STEPS TO FINDING A DISPLACED CAT
Step 1: The absolute easiest and quickest way to find a displaced cat is to park the owner’s vehicle from the spot the cat ran. Crack open one door or a window (providing a way for the cat to climb into the window). Leave the vehicle in this spot this way for at least 3-5 days especially during the dark hours. The vehicle is familiar to the cat, and a cat always returns to the exit from which it left. Add familiar scent items just outside the car and inside which can include the cat’s bedding, used litter, toys, owner’s slept on sheets, etc. Quietly check the vehicle at sun up. This way may seem inconveniencing or possibly putting your vehicle in harm’s way; however, in the long run it will ultimately save the owner time and heartache.
Step 2: Have approximately 150 fliers made. Place fliers within a 5-7 house length radius from the address cat was last seen. In order to determine this geography, add the address in Google, pull up the map, and edit by circling the length around last known location. Place as many fliers door to door as possible. Use pocket protectors for some fliers that you are stapling on light poles.
Step 3: If you chose to do a physical search, do so as quietly as possible. This should also be done only by the owner. Searching can actually push the cat farther away from this area, and keep it more in hiding. Often the cat will run into a nearby patch of woods. DO NOT go into the woods after the cat. The key is to lure the cat out of hiding.
Step 4: An owner should sit on the ground near where the cat was last seen. Do not have anxiety in your voice or call with loud calls. Instead use soft familiar calls that has the cat come running when in the home. This can be done immediately, but also at 10:30 pm, midnight, and 4 am. This is when the area should be quiet, and common times when a cat will come out of hiding.
Step 5: If the owner is unable to lure the cat out of hiding and unable to leave a vehicle, then a feeding station should first be made before setting a trap. Free food is much less intimidating to a cat. This allows the owner to locate the cat and keep it in one spot so that a plan can be created for rescue. A feeding station is a hefty amount of food placed in one spot. We recommend dumping 3 cans of Friskies pate on the ground. It is important to utilize a trail camera on the food in order to determine if the cat is coming to eat. Place the feeding station near the last spot the cat was seen or near the spot the cat was last with the owner. Check the camera daily every 24 hours. Make sure there is plenty of food each day. It may take several weeks until the cat is on camera.
Step 6: If the cat is on camera eating, then it is time to trap. We highly recommend the “Walk” Method at this time.
Step 7: Utilizing information from the camera, an owner can also determine what time the cat is coming to eat. An owner may want to quietly sit nearby the feeding station at this time and attempt to lure the cat before moving to trapping. Make sure to have a carrier or car open to contain the cat. Remain calm without anxiety. Do not grab the cat. This will only scare the cat even more. Do not chase if this is to happen.
Step 8: Post the cat on local lost and found pet sites. Include the cat’s identifying color, area lost (be specific with street name, neighborhood, city), and date last seen. This information helps others find your missing post through searchable key words. Nextdoor and Pawboost are free and commonly used across the country. Neighborhood sites are also important. For local pet owners post, on Lost and Found Pets Hampton Roads. There are also apps/sites with a fee that can send an email or text to neighbors in your area which include FindToto, Pet Alert, and Finding Rover. For a fee, Lost Pet Cards will also send 1,000 postcards directly to addresses in the area your pet was lost.
Step 9: Make sure to visit your local animal control in person. File a lost report and bring the shelter a flier. Find out if your report becomes inactive after a certain number of days, and make sure to update as needed. Many pets find their way to the shelter months after becoming lost.
Step 10: If you have a sighting of your cat in a different location from home then immediately get food to that exact spot for your cat, and set up the trail camera. Once food is placed and confirmed your cat is eating it then the cat will remain in that spot. Please do not chase the cat. Sitting/Laying on the ground is the best way to lure the cat to you as it is not intimidating. If you are unable to coax your cat then you must trap. Please see the attachment on Humane Trapping and The Walk
Method.
Please keep all steps in place even if there is a sighting of the cat which seems a far distance from lost location. Do not discount any sighting, but an owner wants to have all bases covered when searching for their lost cat. If there is a sighting please confirm the sighting by eyes on or using a camera.