Lost cat: what to do, step by step

First: breathe, then search the house

Before you go outside, search your own home properly. A frightened cat can wedge itself behind a washing machine, inside a recliner, at the back of a closet or in the ceiling space, and stay silent for hours. Open every closet, look inside boxes and drawers, and check anywhere warm.

If your cat could have got out, leave one door or window slightly open in a safe spot, with their bed or a worn item of your clothing nearby. Familiar smells help a lost cat find the way back.

Search slowly and close to home

Indoor cats that escape usually stay within a few houses at first. Walk the immediate area slowly: under decks and porches, under parked cars, inside bushes and hedges, behind bins, in drains and gaps under buildings, and on roofs and in trees. Get down to ground level and look into dark spaces with a flashlight.

Call your cat in your normal, calm voice and shake a treat bag or a food bowl they know. Then stop and listen for a minute. A hiding cat may answer quietly or not at all, so watch for movement and eyeshine.

Outdoor cats that have not come home may be injured, trapped or shut in somewhere. Check sheds, garages, basements, building sites and any place a door was recently opened.

Go out again at dusk, at night and at dawn

Daytime streets are noisy, and hiding cats wait for it to get quiet. The best times to search are after dark and early in the morning. Bring a bright flashlight: cats' eyes reflect light and show up as two bright spots, even when the cat itself is hidden.

Sit quietly near the last place your cat was seen for a while. Many cats come out to a familiar voice once everything is still.

Get your neighbors looking

Knock on doors within a few streets and ask people to check their sheds, garages, basements and cars. Cats often get shut in by accident and can't get out. Give each neighbor a poster or a photo on their phone, so they know exactly who they are looking for.

Ask delivery drivers, postal workers, cleaners and anyone who walks the area every day. They notice animals.

Posters and alerts

A good poster has one large, clear photo, the words LOST CAT in big letters, the area and date, and a phone number that is easy to read from a distance. Keep the rest short. Put posters up at eye level on routes people walk, near shops, vets and bus stops, and replace them when they fade.

Post your cat in StraySync as well. People nearby who turned on alerts are notified, and every stray reported in your area is automatically compared with your photo. If someone reports a cat that looks like yours, you see both photos side by side and can message the finder privately.

Shelters, vets and microchips

Call nearby shelters, animal control and vet clinics, and visit the shelters in person if you can. Descriptions over the phone can miss a match. Leave them a poster and ask how often they update their found list.

If your cat is microchipped, contact the registry to confirm your phone number is current and to report your cat as missing. A vet or shelter scanning the chip will then reach you straight away.

Watch out for scams

Some people answer lost-pet posters with fake claims and ask for money up front: a deposit, a "transport fee" or a reward before you see your cat. Never pay before you see your cat in person. Ask for a current photo, meet in a public place, and bring someone with you.

Don't give up too early

Cats can turn up after days or even weeks, often very close to home. Recheck the same hiding places every day, keep the alert active and refresh your posters. When your cat is home, mark the post as found so neighbors can stop looking, and take down your posters.