Purrs of Thanks to Animal Search UK for sponsoring our Lost & Found page!

What to do if you have Lost, or Found a Cat • Local Lost & Found Registers • National Lost & Found Registers
»»» LOST A CAT? - See Below...
»»» FOUND A CAT? - What to do: »» Click here for advice
»»» REGIONAL Lost & Found REGISTERS: »» Click Here
»»» NATIONAL Lost & Found REGISTERS: »» Click Here

»»» LOST A CAT? - Here’s what to do...

First, don’t panic too soon - cats often go ‘missing’ and then arrive home late, or even the next morning, wondering what all the fuss is about. So, give them a few hours at least before you take action, then print off this page so you can tick off each item as you cover it.

Action Point 1 - CHECK in and around your home and garden:

• every room in your house / loft / cellar / all cupboards
• behind curtains / under duvets / behind settees / under beds
• washing machine / dishwasher / tumble drier / oven / microwave
• chimneys / dustbin / water butt / compost bin / sheds / garages
• green houses / outside toilets/ vehicles / gardens / hedgerows
• if you are having building work done, check under floorboards and in any holes large enough for a cat to get in

Action Point 2 - ASK the Neighbours:

• Ask your neighbours to check their sheds, garages etc. Visit houses at least 10 doors in both directions, on both sides of your road, and also any houses whose gardens back onto yours. Take a photo with you, and leave them your phone number.
• Make a note to go back to any neighbours who weren't in when you called. Just popping a note through the door doesn't always guarantee they will check!

Action Point 3 - PHONE Calls to make:
(N.B. the earlier you report your cat missing, the more likely that he/she will be found)

• If your cat is microchipped, call Petlog: 0870 6066 751 so they can flag your cat as missing. They are open 24 hours a day, and also give advice. Every vet and rescue know their number and they are nearly always the first port of call when they find a lost animal.
• RSPCA helpline, as they match up lost & found cats across the UK: 0300 1234 999
• all local vets practices (not just your own vet), for details of vets in your area go to: www.any-uk-vet.co.uk
• your local animal rescue organisations - contact details of rescues in your area here: Shelters Pages
• your local council’s Environmental Health Department. This can be a difficult call to make, but they will be able to tell you if a cat matching your description has been found killed on the road. Unfortunately most councils have no facility for checking for microchips, so they will not contact you in this circumstance.

Action Point 4 - REGISTER your cat's details here (and check same for corresponding ‘cat found’ notices):

REGIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS - Click Here
NATIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS - Click Here

Action Point 5 - POSTERS! Make up a "Lost Cat" Poster / Flyer with the following details:
(N.B. If you have Pet Insurance check your policy, as some help with the cost of advertising or a reward for a lost cat)

• your poster should include a photograph of your cat (people remember photos better than descriptions)
• a brief description of your cat, (leave out an important detail, that way if someone contacts you saying they have found your cat, you can check that extra detail with them to know if they are genuine).
• date and place your cat was last seen
• contact telephone number

Get plenty of copies made, and distribute as follows: (IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are under 18 years of age, please don't distribute leaflets alone after dark, take an adult with you or go in daylight hours):

• post them through every door in your immediate area
• display at: post offices, supermarkets, pet shops, boarding catteries, vets, library, launderette, hairdressers, pubs
• and at: newsagents, fish & chip shops, corner shops, garages, doctors, dentists, police station, schools
• and on: notice boards in halls such as scouts, brownies, playgroups, community centre, church halls, bingo halls, youth clubs, social clubs
• whilst distributing posters, don't forget to check shop windows for a 'Cat Found' notice, just in case!
• tie or tape leaflets to telegraph poles, lamp posts, phone boxes, bus shelters and letter boxes (put these posters inside plastic wallets to protect them from rain)
• email the poster to friends in the area and ask them to forward to others they know
• also display one on your own front gate and in your window
• display in car windows - yours and neighbours's cars if they are willing
• give a copy to: postman, milkman, window cleaner, lollipop-persons, any regular dog-walkers
• offer a reward if you can - it could be a box of chocolates for example, it doesn't have to be money

Action Point 6 - AT HOME do the following:

• leave your cat's favourite toy or piece of (unwashed) bedding in your garden, ideally somewhere sheltered from rain
• also leave out an unwashed item of your clothing, which will have your smell on it, again in a sheltered place
• also put outside the contents of your hoover bag and/or any used litter from your cat's tray
• All the above will have familiar smells on them, and may help to keep your cat in the area, or even guide him home
• go out into your garden and around the immediate vicinity of your home late at night or in the early hours, call for your cat and take time to listen for a reply. If your cat is shut in somewhere nearby, this is when you are most likely to hear him.

Action Point 7 - SEARCH your area:

• It can be more productive to search for a cat at night when it is quieter, but if you are under 18 years of age please don't go looking for your cat alone after dark, always take an adult with you.
• take some dry food, and a cat carrier with you, or if your cat hates carriers take a pillow case!
• walk around your local area, paying particular attention to any garages, lock-ups, skips and empty properties
• make a note of any empty houses for sale, and contact the estate agent in case they have shown someone round and shut the cat in
• call for your pet by name (you may feel daft at first, but this often works) and take time to listen for a reply
• shaking a box of his favourite biscuits, or squeezing a favourite squeaky toy may help
• stop regularly, and listen - give your cat a chance to answer your call
• stay in one area long enough for your pet to reach you if he is in the vicinity

Action Point 8 - OTHER Suggestions:

• place a "Lost - Cat" advert in local newspapers, and also check the same for any "Found - Cat" adverts
• contact local radio stations (they will often broadcast lost & found appeals)
• post details on lost & found registers and websites - details at the bottom of this page
• post details on our forum under 'Lost & Found' »» the Cat Chat Forum
• check the “Found a Pet” galleries (searchable by area) to see if the cat has been reported found, here: www.animalsearchuk.co.uk
• contact the local fire brigade to ask if they have been called out recently to rescue any cats from trees etc.
• if your cat has been missing for more than a few days, ask local rescue groups for the locations of any known local feral cat colonies. If your cat has wandered further afield they may latch onto a colony for security, food and company.
• if you feel particularly spiritually connected to your cat, you may like to try some visualization techniques, employed by some animal communicators. This is still quite a new and little understood area, and will not appeal to everyone, however if you think this is something you would like to try, print off the following PDF written by a practising communicator »» Lost cat visualization PDF

Warning!! The 'I've found your cat' phone call:

IMPORTANT NOTE: If someone calls saying they have found your cat, please do not go to see the cat on your own, particularly if you are under 18 years of age. Take an adult friend with you - and a cat carrier of course!

And finally... don't give up hope!

"He's home!" - When your cat comes home:

After you’ve made a big fuss of him/her and given them their favourite dinner, please remember to inform any authorities who have been asked to look for them, and retrieve the posters you distributed round town!

»»» FOUND A CAT? - Here’s what to do...

• If the cat will let you approach him, make up a paper collar with a note on saying: "If this is your cat please call this number...", so that you can ascertain whether the cat is definitely stray. Place it round the cat's neck and secure the two ends with a small piece of seloptape (don't put selotape right round the whole thing as that can be dangerous if the cat gets caught up anywhere). If no-one calls in 24 hours you can be fairly sure it is most likely lost or stray, then proceed as follows...
• if the cat is hungry, please feed it, and make water available, not cows milk (many cats and kittens are lactose intolerant)

• A simple cat shelter

  If you cannot take it into your home, please make sure there is some shelter for it outside, which is dry and waterproof. This can be as simple as a cardboard box covered with a bin liner or clingfilm, and weighted down against the wind, or tucked under a bush for stability. Ideal bedding to put inside is a thick layer of straw, which acts as a heat-conserving 'nest'. If straw is not readily available, a jumper or towel will do, but this will need to be changed regularly as these retain moisture and can encourage mold or mildew.
• contact your local animal rescue groups, in case they have been reported as lost - contact details for rescues across the UK appear on our: Shelters Pages
• give the cat's description to local vets in case the owner contacts them, and if possible, take the cat to a vet who will check for a microchip - for details of vets in your area go to: www.any-uk-vet.co.uk
• phone the RSPCA helpline to register the cat's details, as they match up lost & found cats across the UK: 0300 1234 999
• Check the “Lost a Pet” galleries (searchable by area) to see if the cat has been reported lost, here: www.animalsearchuk.co.uk
  
• check the lost & found notices in your local paper
• post details on our forum under 'Lost & Found' »» the Cat Chat Forum
• make up a small notice saying 'Cat Found' with a description, which can be displayed in local newsagents, shops etc. It is a good idea not to give a full description of the cat, so that if someone contacts you saying the cat belongs to them, you can check those extra details with them to know if they are the genuine owners, and not just someone after a ‘free cat’
• if the owner cannot be traced, and you are not able to take the cat in yourself, contact your local rescue centre as above, so that they can arrange to take the cat into care, and find him or her a new home

Check National and Regional Lost & Found resources for corresponding ‘cat lost’ notices:

REGIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS - Click Here
NATIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS - Click Here

Purrs of Thanks to Animal Search UK for sponsoring our Lost & Found page!