It’s every cat owner’s worst fear - their pet has gotten out and they can’t find them.
While losing your cat is extremely stressful and scary, please remember that cats feed off your energy so it’s extremely important to stay as calm as possible to get them back home safe and sound. Use a calm, cheerful voice when calling for your cat.
Search your house. Many times owners can’t find their indoor cat and assume the cat somehow got outside, but the cat is actually still in the home. Check anywhere and everywhere a cat could possibly hide. If you recently moved, are having work done on the property, or there are strangers in the home, the cat may be scared and hiding - or they may just be asleep! Check under beds and couches, in closets and cabinets, and in any boxes and baskets you may have. Also check to see if any doors or windows had been left open allowing the cat to escape.
Once you have confirmed that your cat isn’t in the house, it’s time to start venturing outside. Indoor cats typically don’t venture far away. If your cat has never been outside they likely got scared once they got out of the house. They are very likely hiding near or even under the home. Check all around the perimeter of the building and see if there are ways the cat could have gotten under the home. For a scared cat, a crawlspace would be a very enticing hiding spot. Bushes, parked cars, wood piles, tall grass.. anywhere they can see out while not easily being seen would appeal to a cat, especially a scared cat.
If the cat has lived in the same home for at least six months, they have not traveled far. In fact, most cats are found within 500 meters of their home. Focus on your home and the neighboring buildings. The cat is almost always found on the same block.
Put some of the cat’s food outside and also their used litter box. If they have a cat bed or a special blanket, put that outside too. If they can smell their things, they can find their way back home.
Walk around the neighborhood, shaking a bag of dry food or your cat’s favorite treat while you call for your cat. Or pop open a can of wet food to encourage them to come out. Whenever you are out looking for your cat, bring a pet carrier so if you find them you can safely transport them back inside.
Talk to your neighbors and let them know your cat is missing. Show them a photo of your cat and give them your contact information.
Post on social media and Next Door. Next Door is especially useful since it is a neighborhood-based app. Your neighbors will likely love to start helping reunite you with your pet. They just need to know you need the help! Tag local rescue organizations, shelters, and veterinary hospitals in your social media posts and encourage friends and family to share your posts and help find your cat.
Print flyers and include a recent photo of your cat, their name, demeanor, any defining characteristics, and your contact information and give to your neighbors and post them a block in each direction.
If your cat has a microchip and it is registered to you, if someone finds them and brings them to a shelter or a vet to be scanned, you will be contacted and can reunite with your pet. However, it’s still a good idea to contact local shelters, rescues, and your vet to let them know your pet is missing and that you very much want them back. Some microchip companies even have lost pet alerts so you can also notify the microchip company that your cat has gone missing and they can help spread the word.
If your cat is not microchipped, check your local shelters for your last cat. Most cats turned in have a short waiting period before they are put up for adoption. This is usually called a ‘stray hold’ and is for situations just like this - to give owners a chance to find their missing pet. And you definitely don’t want to miss your chance to reunite with your cat so be vigilant about checking the shelters, online or in person, and letting staff know to be on the lookout for your pet.
Remember that cats are most active at night. The cat may hide - or sleep - until it gets dark and quiet. A wildlife or security camera can be very useful in monitoring the area and seeing if and when your cat is around.
If the camera shows that your cat is coming around, you can then set up a humane trap in the area. Shelters and rescues usually have traps you can loan and they can show you how to use them properly. You can use a humane trap to entice your cat into the trap by placing some food at the far end of the trap. Once the cat steps a certain distance inside, it triggers the trap to close behind them without touching or hurting them.
Reuniting With Your Lost Cat
If you find your cat and they seem scared, approach them slowly and talk to them calmly. They may be too afraid to come to you and if you head toward them quickly and excitedly your cat may feel threatened and run off. If needed, you can cover your cat with a towel or blanket to keep them calm as you try to pick them up, put them in a carrier, and bring them back inside.
Depending how long your cat was missing, you should take them to a vet for an exam. They should be checked for fleas, wounds, and injuries. If they were outside for days or weeks they may have encountered other animals and gotten in a fight. Or they may not have had enough to eat or drink and they may be very lethargic. Additionally, if the weather was too hot, cold, or rainy they may have gotten sick.
Don’t forget to take precautions to ensure your cat can’t get outside again. Make sure everyone in the home knows to keep all doors and windows closed. Discourage the cat from hanging out by the door. Prepare for situations that could cause your cat to run away like having construction done on the home or having visitors over and secure the cat in a separate room in advance. Consider getting your cat a collar with your contact information on it. And remember to always keep your contact information on the microchip current and if your cat was not microchipped before, PLEASE get them microchipped right now.
Love, Nala
