Anyone who has ever lost a cat will know how upsetting it can be. But the important thing is to take all the right steps to get puss safely home again.
The first and most important thing is Don’t Panic!! There may well be a simple explanation. Think where you last saw Puss, and check there first. If Puss was indoors, check every room in the house, including the loft if anyone has recently been up there. Make sure you look in places such as airing cupboards, drawers, behind sofas, and inside washing baskets. Cats are curious creatures and most like nothing better than to find a quiet, dark corner in which to curl up for a nap. And don’t forget inside the washing machine and tumbler drier. These places can seem warm and snug to a cat.
Once you are sure that the cat is not indoors, it is time to look outside. Try giving his “special” call for food, or rattle his food plate and box of treats. But remember that normal cats will often go out on ‘patrol’ for several hours at a time, especially in the small hours and the fine weather.
Explore your shrubberies. Is your cat a tree climber? He could have become stuck after chasing his quarry up the tree or he could have been chased up there by a neighbourhood dog.
While you are calling your cat, remember to listen for his answer. Cats who have been hurt, or caught in a trap will respond to a friendly and familiar voice. Get other family members to call him in turn. And ask your neighbours if you can take a turn around their gardens to call him.
If none of this works, print some notices to put through neighbours’ doors, Include a good description and phone number, and a photograph of puss if you have one. Be sure you ask on the notices for neighbours to check their garages and sheds, and also try to do a few larger posters that you can stick to lamp posts at eye level.
Another tip is to put some advertisements up at your local shops, hairdressers and also the vets in the area, and don’t forget to check with the vets in case your cat has been involved in an accident and taken in for treatment.
You might also try advertising in the local paper, and some local radio programmes are happy to broadcast details of lost pets.
In case your worst case scenario has occurred, enquire whether the local council’s environmental health department has a record of any cats who have been victims of road traffic accidents.
Some positive things to bear in mind while you wait for puss to return:
- Neutered cats are less likely to wander. Neutering details can be found here.
- Cats can survive a very long time without food as long as they have a supply of water and will often lick condensation from surfaces to stay alive.
- A happy cat will always attempt to get back to you no matter how long it takes.
- Placing used cat litter in your garden will help keep his scent there for him.
- Ensure that your have updated your change of address if you have moved house since having your cat micro-chipped. Every now and again there are special micro chipping sessions held by various charities, and these are usually advertised in the local paper.
If your own searches have not found puss, please report your cat to us as missing You can fill out a lost cat form on line.
There are also national and international websites that hold details/ registers of lost pets and these can be found by an Internet search.
Good luck, we all hope your dearly loved pet will return home safely.