North Dakota Pet Owners: What to Do When Your Cat Goes Missing

Your Cat Is Missing—Stay Calm and Follow These Steps

If your cat is missing and you’re feeling frantic, take a deep breath. While injured or scared felines might not immediately reveal their hiding spot, most lost cats are found close to home.

I understand how panic can set in. A few years ago, my family faced a similar situation with our indoor/outdoor cat, Ivan. He went missing for just over a month, and we were worried sick. We posted on Facebook, ran a newspaper ad with his picture, and scoured our neighborhood.

Just after our newspaper ad ran, we received a call from a woman who thought she had seen Ivan in an alley near her home. My mom rushed over, called his name, and, to our relief, Ivan emerged from behind a garbage can, meowing frantically! Ivan was found a little over a mile from home, further than he typically roamed. We were fortunate to have a happy ending.

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If your cat goes missing, don’t lose hope. Here are steps from Petfinder to help you find them:

1. Search Your Home Thoroughly: Check all small spaces—inside box springs, under furniture, in chimneys, closets, basements, and attics.
2. Investigate Nearby Properties: Check within a five-house radius, including outbuildings, crawl spaces, and garages. Ask neighbors if you can search their properties.
3. Alert the Community: Post eye-catching flyers around your neighborhood with a clear photo of your cat and your contact information.
4. Consider Recent Changes: Have there been any renovations or moves recently? Your cat might have sneaked into a moving truck or gotten trapped in construction.
5. Search at Night: Cats are more likely to be active and feel safe in quieter, nighttime hours. Use a flashlight to scan for them.
6. Use Humane Traps and Cameras: Set up humane traps with a bowl of your cat’s favorite smelly food. Avoid traps that snap shut. Motion-activated wildlife cameras can also help. Keep traps monitored and use a bowl, not open cans, to prevent injury.
7. Check Shelters Regularly: Visit local animal shelters frequently. A kind person might have taken in your cat, unaware of its home.
8. Avoid Using Litter Boxes: It’s a myth that litter boxes attract lost cats and can instead draw in other cats and animals. Instead, place a piece of your clothing with your scent near your home to help guide your cat back.
9. Stay Persistent: Many cats are found after weeks or even months of searching.

Cats are survival experts, so there’s always hope. Stay determined, and you may be reunited with your furry friend soon.

Once your kitty is back home, consider investing in a pet tracker and getting them microchipped with your current information. You might also want to purchase or build a catio enclosure to allow your cat to enjoy the outdoors safely. These steps can make a huge difference in keeping your pet secure in the future.