Lost cats are a sad fact of life. Keeping a register of local lost and found cats has been an integral part of CP Preston Branch's work for many years.

Many of us have suffered those days of anxiety and frantic searching when a pet goes missing, and that awful feeling when absolutely no trace of them can be found even weeks later. It is such a relief when they walk back in the door or someone finds them for us. This is why we are asking you for any help with sightings of cats which have appeared in the area which don't appear to belong to anyone. We might just be able to match them up with a distraught owner.

If your cat goes missing, tell as many people as possible as soon as possible. Talk to local shopkeepers, the newspaper girl or boy, the postman, the milkman, the window cleaner - anyone who talks to a lot of different people. Let the local children know that you are looking for your cat. Offer a small reward. Make up leaflets with your cat's details, and the date that she or he went missing, and post them through neighbours' letter boxes - ask them to check sheds, garages and other outhouses. Also ask anyone who has had recent building work done to make sure the cat hasn't been trapped under floorboards etc. Put up posters in shops, and advertise in the local papers and on local radio. Radio Lancashire's Action Line is very good for this. Tell us - but please don't ring us on the first night that your cat is missing - most cats come back within 24 hours, and nothing will be gained by notifying us immediately - it would be extremely unlikely that anyone would have reported it as 'found' in such a short period of time. Notify all the vets in your town and in surrounding areas - people in cars who see a wounded cat are more likely to take it to their own vet than to the nearest one. If you find your cat, please remember to let us know.

Please microchip your cat - it works, as the story of Colin, lost in Garstang and restored to his owners four years later, shows. Colin's story