The cat is missing: what to do, how to find the animal, tips and recommendations for owners of lost cats

02/22/2020 9 543 Interesting things about cats

Author: Olga

Unfortunately, this situation when a cat gets lost happens often. Pets play and fall out of balconies and windows, disappearing in the countryside or in the forest during country walks and picnics. What to do and how to find your lost pet, let's figure it out together.

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Preparatory activities for the search

In order to return a missing cat, you must immediately begin searching after the loss is discovered. Pets often run away from home and fall off the balcony due to increased curiosity that arises against the background of hormone activity.

Successful searches largely depend on the implementation of certain preparatory activities:

using a flashlight, since in the dark the eyes of cats display optical light, which helps to quickly locate the missing animal. During the search, it is necessary to explore the darkest and most secluded places, and when night falls, the pet can crawl out of its hiding place (for example, the basement of a residential building, ventilation, boiler room);
binoculars and other optics. In such cases, you can detect your pet from a distance and not scare it off, as it may be in a highly stressed state. The devices allow you to thoroughly study the terrain within a range of several kilometers (dense thickets, forest, other hard-to-reach places);
you can find a missing pet with the help of your favorite toys, since many cats observe surrounding activities from a hiding place and can jump out into the street at the sight of familiar and familiar objects;
treats for cats. Shaking dry food in a can may be one of the cat's favorite sounds, so this method can also help in finding the animal;
using a clicker, since the pet associates such a sound device with receiving a treat. If he hears these sounds, he can quickly return to his place of residence.

If a cat runs away from home, then its owner must pull himself together, calm down and plan the right search plan. Avoiding panic will give results faster and help you find your missing pet.

A healthy adult cat has passed away - what should I do?

If an unneutered pet left home, it is possible that he began to estrus and went in search of a partner for mating. Pregnant pets often leave to give birth to offspring in a calm environment. A pet can also leave home due to poor treatment or the addition of another animal to the family. What to do when a healthy adult pet runs away? How can I get it back?

Will the animal find its way home?

Cats are territorial animals. They always strive to return to their habitat. Lost pets usually find their way home on their own. They are helped in this by vision, smell, hearing and memory. With the help of a keen sense of smell, they are able to detect the smallest concentrations of odorous substances and determine the location of the source of the smell. The hearing aid in cats is designed in such a way that they perfectly remember not just a “video sequence,” but a full-fledged “video clip” with a sound track. Thanks to this ability, they can reproduce it in memory, finding their way home.

The easiest way for a free-range pet to return to its native land is because, unlike a pet, it is familiar with the area. There are many stories about cats returning to their owners, traveling hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. There are even cases where pets returned to their owners 5 years after they went missing. Scientists have not yet been able to figure out how they do this. Presumably, cats use an electromagnetic field to orient themselves in space. How exactly they capture radiation is unknown.

How long can you wait?

If a cat is lost and has never been outside the home, the search should begin immediately after the loss is discovered. An animal not accustomed to the street may run away out of fear in an unknown direction and get into trouble. The more time passes from the moment your four-legged pet left home, the less chance you have of finding it.

Don’t panic and search the entire yard if your pet, which is free to go outside, went for a walk a few minutes ago. You should start searching if the animal has not returned by the end of the day. It is advisable to begin the search operation before dusk, so that the cat does not have to spend the night in the open air, and its owners do not have to worry all night.

Where to look for a pet first?

To return a pet, sometimes it is enough to search the home. Perhaps the cat did not go somewhere beyond its boundaries, but simply hid, for example, under a sofa, closet, bathroom, behind a curtain, in a box, on a sideboard or in a pantry. Some tailed pranksters like to hide in the washing machine. If the animal was not found in the house, you need to look for it:

Under the windows. Perhaps your pet, while hunting for a bird or a sunbeam, fell from a balcony or window.
At the entrance. If a cat sneaks through a slightly open door, it can be found on the upper or lower floor.
In the attic, when there is easy access to it.
In an open basement where a frightened pet that had fallen out of a window could hide.
Under the cars. Frightened animals, once outside, look for secluded places.
On the nearby trees. To escape from dogs, passing cars, and aggressive relatives, they climb higher.
In neighboring areas. If a cat has disappeared from a private home, it may be hiding with neighbors.
In buildings located in the local area: in a garage, bathhouse, barn, woodshed.

If the missing tailed animal has not been discovered, you should not give up trying to find it. You should ask your neighbors if the cat has wandered into theirs. You also need to walk along the road, suddenly an animal trying to cross it is hit by a car, it lies on the side of the road, and it can still be saved.

Children love animals and are unlikely to let a well-groomed beautiful cat walk out of their sight. It is worth asking local children if they have seen the cat. It is necessary to name the special features of the pet.

You should try to look for your pet again when it gets a little dark and the bustle outside has died down. In the silence of the night, extraneous sounds will not drown out the owner’s call, and there is a high probability that the cat will respond to a familiar voice. In addition, in the dark, the animal can be given away by its glowing eyes. Grandmothers talking on a bench near the entrance, janitors, mothers with strollers - all these people can help in the search for a missing animal.

Don't lose hope, keep looking

Remember that not only searches are important, but also additional measures to return the runaway cat. Try to attract him with a familiar, homely smell. Check the dust container of your vacuum cleaner: if there is any pet hair left there, scatter it near the door. Hang an unwashed item from your wardrobe, a T-shirt or turtleneck, behind the door. There is a known case when a cat came to sleep in an old baby stroller, which the owner, having almost despaired of finding her pet, wisely left it outside.

Many people recommend putting the cat's favorite food outside the door or spraying the door with catnip, but this, despite its obvious appeal, is a controversial measure. Using it, prepare for a visit from neighbor or street cats.

The main thing is, don’t stop searching! Try to spend more time at home and at your dacha, delay your departure time if possible - your pet can return at any time! There are cases where a missing cat was reported months after it was lost, so don’t despair!

Kaverin Igor

Where to look for a missing cat?

What to do? The most important thing is not to panic, but to immediately analyze all possible escape options and take active action.

If you find that your cat does not meet you after work, does not respond to calls, or does not go to the bowls, this is a cause for concern. However, it is possible that the cat never left the apartment, but is simply sleeping soundly somewhere, having climbed into a hard-to-reach place from where it can get out on its own. This could be a closet where an animal sneaked in unnoticed while you were getting ready for work, a linen drawer inside a folding sofa, a shoe box that you put on a shelf.

Check all such nooks and crannies in the apartment to make sure the cat is not there. During the warm season, a cat can spend a lot of time on the balcony, so if your house has a balcony, make sure you don't accidentally lock the animal in there before leaving the apartment.

Fell out of the window?

If all attempts to find the fugitive in the apartment have failed, you should consider a more pessimistic scenario: the cat fell out of the window, attracted by the chirping of sparrows or the cooing of pigeons on a nearby window or balcony.

Immediately go downstairs to explore the area surrounding the house. There can be two options: either the animal crashed, and then, alas, a not very funny sight awaits you. If neither a cat nor signs of violent death were found under the windows of your apartment, there is hope that your pet is alive, but in shock tried to find a safe place where it hid.

Explore the surroundings

Carefully examine the entrance, floor by floor: there is a chance that the cat did not fall out of the window, but quietly slipped out of the apartment when you hesitated, closing the door. A cat can also hide in the entrance if it has fallen out of a window. Arm yourself with a flashlight and don’t miss a single nook in the entrance: in shock and confusion, the animal will want to hide in the farthest, inaccessible corner.

Take your cat's favorite toy, as well as a bag of food: attracted by the characteristic sound of the rustling bag, the cat may come out to meet you. Call the cat's name loudly, exploring the area around the house, basements, attics, don't be lazy to look under all the cars - cats often hide there. Also explore neighboring entrances and neighboring houses. Expand your search area in a spiral.

Word of mouth

If the search does not bring the desired result, it’s time to connect other resources: neighbors, acquaintances, grandmothers at the entrances, janitors, schoolchildren. Print out a lot of photos of your pet, as well as cards with your coordinates, and distribute them to everyone who can help or just happen to see your cat while walking.

Paradoxically, do not ignore dog lovers: many of them go on intense walks around the area, it is likely that someone could have come across your missing cat. In addition, pet owners in large cities have a developed sense of solidarity and belonging, so attracting such a resource produces results.

Ads with cat photos and contacts

Print lots of colorful notices with a photo and name and description of your cat's special features, age, gender and habits, indicate in the announcement where and when she disappeared.

Such notices should be posted in the entrances of nearby houses, in shops, at public transport stops, at post offices, in bank branches, in pet stores and veterinary clinics, on poles and fences. If there is a school not far from your house, take the time to go there and leave a packet of announcements for schoolchildren, promising a reward for finding and returning the animal.

Possible places where an animal can hide

Considering the issue of a domestic cat running away, how to find it requires studying the probable places of the loss. In practice, an animal can approximately hide in the following places:

entrances from the upper floors, while at the same time you need to try to inspect baby strollers, buckets, shoes, other items located on landings, places near the garbage chute;
basement, attic. In order to open these premises, you must contact the Housing Office and receive the keys to the doors;
carrying out searches on the street, since cats love elevated places and can be on a tree, roof of a house, pole, balcony, tall bush;
in winter, a cat can hide in places such as heating pipes, a car engine, or a heating radiator located in the entrance;
possible search locations on the street (garage, shed, other utility rooms);
in many cases, the animal gets lost on the street in hard-to-reach places, so storm drains, sewers, and drainpipes must be checked;
When searching for a cat, a hungry animal is often found near trash cans and food preparation areas (a dining room kitchen or a cafe located near the house).

Possible places of loss in the house:

inspection of furniture, closet, niche, space under the bed;
the upper part of the closet, sideboard, furniture wall, since cats love to hide in these secluded places;
empty boxes and other containers that can accommodate an animal;
the window of the washing machine, which is constantly open and ventilated;
balcony and adjacent structures.

Finding a cat in the country is much more complicated due to the large territory, great access to wild nature (proximity to a forest, river), and possible collisions with wild animals. In this case, the pet may take refuge in a neighbor’s house, so it is important to check this option.

During search activities, you need to call the animal by name, try to rustle it with its favorite food, or wear a toy that is familiar to it, as these factors can make the task easier and find the missing cat on the street.

We help the lost return

If a domestic cat runs away, every owner worries about how to find the loss.
In this situation, you should know that the furry homebody can hide and hide for a long time without making contact with a person. Therefore, you shouldn’t give up searching after 2-3 days of unsuccessful attempts. After sitting in a secluded place for a couple of days, a domestic cat may begin to explore unfamiliar territory, leaving the shelter. Often, after a long and unsuccessful search, a cat is found in the company of street animals.
This situation occurs if the pet is not sterilized and runs away in search of a sexual partner. It often happens that a discovered animal categorically does not want to leave the street of its own free will, and no treats tempt the fugitive. In this situation, experts recommend using homemade traps made from cardboard boxes or special boxes for catching animals.

How to find a runaway cat

Author KakSimply!

In newspapers, social networks, and simply on poles, advertisements periodically appear that owners are looking for their lost cat.

Or in such a situation, you can look for the cat on a nearby neighbor’s balcony.

Of course, you need to interview all your neighbors, especially those who also have cats. You can douse the area with valerian.

There are situations in which it is not known what to do and what the right thing to do is to return home a lost or simply runaway pet.

You can look here, although the text is slightly different, but the meaning is the same. The main thing here is faith and a sincere desire for the animal to return.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember the text, and for some reason I can’t find it on the internet.

One is done with tarot cards, the other is simply read at the window.

Do you know effective conspiracies (magic rituals, runic formulas, prayers) to return an animal home? In our house (in the basement) the cat lived alone, affectionate, not wild, lame.

So let them leave on their own, let’s not offend them...

So the cat doesn’t get lost, but goes to its yard, to my good. You're a cat, come. If the cat is purebred, look for a cat for him at an exhibition. And our Masha was found. Great goddess Bast. You protect the entire cat family. And save (name) from troubles. May he be healthy and beautiful. There are people who are related to cats, Their souls wander along cat paths, They understand cats' silent speeches, Cats happily jump on their shoulders. Don't forget them, Bastet and Sekhmet!

You will protect the kittens from the terrible wheels, Sekhmet and Bastet, I ask you, listen!

So that meowing songs can be sung joyfully (it’s not for nothing that felix rhymes with felis) – Give your pets the opportunity to tame People – caution is needed here!

God, you see the cat Mishka is lost, help me so that he can be found. A stolen cat is difficult to find. Lost your cat on a walk? We wanted to take him home with us, but while we were preparing everything, the cat went on a spree and has not come for more than a month.

https://youtu.be/18c9WgA9U7c

One woman called and said: write down a conspiracy (that’s what she said, I think) to bring back an animal or a person. Yes, there are such good conspiracies, I myself was personally convinced of their effectiveness. I thank everyone who wrote prayers and spells. Conspiracy and prayer for all animals. It is better to make a defense, but there are also conspiracies - A conspiracy for an escaped animal.

Where to look for her hidden places?

As many cats as there are, probably, there are as many secluded places where they can hide within the apartment. But, talking with other owners of these animals, I discovered one pattern for myself. After all, they have common favorite places where they like to hide. I’ll tell you about them now. I ask the cats not to be offended by me for giving away their secret.

Cabinets

Cats love to climb into closets and sit there among clothes and linen. And enjoying the cleanliness and peace, they fall asleep peacefully. It is not clear whether their sleep is so deep and sweet that they do not wake up when their owner calls them. It is possible that your pet can hear everything perfectly. And he doesn’t respond because he doesn’t want to interrupt his idyll of afternoon sleep. Or maybe this is simply a manifestation of the harmfulness of her capricious and proud character.

Under the bath

Under the bath is warm, dark and cozy. There, our pets especially like to disappear during folk festivals, celebrated with loud volleys of fireworks. After all, everyone probably knows that cat ears are so delicate that any loud sound causes them great discomfort. When a cat hears the incessant firing of fireworks, it gets scared and tries to run as far as possible from these disturbing sounds. From my own experience I was convinced that you can call her and look for her for hours. He'll only come out when it's quiet outside.

On the loggia

There was a case in my life when a cat got lost in a closed apartment. And it was impossible to find her for many hours. Everything was done to search for her: the ringing of the bells of her favorite toys, the sound of food rustling in the box, and the slamming of the refrigerator door. Believe it or not, I even went outside into the courtyard of the house, asked passers-by about the cat, and called her affectionately.

By evening it became clear that the cat was missing. After crying a lot, I decided to print advertisements on the search for a cat. All that remained was to start the print when my sleepy little loser appeared in person in the doorway of the loggia. It turns out that she slept there all day under an inverted pelvis. She slept well, gained strength, and then at night she gave chase with an imaginary animal. All this was accompanied by her victorious screams and stomping paws.

Behind the curtains near the battery

If the cat is missing and the heating season has already begun, look near the radiator behind the curtains. Cats really like this cozy and secluded place. How warm, dry, no one sees her, but she herself has a great opportunity to eavesdrop and observe everything that happens. When you search, be sure to pull back the curtains and look below.

A few more places to look:

In a toy box.
In a crib.
Under the blanket on the bed.
Under the bed.

Of course, each apartment is designed differently. For this reason, I advise you to take note of where your cat appears after a long absence. So, by trial and error, you will be able to find the secret hiding places of your pet.

How to find an animal on the street

Searching for a frightened animal is quite difficult, since a cat can hide in a secluded place for a long time (for 2-4 days), so it is necessary to organize a proper search and carefully check possible places.

Often the pet can be found in the company of street cats, as sex hormones play a role, and it is drawn to the street during the period of active mating games. If it is important that the animal is completely domestic, then it needs to be sterilized.

In some cases, after searching, the cat does not want to return home at all, so homemade traps (cardboard boxes or other suitable containers) may be needed.

A cat that finds itself in an unknown situation hides for a long time (for 5-6 days) and does not go outside. She starves and becomes unadapted to the conditions that arise.

At the same time, animals do not run away over long distances, so searches are best carried out within a radius of several kilometers from the house. Cats are under severe stress, so they may simply not respond to their name or favorite treat.

Cats that are lost on the street often like to hide under cars parked in the yard, so these places need to be checked first.

What to do if a cat runs outside

You're at home and someone opens the front door. Your cat jumps out, turns the corner of the house and disappears! What are you doing?

First, you follow the cat, but don't run or make loud noises. Try to keep your cat visible, but usually when an indoor cat goes outside, the smells and sounds are usually too strong and the first thing they want to do is hide closer to the house. Any loud noises, such as shouting their name or clapping your hands, can frighten them even more. If they stop and look at you, immediately kneel down, don't make eye contact, and extend your hand. Call the cat in the calmest voice. If you don't have any distractions, they will sometimes come straight to you.

Lost cat

The reasons why a cat is lost could be anything. He can slip through an unlocked window or an open door, run away from the house on his own, or get lost from fright in an unfamiliar place. The main role in this situation is played by the time when you discovered the loss. The sooner you realized that your pet is not at home, the better it will be. If the animal is dear to you, you will not regret either the time or money searching for it. Remember that when searching, every detail and minute is important, on which even the life of the animal sometimes depends.

Of course, you need to be alarmed if a kitten goes missing, since in most cases there are many dangers lurking for it on the street. Kids are afraid of cold, dampness, hunger and strangers. A kitten is unlikely to find its way home on its own, unlike an adult animal. Most often, he will look for a secluded place, meow pitifully and seek help from people. According to statistics, without human help, kittens die in 80% of cases, while an adult cat can get food for itself and survive.

According to statistics, if a pet goes missing, people find only 50% of cats, but 70% of dogs. However, 65% of cats that escaped and 7% of dogs return to their owners on their own.

Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.

Why do cats leave the house: real reasons

It is not at all necessary to associate the cat leaving the house with signs. People who do not believe in mysticism can name completely different real reasons why animals sometimes do not return home.

Let's look at some of them:

The cat might have gotten lost. Everyone knows the facts when dogs and cats have traveled vast distances in completely unfamiliar places in order to return home. However, one should not think that all animals have exactly the same superpowers. Some of them may well get lost just a few blocks from home, chasing a bird or fleeing a vicious dog.
The cat leaves the house to die . Very often cats, sensing their imminent death, leave home. They have this feeling inherent in their nature - to die alone, so at this time they even mistake their beloved owners for unwanted witnesses.
The cat could lamb. It is quite possible that you are worrying about the loss of your cat in vain. If the time came, she could find a place somewhere outside the house to give birth to kittens. This is especially possible if you drowned her previous litters, and she remembered this and hid away from you for this reason. In this case, only a few weeks will pass, and she will return to you, carrying already grown kittens in her teeth.
The cat is being mistreated. If a cat is constantly kicked and fed disgustingly, then the proud animal can simply run away from this inhospitable house.

Could have left due to mistreatment

The cat is jealous. If another pet or a new family member has appeared in the house, then the cat that has lived with you for quite a long time may soon disappear. And do you know what the reason is? She was offended by the loss of your attention, because animals, just like people, feel jealousy and suffering, feeling that they are superfluous here.
The cat doesn't like the situation in the house . If the psychological situation in the house is tense, then cats have the ability to change it for the better. However, sometimes an aggressive relationship develops between the owners, they constantly quarrel with each other, and sometimes they even give up. Believe me, the cat will perfectly feel such an atmosphere and will probably not stay in such a house for long.
The cat doesn't like children. A cat may experience constant stress due to annoying children. They can play with this woolly meowing miracle for a long time, squeeze it, drag it by the tail, and few people might like this. To prevent your pet from leaving you because of this, you should make it clear to the child that the cat must be treated kindly, and not torment it with long games.

What to do if you couldn’t find your missing cat in the first days

When searching for a missing cat, it is not always possible to find it quickly, but you cannot abandon this idea and you need to continue the undertaking. Some recommendations:

posting advertisements about searching for an animal in the area of residence, indicating external data, photographs, and the amount of reward. In this case, the form can be hung up in veterinary clinics located in the district;
social networks (in contact, classmates), as there are special groups where you can post information about a missing animal. This technique is quite effective, since the ad can be read by a large number of people.

The above methods can help in the search even after a long time, since the animal can stray to any place.

At the same time, fraudsters can take advantage of such advertisements for their own benefit:

a call is made and the owner is notified that his animal has been found;
most often the voice of the person calling is absolutely calm, measured and does not arouse any suspicion;
then the person demands a reward in a friendly tone with the transfer of the animal after some time (several hours, in the morning or in the evening);
at the same time, scammers often ask to top up a card or mobile phone number as a reward, and then disappear;
if the owner refuses to transfer the money, they may face threats (for example, kill the animal or not give it back, but throw it out into the street).

In order to prevent the development of such events, the following measures must be taken:

ask for the possibility of providing a photo using any electronic resource (mms message, viber, mail, whatsapp);
checking the name of the animal when naming it is incorrect and if the cat responds, then this is a fraudulent scheme;
checking for special signs or finding out any other characteristic features of the animal. If confusion begins, then most likely it is just scammers trying to illegally receive a reward.

Why do cats disappear?

The reason for the loss of a cat can be the owner’s banal absent-mindedness.

Despite the fact that cats are the smartest and quickest animals, they can get lost for a trivial reason: an absent-minded owner forgot to close a door or window, the cat got scared of someone on the street and ran away, got lost in play, fell from the balcony, etc. Many things may happen. The fact is that he is not there now. What is the first step to take to bring your beloved “fluffy” home?

The cat could have hidden in the apartment.

First of all, you should look for a cat in the apartment. It sounds ridiculous, but there is a possibility that the pet decided to hide in a secluded corner and simply cannot or does not want to get out of it. If you are convinced or are sure that there is no cat in the house, proceed to the next stages of the search.

Lost Search Zones

We are looking in the entrance, starting from the upper floors.

Pay attention to large things: strollers, bicycles, etc.

The cat may well be hiding behind them. If not, move on.

Basement with open windows. When a cat fell out of a window from a low floor, there is a high probability that, having landed, out of fear and fright, the first thing she did was to scurry there. If the basement is well lit and kept in order, finding the animal will not be difficult. If it is dark and there are rotten, dirty pipes and rats everywhere, then finding a pet will not be easy. Although even in this situation there is a plus: the cat will not stay in such a basement for a long time, it will quickly leave there.

Street. Get out of the house and check all nearby roads, paying special attention to the roadsides. If you don’t find your pet there, you can take a breath - he didn’t get hit by a car. We need to continue searching further. Be sure to ask people on the street about the “lost thing” (grandmothers on benches, janitors, postman, young mothers).

Often cats run outside and are not found.

What's the best way to look for a lost pet?

Take any animal toy on your search.

All of the above steps can be performed alone, but it is better to search in a group. Relatives and friends can help.

It is important to remember that if an animal was not familiar with the street, it will not run far and, most likely, is hiding somewhere nearby. Be sure to inspect all nooks and crannies and take a flashlight with you, even if the search takes place during the daytime

It is also important to take your cat’s favorite toys with you and use them to lure your pet into your field of vision. When he comes out of hiding, try not to scare him.

Dogs can be involved in the search, but only if the cat has previously lived and been in contact with them. Otherwise the dogs will scare him.

Reporting a loss

Reporting a missing cat can significantly speed up the search.

You should post a notice on nearby houses describing the animal’s special characteristics: coat color, eyes, when it went missing, whether it’s in a collar (harness) or not, the owner’s contact phone number. Even better - attach a photo of the cat.

It would not be a bad idea to warn as many residents of the house as possible about the missing cat. Often lost pets are found by “local” residents who accidentally saw them.

Through the Internet

The cat must be walked on a harness or leash.
It would be a good idea for the cat to wear a small medallion on its collar with a note with the owner’s name and phone number. In case of loss, it will be faster and easier for the person who finds the cat to contact the rightful owner to return the animal.
Chipping.

Caring for a foundling

Unfortunately, about half of the animals that escape from their homes are never found. But if the search brings results, the cat returns home, you should not only surround him with attention and affection. During the trip, the pet could communicate with stray cats and cats, could get hurt, or eat a low-quality product. He needs to be examined by a veterinarian:

Tests will show whether there was any infection with parasites or dangerous viruses.
A specialist will check at the veterinary clinic for the presence of wounds, including hidden ones.
A doctor may prescribe a sedative for a cat if it is very frightened or in a state of stress.
There is no need to overfeed your pet right away, even if he looks hungry. It is better to feed him light foods for a while so that the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is improved.
At a veterinary clinic, a specialist will prescribe medications to prevent fleas, ticks, and parasites. Processing must be carried out.

Where can I go for help?

Finding a cat if you did not immediately discover it was missing is not an easy task. If you have been searching for several days and there are no results, do not lose hope. It often happens that even if a cat is lost for several months, it can still be found. You can contact the temporary animal detention center in your city. Your pet can also end up there if it was caught on the streets.

As a rule, they are allowed to be picked up from there within five days. You can also call the newspaper and advertise. You can call the Search Service, if there is one, or the Pet Support Fund.

Useful tips

Useful tips from experts when searching for a missing animal:

gradual expansion of the search area only after a thorough inspection of all local areas and other places located nearby;
search activities are best carried out at different times of the day, since frightened pets can come out of their hiding places in the evening or at night, when it gets dark;
calling your pet, using your favorite food, toys, or clicker is best used early in the morning or late in the evening, since it becomes quiet outside and the animal can hear familiar sounds and run towards them;
It is best to carry out searches with assistants, since it is quite difficult to inspect vast areas alone. Additional help can speed up the receipt of positive news;
finding out information from strangers (neighbors, children walking on the playground, pensioners on benches). You can show a photo of the animal, leave contact information and find out if anyone has seen it in the surrounding area;
You can also contact janitors or permanent residents who often feed stray animals and may encounter a lost cat on their way.

Catch and prevent further escapes

Most likely, the cat settled nearby, within a square kilometer from the house. This happens quite often, because over time, walking cats become less and less attached to humans and establish more and more connections with their fellow cats. Since it is very difficult to find a missing cat that has “lost” of its own free will, owners can only hope that the pet will come home on its own.

Sometimes such cats “go on a spree” for several weeks, months and even years. It is impossible to predict whether the cat will return home. As a consolation for the owners: a free-roaming cat knows perfectly well the laws of the concrete jungle, knows how to find water and food, stand up for itself or escape from enemies. Such cats rarely end up under cars or in the mouths of stray dogs.

the search should be carried out in an expanding spiral;

during the search, you need to call your pet by name, rustling with a bag of food or a toy;

the pet is scared. Probably even in a panic. Since it is very difficult to find a missing cat if it has frozen in place from fear, you need to rely on your own strength, without hoping that the cat will come out when called. You can't miss a single bush or tree! Be sure to look under each car, inspect the entrances from the first to the last floor, looking behind the garbage chute pipes;

if the search is unsuccessful, it’s time to explore the basements. You will need a powerful flashlight, a bag of usual food and your pet’s favorite toy.

Since it is easier to find a cat on the street if the owner has help, you should immediately inform friends and relatives about the problem. You need to look for a fugitive by breaking into pairs and dividing the territory between groups. If it was not possible to find your pet during the day, the “search operation” is scheduled for late evening or early morning of the next day - a calm, quiet time when the cat is less frightened and more willing to respond to the call.

It's time to connect word of mouth. Distribute high-quality photographs of your pet to your helpers. Pictures should be shown to children, pensioners and teenagers (people who spend a lot of time outdoors and almost certainly have free time). Explain to them how to find a lost cat (ask them to look around the yard, bushes, trees, look under cars, etc.).

The most important thing is to promise a reward and don’t forget to leave a piece of paper with contact information. Explain that the cat is lost and is not adapted to the street, and that it must be returned home before it gets into trouble. Typically, older people and children show sincere sympathy and really help in the search.

The next step is to notify the local population. Again, monetary rewards should definitely be mentioned. Advertisements should be posted along the search path (in an expanding spiral) and posted on the Internet. In the ad: a photograph (an ad without a photo does not work, it has been verified many times by hundreds of owners), special features, gender, contact information and a mention that the cat is domestic.

If the cat is purebred, talk to doctors at local clinics, leaving them with contact information and a photo of the cat. On the back of the photo write gender, age, special features. People who find a purebred pet do not always voluntarily return the assigned cats and dogs, but at some point they will have to visit a veterinarian who can recognize the missing cat and report the find to the real owners.

What to do if your animal is lost, and how to help it find its way home?

Many people have heard stories that even a cat taken many kilometers from home still found its way back after some time. There are various theories about how this animal manages to navigate unfamiliar terrain, but, unfortunately, only those cats that live on the street are capable of this. Only one or two out of ten domestic sissies can find their way home; the rest, finding themselves alone in an unfamiliar place, simply panic.

Often those cats that go for walks on the street choose freedom for themselves and do not want to return home. Such an animal will be even more difficult to find, because in no case will it respond to the owner’s call, but, on the contrary, will try to run away and hide from him.

If a domestic cat is lost, then you need to find it as soon as possible, because it is in great danger - the animal can get hit by a car or become easy prey for a pack of stray dogs. You shouldn’t sit and wait for your pet to return on its own – start actively searching for it.

Where to look for a lost cat? She won't stray far from her home, so look for her in the surrounding area while moving in an expanding spiral. The cat will not cling to its homeless relatives and will probably try to hide, so while searching, call her by name, rustling a bag of food or her favorite toy.

Keep in mind that a frightened animal may not respond to the owner’s call and may freeze in some secluded place, literally numb with fear. Therefore, carefully inspect the entire area adjacent to your home. Do not ignore the attic, the stairs, the basement, or even a single tree growing in the yard.

If you are unable to find the cat on your own, then go out searching with the support of relatives and friends. Break up into pairs and comb the area, best done in the late evening or early morning. At such a time, the street is quite quiet and deserted, and the animal is more likely to come out when called.

Be sure to distribute to your assistants and place on porches and pillars high-quality photos of your animal with your contact number and a request for the finder to return the cat for a reward, and also post them on social networks and forums in your city. In the ad, be sure to indicate the special characteristics of the animal. Post the same notices in pet stores and veterinary clinics.

Do not delay your search under any circumstances, and then, with a high degree of probability, your pet will soon be home again.

What to do if your cat is lost?
Catch a runaway cat

First, try to look for the cat in the entrance; perhaps he has hidden himself under the stairs.

The hardest place to find a cat is at the dacha, because there he has free space for festivities.

It pinches and breaks, gnaws and throws, shakes and crushes, ties the veins into knots. As this fire goes out, the thief will feel bad.

First of all, let's look at the reasons why cats run away from home.

There are several such reasons.

The desire to find a mate. The instinct of procreation forces uncastrated cats and unsterilized cats to run away from home.
Pursuit of prey. Cats often jump out of windows when they see birds or large insects such as dragonflies or butterflies.
Fear. A cat may run away when frightened by noise (family quarrel, moving furniture) or to avoid punishment. A domestic cat, frightened by the unusual sounds and sight of the street, may also jump out of the carrier when it is being transported.
Curiosity. The English say: “curiosity killed the cat.” Some cats will run out the door or jump out the window simply to explore new and unfamiliar territory.

What to do to prevent the cat from running away?

First of all, spay/neuter your male cat. In this way you will solve many different problems, in particular, the problem of the animal’s desire to run away from home.
Train your cat to respond to your name. This is not difficult to do, and it helps a lot when searching for a cat (even within an apartment).
Place screens on the windows. Nets should be metal, not mosquito nets. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you'll only open the windows a little, or that your cat is lazy and isn't interested in the window. In urban environments, a huge number of cats jump out or fall out of windows. This is the most likely way to lose your pet. If you open windows (to wash them, for example), lock the cat in another room or in the bathroom.
If there is noisy activity in your home that involves opening doors (moving furniture, renovation work), do not let the cat out of your sight. Lock her in a separate room or bathroom for a while. You can even put her in a carrier. Under no circumstances should you simply carry a cat down the street in your hands, no matter how lazy and obedient it may be! Buy a good carrier and check all zippers and fasteners before transporting your cat. Keep in mind that some cats can open zippers.
Watch the front door. Don't talk to anyone across the threshold when the door is open. A cat can slip past you completely unnoticed. In every doubtful case, check whether the cat has run out into the corridor or into the entrance. The situation is especially dangerous if the light goes out in the corridor outside the front door. The cat can see in the dark, but you can’t, so it’s easy for her to run past you unnoticed.

What to do if the cat does run away?

If you find your frightened pet in an unfamiliar place, be careful. She might just run away from you. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent escape from fright and predict the cat’s movements. You need to approach her slowly, you can hold out your favorite treat at arm's length. Gently pick up the animal.

Make sure that this is really your ward. Examine him carefully, he may have wounds or injuries. If this becomes necessary, take the cat to the veterinarian. At home, create comfortable and calm conditions for the animal, surround it with attention and affection. Do not give a lot of food right away, because during the days of absence the cat could simply starve. And if this is so, then, of course, he will attack the food, which will lead to indigestion.

The cat disappeared without a trace

You returned home and discovered that your cat was missing. The first thing you will do is conduct a systematic search of your home. Search every room and search thoroughly. Get on your knees and think like a cat. Remember, when they are scared or injured, they can crawl into places you never dreamed they could fit. You need to look under chairs, in armrests, in reclining chairs (very often a cat will rip the bottom of a chair or bed and disappear into the springs). You need to look into your closets and make sure you've covered every inch of your living space before you even think about looking outside.

After a thorough home search, there are a few things you need to do. One of them is to find an old T-shirt that you don't really care about or an old pair of sneakers. Put on your sneakers without socks or throw on a shirt and just start walking around the house calling your cat. Take a box of dry cat food or treats and shake it gently as you walk. You want that shirt and shoes to be really sweaty with your scent in case you don't find your cat, because the shoes and shirt will help you smell the cat in the house. If your search is unsuccessful, when you get home, hang your shirt outside where the wind can spread your scent, and place your shoes outside and near the front door.

What to do when a cat is found

If a missing cat is found, then at the first meeting he may experience discomfort and be in a stressful state due to a sudden change in circumstances and being in an unknown environment for a long time.

You need to approach the found animal carefully and show it a treat in order to lure it and not scare it away. A hungry animal will gradually approach the food and then you can carefully try to pick it up.

Once the animal has been found, it is necessary to inspect it and identify the possible presence of wounds, injuries, fleas and worms. Such activities are carried out when visiting a veterinary clinic.

At first, it is necessary to limit the amount of food, since a hungry animal can attack the food and then get severe digestive disorders. It is best to eat small meals up to several times a day.

Additionally, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures to prevent the repeated loss of the animal:

access to the street must be limited for some time or regular monitoring of the animal must be ensured;
it is necessary to accustom the cat to its nickname, which should be simple and not complicated. This will make it easier to find the animal if it gets lost;
carrying out castration, sterilization, as the animal’s sexual instincts are dulled and it becomes calmer. However, this method does not eliminate the risk of it disappearing from home;
installation of metal bars on windows, especially in multi-storey buildings, since their landing is not always successful for general health;
the use of durable carriers, special harnesses instead of a collar when the owner and the cat move long distances;
microchipping cats and having a special collar will help you quickly find them, since the chip indicates information about their place of residence;
You can also try to teach the cat to walk outside so that he returns home on his own. However, it takes an indefinite amount of time to develop such a habit.

What causes cats to leave home most often?

As for the most common reasons why cats leave their home, there can be a huge number of them, but the most common of them should be listed below:

the cat said to jump out of the window after noticing an individual of the opposite sex through its smell. This is quite simple to do, especially if it’s summer outside and the window is constantly open;
birds in windows also very often attract the attention of cats;
the instinct of nature called the cat and beckoned him with the taste of freedom;
the pet could have become very frightened of something and hastened to leave the premises.

Thus, to summarize, it should be noted that there can be a huge number of reasons for a cat to leave the house, but it is worth taking them all into account and limiting the pet’s penetration outside as much as possible. It is imperative to monitor the cat’s health and take timely measures so that the pet does not have the desire to go into all serious troubles on his own.

However, if your pet is on the street, then outdoor cats may not be very fond of it, which can also greatly affect its health. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and protect him from unnecessary stressful situations.

How long can it take for a missing cat to return?

Real-life cases show that lost cats can return home after several months or even years. According to statistics, up to 50% of lost owners find their pets healthy and unharmed.

65% of cases confirm the fact that cats return home from distant places (cottage, village or other places where the animal was early). Intensive searches, patience and perseverance increase the chances of finding the loss within a short time.

Therefore, if the cat suddenly disappears, then you need to immediately start searching in all possible places. In this case, the animal can return home on its own after some time. Much depends on the pet and the circumstances of each specific situation.

It's best to do your best and try to check all your options. The loss of a beloved pet is an unpleasant matter, but it can be resolved if you follow the recommendations presented.

Attract people

Searching for a missing animal alone is much less effective than searching with other people. First of all, contact your friends and relatives - they will be happy to help comb the area, and there is a chance that the smell of your friends will not scare away the cat.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask people who are constantly near your home for help - these could be janitors, salespeople at kiosks, or fitters. It is possible that they were among the first to notice a frightened animal nearby.

Children willingly participate in the search for missing pets. You can involve a group of schoolchildren walking in the yard in the search, but you must definitely warn them about following the rules of behavior - excessive activity and loud noises will frighten the cat even more.

Video “Video Quest - Looking for a cat”

If you want to virtually participate in the quest, then join our hero. He will definitely help you find your missing pet in your apartment.

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Make bait

Felines' sense of smell is much better developed than vision, so smell is an important landmark that can lure a lost pet.

Baits are placed within a radius of 100-200 meters from the house or a little further, preferably in places that can be checked regularly. You can use the following “beacons” for searching:

the owner's things - the cat will be attracted by an old jacket or slippers with a familiar smell;
a toy, bedding or other favorite thing - a pet can follow its own scent;
a small amount of filler from the tray will remind you of the marked territory of the house;
food or treats - you can use it, but be careful; most likely, the feeder will attract stray animals.

Walk around the marked points about two to three times a day; it is better not to get too close to them, but to observe from the side.