All across the country, cats have spent the long hot summer days outside when they can. At times, they are sprawled in the sun; at other times, following the shade offered by trees or walls. And just sometimes – they go wandering off and don’t come home as usual.
A missing cat is always a worry. There are very few homes these days without a road nearby, and any owner whose cat doesn’t come home for their next meal thinks immediately of the worst that could have happened. Cats go missing for all kinds of reasons, though. From finding a cool place to sleep outside to getting engrossed in a hunt to getting locked in a shed or garage – and sometimes, just plain getting themselves lost.
In Sible Hedingham we have a Facebook page for Lost and Found Pets that is very effective at reuniting lost pets with their owners. It’s been working overtime during this hot weather. They post details of cats lost and found from nearby areas, too – Castle Hedingham, Sudbury, Braintree, Yeldham, Gosfield and Halstead – because cats walk a long way, and can be taken to rescue centres even further from their home.
The time to start finding your missing cat is before he or she goes missing. Take photos that show close-ups of your cat’s face and markings – especially those unique marks that set him apart from every other tabby or ginger or black cat. Getting a collar with his name and your contact details on a tag is not a certain bet, as cats can remove their collars and the ‘breakable’ section doesn’t always break if the cat is trapped by the collar. The best way of fetching your cat home is to get them microchipped and to keep your contact details up to date on the chip database. A microchip has often restored a stray to its home, even when the cat has travelled a long way or been lost for a long time, and in our village people make an effort to check deceased cats for a microchip, so that the owner can be notified.
Cats sometimes wander home after a day or two, so build up your search from low key to urgent. In very hot weather, immediately check your own dangerous places such as greenhouses and sheds in case the cat has been shut in. In ordinary British weather, you can leave it until the cat has missed two or three meals before involving your neighbours. Ask neighbours to check their own sheds and garages and to let you know if they spot the wandering idiot. A sighting of your cat alive and well and taking a holiday in next door’s garden will put your mind at rest.
Take a walk along the local roads and footpaths, checking long grass and hedges. Every metre you check is another metre of road reassuring you that the cat hasn’t been hit by a car. Go out when it’s quiet – evenings or early mornings – and call the cat’s name, waiting in silence to hear them answer. Put something outside your house with the cat’s scent on it – a cat bed or litter tray – or something with your scent on it (an unwashed pillowcase, for example). This might be enough to remind them where they live.
If your cat is still missing after four days, make up flyers with a clear photo of the cat, details of the area he lives in and how long he has been missing (for example; ‘Missing from Wethersfield Road since 29 August’) and your contact details. Post these in public areas near your home such as bus shelters and hand them out to neighbours and local shops – and especially, to nearby vets’ surgeries. Vets display missing posters for a while if you ask politely. Post on social media, too. Your local Lost and Found page is a good starting point. Check with local rescue centres for recent arrivals.
Above all – don’t assume the cat is dead if you don’t find him. Cats have been returned home after weeks, months and occasionally years. Cat lovers will care for strays, and cats are good at finding the local cat-lovers. When your wandering moggy is brought home to you – make a fuss of him, feed him his favourite food and keep him locked in for at least a fortnight to get him accustomed to living at home again.
Good luck!