When you live with a cat, you develop such a strong affection for it that the mere thought of one day being separated from it causes immense pain. Our cat isn't just a pet; it's part of our family. It's another member, and we don't want anything bad to happen to it. That's why knowing What to do if a cat gets lost It is essential to react quickly and increase the chances of him returning home safe and sound.
However much we avoid it, accidents sometimes happen. Because we are human, and no human being is perfect. Maybe the day will come when we have to wonder what to do if my cat is lostIf we reach that situation, we can follow these tips, based both on experience and on the recommendations of experts in feline behavior and the recovery of lost animals.
Try to stay calm
Waiting is horrible. Thoughts haunt you and questions just pile up. Where is he, how is he, when will he return ... It is an experience that, in addition to being terribly painful, can be very costly. But you have to try to keep your mind as cold as possibleBecause it's the only way we can think clearly and make effective decisions from the very first minute, which are the most important.
What I do is:
- If the cat had already gone out on other occasions, I'll wait 24 hoursWhy? Because it might have stayed behind playing with another cat, exploring the neighborhood, or resting in a nearby shelter. Many cats with access to the outdoors return spontaneously during that time. If it hasn't returned, the next day I start putting up posters and activating other resources.
- If the cat had never gone out, I'll go look for him immediately.Why? Because it might have gotten lost as soon as it crossed the threshold, been startled by a noise, or become stuck in the first hiding place it found. Indoor cats tend to stay very still. near home at first, so acting quickly makes all the difference.
In addition, it's important to remember that a frightened cat can remain silent and still For hours, out of sheer panic or shock, even if it hears your voice nearby. This doesn't mean it's not there, but rather that its instinct tells it to stay still. Therefore, although the temptation is to run and scream, it's best to combine active searching with moments of silence to listen for any faint meows or movements.
Go find it
Once it has been confirmed that the cat is lost, the search must begin. To do this, several things must be done in an orderly and systematic way, since Most lost cats are found relatively close to home. when their caregivers conduct an active, physical search of the area.
- Put up "LOST" posters with a photo of the cat and our contact informationIt is also important to offer a economic rewardThis will help us get more people involved. The poster should include the dog's name, physical description (coat color, hair length, sex, approximate age, distinguishing features), the area and date it was lost, and a clearly visible phone number. Please post these posters in building entrances, shops, public transport stops, veterinary clinics, and on bulletin boards.
- Notify veterinarian already the neighbors So they're aware in case they see it. Ask their permission to check their yards, garages, storage rooms, and sheds, since Cats tend to hide in small spaces and protected. It's not enough to just ask them to look: ideally, you should be the one to go in and thoroughly check, even crawling under terraces or cars if necessary.
- We'll go out to look for him in the afternoons and during quiet hours.This is when cats are most active and more likely to hear your voice. Nighttime and early morning are also good times. Start your search by going to places closest to home and then move to more distant areas where you think your cat might be, gradually increasing the radius to several hundred meters.
- Check the whole house firstBefore assuming your cat has escaped, check cupboards, attics, behind appliances, under beds and sofas, false ceilings, boxes, or any corner where it might be trapped. Many "lost" cats are actually hiding inside your home.
- Document everything you doNote down the areas you've searched, which neighbors you've notified, and which clinics or animal shelters you've contacted. This will help you avoid missing any loose ends and update the information if someone reports seeing him in a specific location.
If your cat has microchipCheck with your veterinarian that Make sure your contact information is up to date (especially your phone number). If someone finds you and takes you to a clinic or shelter, this will be the first piece of information they check to try to locate you.
Call it
We do not have to be ashamed to call our cat out loud. If it's lost you have to know that we have gone out to look for you, and you will not know if we do not say your nameBesides calling him, you can bring along some wet cat food to attract his attention. You can also make familiar sounds, such as shaking his food bag, moving his treats, or gently tapping a can with a fork: many cats associate these noises with mealtimes.
Explore the area very slowlyCalling your cat at regular intervals (for example, every 15-20 steps) and stopping to listen. A frightened cat may meow softly or simply move between bushes or cars, so it's a good idea to carry a... flashlight so that their eyes are reflected When you check under vehicles, in hedges, or in other dark corners, don't forget to bring a carrier, because if you find it, it might be so scared that if you simply pick it up, it will run away again.
Also take into account their personality when looking for it:
- A very sociable and curious cat may have wandered a little further, entered other people's yards, or even followed someone to another building.
- A shy, cautious cat, or one that is afraid of strangers, usually remains hidden very close to the spot where he got scared or fellmoving little and in silence.
- Very fearful or xenophobic cats (who fear everything new) can remain almost motionless in their hiding place for days; they are often mistaken for "wild" cats, although in reality they are terrified house cats.
Thus, leaving every day By combining a direct search with publicizing his disappearance, we'll have a much better chance of finding him. It's important not to give up too soon: there are cases where cats reappear after weeks or even months thanks to their families continuing to ask around at veterinarians, shelters, and in the neighborhood.
How to increase the chances of him coming home
In addition to actively searching for it, There are several strategies that can help you. so that your cat can find its way back or so that other people can identify it and return it to you. For example, there are specific tools such as Wizapet that can complement these actions.
- Leave behind familiar objects and smells. At the front door: their bed, a blanket, their scratching post, or even their used litter box. Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell, and these scents can guide them home.
- Place very appetizing food on the table. (For example, cans of wet food, tuna without salt or oil, or natural sardines) near the entrance or in strategic spots in the garden or porch. Lightly warming the food enhances the smell and can attract it from further away.
- Leave a controlled door or window slightly open...or the garage door, so you can get in if she approaches in the early hours of the morning, when everything is quiet. Whenever you do this, make sure it doesn't pose a security risk to your home.
- Use social networks And join local lost pet groups to share the post with a good photo, a clear description, and a visible phone number. Ask them to share the post and update the information when there are any new developments (for example, if someone has seen the pet on a specific street).
- Contact animal shelters and collection centers in your municipality or surrounding areas, and with nearby veterinary clinics. Always leave them a photo and your contact information, and periodically check their social media or lists of found animals.
In some cases it may be useful to resort to live capture traps (humane), especially with very timid cats that don't approach people. These traps are placed where you think your cat might be, baited with food, and checked very often to ensure the animal isn't left inside for too long. They should never cause harm, and ideally, they should be used with the advice of an animal shelter or experienced professional.
Prevention: How to prevent your cat from getting lost
With the number of cats falling every day, it's inconceivable that there are still homes that aren't protected against this. Do you know the Parachute cat syndromeIt sounds like a joke, but it's true: cats fall, and not just once. The same cat can fall repeatedly, hence this syndrome. Why does this happen? Because the cat hasn't climbed to that height on its own, so it has no concept of height. It's unnatural for a cat to be in a place as high as an apartment. It's not in their nature to climb to these heights, which is why they can't comprehend it.
When we take our cats home they go in a carrier and we either go up stairs or in an elevator, but the cat is not aware of the height at all. Once home, explore, travel and familiarize yourself with all the available territory (our home), considering it safe. Going out onto the balcony and looking out the window delights her, and it's actually recommended because it's pure environmental stimulation but be careful, We must protect balconies and windowsBecause it's in a small distraction, or trying to jump or walk on the railing, that they fall.
I've worked with too many cats because of the terrible consequences of these fallsThose that have survived have suffered fractures of all kinds, from the palate and legs to paraplegia and incontinence. It's a shame that cats have to go through this because a safety net wasn't installed: in an instant, their lives are cut short. If you're one of those people who think this will never happen to your cat, you're putting them at risk with a ridiculously simplistic excuse. In fact, many shelters no longer place cats for adoption if the home isn't properly secured.
What happens when a cat falls? He simply stays put. He's so disoriented and in shock that he barely moves. If it was a high fall, he may be injured to varying degrees. At most, he'll run a short distance to take refuge in the first place he finds, which could be a bush, a hedge, the underside of a car, but always very close to where he fell, if he can even move.
Therefore, as soon as we realize that this has happened, we must look for it from the place where it may have fallen and the nearby surroundings, gardens, cars, and ask the neighbors and nearby businesses, put up posters if we don't see it, and go to the veterinary clinics in the area in case someone has found a possibly injured cat. Cats need a safe place to settle down. from which they depart, to which they constantly return, that is why the first thing they look for is that safe place.
In addition to protecting windows and balconies, it is highly recommended to:
- Identify your cat with a microchip and, if possible, with a tag on the collar (only if he is used to it and it is safe for him).
- Sterilize it to reduce the urge to escape in search of a mate and avoid unwanted litters.
- Provide sufficient stimulation at home (scratching posts, toys, high areas, hunting games, environmental enrichment) to decrease the desire to explore the outdoors.
- Supervise outings or consider safe enclosures (patios and terraces enclosed with netting) so you can enjoy the outdoors without the risk of getting lost.
If, despite all precautions, your cat gets lost, the most important thing is Don't give up and act immediatelyA constant, well-organized search combined with good publicity multiplies the chances of your furry companion returning home to you.
If your dog or cat has gone missing, there are many things you can do to try and find it: report it to the Local PolicePost it on social media, inform local veterinary clinics, send an email to the Animal Protection Center, put up posters describing its characteristics… All these actions, combined with your active search, increase the chances of being reunited with your pet.
- Call or go to the nearest Civil Guard, National Police, or local police station. They will ask for the fifteen digits of the microchip, which your pet is required to have according to current regulations for the protection of companion animals.
- Post on different social media platforms, because if a shelter picked him up, they will probably have created a profile for him.
- Notify your veterinarian and the Spanish Companion Animal Identification Network in your region. If someone finds the dog or cat, the veterinarian who identifies it using the registered microchip data will know it's a lost pet that's being searched for.
- Visit veterinary clinics and animal shelters in the area where your dog or cat went missing. Someone may have found it and taken it there for professional care. If they don't have it there, provide them with its details: name, photo, and any other information that might help identify it.
- Call or email the local animal shelter where your pet is registered and send them all your pet's details. Also, include the date, time, and location where your pet was lost so they can check if it matches the description of an animal they've rescued recently. If they find your pet, they will contact you using the information on the microchip or the contact details you provided.
- Make posters with your pet's name, breed, age, color, contact information, and a recent photo, and hang them in the area where you lost your pet. Don't limit your search to a very small area.
Dangers of an animal loose in the street
Maybe your dog always comes back, but It is neither safe nor appropriate Allowing dogs to roam freely in the street, without a leash and even without supervision, and in the case of cats something similar happens: although they may seem more independent, they are also exposed to numerous risks when they wander alone.
- Dogs and cats are usually quite curious, and while exploring the streets they may find disease-carrying substances in the feces of other animals. They will eat anything that seems appealing and thus contract very serious diseases from parasites.
- When you go outside, your dog is probably not the only animal roaming around. Animals often fight when they're off-leash, and this can end very badly. A loose dog or cat is susceptible to fights and unwanted pregnancies. If your dog gets into a fight with another animal on a leash, the problem will be even bigger, as the matter could end up in a police report.
- Whenever you have a pet, it's important to think about the people who live around you. If an animal roams freely, it's likely to wander onto someone else's property, disturbing and frightening them, and even destroying their garden.
- Our pets can wander off one day and never return. It often happens that people see them alone on the street and, thinking they're strays, adopt them. If you let your dog roam freely, it could end up in a shelter or another home.
- In most cities, there are laws requiring that animals be kept on a leash in public. Otherwise, if animal control authorities find the animal, they have the right to impound it and fine the owner if they want it back.
- Many dogs, after wandering alone in the streets, end up as victims of traffic accidents. The owner would not only have to face the guilt of causing the death of their pet, but would possibly also have to pay for the damage to the vehicle.
Torrelodones Animal Shelter
Information published in the Municipal Magazine of September 2020
