by Sun Meilan

Created on: March 14, 2011

Discovering that your beloved cat has gone missing can be an incredibly traumatic experience for many people; cats can easily become part of the family and losing them means that a part of the family has gone. Before you have to force yourself to accept that your cat isn’t coming home, however, there are some tips that you can follow to track down your missing cat. 

*Search cupboards and sheds

Cats have a tendency to slip into warm, dark places, curl up and sleep through your constant calls and searching. Make sure you look into every such space that you can think of. Cats can sometimes curl up into the smallest of spaces, especially if tiny, and you may well miss them if you are not careful. Sit in the house with no noise and see if you can hear anything. Check outside spaces too, especially sheds and garages in the vicinity. Neighbours may well have locked a garage behind them, not realising your cat has slipped in and taken up residence.

*Trawl the neighbourhood

Having a look around the neighbourhood to see if you can catch a glimpse of your cat could prove fruitful, although you may have to steel yourself for the discovery that your cat is injured or dead. With any luck, you will find that it has simply gone wandering and will come to your call. If you find it injured, then you will need to arrange to get your cat to the vets as soon as possible – if the cat is too badly hurt to be moved, then call your vets for advice. If dead, you will need to ask someone to dispose of the body for you. Although painful, it can often be better to know what happened than to spend hours wondering where your cat is. 

*Ask neighbours

It is likely that your neighbours will be familiar with your cats, so go and knock on doors and ask if they have seen your cat recently. You may well discover that your cat is a frequent visitor, especially to houses with cat flaps and cat food to which they can help themselves. Your cat could have got locked in, or your neighbour could know of other homes in the neighbourhood that your cat visits. At the very least, you can let them know that your cat is missing and that you would appreciate them keeping an eye out.

*Put up flyers

If you have a computer and printer yourself, then put together a flyer, ideally with a clear picture of your cat, its details and how you can be contacted. Put it up around the neighbourhood, particularly in places where people congregate. Shops, cash points and garages are usually a good bet.

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