Sunday, September 30, 2007 , the wee hours

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
The Litterbox • (5) Comments • Permalink
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