Try to use your sense of smell as much as possible when looking for your cat. Playing with your cat regularly provides important stimulation and this can help to prevent them from wandering off in search of adventure. Method 1 Searching Effectively 1 Start searching immediately. The odds of finding a lost cat after they go missing can vary. You An indoor cat tree: This is an excellent item to satisfy a cats urge to climb and scratch. Many microchip companies even have resources for lost pets, including helping in the outreach to local vets and shelters. One of our cats was trapped in a neighbors garage for two nights but weve known cats who have been gone for a week, even months, but have eventually returned home. Life is never dull when you share it with kids and pets. While it's true that the odds of finding a lost cat are slimmer the longer the animal is missing, a cat owner must not lose hope. Some pets have been reunited with their pet parents years later. Make an A4-sized poster or flyer to inform people that your cat is missing and include a large, clear photograph and one or two smaller ones showing them from different angles. However, dont lose hope if its been more than a day since your kitty cat has been missing. be conducting your search. Of course, there are many others. Many organizations can help you when your cat goes missing, so utilize them! This means late at night (10:30pm or later) or early in the morning (6:30am or earlier). 4. Some of the best tips on finding lost cats come straight from the mouths of cat owners who lost and found their cats multiple times, which doesnt really come as a surprise since the natural curiosity and independence of felines make them highly prone to getting lost for a day, a few weeks, several months to over a year. Youre probably reading this as one of your cats hasnt returned, its a horrible feeling. were distracted exploring around or chasing a fast-moving squirrel. Your Find and buy the best cat tracker in the UK today. Do not give up too soon! They may even use a search and rescue dog to help track the scent. Once you know your pet isnt in your house, immediately start walking around your neighborhood. Chances of Finding Lost Dog After 24 Hours? If your pet has a microchip, update your contact information with the provider. might get scared off. This one (click to see reviews on Amazon) is our favorite because it has a 20-day battery life, is waterproof, has a light, and fits snugly onto a cats collar. domesticated cats and dogs are likely to behave when out on their own. After two, we knew she was gone for good, and assumed that something had gotten her. They will most likely be quite close and locked in somewhere they ventured into. did everything you could the moment you found out your pet is missing, but the Losing a cat is devastating for any pet parent. On YouTube, a video of a cat that went missing for over a year (according to the poster, one year and 47 days, to be exact) returned home. The only thing you can really do is try to get them home as quickly as possible. Many cats like to claw horizontally which is why we chose the PetFusion Ultimate cat scratcher. Tip #2: Search for your lost cat when the world is asleep. Franny has also authored two books on cat care. It can get hit by a car, got injured in the woods, or suffer from allergy attacks. Through a physical search, 75% of the kitties were recovered 500m away from the point of escape. And to make matters worse, the odds of finding a lost cat are lower than the odds of finding a lost dog. After 7 days, the hopes of recovering a cat alive dwindle a bit. Earlier, we talked about some figures from a 2012 ASPCA study on lost pets. all. We were devastated. Here are some of the things that you may do to find your lost kitty cat ASAP. Facebook and Instagram also have groups dedicated to lost pets. March Many dont seem to drink enough so a fountain is a good way to get them interested. There are many things that lost cats may count on when trying to return to their owners, such as their amazing homing instinct and phenomenal sense of smell. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Different cats can go missing for different periods of time. Should any member of your search of a dog being found (93%) but the odds of finding a missing cat are also high If your cat has gotten lost, the quicker you get started, the less time he has to wander. Stay calm. If they see an open door, they love to have a nose at whats inside. pet for a while. So A lot of cat owners disregard the dangers to free-roaming cats and let their cats outside. According to a 2018 study by University of Queensland, most cats that were found alive were found within the first two months. Report your missing pet to No matter the case, nothing can be more traumatic and depressing for any cat lovers than wondering how their lost cats are doing in the big, dangerous world out there. Of those lucky dogs, 15% were reunited through the use of an ID tag or microchip but only 2% of cats. While Vet clinics The outdoor environment can be dangerous to your Pitbull. Do not despair if you havent tried making any posters yet. So, the first step is criticalchecking under beds, behind closed doors, and in closets, cabinets, attics, and basementsanywhere a cat could possibly hide. Many say that the chances of finding a lost cat decrease dramatically after 24 hours (we will talk more about this matter in a few). Consider posting a reward for your pets safe return. Just because your four-legged friend is missing doesnt necessarily mean that the two of you will not see each other again. Make sure you check at every possible place and look at every important spot. We definitely recommend using gloves for this tip, but spreading used cat litter outside creates a pungent aroma that's sure to get your cat's attention. (75%), About 49% of dog owners Animals. After a couple of days, you may start to assume the worst, and youre sure they wont be coming home. Continue searching and hopefully, the fateful day comes when you are finally Visit all your local shelters even if say they don't have a cat of your description. Hopefully, your cat will be back with you soon. Give yourself the best odds of bringing your kitty home by being prepared to put in the necessary work, and remember--don't give up hope! A physical search (versus putting up posters, posting online, etc.) According to a study published on the NCBI website, 15% of owners lose their pet not less than once over five years. With a trapped yet reachable pet, you may try to use Vaseline or similar lubricant (using caution around the eyes and mouth) to help work them out of their stuck predicament. One such trap, called the Have-A-Heart trap, allows you to set food and water as bait. Once an animal moves into the trap, it will humanely shut without causing harm. You have to follow the proper methods and look at neighbors, and you will have the best chance to find your cat timely. When it comes to searching for a lost cat, the sooner you start looking for it, the less time your pet has the opportunity to roam far away from home. Have them contact you if a dog or cat matching your Cats can go astray for so many reasons. The longer your cat is missing, the less likely it is you'll find them, so it's important to act as quickly as possible. Landa helped me find my lost cat, alive and well, after four days. ), and what to do if someone sees your pet. were lucky enough for their missing pet to return home on their own, Dogs that have ID tags or Contact Necessary Organizations. It is, of course, a very difficult question to answer and we can only go on averages. could be lurking or be in survival mode, which would make him wary of other He was finally discovered several months later in a building site next to his home. Plan a search radius and Every day, there are stories of cats returning after becoming lost some travelling hundreds of miles to be reunited with family and surviving harrowing experiences. Register your microchip with the company, so your information is on file if your cat ever goes missing. Put simply, cats appear to have the ability to perceive the direction and find their home using something beyond their five ordinary senses. One other thing, theres a great article here about how long cats go missing for, do check it []. At first, you have to take the help of technology. Alert your animal control officer: Give them a flyer and ask them to be on the lookout for your cat, dead or alive. This is when uploading a lot of your cats snapshots on social media will come in very handy show some of your lost cats photos to the people in your neighborhood that you will approach. a lost dog or cat PRINT FLYERS Create and put up fliers with a picture of the lost cat and your phone number. Huang L, Coradini M, Rand J, et al. The research went on to say that indoors cats never wander beyond 500m of the home. months, waiting for his owner. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. If you dont locate your cat quickly, put up lost cat posters and spread the word on local social media groups and missing pet sites. How long do cats go missing for? The following are Amazon affiliate links, and if you decide to use them, Ill earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost at all to you. Among the key findings: Only 15 percent of pet guardians reported a lost dog or cat in the past five years. But the chances of finding a lost dog or cat is actually higher than you might think. You can even post this poster in the local newspaper. It will also alert you if your cat leaves a preset area such as your garden. Similarly, only 15% of pet cats got lost. Depending on your pets condition and how long they were missing, most vets recommend taking them for a physical exam at a minimum. to, its pretty clear that theres no time limit to finding your lost pet. While the feline was missing, Ed put up nearly 100 posters and handed out flyers. Another cat we knew of was missing for many months. people, even if its you. Post to local rescue organizations, shelters, veterinary hospitals, and your own personal social media account. The study reported that 93% of all lost dogs found their way home, but only 74% of the lost cats were ever found. amzn_assoc_tracking_id="catvill-20";amzn_assoc_ad_mode="manual";amzn_assoc_ad_type="smart";amzn_assoc_marketplace="amazon";amzn_assoc_region="US";amzn_assoc_design="enhanced_links";amzn_assoc_asins="B000BVRIBM";amzn_assoc_placement="adunit";amzn_assoc_linkid="00a1fcd878d4121c4ccb2a4c0e5e115b"; There are also things you should do before your cat goes missing and just in case. But after two weeks, a neighbor contacted him, saying that Arthur was spotted in his garage. If your cat has gone missing, follow these helpful tips. Send out advertisements on In addition, post the flyer in store windows and on telephone poles. In rare cases, cats can also return home after going missing for several weeks or years. The best way to pick up a hamster, Best Cat Tracker UK Opinion I Need Stuff, [] regret it! Armed with a flashlight, you may run into your cat as its coming out of its chosen hiding place to explore the world outside the home. 2. your search, by checking all possible places where a small animal may have been and search for shelter and food. We set live traps that were sprung every morning and sometimes multiple times per day by raccoons, skunks, and particularly chubby squirrels. According to Maggie herself, she saw a bunch of comments saying that the videos fake. Most people will notice a stray dog and even try to help it. The Reason Why Your Dog Sleeping With Tongue Out. Using a wildlife or security camera can be helpful in determining if your cat is still in the area, and to establish the best location for finding them or setting up a trap. The thought of your furbaby out there in the cold can throw you into real panic mode. Copyright 2023 Kitty Devotees. 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