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 -
It's been a total of 9 days now and my beautiful girl hasn't come home. She is a domesticated, declawed tabby who has never been out this long ever. She is spayed and knew how to open screen doors on her own. She has been seen (if it was her) across the river on one occasion and across the highway on another. I never wanted her to be an outdoor cat and remained indoors for the 6 years I've had her. I've done everything I could as to putting up posters, talking to neighbours, shelters, vets, I've scattered her litter around the house. I've put out some of my clothes out and have called for her verbally as well mentally. What are the chances of her returning?
Answer -
My heartfelt sympathy on your girl that isn't home yet...
Put out TONS of water dishes around your house, location as water is #1 to keeping them alive while we try to capture your lost one. How old is she? How many times has she gotten out, and what was the longest time?
She probably will NOT answer when you call - they go into a scared, hidey mode when freaked out and nothing against you - but they are afraid for their lives and do this for protection! She WILL come out from about sunset until sunrise.
Put one or two stations full of her favorite treaties near by where you can watch from inside perhaps on a weekend night all night to see if you can see her coming to eat.
I would get a large cat trap as well. When you put a trap out, water outside, the food about 1/3 of the way in and use bungie cords to "lock it open", so she can freely go in and out for several days - the trap becomes part of the outdoor scenery then, and won't be so scary for her to check out.
You have a great chance of getting her back! If she is declawed and spayed she is also VERY low on the pecking order of the local cats, so not in very much danger from the other stray/ferals.
Please let me know what is going on, as I have been traveling but now am settled back into my new place and will be on this board more often!
Think peaceful thoughts when you are out. I know how hard THIS is to do, but having frantic, panic attacks while out looking for her, she can also "read", so calm, happy thoughts of her life with you inside, picture her walking up to your door, or inside a trap and how much loving she will get when she returns - I am a believer in the spirit between our animals and us (their loving owners), so keep calling her mentally and send pictures of what love she had before, and how much you will give her upon return.
Please let me know what else you are doing, and we'll keep working from there. I was traveling, but am now able to get back on the boards regularly and would love to keep in touch to help get her home to you!
Thank you,
Debbie
Debbie,
Thank you so much for responding and keeping my hopes up on her return. As I stated, I've had Tyler for 6 years and believe her to be about 8 yrs or so. It's been a total of 2 weeks today since she has been gone and I personally don't think she is anywhere in the neighbourhood. She is a very nosey and stubborn little girl.. This really is her first time out and there are critters around as I live in the woods, my only answer is that someone might have taken her in if she has wandered so far. If shw WAS close to home, I DO believe she would have come back already...
All I can really do now is mentally call her as you stated and think of how much she is loved and how much love she will get upon her return. She is a very affectionate cat although may run from strangers, however I think if she is hungry , she may just allow another stranger to feed her. There are so many different scenerios that I'm thinking of on where she could be I am just beside myself thinking of where she might be. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a break away collar so that troubles me, but if someone were to see her, she does have a regular collar with her name and phone number on it. I know cats have a good sense of thier home is, but if it has rained a few times , would they have lost their bearings?
So many questions and possiblities of her situation, I just hope she is safe and will return soon, I am lost without her..
Answer Hey Pebbles, I would bet real money that she isn't more than 1 mile from your house - just in "freaked out" mode! I've noticed this with cats that almost never get out, when they do and dash this way or that, they STAY VERY CLOSE, but do NOT come when called, nor stray far away from where they are! Your biggest task is to try and not go totally nuts (been there, done that : - ) and I know how very hard it is, but here are tasks that will keep you actively doing something to get her to "find" home again!
1 - Get at least 2 water bowls outside (fresh water daily), and put ONE - near where you will eventually put a humane trap! Somewhere you can either watch from inside your car, or from a window inside.
2 - Put her favorite dried food down at both stations, but at the station you can see, we will begin putting a kitty feast down. Besides the dry food, add some nibbles of 3 things - tuna in oil, Jack Mackerl (found in the same aisle as tuna usually), and sardines. Don't put too much out, it's more for the smell than to feed on. Also here is where you would put her favorite canned cat food.
3 - Change the water and put fresh food and Feast food down 1/2 hour before sunset every night. After a week you should see signs of the food at one, or both stations being eaten.
4- When you can (and for as long as you can!), watch out the window from sunset until sunup... this is when the wee lost ones, strays and ferals will come check out your stations. Have a notebook with you and write down what time any cat shows up, from which direction and which direction it goes off to, and make note of it's coloring.
Writing down where each cat comes from and where it goes to will give us the "general kitty pathways". These pathways are used by ALL the wandering cats and are not territorial as fighting areas.
If you notice dogs coming to your stations, remove the sardines only.
Yes there are many critters out there, but most will leave your cat alone, as many know cats usually have claws and there is easier prey for them : - )
Cats have a sense of "home" only if they were indoor/outdoor cats and have had multiple opportunities to wander an area. Even then they will only get lost/found typically within a 2-3 mile radius.
Think down... what land flows down very near you? Cats like to travel down paths. Also when you note the kitty pathways, this will also give us other ideas for planting traps.
Oh hon, my very soul feels what you are going through and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! My thoughts and prayers are with you and know that we will DO everything we can to get her to come back!
I'd LOVE to hear from you in only a few days to make sure you have the 2 stations set up and have been able to catch a few hours of watching time to see what's up ok?
Also, check with the city on ordances about putting up flyers on the telephone poles (if any) nearby you. I'll make up a flyer for you to get the most bang for your buck, and get other folks watching for you too. PLEASE write me anytime, as my heart hurts for you knowing what you are going through. Deep breaths, get into a routine of fresh water, food and feast just before sunset and settle down and watch until you must go to bed and let's see what the next day or two brings.
I'm online daily and will be thinking of you, so please take care of YOU during this time too and write soon so we'll know what's happening at those food stations.
