MY CAT GOT OUTSIDE!  OR... IS LOST!   

We are truly sorry that your kitty got outside.

Immediately…

• If you can keep a door open for him without jeopardizing any of your other animals, it will be good. When their access is closed off, they will tend to get scared and confused. We see most kitties return by simply walking back in when they get too hungry (usually 3 to 4 days)! Unfortunately it does mean even keeping the door open over night!

  If you have other cats, make sure and close them safely into a room when you have the door open. Slightly open the window of the room that your other cat/cats are in (if it is safe to do so), as cats will have a good sense when their kitty friend is near and may call out, keeping them nearby and even guiding him/her back in through the open door.

• Keep calling for him/her.

• He/She needs to hear your voice so that he/she will stay nearby.

• Turn on an outside light.

• Open up REALLY smelly tuna or salmon and put it outside!

• Put familiar bedding, food, water and familiar smelling litter box outside.

• If you have a normal sound that they are familiar with and will come to, like a can opening or shaking treat bag, do it outside.

• Take out a favorite toy.

• Play with the toy, in and out of the bushes to try to engage. Whatever you do, do not try and grab him/her or run after him/her. If you fail to succeed… he/she may run farther away due to fear. Succeed, with gentle talking, playing and treats, luring him/her back through the open door.

The best time to find your kitty is in the early morn or dusk. Or very late when it is dark and quiet.

• Look around with a flashlight in all bushes around your house and surrounding neighbors. Look under houses, under decks, in garages (sometimes a cat will walk into an open garage and get locked in!). (The flashlight when it finds kitties eyes will glow). Typically, he/she will stay hidden very nearby.

• Print out posters to circulate the kitty’s picture and info.

• Contact the Humane Society and send out notices of lost cats every place you can think of.

• Make sure your neighbors are on the alert.

• Post him/her on NEXTDOOR in your neighborhood.

• It would be good to maintain a trap outside where you think your kitty might have gotten out

This is a great website: http://www.catsinthebag.org/

http://www.catsinthebag.org/ also provides links in the left margin that have specific information depending on whether your cat is indoor or indoor/outdoor, etc. These links list what methods of search are statistically better with that personality type of kitty. It also
provides additional search tools.

Most importantly, post flyers everywhere, keep looking and expanding your territory.

Don't give up hope but please keep calling and looking all over for him/her.

Think about… project as a scared kitty where would you go?

Praying for your kitty’s quick and safe return.