It seems like every time I open my Nextdoor app, I see posts from people who’ve lost their pets and are worried sick. I’ve been there myself, so I know how it feels. Cats go missing more than dogs and, sadly, have much lower rates of being reunited with their pet parents.
When Tori Herzog’s newly adopted cat, Camus, got out of her house in Mill Valley, she was distraught but immediately sprang into action.
Related Articles
If feeding wildlife is bad, why are we feeding birds? Where are wolves roaming in California? New online map lets you see Meet the sea hare, one of California’s most ‘puzzling’ creatures Bay Area plastic surgeon’s novel treatment for bee stings published in medical journal Enough! San Jose woman wants bird to stop tapping at her door“He’s just the sweetest cat I ever met, and we did everything we could think of. I felt like giving up would be failure, so I just kept trying to find him,” she said.
When indoor-only kitties escape, they’re usually frightened of the big new world and will hunker down and hide somewhere close by, like under a porch, in bushes or in a garage. When you’re looking, be sure to take a flashlight even if it’s broad daylight. A cat can hide in a small space, so look carefully. Most cats don’t go far, so search around the homes behind yours, as well as the ones on your street.
Call to your cat using an upbeat voice, the kind you use when greeting or when it’s time for dinner. Call your cat’s name often and listen for a reply. You may also want to shake a can of treats or cat food.
As you search, ask everyone you meet if they’ve seen your cat. The more people you include in your search, the more likely you are to find your cat.
After you’ve exhausted your initial neighborhood search, there are several important things to do:
• Post on local platforms like Nextdoor, PawBoost and local Facebook groups, and include a clear photo of your cat.
• Call your local Humane Society to report your cat missing and to see if anyone has called in with a found cat that could be yours.
• Make flyers with a clear, color photo of your cat and the word “lost” in big, bold letters. It should have identifying information about your cat as well as your phone number.
• Distribute the flyers widely. Post them on telephone poles, gates and fences — with the property owner’s permission. Give them to your mail carrier and gardeners, as well as veterinary offices.
• Place strong-scented articles like used socks, litter boxes and toys outside your home to attract your cat.
• Consider borrowing a trap from Marin Humane. Traps must be checked every two hours to ensure other cats or wildlife don’t get trapped.
Camus was found after two weeks thanks to a woman who recognized his picture on a flyer at a veterinarian’s office and connected it to Herzog’s post on Nextdoor.
“We were so relieved to have him back,” Herzog said.
Remember to make sure your pets are microchipped. This tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, is safely implanted under the skin and can be your pet’s ticket home. Some Bay Area Humane centers offers free microchipping for cats and the cost for dogs is nominal. Also, make sure your kitty is wearing identification: ideally, a collar and tags. (Dogs should be wearing their license at all times — it’s the law in most Bay Area counties.) Collars with a place to write your info in permanent ink is helpful. Also, remember to keep a few current photographs of your cat handy, showing not just the face but body as well.
Of course, cats allowed to go outside regularly face serious risks, including getting hit by cars, taken by coyotes or injured in fights with other cats or dogs. That’s why it is strongly recommends cats stay indoors only.
Lisa Bloch is the director of marketing and communications for Marin Humane which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane or email [email protected].
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( What to do if your cat goes missing )
Also on site :
- Israel should “negotiate with the Palestinians” to stop war on Gaza
- Jeff Bezos spanks bikini-clad Lauren Sanchez as she sunbathes on their $500M superyacht
- Losing our home was terrifying – then it turned into a romantic adventure