August 2, 2022August 5, 2022

How to Find a Lost Cat: First Hours Are Crucial!

In Tips & Advice
How to Find a Lost Cat: First Hours Are Crucial!

ចុចត្រង់នេះដើម្បីអានអត្ថបទជាភាសាខ្មែរ។

At ARC, we understand just how important your feline friends are! The thought of a beloved pet going missing is awful and can be very distressing for families.

In this Animal Rescue Cambodia article, we will describe the best ways to find your cat if he/she goes missing and how to prevent your cat from getting lost in future.

What to do immediately

LIKELY, YOUR CAT IS VERY CLOSE BY!

When your cat goes missing, the first few hours are crucial! We recommend taking at least a few hours off of work, if not the whole day, to look for your cat immediately. Cats rarely travel far in unknown territory. Start by looking nearby

  • First, double-check your own home. Make sure to thoroughly search every nook and cranny – inside and outside. Often cats that go missing have become stuck somewhere inside the house. Check the areas where you think your cat couldn’t possibly be, for example in hard-to-reach cupboards, inside the ceiling, under mattresses, or inside pieces of furniture.
  • Next, ask your neighbors whether they have seen them and to keep a lookout. A physical search is the best way to find a lost cat. Ask your neighbors’ permission to search their property as you gradually expand your search. Make sure to look into sheds and other enclosures where your cat might have gotten trapped.

Cats are fond of small, enclosed areas so check any that you find.  Search any potential hiding spots you find, such as dense foliage, underneath porches and drains. You should bring a torch with you, even in the daytime, to search dark areas.

Scared cats often climb up to escape stressful situations. You should also search in any high spots like trees you come across or on rooftops you can access. Many cats are more likely to climb up high, rather than cross busy roads. Check any nearby staircases.

Repeat your search and also check spots that you checked before as cats may change their hiding place. Vary your search times, and keep in mind that cats tend to be most active late at night and early in the morning.

Gradually expand your search

  • You can also take pictures of your cat with you and show them to your local vendors and Tuk Tuk drivers and ask if they have seen them. Offer a generous reward if they are able to bring your cat back to you. This way you will have more people looking for your pet. Remind them every day. A reward is highly advised as this will incentivize people to look.
  • In an Australian study of more than 1,000 lost cats, 75% were found within 500 meters of their own home, with 18% hidden somewhere directly by the entrance to the home (Jacquie Rand Missing Cat Study). Cats that are used to being outdoors will usually travel further. Keep in mind that outdoor cats can travel quite far away from your home, so have a search radius of approximately 1km (How Far Do Cats Travel?)

It’s been a few hours, and your cat is still lost. What Now?

Finding Your Missing Cat after the First Few Hours

First of all, keep calm. Your kitty is out there and wants to come home to you. Here’s what else you can do:

  • Animals can smell over long distances. Consider placing clothes, litter, bedding, or similar near your house/apartment where your cat was lost. It will help them to find their home more easily. If your cat returns while you are asleep or out of the house, this could save their life when they return.
  • Visit the Pagodas near your home to find out if your cat may have been taken there. Most Pagodas will have someone who looks after all the animals. Show them a picture of your missing pet and ask if they have seen them. If they have not, ask them to keep an eye out for you. Leave your contact information and offer a reward.
  • Post large eye-catching posters for your cat around your area (you can use bright colored paper with a big photo of your cat). Leave your details and the details of the reward on the flier as this will ensure more people are looking for you.
  • You can also contact local shelters and veterinary clinics to see if your cat has been taken there. Try to have your cat’s microchip number to hand when you go there. Don’t limit your search as your cat could have been taken to any shelter or vet in the area.

While at ARC we are unable to post pictures of your missing cat on Facebook, we recommend these Facebook groups for sharing a photo and description of your lost cat:

Remember that not everyone uses Facebook so this is only one option of many.

Post in both English and Khmer. Not everyone speaks your language.

Don’t lose hope! Your cat is likely to hide away during the day. Try again in the evening or early morning. Keep repeating the search and vary search times. Remember to re-check spots that you searched before.

How to Prevent Your Cat from Getting Lost

Wouldn’t it be better if your cat didn’t get lost from his/her loving home in the first place? Here are some tips on how to keep your cats and other pets safe.

  • Keep your cat indoors whenever possible. DO NOT let them outside at all in the first few months as they will not be used to your smell yet. Additionally, indoor cats often live longer than outdoor cats. The life expectancy of an indoor cat is 12-15 years, compared to only 2-5 years for outdoor cats (life expectancy for indoor cats) than cats that live outdoors. Outdoor cats have an increased risk of their life being cut short by a tragic accident such as a car accident or disease spread by stray animals. Indoor cats are also less likely to have costly vet bills from disease or injury. But keep in mind that if they live longer they may need regular medical care and may get diseases when they are elderly.
  • Take your cat to a vet and get them microchipped as soon as they are old enough (usually 3 months old but can be younger at a vet’s discretion). This will help with identifying your cat when he/she gets lost.
  • Get a collar for your cat and include your phone number on a tag attached to it. This will make it possible for someone to contact you if they find your cat.
  • Ensure your cat cannot escape through a balcony or window. If you cannot make adjustments that would prevent your cat from getting out (such as creating a Catio, image below), do not leave them unsupervised near an open window and keep them away from a balcony. We recommend bug screens for windows and to cover any large gaps in balcony railings.
  • If you must take your cat outside your home, for example, to take them to the vet, place them in a secure cat carrier.
  • Develop a bond with your cat. This can be done by playing with them and giving them lots of attention and exercise. Doing this will ensure your cat feels happy at home and is less likely to run away.
  • If your cat likes exploring, why not try harness and lead training your cat? This way your cat can go outside but you can make sure they are always safe (Leash Training Your Cat)

Start “Clicker Training” with your cat. This is the process of positively reinforcing the sound of a clicker with treats for your cat. This can then be used to get the attention of your cat when they are missing (How to Clicker Train Your Cat). If you do not want to buy a clicker, you can also do this with a specific whistle. This can be useful as it is often louder than a clicker. It is important to whistle the same tune each time.

Keeping your pets safe is part of responsible pet ownership. Unfortunately, it sometimes does happen, that a lovely feline gets lost despite our best efforts. In this case, we hope you will be reunited with your furry friend in no amount of time!

What’s Next?

If you still cannot find your lovely feline, message ARC and send us clear pictures of your cat. We will contact you immediately if we find him/her.