How to Find a Lost Cat

If your cat is lost, all is not lost. Take the following measures to recover her and bring her back home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard Boxes
• Cat Collars
• Cat Dishes
• Cat Foods
• Cat Toys
• Catnip
• Local Newspapers
• AVID Microchips Animal Tracking Device
• Identification Tags
• Fliers
• Cardboard boxes

1. Walk very slowly and call out your cat's name. A lost cat will probably not come out of hiding, but will whimper and cry.

2. Make familiar sounds likely to attract your cat: Shake a box of her favorite dry cat food or open a can.

3. Search your neighborhood thoroughly late at night, including your old neighborhood if you've recently moved. Be cautious around cars and garbage cans.

4. Place fliers that give a good description of your cat around your neighborhood.

5. Check the Found Cats section of the newspaper daily.

6. Check with your local animal shelter and humane society.

7. Place familiar-smelling items such as T-shirts you've worn and not washed in a cardboard box, then place the box in your yard, as far away from the house as possible. Regularly check it late at night and early in the morning.

Tips & Warnings

• To help prevent losing your cat in the first place, put a tag or microchip on your cat to increase the chances of recovery. A microchip is an identification device inserted beneath your cat's skin. All humane societies and agencies have scanners to read the chip.

[everdebz]

on 1/14/2009 My poor cat was lost for 4 days last summer and didn't come home despite severe storms and noisy landscapers, but after one walk when I heard an agitated bird, I put my two and two together (that they're often that way with a cat) and walked up to that porch and there she was. As mentioned, she didn't come to me or even cry, so I felt lucky. I had placed many signs around but received only one phone call, which could help but if no one could catch her..... I don't know if she would've found her way cause we live in cookie cutter townhouses. She is still skittish with noises and going far from our doorstep.

[anotherdee]

on 4/3/2008 Step #7 works! My two 3-year old girls got out thru an old window. About a week later, I woke up talking to "Shirley" who was outside my bedroom window, but as soon as I went outside she left the yard. After having already taken steps 1 - 6, I left an old shirt outside by the back door. What eventually worked the next night was: #1 - put other cats up. #2 - leave lights out. #3 - prop open back door with food inside. #4 - sit outside (away from open door) and talk soothingly to her until she shows up to eat.

[anotherdee]

on 4/3/2008 Step #7 works! My two 3-year old girls got out thru an old window. About a week later, I woke up talking to "Shirley" who was outside my bedroom window, but as soon as I went outside she left the yard. After having already taken steps 1 - 6, I left an old shirt outside by the back door. What eventually worked the next night was: #1 - put other cats up. #2 - leave lights out. #3 - prop open back door with food inside. #4 - sit outside (away from open door) and talk soothingly to her until she shows up to eat.

This also worked for "Laverne" who showed up 5 days later. That was 4 years ago. Now they get their favorite treat, tuna, every couple weeks after grooming and if they come to "here kitty, kitty" which they had never heard before their big adventure.

[anotherdee]

on 4/3/2008 Step #7 works! My two 3-year old girls got out thru an old window. About a week later, I woke up talking to "Shirley" who was outside my bedroom window, but as soon as I went outside she left the yard. After having already taken steps 1 - 6, I left an old shirt outside by the back door. What eventually worked the next night was: #1 - put other cats up. #2 - leave lights out. #3 - prop open back door with food inside. #4 - sit outside (away from open door) and talk soothingly to her until she shows up to eat.

This also worked for "Laverne" who showed up 5 days later. That was 4 years ago. Now they get their favorite treat, tuna, every couple weeks after grooming and if they come to "here kitty, kitty" which they had never heard before their big adventure.

on 8/20/2006 I've just taken in an apparent stray, and, while trying to make sure I don't have somebody's wanted pet, have been finding an awful lot of places online to post 'lost cat' info, and not quite so many postings.

A search for "(your city) + lost cat" should bring up a number of suitable places; see also Craig's list and other classified-type sites.