Cats are adorable creatures, yet they can be sneaky. They always find a way to sneak out of the house once in a while, but they always find their way home, but what happens if suddenly your cat goes missing? Our best advice is for you to calm down, there are tips that will help you.
We will share tips on how to find a lost cat, making fliers, when and where to look, using online platforms, etc. Hopefully, you’ll be able to deal with the situation well and get reconnected with your pet.
Here are the best ways to find a lost cat:
Start immediately:
Leave everything aside and begin your search immediately, because time is of the essence, and you need to do everything you can while your cat is still nearby. Remember to keep calm; your cat will surely get back to you.
Your cat’s personality:
Cats have different personalities that can play a part in your search. Is your cat curious, cautious, an introvert or an extrovert? Answering all these and your understanding of your cat will make the search faster. For example, introverted cats are mostly found in the house, or 2-3 houses away. They hide because they are scared or hurt; this is a survival instinct, so your cat might hear you call and not react or come out. Get into your cat’s mind and search all the possible places of hiding.
Check your house and immediate area:
Although cats and dogs are territorial, cats are different, they don’t venture too far away from home, and they like to stay within their territory. This is mostly a two-block radius from your home, so you don’t need to worry.
Before you go under extensive search, we will advise that you check your home well. Check all the hidden areas; boxes, cupboards, closets, your basement, and all the dark places of your home. Remember, use a flashlight; that way, you can catch the reflection of your cat’s eyes. Learn more about how to find a lost cat indoor.
Expand your search:
After you’ve checked inside the house, expand your search area. Go to your garden, porch, or other places surrounding your home. If you live in an apartment, then we would advise you to check the hallways, staircases, and even vacant apartments nearby. The next step would be searching a two-block radius of your home, but it would be more productive and faster if you asked your neighbors to help.
Lure your cat home:
The next tip on how to find your lost cat fast involves putting out food and water in your home in case the cat is still around. Perhaps your cat might come out from its hiding place and eat.
If your cat doesn’t come around to the food, that means it is outside. In this scenario, you can do two things:
- Put out a plate of food at night for your cat. You can use strong-smelling fish, canned cat food, or your cat’s favorite meal; your cat has a strong sense of smell that can work to your advantage.
Put it where you can see your cat if it comes around, but remember not to keep it outside all through the night to avoid pests and wild animals.
- You can put out your cat’s litter box with its scent outside to lure it back home. You can place a piece of your recently worn clothing that still has your scent, outside to attract your cat home.
Talk to neighbors and friends:
While expanding your search, we would advise that you talk to your neighbors and ask if they’ve seen your cat. It would make things easier for your neighbors if they have a picture of your cat or even a flyer.
Make flyers and posters:
Find a high-resolution photo of your cat and make flyers out of it. The flyers should include your contact information, the name of your cat, reward, etc. We’d advise that you should put up rewards to motivate people to help you find your cat. This works!
Don’t just paste the flyers around; make sure you put it in our traffic areas where people can see. You should also call shelters, pounds, and vets to give them a full and clear description of your cat. Make sure you call them frequently because many pounds euthanize pets without identities after a few days.
We know that creating a flyer can be time-consuming. You can create a missing cat flyer using this tool.
Use Facebook and other social media:
Social media like Facebook are powerful tools that can help your search. Try posting information about your missing cat on your social media pages or even on forums where people talk about missing cats, this way you can reach a larger number of people easily.
You don’t need to think about what to post, you can use your flyers, or you can get creative depending on which medium you are using; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Use videos, pictures to get your message across and get friends to help you keep an eye out.
Search when it’s dark and quiet:
This is a beneficial tip on how to find your lost cat outside. Try searching for your cat when it’s dark and quiet; cats tend to come out of their hiding places during this time. Which means the chances of finding your cat are higher.
Take a flashlight with you and check the surrounding area, while calling out to your cat. It’d be quiet so your cat can hear you, and you can also hear your cat, which makes it essential for you to stop and listen at intervals.
Ask a friend or friends to come along; this will make the search quicker and serve as a safety measure for you. It is not a good idea to be alone at night.
Don’t give up:
Make sure you don’t give up; the internet is filled with stories of cats coming back home after weeks or months. Just keep hoping that your cat will come back to you. The amazing thing is cats have remarkable instincts and can find their way home. Your cat could even be with a nice person who thinks your cat is a stray.
The main thing is that you don’t give up, you will find your cat. We are sure that these tips will help in your search.
Here are some more tips for helping lost cat friends with their pet parents.
Conclusion
Remember that you should prioritize the search for your cat, ask friends and family to help you out. Check every corner of your house, then expand your search to your neighborhood. To make your search faster and more effective, make fliers with the tool we provided or other means for people to see and call if they have any information concerning your cat.
Measures to put in place are ID tags or microchips; this will help anyone who finds your cat reach out to you. Don’t forget to contact all the animal hospitals, shelters, and pounds in rhe surrounding area for more help.
How did you get your cat back? What are the things you would do? Leave us your comments and experience with finding lost cats or lost dog.
