How to Quickly Find a Missing Cat

On January 27, 2020, my fluffy cat fell from the balcony of the 2nd floor to the 1st floor.

Because I was on vacation and had a late night and early morning, I didn't wake up until 11 am the next morning. After discovering that the cat was missing, I immediately went downstairs to look for it, but I couldn't find it.

It wasn't until February 12th that my cat was found, having wandered outside for nearly a half month. It was covered in dirt and had several minor wounds.

Before and after finding the cat, comparison photos

Many cat owners have experienced the distress of losing their cats. Today, I want to share my experience of finding my cat with you all. I hope it can provide some guidance and help to cat owners who have lost their cats, and it can also be saved by cat owners for reference, just in case…

What to do if a cat gets lost?

First, I want to give you a brief introduction.Let's debunk a myth.Many cat owners hope for a miracle after their cats go missing and fail to find them on Baidu. There are many recommendations on Baidu for 'haircut method'That's right!! I tried the 'haircut method' and it didn't work.I searched for several days without finding it, and I was very worried. Now, looking back, only persistent and using the right method can help you find your cat. Don't believe in mysterious and unfounded methods.

There are three very important stages after a cat gets lost.

First stage: The first 3 days after losing the cat are the golden time for finding the cat. At this time, the cat is generally nearby, even within sight (such as in the hallway), so we should seize the opportunity and conduct intensive searches. The possibility of finding the cat at this stage is the largest.

Almost all domestic cats are very timid, and they rarely go out. Many domestic cats get lost and hide in a secluded place nearby. Therefore, we must look for hidden places, and if it's cold, we need to check if it's hiding under cars. Also, pay attention to the hallway, where cats often hide.

Second stage: The 7-10 days after losing the cat are still the most critical time for finding the cat. The cat is still nearby and won't go far. Especially if there are feeding points or gathering places for stray cats nearby.

So, we can check if there are feeding points for stray cats or garbage bins nearby and pay more attention. We can also leave cat food that the cat loves in familiar places near home.

Third stage: After 7 or 10 days, if the cat doesn't find food and water in the nearby area, it may choose to go to farther places. The probability of finding it decreases, but it's not zero. If you really love your cat, don't give up searching. Just like my cat, it took 15 days to find it.

The first step after a cat gets lost is to seize the golden time and find the cat as soon as possible. First, if you live in a shopping apartment, besides considering if the cat fell down, you should also consider if the cat climbed up. Cats' climbing ability is very strong. Also, pay attention to the hallway, where cats often hide.

The second step after a cat gets lost is to quickly post a 'Lost Cat' notice and paste it in obvious places where people can see it. Such as elevators, hallways, and notice boards in communities.

In addition, we can ask security guards, property managers, elevator operators, and cleaning workers for help, which is equivalent to posting a written notice.

Because the printing shop was closed due to pneumonia, I wrote handwritten 'Lost Cat' notices

The third step after a cat gets lost is to post lost cat notices in the community group!

One person's strength is limited. We can mobilize the power of the people to help ourselves. My cat was found because someone saw it during a dog walking session in the community group.

It's important to pay attention to this point: Pay more attention to people who walk dogs in the neighborhood, as they often walk dogs and have a high probability of seeing cats.

The fourth step after a cat gets lost is that if the above steps still fail to find the cat, it may have already wandered outside the community to farther places. At this time, we don't give up hope. We can still do a lot:

Post on the internet and ask friends in the same region to help look for it;

Seek assistance from animal protection organizations;

Leave cat food and familiar items with cat odor at home's doorstep.

Many cases are that cats wander outside for several months before returning home. So, don't give up hope.

Tips for finding a lost cat

1Finding Cat Methods

Where cats hide, are usually below people's sight lines. So, look down. Use the cat's perspective to look for it, and the success rate will be higher. When searching, you can call the cat's name softly, and you can also use the familiar sounds that the cat knows and recognizes, such as the sound of a cat teaser, because as long as you make this sound, the cat will know and come.

My cat's favorite cat teaser

2Finding Cat Time

Overall, it is recommended to search at night when it's quiet. After dark, people are fewer, and cats will feel safer than during the day, making it easier to come out. For cat finders, it's also easier to hear noises.

Still the same sentence: Cat owners should seal their windows when raising cats to reduce the risk of getting lost.

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