How to Find a Missing Cat

Many people own cats for the love, companionship and entertainment that they provide. A pet cat is often treated as part of the family rather than as an animal, which can make it upsetting if the cat disappears. It is not always possible to find a missing cat, but there are some things owners can do to aid their search.

Instructions

    • 1

      Search the immediate area around your house on foot. Ask your neighbors if they have seen your cat and to keep an eye out for it. Check trees, roofs, crawl spaces or anywhere else that your cat could have gotten into or climbed.

    • 2

      Look for such clues as cat hair on a fence or paw prints. These might give you an idea of the direction in which your cat headed.

    • 3

      Put food and water out for your cat, as well as a familiar and comfortable item such as a favorite toy or a cat bed. The scent of familiar items might help your cat find its way home.

    • 4

      Call for your pet and listen for a response. Go outside between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and slowly walk around your property looking for your cat. Cats feel safer in the dark so a shy pet is more likely to be looking for food during these hours.

    • 5

      Create a poster with a photo of your cat. Use a short title such as "Missing Cat" in a large, bold font to grab a passerby's attention. Find a clear photo, preferably as recent as possible, and stick it in the center of the poster. Include such vital information as the cat's name, age, physical characteristics, when and where the cat disappeared, and your contact information. Create the poster by hand and make photocopies, or create it on your computer and print multiple copies.

    • 6

      Tack a poster to every utility pole in your neighborhood. Go door to door and hand out the posters or place them in a newspaper box on each house. Take your posters to local area businesses that have public information boards, such as grocery stores.

    • 7

      Call or visit your local animal shelter every two days to check for your cat. Ask the shelter employees if they have seen a cat matching your cat's description. Let them know if your cat is microchipped.

    • 8

      Place a classified ad in the local newspaper, detailing the location your cat was last seen, its name and a physical description. Check the "found pets" section of the paper if such a section exists.

    • 9

      Place an advertisement on the pets section of such websites as Craigslist and check for any ads for found cats. Check every day for new ads using the search function.