Lost Cats
Finding Lost Cats
Happy Endings
Documents & Resources
Why is a TNR Group Involved in Lost Cats?
Three Reasons
- Lost cats often show up at feral cat feeding stations.
- The strategies for finding and trapping lost cats are the same strategies used by TNR folks to trap feral cats.
- Lost cats become community cats if they aren’t reunited with their owners.
Okay I lied. There are actually four reasons. Call it the cat lady effect. TNR volunteers like cats, so they tend to notice every new cats who show up in their neighborhoods or at their feral feeding stations. What do you do when you see a new cat? You trap it to make sure it is altered and that it has a home!
How to Find a Lost Cat
This is an overview of the most effective strategies for finding lost cats. This information plus additional resources can be found in this eBook. It also includes shelter information and trap loan resources for the Pacific Northwest region. To download on a computer, phone or tablet, click the link below.
“Crash Course: How to Find a Lost Cat.”
The first thing to consider when a cat goes missing is whether it is an indoor-only cat, a displaced cat, or an outdoor access cat. A displaced cat is one that is lost in unfamiliar territory. A cat who gets out of its carrier at a vet clinic, escapes from a car while traveling or gets out of its home too soon after a move is a displaced cat.
Strategies for finding a lost indoor‐only cat are different from finding an outdoor‐access cat who hasn’t returned home.
The Three Biggest Mistakes Made By Lost Cat Owners
- Delaying the search in the hopes the cat will come home. Start now!
- Giving up too soon. Cats can take weeks or sometimes months to recover. Don’t give up!
- Using ineffective search strategies.
Check the flowchart below so you don’t waste time using ineffective strategies to find your cat.
Lost and Found Cat Infographics
We designed these for easy sharing on Facebook lost pet groups or email.
Lost Indoor Only Cats
Lost Outdoor Access Cats
Paper Collars for Found Cats
Is the cat on my porch lost or abandoned? If the cat is moving around confidently and appears to be in good health, it is likely to be a neighbor’s cat. If you aren’t sure, it is best to secure the cat in a garage and knock on doors. If you want to confirm that it has an owner, make a paper collar with your contact information.
Did you Know?
In the United States, about 1 in 4 cats are adopted as strays. Are those cats homeless? Some are, but many are outdoor-access cats or lost cats. This cat showed all the “signs” of being lost or abandoned. He spent a lot of time in the finder’s yard, enthusiastly ate food left out for him and tried to get in the house. A paper collar resulted in his owner being found. “Fluffy” lived nearby. He just liked the snacks and attention.
Lost Kittens or Mom Cats
Trying to find a lost kitten or mom cat? Try download kitten cries. Kittens and adult cats often respond to the sound of kitten cries by vocalizing or approaching the sound. Download file. Kittens Crying
P.O. Box 1236
Mukilteo, Wa 98275
Email: CCCofWa@gmail.com
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