About DebbieC Expertise Expert knowledge about steps you must do to find your lost cat. Don't wait - Get Fresh Water and Food out RIGHT NOW then contact me so we can find YOUR lost Cat. We'll use a Kitty Buffet, Humane Traps, or Dog Cages as shown in photo, with all my tips to help capture your lost cat. Do NOT give up - they are closer than you think for weeks or even months!
When I'm on Vacation Mode (July 1 - August 10) EVERY NIGHT at sunset put fresh food and lots of fresh water out - a Trap next to this will get them used to seeing it, LONG before setting the trap. If you rush Trapping, you may NOT get your cat - Patience, timing and using the right steps will help you get them back into your arms! Read the tips, tricks and advice given to others who were able to get their cats back, and you'll have great news to share too!
Experience I learned How to find & Capture Lost Cats the hard way when I lost 2 indoor only cats.
With 2 years of "overnight street watching", lost cat tips from friends & rescue groups, many new tricks I learned "on the fly", I want to help others. I understand the wretching pain of losing a cat and feel it's my duty to share what I hated having to learn too late - But to use it now to help others catch your lost ones.
Question Saturday night when I was leaving my house to pick up my mail, one of my four house cats must have accidently went out the door too. I realized an hour later that she was not in the house, and my boyfriend and I went looking for her. I left her favorite canned food and fresh water outside and still no sign of her. No sign of her on Sunday either. I made flyers Sunday night with a photo, description of her, my phone number and a possible reward if found. On Monday I posted the flyers at all three entrances of my community, handed them out to twenty or so surrounding neighbors, went to three local vets with the flyer, posted them on trees on the main street of my neighborhood and went to my local animal rescue.
She is an eight year old indoor cat and that has been spayed and declawed. We live in a gated community that is relatively large and enclosed. We live in the middle, the chances of her getting out are slim but possible.
Monday morning around 11:00am I received a call about one of my flyers from an elderly woman who said her young grandchildren think they saw my cat a few miles away, across a main highway in a busy grocery store parking lot. My boyfriend and I rushed up there to look but found nothing. I have personally seen many stray cats running around that particular parking lot.
Please help! Is there any chance of finding her? What more can I do?
Thanks,
Jenn
Answer Hi Jennifer, thanks for writing so quickly and getting the food and water out. Look closer not further, being an indoor only cat for so long, they will NOT go far. Check every bush, tree (even declawed they climb in fear), sewer duct starting at YOUR house, then make the neighbors let you personally check theirs for 5 houses either side of yours. Under sheds, etc... anything 6" or bigger she can climb and wiggle into.
Keep putting not only her favorite food, but her regular food out with fresh water the same time every night and softly calling to her. She may not come when you call, but still may hear your voice and come later to eat!
How is she with her carrier? Afraid of it, or semi-relaxed? I leave all mine out in the house, open with blankets in them so all my 4 can go in and out as they please, so they aren't too afraid of them. If she's not, put this out but make sure it's tied open. Put something that smells like your other cats in there, a blanket or something, then sprinkle some cat nip (a little) around the outside and leave by the water and food. This will give her, if she chooses, a warm spot to hide in during the night. I am positive she is VERY CLOSE to where she got out! I know this after seeing 2 of my lost ones right where they got lost even after 1 1/2 years still hanging around the very spot (and within 1 block).
When you get a chance, stay up as long as you can after sunset and watch out your window to where you have the food and water stationed. Hopefully where you can see it? Keep a notepad nearby as you may spot several cats wandering by. Keep track of the times, colors and food preference. Where they came from, where they seemed to go to... This gives us an idea of the "kitty pathways" where your cat also will wander without harm.
A spayed or neutered declawed cat is VERY low on the list for cat fights, so don't worry about this. She is just terrified and very close hiding. I bet she will soon sneak out to come get some food. Usually this only takes 1-2 weeks, so it's good she has food VERY close right now. She may be sneaking out already, so check the dish for eating.
Please let me know in a day or two (or sooner if you want to talk), what you have been able to see at night and the situation with her carrier. Let it become part of the outside "landscape" so everyone get's used to seeing it there ok?
Looking forward to hearing from you, don't hesitate to write with any other comments or questions ok? Hang in there, I KNOW we can get her back! Think positive ok!
