Thousands of pets are lost every day. This is why 49% of all cats are kept indoors. You can triple their lifespan and have a better bond with them by keeping them indoors. I know they are born hunters, but that was in the beginning when we didn’t live in cities where the danger triples with every step. This is why I advise you to keep your cats indoors.

Make sure your pet has a collar and tag. Put the words Reward, I’m Lost, Indoors Only, Call My Human on the tag along with the phone number. That way, if someone finds you, they’ll know how to contact you.

STEP 1

Take it easy! Stop blaming and take a deep breath. You will need all your ingenuity on you to follow the steps to reunite with your companion.

STEP 2

Check your house from top to bottom. Attics, basements, closets, closets, garages, drawers and bases. I’ve gotten hundreds of calls from panicked humans who can’t find their beloved Fluffy only to find out the next day she struts out of the back of the kitchen cabinet. Be methodical and calm.

Remember, animals can capture your energy. If you’re frantic, he’ll be afraid to go out because of all the commotion. If he is the only pet, put food bowls in the middle of each room and see if he eats them. This is a definite sign that your fur angel is still somewhere inside your house.

STEP 3

If your baby is outside it’s time to start the search. Sweat as much as you can and grab a blanket or towel that has your scent on it. When you walk around the neighborhood with an open can of tuna, you must be an olfactory beacon for your cat. The sweat of your clothes, the blanket or towel and the tuna is an irresistible combination.

When you walk, be sure to call the kitten in a soft, affectionate and normal tone. Use a nickname if you have one. If you see it and it does not approach you, sit on the ground and put the tuna in front of you to coax it.

Keep calling him, be patient. After a cat has been out of their environment for a while, they may go feral (survival mode) and may have trouble recognizing their human. Once he gets close enough, slowly spread him out, wrap him in the blanket and towel, and take him home. Remember, the tone of your voice should be sweet and inviting.

STEP 4

Call the Humane Society and tell them about your lost pet. Rent a humane trap and place it next to the door where your pet came out. Cover the trap with clothing that smells familiar and put your favorite food in it. You may catch other babies so know how to free them from the trap.

STEP 5

Getting the word out is very important! That is why I encourage everyone to keep current photos of their pets. Descriptions can be vague, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

STEP 6

The reward banner is a critical tool in pet recovery. Unfortunately, humans are motivated by money and if they see an amount, they will take extra steps to search for their missing pet. The reward poster should have the amount at the top in LARGE BOLD LETTERS that can be seen from a distance. Next should be a photo of your pet. The next section should read: Lost in the vicinity of (insert street name only) Last seen on (insert date).

Provide any special features, such as extra toes, scars, crooked tail, very shy, and a clear description of your pet’s coat and breed. Do not write your address, just your phone number. If the pet has a specific medical problem, please note it in the brochure. If you don’t write “have special needs”. This is a great motivation if someone keeps your pet. They will think to themselves that there will be veterinary expenses involved and they will be forced to return the pet as soon as possible.

Always go to pick up the pet with another person and do not carry cash with you. He adds that the reward will be delivered at the time of the pet’s recovery.

STEP 7

Distribute the poster, or what I like to call “FLOOD”. It is a proven fact that the more posters you post, the better the results. People will always knock some of them down, but if you’ve “flooded” the area, there will always be a few left for people to see.

Copy your flyer and put it in the local newspaper. If your pet is on medication, sick, and in the company of an elderly person or child, TV news and radio will see this as a “special interest” human story. Explore this area. I have compiled a list of places to put up the posters. If you find any other good ones please email me so we can share them with others.

• old shutters

• Apartment complex (in the lobby by the mailboxes)

• ATM

• BANK

• Beauty products

• bulletin board

• Bus stops

• Cable company (you can fax this ~ installers come out)

• car lots

• Car rental

• Check Cashing Locations

• churches

• Cleaners

• Clinics (emergency care and government clinics)

• Clothes shops

• Coffee shops

• computer stores

• kindergarten

• DVM

• Doctors (you can fax them, look in your yellow pages)

• Dentists (you can fax them, look in your yellow pages)

• donut shops

• Door to Door (at your mailboxes)

• Electric Company (fax to main office, they go out to repair)

• Medical emergencies (both human and animal)

• feed stores

• Food delivery (look in the yellow pages for pizza, Chinese food, chicken, etc.,

• they come out to deliver all the time! In-person delivery of the poster is better,

• but you can fax them)

• gardeners

• gardening supplies

• Gas company (fax)

• Gas stations

• overall supply

• government offices

• Supermarkets (see if they let you put it in the pet food section)

• Of the store)

• home improvement stores

• Hospitals (cafeteria and recreation rooms for doctors and nurses)

• human society

• ice cream parlors

• K-Mart, WALMART, Sears

• Laundry

• Library

• liquor stores

• Postmen (give it to him)

• UPS Delivery (if you see a truck put it on the windshield)

• FedEx

• Meeting rooms (Elks, Moose and other organizations)

• motels

• movie rental locations

• Cinemas

• New Construction Building

• news posts

• Nursing home

• PO BOX Rentals

• Phone company (this can also be faxed)!

• photocopying places

• Photo development locations

• paper boy

• Parking lots

• Pharmacy

• Post Office

• Restaurants

• schools

• Malls

• Street corner (next to traffic lights and stop signs)

• Travel agents

• truck stops

• Vets (within a 5 mile radius ~ you can fax them)!

• checkweigher

I hope this helps!