Is your cat missing?

If your cat or kitten has gone missing, don't despair. Most return of their own accord, sometimes several days later. However, here are some steps you can take to try and help:

Look in...

• all rooms
• cupboards
• boxes
• household appliances, eg washing machines
• sheds and garages
• vehicles
• gardens
• hedgerows - watch for snares
• lost and found section of your local newspaper  

Inform...

• neighbours
• the police
• local veterinary surgeons
• local schools - children are observant as regards animals
• local RSPCA
• local Blue Cross
• the cleansing department of your local council
• your postman and milkman
• websites such as The Comet local newspaper / MyMoggy.com / Petsearch UK / Pet Detective / Lost Pets UK
• newspaper delivery person

Advertise...

• posters on trees distribute leaflets to shops, Post Office, garages. Click here to view and download a ready-made poster
• local schools, newspapers, radio
• local noticeboards, including a recent photograph of your missing cat
• offer a reward

Finally...

• the earlier you report your cat is missing, the more likely is that it will be found
• when your cat does return, DO inform any organisations who have been asked to look for it
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Have you found a cat?  

If you've found a cat, and think it may be a stray, you might like to consider some or all of the following:

• if the cat is hungry, please feed it
• if possible, take the cat to a vet who will check for a microchip, and you can ask if anyone has reported a similar cat missing
• if no microchip is found, you could produce some small 'Cat Found' leaflets to be put in newsagents and distributed in the area it was found

Doing these things is often very successful in reuniting a cat with its owners and it is important that these procedures are carried out before Cats Protection takes the cat in for rehoming. Once we take in a cat, we must keep it for at least 14 days before we can rehome it.