What to do when your cat goes missing?
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Cats are known to go absent for a few hours each day, particularly if they prefer being outside. However, if your cat is missing for longer than usual, there are a few steps you may take to assure its safe return. They will normally come back on their own but here we will look at what to do when your cat goes missing.
Before you panic, conduct a thorough check of your home, garden, and your cat's favourite hiding places. Make careful to look inside garages, sheds, and your neighbours' houses. Bins, gutters, behind bushes, and compost bins should all be considered. Grab a torch (if it's dark), some yummy snacks, and think like a cat.
Try to recall your cat's previous behaviour. Was it reported lost around the same time last year? The warmer weather in the spring and summer causes cats to wander for longer periods of time. It's also possible that your kitty is feeling secure enough to venture further than normal.
If your cat is still gone after you've looked high, low, and everywhere in between, it's time to notify other individuals and organisations. Share a current photo on several social networking channels, such as Facebook and Twitter. Use pages like Cat Aware and Missing Pets GB, which have been created expressly to assist in the search for missing cats. Include a complete description of your cat, including their age, name, and last known location, as well as any noticeable qualities that can help you identify your cat.
Create a lost pet flier and check with local shelters, your veterinarian, and community forums to further your search. If your cat has been missing for a few days, you should contact local boarding kennels. There are also several excellent lost and found websites that have helped owners reunite with their animals.
Overnight, leave some food, drink, your cat's favourite treats, and even its favourite toy outdoors. When there are less people and less vehicles nearby, a fearful cat will typically return home after nightfall. If you have a baby monitor, you may position it near the food dish to listen for meowing sounds.
If you've just relocated, ask your prior neighbours to keep an eye out for your cat.
Nothing is more upsetting than having your cat go missing or become lost. Even if you believe it will never happen to your cat, there are a few things you can take to prevent yours from appearing on a lost or found poster.
Microchipping your cat
Although microchipping your cat is not a legal requirement in the UK, we recommend that you do it as soon as feasible. Because June is National Microchip Month, now is the ideal moment to get started. Remember that if any of your contact information changes, you must update your microchip database.
Get a collar with your details on it
A collar with your cat's name and contact information is required because not everyone is aware of microchips. A collar not only helps identify your pet, but it also prevents strangers from mistaking it for a stray. Make sure your contact details are on the tag; such as telephone number and email address.
Neuter your cat
If they detect the scent of a female in heat, unneutered cats will travel great distances. To avoid this, you should have your cat neutered or spayed as soon as possible. This will not only keep garbage off the streets, but it will also reduce littering.
Provide lots of stimulation for your cat
Cats are sophisticated creatures who require both physical and mental activity. Make it a point to spend quality time with your cat every day and create play spaces in your house. Scratching poles, hammocks, and an abundance of toys will keep your cat from going out in search of adventure.
When it comes dark, even the most streetwise cats need to feel safe. If you're going to be gone for the day or night, make sure your cat is indoors. Knowing that your cat is safe and secure indoors will offer you peace of mind. This is especially critical during storms or major festivals like Guy Fawkes, when your cat may become disoriented.
How long a lost cat will usually go missing for
Because cats prefer to roam, there's a strong possibility yours may go missing from time to time. It is not uncommon for a cat to be missing for 24 hours at a time. Some cats might go missing for up to three days at a time. However, no matter how often they do it or how street-savvy they are, if you believe you have a missing cat, it may be a stressful moment for you.
Cats are known to go gone for up to 24 hours, especially if they enjoy spending time outside. Cats have been known to go out and not come back home for up to ten days at a time. We've also heard of cats who leave home when their people are on vacation and return shortly after the family returns. In other cases, cats that had been lost for years were ultimately found and returned to their owners.
Understanding why they go missing will help you avoid your cat from going missing. Let's look at the three most typical causes of cat disappearance.
1 - Finding a mate is one of the most prevalent reasons unneutered male cats leave their household. Some cats will just need to walk around the neighbourhood to detect the scent of a female cat in heat, while others may travel for miles.
Unfortunately, if the object of a cat's desire is confined within a home, the male will merely wait until another opportunity arises. This implies that your cat may be gone for a day, two days, or even a week. Male cats aren't the only ones that go missing in search of a partner. When they are in heat, unspayed females will likewise go seeking for a mate, albeit they will not go as far.
Having your cat neutered or spayed is one of the most effective methods to prevent this from happening. This easy process will not only prevent your cat from going out in search of love, but it will also help you avoid undesired litters.
2 - Cats are sensitive to changes in their surroundings and have been known to disappear when a new baby or pet appears unexpectedly. It's a good idea to prepare your kitten for forthcoming changes to avoid it feeling abandoned or ignored.
Make sure your cat has access to fresh water, appetising food, and a clean litter box at all times. And if you can't give it the care it deserves, make sure it has enough of mental and physical stimulation. Even indoor cats might go missing if they don't feel like they are the cat's whiskers any more.
3 - While a cat's lightning quick reactions sometimes save it from harm, they can also put it in peril. When your cat is spooked, it will leap into the air and flee as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, your cat may become disoriented in its attempt to flee whatever has shocked it. Even after a day or two, older cats will typically find their way home, but kittens and less streetwise cats may become lost. If you're afraid about your cat going missing, a GPS tracker for cats is a good idea. These handy small devices will offer you piece of mind and allow you to keep track of your cat when he's outside.
Get a tracker for your cat to find them in the future
Do you have an adventurous cat? Is your tiny hunter out for hours, if not days, prowling the neighbourhood? Do you want to know what your cat does when they're not with you?
With the aid of a GPS cat tracker, you can now watch where your cat travels at all times. View your cat's location history on the map or track their whereabouts in real time. Determine whether your cat prefers to stay near by, spends the most of their time hiding or napping, visits a friendly neighbour, or chases their prey for miles.
When a beloved pet goes missing, most pet parents understand how frightening it can be. You may have previously misplaced your cat once or more times. The days of fretting about your feline companion going missing are over with a GPS cat tracker.
Simply charge the little cat tracking gadget, switch it on, and clip it on your cat's safety collar. You may then allow your cat out with confidence, knowing exactly where they are at all times. If your cat doesn't come home for supper, you can quickly turn on live tracking to see where they are and bring them back.
The advantages of a GPS cat tracker extend beyond the ability to follow your cat for entertainment or peace of mind. A GPS cat tracker may be able to save your cat's life. We've heard lots of stories about cats being saved from life-threatening circumstances owing to their GPS tracker as the creators of the world's most trusted GPS trackers for cats.
Because GPS works worldwide, you can locate your cat almost anywhere - no matter where they go missing. Predators, other cats, injury, sickness, hazardous plants, automobiles, and even merely spots where they may get stuck are all threats to outdoor cats living their best lives. With a GPS cat tracker, you'll be able to discover and rescue your cat in record time if they get into trouble.
An overweight cat will have a sagging tummy. It's critical to monitor your cat's Body Condition Score as a caring cat parent. You can track how much time your cat spends moving or resting, how many calories they burn, and more with the Tractive GPS Cat Tracker.
Additionally, you may compare your cat's activities to that of others in your social circle, area, breed group, or the Tractive GPS user community. Enjoy a friendly rivalry with them to keep your kitty buddy in tip-top form.
How to encourage a missing cat to come to you if you find one
If you come across a cat that looks lost or scared, try to make them feel safe. Try to think like a cat - What do cats like? What makes them feel safe? These may be some questions to consider when trying to think like a cat.
Some cats are very friendly and have no problems getting close to you, some cats can be very cautious. What do you do if you come across the cautious kind?
It's no secret that cats are fussy eaters so one thing to try, to get a lost cat to come to you, is to put out different types of food and treats to encourage them to come over. Also, ensure that you put out some fresh water for the missing cat. The water should not be placed next to the food as cats prefer to eat and drink in different places.
You can also see if they react to toys, a laser pointer is a perfect cat toy that normally gets their attention. If a cat is scared, they may not be in a playful mood so this may not always work. Try putting out an empty box for the cat to hide in for protection; this may not always work.
It is important to try to see if the cat has a collar on with their name and owner's details. Many collars will have the telephone number of their owners for this exact situation.
Who to contact if you find lost cats
Unfortunately, it isn't always that easy. Many individuals don't bother to put a collar or tags on their cats, so just because they're missing doesn't imply they're homeless. You can get them checked for a microchip, which would provide the guardian's contact information, at a clinic or animal shelter, but the lack of a chip doesn't always imply you're dealing with an abandoned cat.
Because there is no easy way to tell who the cat belongs to, the next step is to go through lost and found advertising. Ask around the area if anybody is missing a cat or if anyone has seen "lost cat" signs that depict the cat in question. Check websites like Facebook lost pet groups, lost pet databases, and call your local animal shelters for lost and found information. When a pet goes missing, people frequently phone their local shelters, so there's a chance the shelter will be able to assist you in reuniting the cat with its owner.
If no one responds to your searches, the final step is to post your own "found cat" advertising. You may make use of your social media accounts. It's possible that someone in your extended network knows who owns the cat. Again, notify your local animal shelter that you have found what you believe to be a missing cat so that they may contact you if the owner phones in. If you are unable to care for the cat while searching for the owner, contact your local shelter and inquire about bringing the cat in. Never leave a cat at a local shelter's door.
What to do if your cat goes missing
When your cat goes missing, the last thing you want to do is read a manual. What you don't know, on the other hand, might significantly diminish your chances of finding your cat. This information will save you a lot of time looking in the incorrect direction. You'll be able to focus your efforts on the techniques that are most likely to work if you learn the appropriate approach. A tremendous amount of inaccurate information is ready to divert you from good search tactics on the internet and through the grapevine. People trust strange claims and well-intentioned advice because they lack a lot of experience.
Don't worry if you don't notice your cat is missing at first. You could think he's napping in the rear bedroom or exploring the garden of a neighbour. You'll notice he's not where he's supposed to be when he misses supper or doesn't paw at the door at the scheduled hour. This knowledge might send you into a panic attack but t aking positive efforts to find your cat will not only increase your chances of locating them, but it will also help you channel your energy and focus your thoughts, releasing you from the grip of fear.
Although the scenario may appear to be an emergency to your cat, all situations have best practises and protocols in place to improve the chances of a positive result. Established protocols aid emergency workers in providing the best efficient response in medical, fire, and police incidents. You will most likely be the initial responder and primary emergency manager in the case of your misplaced cat. Although a skilled volunteer or professional can assist you, such an expert is unlikely to be accessible when you need it. Following the procedures listed here as closely as possible will provide you with constructive things to perform and will assist you in minimising or avoiding that crushing sensation of fear.
Don't wait - if you're like me and your cats and dogs are your children, you'll miss them. This viewpoint is not shared by everyone. When you begin your quest, you may encounter those who advise you to wait. People will tell you about cats who returned home after a few days or weeks. Cats do, on occasion, return home on their own after an inexplicable absence. Looking over the case data of hundreds of missing cats throughout the years, the most common method cats are located is when they just come home in roughly 20% of cases.
If your cat is going to come home on their own, keeping an eye out for them won't hinder their chances. If your cat is one of the majority that does not come home on their own, delaying the search might significantly diminish your chances of finding him. Check the inside of the house at the very least. Approximately 5% of cats are discovered hiding in the house. Before putting too much time and effort into other search tactics, you should rule out this option. Then you may begin working on various parts of your quest that are best pursued early on. You should speak with your neighbours as soon as possible since memories fade and vital information might be lost if you wait.
Instead of calling a cat's name, simply speak to yourself in a relaxed tone. You don't want to come out as concerned or nervous. You want to sound relaxed so that your cat can relax. If you've ever talked angrily or agitatedly to someone or anything in your house, perhaps even yelling at the TV, your cats or dogs may have looked terrified as if they should flee and hide. You want to sound relaxed so your cat will relax as well. Some individuals wish to tell their pets how much they miss them.
Other alternatives to calling your cat's name include shaking his food dish with a small amount of kibble inside. Don't shake it too much. Simply shake it once or twice per minute. If he's used to getting goodies in such types of packets, you can crumple one of them. If your cat lives with other cats and knows their names because you mention them frequently, call the name of a cat who is secure at home.
If you can record cheerful noises of your other cats getting ready to eat, you may listen to that audio on your phone while searching for the missing cat. You won't be concentrating on the missing cat, but you will make a familiar sound that your cat may link with dinner time or additional attention.
Some individuals are unable to continue the search for a long time if the cat is not located during those days when we are trying all we can think of. Maybe they're too busy, or it's too stressful to be in crisis mode all the time while hunting for a missing cat. In at least 15% of missing cat situations, the animal was ultimately discovered after more than three weeks. The owners kept looking for the kitties and eventually discovered them. If cat owners had the patience and commitment to continue the search in a reasonable manner, the rate of cats returning to their owners might be greatly boosted.
Because of how cats react when they are scared or disoriented, it is not uncommon for a lost cat to be discovered weeks or months later. You may be advised that looking for your cat is fruitless, but research has shown that families that follow the instructions in this book and don't give up have the highest percentage of missing cat returns.
The chances of finding a missing cat
Research was carried out in 2018 that looked at the many search tactics used to discover missing cats, which ones were the most successful, and where the cats were recovered. 61 percent of missing cats were located within a year, according to the research. Within seven days, 34% of missing cats were located (alive, thank god).