How To Find A Lost Cat

Need to know how to find a lost cat? Pet cats can sneak out of the home or wander off unexpectedly, much to the distress of their owner. While you may be afraid that your lost cat will become lost or never return, it is important that you remain calm during this time in order to bring kitty home. There are steps that you can take to bring your cat home; quick and decisive action is imperative.

1. Call out. Stand outside the door or window where your lost cat escaped and call its name. Do not sound panicked, upset or angry. Call your cat in the same manner that you would at feeding time or when you come home after work or school.
    
2. Widen your search. Widen your search perimeter to around your front and back yard and the yards around your neighbor's homes. Look for tight spaces where your missing cat may have stowed away. Cats that are in unfamiliar areas will likely become afraid and hide. Try to think like your cat and determine where it might hide in the immediate vicinity.
    
3. Stop regularly and listen up. If your cat is trapped, injured or hungry, he or she will likely call to you. While you are searching, take a moment to stop and listen in each area that you visit in case your cat is calling out to you.
    
4. Ask for help. Call your friends and family members and ask for help so that you can expand your search radius. More people looking will translate into better odds of finding your lost feline. Make sure that everyone knows to be slow and quiet so that nobody spooks your cat if they do locate it.
    
5. Set traps. You should be able to acquire a humane trap or two from your local SPCA or humane society. Set these traps in the area of your home and you may be able to lure your missing cat home more quickly. If your cat is afraid, it may only come out when it is quiet and nobody is calling to it.
    
6. Put up fliers. Create fliers with pertinent information about your missing cat. Include a photo for the easiest identification. Include information on the cat's appearance and demeanor, any distinguishing marks and when the cat was last seen. This will help people in the area keep an eye out for your missing feline.

Above all else, you must be patient. Cats do have a tendency to disappear for a few days at a time when they want to explore or hunt. Continue to look for your cat but do not give up if it does not return in a few days. Your cat may also end up at the SPCA or local animal shelter, so call or visit daily to bring your cat home more quickly.