Lost and Found Pets

Dogs that run away, usually escape for one of three common reasons: they’re following an alluring scent (including during mating season), they were escaping in panic – often as a result of a terrifying sound (like fireworks), or a gate that was supposed to be closed was left open. Lost dogs almost always ROAM.

How far your dog will travel depends on a few things:

• Weather: Bad weather may deter your dog from travelling far distances, whereas nice weather might promote further exploration.
• Terrain: Dogs in residential areas typically travel less distance than in rural areas, because of obstacles such as fences.
• Your dog’s appearance and temperament: People are more likely to contain a small or sociable dog rather than a large or aggressive dog. Similarly, “pure-breed” looking dogs are more likely to be perceived as owned then a stray and individuals may be more confident that it’s a lost pet someone is looking for.
• Population density: Areas with low numbers of people mean the chances of finding the dog near the escape point drastically decreases, as fewer people will see him, and he has fewer barriers (fences, busy streets, buildings) to slow him down.

Keeping these things in mind will help you determine how far from home you should expand your search. For animals missing from an acreage, smaller rural communities or homes located on the edge of town – consider other communities near by for both your physical searches and online posting.

If your cat was just lost, the good news is that cats are often found nearby. Cats generally hide when they are lost. They like to stay in the area they’re most familiar with. A recent study showed that 75% of cats were found within a 500 metre radius of where they got lost! This is especially true of cats that don’t normally go outside, they might be more fearful in outdoor environments.

• Displaced Cats Are Unlikely To Meow… At First:  Not all cats vocalize so if you’re pet normally doesn’t then it is even more unlikely they will if lost. For those that are more vocal, the natural instinct of a cat is to hide in silence from predators and they will seek areas of concealment such as under a deck, house, or porch, or in heavy brush. It can take several hours or days for them to reach a threshold to break their cover for a cat to feel secure enough to leave their place of hiding and vocalize (meow) for attention at their current location or at their initial point of escape (such as a window or door). Stay attentive, search multiple times per day, for several days, and listen carefully.
• For Indoor-Only Cats: If you aren’t sure he has gotten out of the house, search EVERYWHERE in the house first. You may want to set a live trap in the house with a tasty treat in it—making sure you’re checking it every few hours. Trucatch traps are humane and widely accepted as a safe way to recover cats.
• For Indoor/Outdoor Cats: Cats with some access to the outdoors may encounter an incident that deters or prevents them from returning home. This can be a fight with another animal, being chased, or being spooked by something such as fireworks – which may cause your cat to retreat to an unfamiliar area. Also consider your cat’s preferences and typical behaviour:
  • If the cat is generally more skittish in nature – it could be close by, hiding and too scared to find their way back. You will need to conduct an EXTENSIVE search of the local area. Asking permission from neighbours to look in every conceivable spot the cat could hide.
  • If they are more gregarious, also conduct a thorough search. Considering that your cat may have traveled a greater distance (even a kilometer or two) and you’ll need to knock on doors and post posters at major intersections in the area.
    
• When Advertising for a lost cat:
  • Consider offering a reward – this should only be done with lost Cats as the risk of them being chased into a dangerous situation is lower then with a dog as cats are more likely to hide. Reports of these sightings can be critical to helping you determine the neighborhoods where you should focus your searches.
  • Put a “Lost Cat” sign on your lawn, with a very brief description.
• When Searching:
  • Bring a friend and a carrier or live trap with you. This way, if you find your cat, he may be easier to catch with someone else there.
  • If someone has sighted your cat, you may need to set a live trap. Even some of the friendliest indoor cats will display aggressive behaviour once removed from their “territory”. This may mean your cat won’t respond to you. He could even shut down and starve himself.
    Never leave a live trap set unless you can check it at least every few hours and be mindful of inclement weather (too hot/too cold) where you could endanger the animal.

Myth #1 – Leave out your cats litter: 
DON’T DO THIS! The smell of urine/feces can attract other cats or animals that could drive your cat away if they are trying to return home. If you’re coming and going from your home, or there’s an open window, any familiar smells should attract your cat towards home

Myth #2 – The cat was old/sick and ran away to die:
DON’T JUST GIVE UP!  A more likely scenario is that your cat became injured and/or ill when roaming outdoors, and may be unable to return home. If your cat has any known health conditions, or you suspect they may have been injured, it is important to locate them quickly to ensure they receive appropriate medical care.

Myth #3 – The cat was likely killed by a wild animal:
NEVER ASSUME! While free-roaming cats are at risk for encountering wild animals, especially in more wooded or rural areas, you should always search for your pet even if you find evidence of a fight. Your pet may have been injured by a wild animal, or scared away by one, which means you should consider thoroughly checking small hiding spaces, possible escape routes (such as trees) and expanding your search area.