, since the cat may be attracted to a familiar smell.

Perhaps someone will consider this hooliganism, but in order to save time, I would moisten napkins with valerian and wait. Most cats like the smell of valerian, so perhaps several of them will come, but this will increase the chances of a “lost one” appearing. At the end of the waiting time, you can take the napkins with you so as not to cause inconvenience to anyone.

Positive reinforcement of participation in the search for a pet by children in the yard in the form of fruits and sweets is very important, since it is children who can play a decisive role in finding a cat.

The successful completion of searches is greatly influenced by their intensity and repeated nature of actions, so do not despair. Cats are capable of returning home months or years after they go missing.

When the cat is found and captured, it is examined for possible injuries. It is most likely that the pet was starving while on the street, so he is offered food in an amount not exceeding half the usual portion, and access to water is not limited. The returned cat is treated for worms and external parasites, and an examination by a veterinarian is a good idea. Preliminary vaccinations, especially against rabies, will serve a good purpose in this situation, as they can protect the pet from infection while outdoors. You may have to resolve the issue of quarantine if the cat is not vaccinated and there are other cats at home.

Video: how to look for a cat

How to write a missing cat notice?

1. Describe your pet. Indicate the animal's size, color, coat type, eye color and breed. The text might, for example, look like this: “A cat named Murka got lost. Large, short-haired, gray with tan, green eyes.”
2. Special signs. Be sure to include characteristic features and signs to help people immediately recognize your pet. But you shouldn’t indicate all of them - this will protect you from scammers. The fact is that criminals often call about missing pets and demand a reward for the pet they allegedly found. In this case, ask them to name those signs of the animal that you did not indicate in the ad.
3. Place a photo. Of course, no description will be as informative as a photo of a pet. Choose a full-length photo of good quality so that the cat is easy to recognize. It is better to print advertisements on a color printer.
4. Please provide your address and phone number. Be sure to write your address and the area where the cat was lost in the ad. Be sure to include several phone numbers where you can be reached.
5. Take care of the reward. The reward line is a great motivation to search. It would be even better to indicate the amount of money that you are willing to give to the finder.

It is also important to contact shelters and veterinary clinics in your area. Alas, people who discover a cat cannot always guess that the animal is domestic. In this case, the clinic or shelter staff will be able to inform you if a found animal is brought to them.

Having a microchip on your cat will make the search much easier. It contains data that allows you to quickly contact the owner.

Why do cats disappear?

There are many reasons why a domestic cat ends up on the street:

• curiosity;
• hunting passion;
• sexual behavior;
• fright;
• other reasons, invisible to the owner, but significant to the cat.

A cat can sneak out of an apartment unnoticed through an unlocked door or accidentally fall off a balcony. Cats often break out of their hands when transported without a carrier, and a recent move or a noisy family celebration can also trigger the disappearance of a pet.

Cats often run away driven by the hunting instinct.