What to do if your cat goes missing

Ironically, I’d been planning to write this very post this very evening, and it ended up being the same day that Dobby ran away.  Go figure.  Now I get to find out if these pointers work.  Here’s what the experts say you should do if you lose your cat, oh, because it escapes via the doggie door:

  • Put your cat’s food dishes and usual food on your front porch or back step or wherever it’s safe to put such things. 
  • Put out your cat’s bed, and put an item of your clothing with it.  Your cat may find its way home by your scent.
  • Unless it’s huge and unwieldly, put your cat’s litterbox out on the porch as well.  Basically, you want to recreate a familiar home environment.
  • Make up “Lost Pet” flyers and post them around your neighbourhood, and at local vet’s offices.  Of course, keep in touch with animal control as well.
  • Don’t give up searching.  Experts suggest you keep up your search and keep putting out food and bedding for at least three months.

Sadly for Dobby (and us), if she comes back in three months she’ll come back pregnant.  We couldn’t microchip her because she was too small and skinny when we first found her, and she didn’t wear a collar because we couldn’t handle her.  At least she had her shots, so I hope she won’t get sick.  Oh, I did all of the above suggestions, and found a completely different cat eating out of Dobby’s dish and sleeping in Dobby’s bed.  I may have to catch this new cat before Dobby will feel safe coming around here.  I wish people would just keep their cats inside (unless their cat is lost, of course).  This new cat is a grey tabby who I’ve never seen before, and she doesn’t have a collar.

I’m tired and sad.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 09/30 at 12:07 AM

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  1. I am so sorry.  I hope she comes back too.  Could she have been in heat?  I’ve heard they can hide it well and then sneak out.  Hopefully she will ‘get it out of her system’ and return home.

    I had to admit I laughed when I read that a different cat was using her bed and eating her food.  Little opportunist!  That cat knows a good gig when it sees it.

    Posted by Von Krankipantzen  on  10/01  at  10:04 AM

  2. I’m so sad to hear that!  I hope Dobby makes it home safely. We lost ours for just a few hours and it was torment :-(
    My boss’s friends kitty came back from keeping dirty laundry on the deck.  Hope it works for you.

    Posted by Ryssee  on  10/01  at  04:30 PM

  3. I once lost my cat during a hurricane (years ago, not Katrina).  No idea how he got out. The building across the walkway from my apartment lost it’s roof, debris everywhere, we were without power for days The hours and days after the storm were sheer torment. I was brokenhearted. Three months later, I was lying in bed, and heard a familiar mow outside my window.  I got up, thinking it too good to be true, but it was true!  My kitty had come home.  He had a mostly healed wound on his side that I was able to clean w/ peroxide, and treat with antibiotic salve.  I continued to enjoy his companionship for many years afterwards.

    Keep the faith, happy endings do happen!

    Posted by Brenda  on  10/01  at  07:12 PM

  4. Thanks for all the positive thoughts smile Flippy thought she may have seen Dobby last night… at least, she saw a small, dark thing jump over our back wall around 10 in the evening.  I ordered a new, powerful flashlight (a Black and Decker halogen), and it arrived today, so that should help us identify what we’re seeing.  I even looked into buying a wireless night vision webcam so we could monitor the feeding stations constantly, but apparently they all suck unless you pay $600 or so.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  10/02  at  07:24 PM

  5. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, and I’ve asked my pets to keep their paws crossed. I’ve heard lots of amazing tales of cats returning even after a long time (just like Brenda’s story, so don’t lose hope.

    Posted by Calamity Jen  on  10/03  at  07:30 PM
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