my cat has not come home, what to do?

mirrorimage0

hi all

one of my cats has not been home for about 3 days now which is very unlike her. both of our cats are rscue cats.

truly scrumptious (the one who is missing) was abaonded in our street by a nieghbour when they moved around 3 yrs ago, she was not treated very nicely by them and as a result is now comfortable around us after 3 yrs but is not used to other people so cant see her being fed and settling in anywhere else at all.

i am just about to do some posters to put up around our area but is there anything anyone else can suggest to do please.

she is microchipped so is there anyone i have to inform she is missing?

thanks in advance for replies

vl2588

Ring the local vets (all of them) as they will maintain a list. They can also advise on whether it's the sort of microchip to come with a registration service for missing pets (I believe some do but not really sure).

Knock on doors if you can bear to and ask people to look in sheds and garages etc.

Good luck, really hope you find her ((((hug))))

mirrorimage0

thanks , sorry yes i rang round the local vets this morning.

we only live in a road with around 30 houses so once i have hopefully battered my printer into working me and the chidren are gonna knock on doors tomorrow.x

is there any websites for registering, like there is for the dogs?

vl2588

Quick google of "lost cat" revealed a few but careful what details you put on as I have no idea of their authenticity etc.

mirrorimage0

thankyou, yes that what i was worried about lol. at least with dogslost i know its aproper site if you kno what i mean. x thankyou though its appreciated

vl2588

Also try any local cat shelters. There are too many sites aren't there, no-one will check them all!!

kittycatsam

Hi, when our cat went missing for a few days it was because a new mean cat had come in to the area and bullied her. Being timid she just legged it and didn't dare come home.

My Hubby eventually got some really good advice. He went out during the early hours (3 am or something) to the neighboring area and called her. As it was really quiet she eventually came out of a bush a few streets down and sprinted home with him.

Hubby must have looked a right wally and I was really nervous about him wandering round at night but it was worth it when we got her home.

Best of luck : )

mirrorimage0

thankyou, there is a male cat been hanging around for months and months, it used to come in here until it started turning on mine so we havent allowed it in for about 4 months now but have seen it picking on all the cats in the street. we know whos cat it is but they deny it and i think bout 4 different families feed it now. will suggst to hubby about going out late at night, there is only a couple of roads here that she could be in but there is fields and woods a plenty, which means foxes too

spookylukey

Lots of hints & tips here.... http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,305.0.html

Hope she comes home soon.

Advice if you have lost your cat:-

Here are a few things to try:

1. Posters, Posters, Posters with picture and details with contact number.....hand out to neighbours and anyone you see. Put up in local shops, pubs and supermarkets. Stick to all local lamp posts. (If it rains go and collect them and replace however it's best to put posters in plastic wallets so if it rains they don't go all soggy - the neighbours and council don’t mind you putting them up so much that way). Also put one in your and friends cars - it amazing how many people see them this way. Make smaller flyers and push through every letterbox on your streets and the surrounding area. It is a good idea to offer a reward … of course this doesn’t have to be money … a box of cho-colates or a bunch of flowers is just as good.

2. Knock on doors and ask neighbours to check their sheds and garages WHILE YOU WAIT … it's surprising how many people say they will check but as soon as the door is closed they forget. Knock on 10 doors either side of your house on both sides of the street.

3. Check to see if there are any empty buildings for sale in the area. If there are it is worth checking with the estate agent in case they have shown someone round and shut the cat in. Also it is worth checking places where there may be builders in refurbishing a property in case the cat has got under the floorboards or in a cavity wall etc.

4. Look our for any abandoned vehicles, empty or semi-empty skips in case the cat has got in and can't get out.

5. Contact / check any community buildings where functions are held such as church halls, community halls etc. - in case your cat could be shut in a cupboard or toilet.

Please NOTE: The only authorised people who can break into a building if no one can be found to open it are the RSPCA but they are
not always co-operative. Even the police and fire brigade need RSPCA permission.

6. Register him lost at all vets/catteries/rescue homes within a 20mile radius. Follow the link and click on the map to find rescues in your area http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

7. Leave food out and a toy of his.

8. Leave out an unwashed item of your clothing.

9. Put the contents of your hoover bag on your garden - it’s full of smells that they will recognise and if doesn’t bring him directly to your door will at least hopefully keep him in the area. Alternatively if you have a litter tray that has used put some of the used litter on the garden as this will have familiar smells in it.

10. Contact the local fire brigade and see if they have had to rescue any stuck cats.

11. Ask the local children to look - they are great for knowing all the local hidey-holes and love helping. Also have a word with your local post-person and milk man if there is one that delivers in your area. Also try and enlist the help of people walking dogs as they tend to go “off road” in the fields and parks.

12. Ask the local radio station to announce he’s missing and give out a contact number

13. Put an advert in the local paper

14. Contact your local environmental services dept (bin men) they keep a log of all animals picked on the roadside ... I know this is not a pleasant call to make and hopefully it will come back as negative.

15. Go out after dark when it is quieter with a friend / partner and walk round the local area gently calling every so often (give him a chance to answer you). Keep talking as you walk round that way if he is in the area he will hear you.

16. When you talk to vets and rescues, ask them about any known local feral colonies and where they are based. If Kitty has been missing for more than a few days s/he might have wandered further afield and might be “hanging round” near a colony for security (safety in numbers) and company. If vets/rescues know locations of colonies, these might be useful to get some ideas of where to start looking.

17. If you have Pet Insurance check your policy to see if they will assist with advertising costs or reward costs for a lost cat. Some policies cover as much as £1000 of local advertising and upto £500 reward.

18. Email the lost poster to all the people you know who live in the area and ask them to forward to others they know. This is a quick way to get your poster circulated.

19. IMPORTANT - if your pet is microchipped contact your chipping company straight away and let them know your pet is missing and check all your details are uptodate and correct. This will ensure that if found you are reunited with your little one as quickly as possible.

20. Use the local groups for your area that are on social networks (facebook / bebo / myspace / etc). Local politicians, sports clubs, etc. all have Facebook presences.

21. Try downloading a "meow" ringtone to your phone and when you are walking round play the ringtone .... you may find you start to attract lots a feline friends so please be very careful if you are near roads ... cats and cars are not a good mix. Ringtone here: http://www.zedge.net/ringtones/0-0-1-meow/?searchphr=meow&searchcat=ringtones&sug-search=0


Finally have a look at these other sites - they are all EXCELLENT

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk

http://www.catchat.org/forum.html

http://www.mymoggy.com/ contact Sue at mymoggy.

http://thehovel.com/bb/index.php?f=28&ppage=20&sort=lastpost&order=DESC

http://nationalpetregister.org

http://www.soyouhavelostyourcat.co.uk/#1

http://www.petsearchuk.co.uk/lost_and_found_pets.php

http://www.amissingpet.co.uk/lostandfound.html

http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk

http://pet-rescue.org.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=447

http://www.lostmycat.org/index.php

http://www.animalrescuers.co.uk/html/lostfound.html

http://www.foundandlostpets.co.uk/

http://www.petsmiles.com/v1/found.php

http://www.reportlostpets.co.uk/


Also don't forget to check ad websites, such as.....

www.friday-ad.co.uk

www.adtrader.co.uk

www.uk.freeads.net

www.classifieds.co.uk

and also your local rescue shelter/s websites too!


Good luck and stay positive.

Hopefully your little one has just got itself shut in a shed somewhere.


And finally ……. IMPORTANT NOTE: When you get your furbabe back remember to remove ALL the posters and inform all vets / rescues / websites etc that they are home.

sazzybum

If there's a Cat Protection League in your area, they'll have a website with pictures of lost and found cats on it. They'll put your cat on for your area if you email them.

http://www.cats.org.uk/

mirrorimage0

still no sign. heres a pic anyway, truly scrumptious is the one layng down. x
thanks for your advice people. x

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p277/mirrorimage0max/cats015.jpg