Deals

What to Do If You've Lost Your Cat? 7 tips for your pets safe return!

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

If you’ve ever lost your cat, you know just how frustrating and terrifying the experience can be. Not knowing where your furry friend is or if they’re safe and sound can cause a lot of anxiety. But don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do to find your lost cat. Here are some helpful tips.

What to do if you’ve lost your cat? There are a few things you can do to help find him or her. First, make sure to contact your local animal shelter and post flyers in your neighbourhood. Have a good search of your home, garden and neighbourhood. It’s also worth looking up trees in the area and asking your neighbours to check their garages, sheds or outbuildings.  

What to do if you've lost your cat?

You can also try putting an ad on Craigslist or other online classifieds websites. Additionally, be sure to check with any veterinary offices in your area, as your cat may have been brought injured or as a stray.

Finally, keep an eye out for “lost cat” posts on social media websites like Facebook and Instagram. By following these tips, you will increase the chances of finding your furry friend soon!

What to do if you've lost your cat?
what to doif you've lost your cat?

Lost cat poster

Here is an example of a lost cat poster. The best thing to do if your cat is missing is put up posters in newsagents and on lamp posts in your local area. You can include the following information on your poster:

  • Photos and a description of your cat; included any distinguishing features such as colour, markings, collar
  • Your cats name
  • The area your cat lives or where he was last seen
  • Contact details
  • Whether you’re offering a reward or not
  • Date your cat went missing

Pet ID tags

If your pet ever gets lost, you will want him returned to you. A collar tag with current contact information will give you a chance to get your cat or dog back. If your cat lives indoors, it’s likely never going to get lost. But an outdoor cat or a dog can be gone in a flash if not properly restrained on a leash or in a carrier. Sometimes even indoor cats accidentally slip out of the door. If your pet is wearing tags, your chances of getting them back quickly increase dramatically.

The first thing that most shelters and veterinarians do when a lost pet arrives is to check for identification. It’s essential to make sure that your contact information is current so that if your pet does get away, you have the best chance of getting him back. 

It would help if you also considered having your pet microchipped in case they slip their collar and escape. In many countries such as the UK, microchipping has become a legal requirement, and you can get fined for owning an unmicrochipped pet.

Final thoughts

It’s also worth noting that many cats roam, especially male cats. If your cat has wandered before, he is likely to come home when he’s ready. You may like to wait 24 hours before you start putting up posters and asking neighbors if they have seen your cat.

That being said, there is always the possibility that your cat has been injured, so searching the local area and calling local vets to see if your pet has been brought in is a must!

Illustration and photos from shutterstock

If you enjoyed this article, share it with your friends!

writer

Recent cat care articles