One in three cats will become lost in their lifetime and only 2% find their way back home!
Tragically, there are many owned kittens and cats found and surrendered to Little Paws everyday without identification. They may have wandered off, been scared away, become disorientated, been hit by a car, become embroiled in a cat fight and hurt, been picked up by a good samaritan trying to do the right thing, etc, etc. Many of the cats and kittens in our local pounds and shelters are owned cats that could potentially be reunited with their families.
It’s very important firstly to ensure your microchip details are up to date with the micro-chipping company, especially with new mobile / home / work contact phone numbers and email addresses. Up to date emergency contact details are integral for successful location of your pet.
Please follow the steps below to be sure everything is done to find your beloved kitten or cat:
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Be
gin your Search locally
When you lose a cat, you need to actively search for them.
1. Search your house and yard, check all their favourite spots.
2. Search your street and door knock your neighbours. You will be surprised how often lost cats are stuck in a neighbour’s garage or a few streets away. Please check with you local neighbourhood and make sure all your neighbours are aware your cat is missing.
3. Put up posters in the area, with colour photos and description of your lost cat.
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Contact Authorities
If this does not bring any results in the first few hours, contact authorities immediately. As a minimum you must contact:
1. Your local council;
- To find your local council contact details visit here: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/local-government-directory.html
2. RSPCA Queensland;
- To contact RSPCA QLD state-wide Lost and Found service please:
- call 1300 36 37 36 or – visit http://lostfound.rspcaqld.org.au/ or
- email: lostfound@rspcaqld.org.au
3. Your local animal shelter;
- To find your local animal shelter contact details visit here: http://www.yellowpages.com.au/search/listings?clue=animal+shelter&locationClue=QLD&x=40&y=10 (Yellow pages search ‘Animal Shelter’)
4. Local vets (within a 10km radius of where your pet went missing.)
- To find your local vet/s contact details visit here: http://www.yellowpages.com.au/search/listings?clue=veterinary+clinic&locationClue=QLD&x=35&y=7 (Yellow pages search ‘veterinary clinic’)
Once you have registered your cat missing with all those organisations, you will need to contact them every day or every second day to keep searching their registries and impounded animal lists.
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Keep Searching
Once you have done the above, begin contacting other resources to find your cat:
• Place an add in the local newspapers, school newsletters, local newsletters.
• Place an add on the local radio station.
• Mailbox drop your local area, notifying all your neighbours.
• Contact local pet supply shops, animal training centres.
• Contact social media lost and found sites for your area, local animal bulletin boards, other lost and found websites.
Studies have shown that three months is a reasonable period of time to expect a pet to return home. Please keep searching, and keep your hopes up.
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Cat reunited with family, 3,800km later
Story courtesy ABC News
A pet cat which went missing in Tasmania and turned up in outback Queensland has been reunited with its owners in the Derwent Valley.
The long-haired Himalayan named Clyde disappeared from home when he was just 12-months-old.
He was eventually found in Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, 3,800 kilometres away.
Earlier this year, Clyde walked into the local hospital and followed a nurse home.
The woman contacted Clyde’s owners after a vet found the cat was microchipped.
Owners Katrina Phillips and her daughter Ashley Sullivan are convinced Clyde was stolen and say they are still in shock that he has been found.
Ms Phillips says the family will be keeping a a close eye on the wanderer.
“We’ll get that cattery up as quickly as what we can so he’s safe at home,” she said.
“I really expected him to be quite frantic when we got him out, I really expected to have a cat that didn’t want to be held up and needing its space.
“And for him to be so relaxed and calm, I’m positive he remembers.”
They plan to keep Clyde indoors for a few days before reintroducing him to their other animals – four cats, a dog, a cockatoo and 40 horses.
