Having an indoor/outdoor cat go missing can be extremely distressing and worrying for cat owners. When a beloved feline companion doesn’t return home as usual, it’s normal to feel concerned about their safety and wellbeing. This article will provide guidance on when cat owners should start worrying about a missing cat, and outline steps they can take to try to locate their pet.
Understanding the risks facing outdoor cats, and knowing when it is appropriate to transition from initial concern to actively searching for a lost cat, is important for any cat owner. Indoor cats that get outside may struggle to find their way home or fall victim to the many perils that cats face when roaming unsupervised. This article will help cat owners determine when it’s time to take action if their cat goes missing.
When to Start Worrying
It’s common for cats to roam and explore outdoors, especially if they are used to going outside. Most cats will return within a few hours or after a day or two. There’s generally no need to worry if your cat is gone for less than 24 hours, as they often find interesting places to explore or nap. However, according to experts, any longer than that and it’s reasonable to start getting concerned. After 3 days of being missing, the likelihood that your cat will return on their own drastically decreases. Once a cat has been gone for 5 days or more, it becomes very unlikely they will come back without assistance.
According to studies, indoor-only cats that get outside have a median survival time of just 2 to 5 years.1 Outdoor dangers pose a significant threat, with vehicles being the number one cause of death for outdoor cats.2 So if your indoor cat manages to sneak out or escape, it’s crucial to start looking for them as soon as you notice they are missing.
For cats who are used to going outside regularly, it’s normal for them to stay out overnight or even for a couple days if they find an interesting place to explore. But more than 2 or 3 days missing is cause for concern. If your outdoor cat hasn’t returned after 72 hours, it’s time to take action and start looking for them.
Sources:
1. https://khpet.com/blogs/cats/how-long-do-outdoor-cats-live-indoor-vs-outdoor-cats
Search Your Home Thoroughly
When a cat first goes missing, it’s important to thoroughly search your home and yard. Cats are excellent hiders and can squeeze into some very tight spots. According to Chewy, common hiding spots for cats include cardboard boxes, closets, behind or under furniture, and in warm or cold secluded areas. Check every room, closet, crawl space, and corner. Look under beds, inside couches and chairs, and behind appliances. Also check the basement, garage, shed, or any outbuildings on your property. According to Tractive, cats may hide in odd spots like laundry baskets, kitchen cabinets, potted plants, or even the dryer. Search thoroughly and leave no hiding spot unchecked.
In addition to the indoor areas, be sure to thoroughly search your yard and any outdoor structures. Cats may hide under porches, decks, or sheds. Check in bushes, trees, and woodpiles outside. Also look under vehicles parked on the property. Your cat may be hiding right outside your home.
When searching, call your cat’s name frequently and listen for meows in response.Bring their favorite treats or toys and shake them to attract their attention. Leave food out as well. Do a slow, meticulous search, and check spots multiple times. Cats are sneaky, so be diligent and persistent in your search.
Contact Local Shelters
One of the most important steps to take when your cat goes missing is to contact local animal shelters and humane societies to check if your cat has been brought in. According to the Lost Pet Research organization , 15-20% of lost cats who are found are located at shelters.
Call all the shelters in your area and provide a detailed description of your cat along with their name and any other identifying details. Be sure to check shelters in neighboring towns as well, as lost pets can travel surprising distances. Ask the shelters to scan for a microchip if your cat has one.
Visiting the shelters in person is also recommended if possible, as you may spot your cat even if the staff does not recognize the description. Check back every 2-3 days as new animals are constantly being brought in. Leave a photo of your cat and your contact information with the staff.
Persistence and regular communication with local shelters greatly improves the chances that you will be contacted if your lost cat is brought in. Do not wait too long before following up, as most shelters have limited capacity to house animals before having to make difficult decisions about which ones can remain.
Make Use of Alerts and Notifications
One of the most effective ways to spread the word that your cat is missing is by setting up lost pet alerts and notifications in your area. Here are some tips:
Contact local animal shelters and animal control to file a lost pet report. Ask them to contact you if your cat is brought in. Many shelters also allow you to search their intake records online (for example, https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-lost-cat).
Post about your missing cat on Nextdoor and other neighborhood social networks. Ask people to keep an eye out and contact you if they see your cat.
List your missing cat on lost pet databases like Finding Rover and PawBoost. This will alert local volunteers to be on the lookout (https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/how-to-find-a-lost-cat).
If your cat is microchipped, immediately contact the microchip company to report them lost. They will flag your cat in their system so you are notified if your cat is scanned and identified.
Set up email and text alerts for new lost/found pet postings on Craigslist, pet adoption sites, and community boards. This allows you to respond quickly if someone finds your cat.
Post Flyers and Notify Neighbors
One of the most effective ways to spread the word about your missing cat is to post flyers in your neighborhood. Make the flyers visually appealing with a photo of your cat, your contact info, and a brief description. Some best practices for flyers include:
- Post them on community boards at local shops, veterinary offices, pet supply stores.
- Ask neighbors if you can post the flyer on their mailbox or front door.
- Make the text large and legible so people can easily read the details from a distance.
- Offer a reward or incentive to encourage people to be on the lookout.
- Include your phone number, email, and social media handles so people can contact you easily.
In addition to flyers, go door-to-door and speak directly with your neighbors. Provide them with a flyer and explain your cat is missing. Ask them to check their yards, garages, sheds, and to keep an eye out. Neighbors can cover more ground in the search, especially since 53-84% of lost cats are found close to home.
Make sure to also notify neighborhood associations or community groups through email or social media. The more eyes looking, the better your chances of someone spotting your cat and contacting you.
Leverage Social Media
Social media can be incredibly effective for spreading the word about a missing cat. Platforms like Facebook, Nextdoor, and Twitter make it easy to reach a large number of people very quickly. Create posts on your personal accounts and in local lost pet Facebook groups describing your missing cat and asking people to keep an eye out. Include a photo of your cat, distinguishing features, where they went missing, and your contact info.
Check Facebook for local lost pet groups that focus on reuniting missing pets with owners. Post about your missing cat in these groups, which often have very engaged members who will keep a lookout. For example, Lost Dogs of King County is a Facebook group with over 23,000 members and a 92% success rate for finding missing dogs in the Seattle area (source).
Nextdoor is another great option, allowing you to alert neighbors in a specific radius around where your cat went missing. Use Nextdoor’s pet profiles feature to create a profile for your missing cat. Neighbors who spot your cat can then contact you directly via the pet profile.
Stay active on these platforms, providing updates if your cat is spotted. Social media enables community members to coordinate and work together to find lost pets. With persistence and some help from kind neighbors, there’s a good chance your cat will be found.
Consider Hiring a Pet Detective
If your cat has been missing for over a week and you’ve exhausted all other options, it may be time to consider hiring a professional pet detective or animal tracker. These services use specialized tracking skills and technology to help locate missing pets. According to Pet FBI, their success rate for finding lost cats is over 35%.
Look for a service that employs animal behavior experts and certified pet detectives. They should use proven tracking techniques like setting humane traps and trail cameras based on your cat’s patterns and personality. Many also use dogs who are specially trained to track missing pets by scent. This combination of expertise and technology increases the chances of finding a lost cat.
Expect to provide details like your cat’s age, medical history, microchip information, and photos to help create a profile. Costs vary but often range from $300-$600 for the initial search. It’s a significant investment but can be worth it to increase the odds of being reunited with a beloved pet. Act quickly if hiring a pet detective – the sooner they can start searching the better.
According to Pet FBI, their reunion rates for cats using pet detectives is over 35%, much higher than the odds of finding a lost cat in a shelter.
Don’t Give Up Hope
There are many stories of cats returning home after extremely long absences, so try to stay optimistic if your cat has been missing for weeks or even months. In June 2020, a cat named Nutmeg returned home after being missing for 16 years! She had wandered off in 1990 at just 1 year old and was found living near her original home in 2006. Amazingly, her microchip still worked and she was reunited with her owner (Source).
In January 2022, a cat named Duke returned to his home after being missing for 7 years. He had disappeared from his home in the UK in 2017 at age 14. Incredibly, he was found just 900 feet away from his original home living in an automotive factory. He was identified by his microchip and reunited with his relieved owner (Source).
While you search for your missing cat, try to remain positive and don’t give up hope. Cats have been known to return after months or years. Keep up your search efforts, stay in contact with local shelters, and spread the word on social media. With persistence and a little luck, you may be reunited.
When to Consider Your Cat Gone
Statistically, indoor cats that escape typically only survive between 2-5 years outdoors (Cats Live Longer, Healthier Lives Indoors – Animal Friends, Inc). Outdoor cats face many dangers including cars, predators, diseases, and territorial fights with other cats. If your indoor cat has been missing for over 5 years with no sightings, it may sadly be time to accept that your cat has likely passed away.
While it’s difficult, at a certain point you may need to shift from active searching to grieving and closure. Give yourself permission to go through the normal stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Find ways to memorialize your cat like framing their photos, planting a tree, or holding a small ceremony. While unlikely after this long, don’t give up all hope. There are rare stories of cats returning after many years. But generally if your indoor cat is still missing after 5+ years, it is reasonable to conclude they have passed away. Focus on gratitude for the good times you shared rather than regrets over the loss.
