How to Find a Lost Cat
First, search your property thoroughly. Cats can get into some mighty strange places
Check closets, boxsprings, mattresses, heating vents, any place dark and safe
Look in EVERY nook and cranny and don’t assume that your pet would never crawl into a tiny space
Look behind, inside, under washing machines, clothes dryers, stoves, refrigerators, and dish washers. Look behind water heaters, in boxes, under furniture, under beds, in closets, in cabinets, in shelves and bookcases, in drain pipes, in sewer drains, in culvert pipes, under vehicles, in crawl spaces under the house, inside sheds and barns, etc. Also try attic spaces, on the roof, in roof gutters and up on trees.
Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody and leave your phone number
Leave posters at neighbors houses in the area the pet was lost.
Talk to everyone you run across including the postman, paperboy, children, parents at the bus stop, crossing guards, neighborhood crime watch, garbage crews, etc.
Try to get neighborhood children involved. Kids are great at finding lost pets.
Take a friend or family member with you.
Don’t give out your name and address just phone number to prevent scam artists from finding your house.
Make some noise while you walk around the neighborhood
Have all your family members call the pet’s name
If your pet has a favorite toy bring it with so you can make the noise.
Use a Dog whistle, cats are attracted to this sound as well as dogs.
Carry a box of the cat’s favorite food or treat and rattle them loudly.
Make any other noise your pet is familiar with.
It is important to stop regularly and listen for your pet to make a noise in reply.
Bring a powerful flashlight for checking in dark places
Afrightened or injured cat will hide in dark spaces and will not come to you.
Use your flashlight for checking under houses and other dark spots. Check storage sheds, garages, dumpsters, trash cans and under cars. Don’t forget to look in trees and other high places.
Place strong scented articles outside your home to attract your pet
Place dirty clothes with your scent (gym clothes or something similar).
Place a litterbox, bedding or favorite toys.
Place some smelly food such as tuna, sardines, freshly cooked meat or wet cat food. Use a live trap if you have access to it to protect it from other animals.
Call the local veterinarian offices during the day. After 5pm call vet emergency clinics
Find out if your pet was injured and taken to these offices or clinics for treatment. If you have pictures email them or drop them off. Pictures help immensely.
If an office has taken in or treated any animal go and see because your description and the vet office description rarely ever match (this is why pictures are important).
Ask them for phone numbers of local rescue organizations.
Call each rescue organization and ask for their help and find out if they have your pet. These groups generally network with each other and will pass the word about your case.
Visit your local Animal Control, Humane Societies and Animal Shelters
Leave a picture of your pet and your phone number.
Find out if your pet has been killed on the road
This is a sad but necessary task. Otherwise you may never know what happened to your pet.
The road crews for your local and state departments of transportation (DOT) usually pick up dead animals from the roadside and city streets. In some cases Animal Control does this as well.
It is extremely important to post MANY flyers about your lost pet within a 1 mile radius of where it was lost
Overall, flyers or posters produce more “finds” than anything else.
Your budget will determine how many posters you can post but the more the better.
DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON YOUR FLYER!
It is best to place a color photo on each flyer.
Contact the Police Department
They send out briefs to police officers in some areas.
Send them a picture if possible.