Smudgie is Lost!

Check Your own Yard First

Indoor cats who slip out will usually stay in their own yards, or hide under
decks, foundations, and shrubbery.

Use a Baby Monitor on Your Porch

Leave a bowl of food on your porch, and aim an electronic baby monitor at
it. One reader recently recovered her missing cat after three days when she
heard mewing coming from the baby monitor at 3 a.m.

Create Flyers with a Photo of the Cat

Offer a reward (more about this later), and distribute the flyers
door-to-door in at least a three-block radius, also post in store windows
and on telephone poles.

Alert your Animal Control Officer

Give him/her a flyer and ask that s/he be on the lookout for your cat, dead
or alive.

Call Local Veterinarians

It is possible a "guardian angel" brought your cat in with injuries; ask the
vets if you can post a flyer in their clinics

Visit your Local Animal Shelter

Leave a flyer and ask if a cat meeting the description has been brought in,
alive or dead

Enlist Neighborhood Children

Visit your local school and ask that children keep their eyes (and ears)
open for information about your cat; hand out flyers. Ask for permission
from school authorities before talking directly to children.

Advertise

Most local newspapers and shopping guides will allow free "lost & found"
ads. Also Check the newspaper listing for "found cats"

Post to Local Lost/Found Internet Pages

Some communities sponsor web sites specifically designed for lost/missing
pets.

Check with Local Rescue Organizations

Ask for permission to visit foster homes that may have recently taken in a
cat meeting the description.

Hire a Pet Detective

Preferably one with tracking dogs and other technology designed for that
purpose.

The Importance of Identification

It is important to emphasize that with proper identification, your cat may
be returned to you without having to go through all this stress. If your cat
wears a collar and tags, most people will return him to you if they think he
is lost. With micro-chipping and/or ear tattooing, many veterinarians and
animal shelters will be able to notify you, even if the collar/tags were
removed. Professional thieves will avoid cats with ear tattoos; they know
that laboratories will not accept owned cats, and more nefarious "end users"
will probably also avoid them.

Use Caution in Offering Rewards

Heart-rending stories have been told about cruel extortionists who extracted
large cash rewards from grieving pet owners, under the premise of having
"found" their pets. If you advertise with an award, be sure to leave out one
or two pertinent identifying details of your cat (one black whisker, one
white toe, etc.) Don't leave yourself open for false hopes, and by all
means, don't wire reward money until you see your cat.

Become Involved and Involve Your Neighbors

Most important of all, take steps to prevent cats from becoming lost in the
first place. There most likely are other outdoors cats in your neighborhood,
especially if you live in the suburbs.

Contact their owners and tell them of your concerns.

Organize a "cat neighboorhood watch."

Stress the importance of identification for their cats.

Be on the lookout for strangers in the neighborhood, and if you see someone
picking up a cat, get the license number and description of the vehicle.
Call the owner, if you recognize the cat.

Become familiar with the laws in your community with regard to pets. Many
cities have laws that state all found pets must be turned into the local
shelter. Unfortunately, many people do not realize this, or disregard the
law.

Write letters to your newspaper. Point out the Golden Rule with regard to
"finding" someone else's pet.
Indoors is Safest

Although indoors cats do occasionally slip out, they rarely go far, and can
usually be lured back in easily before meeting harm. It goes without saying
that an inside cat is a safer cat .

Here's hoping that you never have to go through the worry and turmoil of a
missing cat, but if you do, that these tips will help in a successful
recovery. Remember, it's every bit as frightening for our wayward cats as it
is for us.

--
Hugs,

CatNipped
See our clowder at http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped/



Sharon & Smudgie" wrote in message
news:ZU0Xn.166980$_m6.64687@hurricane...
I would really appreciate some GYFBH purrs please. Yesterday evening
Smudgie chased a cat over our fence and kept on running. She has never
been out of the garden before so I am super worried. I have been walking
the streets calling her name and shaking her food box but no luck. She is
scared of strangers so will not approach anyone for help. I have put
leaflets thru doors and on lamp posts etc. I am so worried and am hoping
the "power of the purrs" will help guide her home.

Thank you so much
Sharon