My Indoor Cat Got Out! What Should I do?!
Oh no! Did your indoor cat slip out of your home?
Has your indoor cat rarely or never been outside? Or maybe you just moved and your cat got out in an unfamiliar neighborhood?
Here are quick tips to help find your cat who escaped so you may be reunited to bring your cat safely home!
If Your Indoor Cat Got Out...
- NEARBY your cat is likely nearby - indoor cats usually will not roam far, they will likely be scared and find a spot to hide
Immediate Steps To Take To Find Your Lost Cat
- PHYSICAL SEARCH Your pet is likely very nearby - take their food or treats and wander in all directions in a one-block radius. Call your cat's name and shake the treats. It is important to STOP AND LISTEN every 4-5 feet to hear your cat if they cry out as you call for them. Your cat is likely hunkered down in a hiding place, nearby. Listen closely as you call your cat's name near sheds, garages, and other places they may have found a hiding spot.
- POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Share your cat's lost status, identifying details, and your contact information on any and all social media you use - especially neighborhood-focused spaces such as Facebook and Nextdoor.
- DO NOT PUT OUT THEIR LITTER - this is often suggested on social media but is a myth and will just attract other cats, wild animals, or even potential predators of your domestic pet cat. Don't do it!
Next Steps On "How Find My Cat That Got Out Of The House"
- HANG FLYERS Common advice on how to make a good "Lost Pet" flyer design includes using BRIGHT colors (such as hot pink, red, or a bright yellow) on sections of the flyer so it really pops on phone polls, store fronts, bulletin boards, etc. Be sure to include identifying information, last seen details, and contact information.
- LIST ON LOST PET SITES Lost Pet websites to list your lost cat on will depend on where you live in the world but common, "Lost Pet Listing Websites" in the USA include Petco Love Lost, 24PetConnect, and PawBoost. Your local municipal shelter may also have a lost pet registration or online listing.
- HIRE AN EXPERT CAT TRACKER Conduct a search for lost pet trackers in your area and be sure to vet them for experience and skill. They will offer pet tracking for a fee and tracking has highest likelihood of success closest to when the pet went missing so their scent is around.
Once your cat is safely home, ensure they are microchipped and wearing a collar. This will help them be reunited more quickly if your cat should escape your home, again!
There are lots of stories you can dig up of lost cats finding their way home days, months, and even years later! Hopefully you will find your cat, right away, but if not - it is possible your cat could return. The chances are higher if your cat is microchipped - your information is tied to them so if a person or animal services takes them in and scans for a chip, they may be reunited with you!
