How to find a lost cat

How to find a lost cat? If you are wondering, it is because unfortunately you are looking for your cat who you think is lost.

However, I know (from experience) that losing your cat is a situation that will inevitably stress you, distress you and sadden you… But no! Stay calm and don't be pessimistic, there are methods to find it even if it must take a little time!

You will find below all my advice to know how to find a lost cat with effective methods and tips to get your cat back home quickly!

Lost cat how to find it?

To find a lost cat, the time to devote to it and the methods will differ depending on where it got lost. Obviously, the search will be easier and faster if your cat is lost inside your house.

But, although cats are "territorial", they are not confined to staying within well-defined limits. In fact, a cat will usually extend its territory far beyond your home (see how to get your cat used to going out and coming back?).

And, suddenly, it will take you more time and organization to search for it around your house. Moreover, if necessary, it will be necessary to extend the research much further. Indeed, a cat can travel long distances if it feels horny pussies. This does not mean that it will be lost… Normally, after 1 or 2 days, your cat can reappear!

Cat disappearance when to worry ?

It all depends on your cat's habits. If your cat often runs away to go see the girlfriends and sleep a few nights, so wait a few days to see if he comes back as usual.

On the other hand, if you find that it is taking too long to come back, if it is cold or night is coming, then do not wait to start researching (see my method below). See also: " Can a cat freeze to death?«

Lost cat what to do?

Before walking around your neighborhood or village, think about call your neighbors to find out if they haven't spotted your tomcat. And yes, it is not only social networks that work in these cases, the neighborhood is often a network of well informed informants !!! And who knows, you could thus form a research brigade ...
Call the SPA refuge nearest to you to report the disappearance of your cat with all the important information to describe it: sex, age, coat color and your contact details.
To expand your search, you will need to report the loss of your cat on a specialized website by completing a simple online form. On this same site, you can consult the list of cats found to check if yours is there.
If your cat is microchipped or tattooed, it should be noted that it is lost to the official body on the national identification file for domestic carnivores (I-cad). Here are their contact details:
- E-mail address: contact@i-cad.fr
- Phone: 0810778778
- Website : https://www.i-cad.fr/
We will have to think to also call veterinarians, town halls, gendarmeries, police stations, pounds… And see with them how to disseminate the report of the loss of your cat (internet ad, poster, email…).
Prepare a poster mentioning the loss of your cat with a photo (see on https://www.chat-perdu.org/fr-fr/affiche. Print multiple copies and post it wherever you can.
Why not propose a reward without specifying the amount because this can encourage or motivate ...
Also think about Bon Coin website because they have a "lost cat - found cat" section.
Post the poster or loss announcement on all Social Media (facebook, instagram…) and share as much as possible.
If you have just moved and you live a few dozen kilometers from your old address, remember to check and search around your old home.

How to find your cat in the house?

Before taking the above steps or looking outside, as soon as you have noticed that your cat has disappeared, you will have to start by looking for it inside your home.

To find your cat in a house or an apartment, you will of course think of asking the members of your household if they have not seen the cat. Then, you can gently call it out by shaking a bag of treats.

If your tomcat does not appear, then here's how to find him in your house:

Remember to look everywhere even in small recesses or hidden places,
- Don't forget to look under the furniture but also behind the furniture,
- Lift all cushions, pockets, boxes, etc… to check that your cat is not underneath.
- For more difficult to reach places, you can use a hair dryer which could encourage it to come out of its hiding place or take a telescopic broom handle.
- Do not neglect dark places because cats see in the dark, they feel good there and like to take refuge there.

If you have searched for it everywhere to no avail, you may have to wait a few hours to see if it doesn't come out on its own. In fact, your cat may be very, very well hidden and just asleep ...

My little Mistee, has the gift of hiding anywhere to take a nap! But I quickly know how to find her.

How to find your cat outside?

After checking inside your home, you will need to look for your cat around your place of residence and in your neighborhood. Do not go looking for him accompanied by your dog but take reinforcement (neighbors, friends, children…).

You have to look everywhere while calling your cat gently. He might be scared and if he recognizes your voice with a reassuring and quiet intonation, he will feel more confident.
Every now and then stop to listen. If your cat is trapped, injured or starving, he may be meowing… So take the time to listen!
Consider looking for it in unlikely places that could serve as hiding places. See the list of places where cats can hide below.
Equip yourself with a torch for looking in dark places.
After having toured the residence, the garden and the neighborhood, it will be necessary to inspect the barns, the surrounding garden shelters, terraces, verandas, garages, roofs, sheds, swimming pool shelters where your cat could have found refuge.
If you can't find him, consider putting some food and his litter box outside in front of your house. Your cat can smell these smells even if it is 2 or 3 km away. It is a very effective method according to many testimonials on the Internet.
For more success, put a baby monitor next to the litter box outside. Keep the other part of the baby monitor close to you at night. By setting the volume loud enough, you may be able to hear your cat's arrival or her meows.

How to find a cat lost in nature?

If you live in the countryside, the search may take longer.

After proceeding as described above, you will need to search the surrounding paths, thick bushes, hay piles in barns, tall grass and even trees.
Call your cat with a reassuring voice but loud enough that he can hear you.
Organize your geographic searches in a "star".
Do your research at night with a flashlight as statistics prove this is the best time to find a cat in the wild.
If your research was unsuccessful, consider putting strong smelling food and litter box outside in front of your house. Indeed, your cat will be able to smell these odors even if it is several kilometers away. This method has been shown to be effective according to several testimonials on the Internet.
Leave a baby monitor near the litter box and food. Keep the other part of the device near your bed and set loud enough so that you can hear your cat's arrival, presence and meowing.
Place a animal trap cage : These are cages that close automatically as soon as the cat has entered them. You need to put some cat food and catnip or treats in it to attract your cat. This equipment can be rented from shelters or associations or ordered online.

Find lost cat with pendulum

Personally, I have not tested this method which is linked to the principle of Animal Communication but given the many comments I have read on specialized sites, it seems that this method works well for find a lost cat.

Here is a site which speaks well about it and which trains in this method: http://www.noscoeursalunisson.com/pages/me-contacter/animaux-perdus-1.html

Find a microchipped cat

If you have lost your cat and it is identified by microchip or tattoo, being identifiable allows you to report its loss to the national identification file of domestic carnivores (I-cad).

For this, you will need to enter the identification number of your cat. This number can be found on the registration card issued by the I-cad following:

the identification of the animal, if it was born in your home,
or its acquisition.

If you cannot find it, your veterinarian can communicate it to you if necessary.

This declaration of loss allows you to inform people likely to find your cat (veterinarians, pounds, etc.) that you are looking for it and to provide them with your contact details.

Domestic Carnivore Identification Society (I-CAD)

What happens to lost cats?

A stray cat is impounded and kept for a period of 8 working days.

At the end of this period, if the cat has not been claimed, it is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the manager of the pound.

After consultation with a veterinarian, the cat is entrusted to a foundation or an animal protection association or sometimes euthanized.

Prevention is better than cure ! My advice

To prevent your cat from getting lost, teach him to come back when he goes outside (see my article: How to get your cat used to coming out and coming back?);
Consider having your cat chipped and equipping your cat with a necklace with an identification plate.

If your cat is a runaway, you can equip it with a GPS tracker for cats. Thus, you can geolocate your cat and find it very easily by following the directions on a map on your smartphone.

At a very low price, the Weenect Cats 2 is the ideal GPS collar for cats who get lost easily. Connected to your smartphone via a mobile application available on Android and iPhone, it is equipped with a SIM card which allows operation without distance limit (unlike bluetooth trackers whose range is limited to a few meters). The SIM card is multi-network and covers 99% of the territory. When the collar does not pick up an operator, it automatically switches to another available network.

GPS tracking is done in real time and is accompanied by other features such as the anti-escape alert.

Check out the technical details of the product on Amazon: Weenect Cats 2 - The world's smallest GPS cat collar