Lost & Found Cats

Losing a cat can be a traumatic experience for any pet owner. The uncertainty of not knowing where your feline friend is or what may have happened to them can be overwhelming.

At Avid’s Angels Cat Rescue, we understand the importance of reuniting lost cats with their owners and providing care for found cats until they can be reunited or adopted into a loving home.

Click on the links below for valuable practical advice:

Our organisation provides a variety of resources for lost and found cats in the community. Our team of volunteers is trained to handle lost and found cat situations with sensitivity and care. We have a protocol for handling lost cat reports, which includes asking the owner for a detailed description of their cat, checking local shelters and veterinary clinics, and posting on social media to increase visibility.

One of the resources we offer is the ability to post lost cat information on our website and social media channels. By doing so, we can increase the chances of the lost cat being found by a concerned citizen who may have seen them in their neighbourhood. We also advise owners to post flyers in their community and to check with their neighbours and local animal centres to increase the chances of finding their lost cat.

For found cats, we provide temporary shelter and care until the owner can be located or until the cat can be adopted into a loving home. Our volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that found cats are given the proper medical attention, food and care that they need while they are with us. We also microchip all cats that come through our organisation to increase the likelihood of them being reunited with their owners in the future.

In addition to our lost and found cat resources, Avid’s Angels Cat Rescue also provides a variety of other services to our local community. We offer low-cost spay and neuter services, as well as adoption services for cats that are ready for their forever home. Our organisation is dedicated to improving the lives of cats in our community and ensuring that they are treated with the love and respect they deserve.

Lost a Cat?

In the unfortunate event that your cat is missing, there are several actions you can take to aid in the search for your beloved feline companion.

Here are some valuable recommendations to assist you in finding your lost pet:

Search your home

Cats can sometimes hide in small, hidden spaces within your home. Check all the nooks and crannies, including cupboards, under beds, behind furniture and in any other potential hiding spots.

Check the surroundings

Explore the immediate vicinity of your home, such as your garden and nearby bushes. Look for any signs of your cat or places where it might be hiding.

Search thoroughly

Pay particular attention to places where your cat may have sought shelter or have become trapped (garages, sheds, empty houses). Search at different times of the day.

Alert your neighbours:

Inform your neighbours that your cat is missing. They may have seen or heard something or could keep an eye out for your cat in their own gardens or garages.

When searching, keep your phone with you at all times, call your cat’s name and carry an item that carries his or her scent, such as a blanket or toy.

Provide scent

Leave your cat’s used litter tray, bedding or a toy in your garden as the scent may help to lead them home. You can also empty a vacuum cleaner bag in your garden, as it will contain various scents from your home.

Check your previous address regularly if you have recently moved house.

Open the cat flap

If you use a cat-flap that relies on a chip or magnet attached to your cat’s collar, consider prop the cat-flap open. In the event your cat misplaces the collar, s/he might be unable to enter your home.

Alert microchip company

If your cat is microchipped, contact the company on which database your cat’s microchip is registered, and mark your cat as missing.

A list of companies can be found here:

Identibase 0330 9128077 https://www.identibase.co.uk/lost-and-found

PETtrac 01273 408721 https://www.pettrac.co.uk/pet-owners/lost-found-pets/

Petlog 01296 737600 https://www.petlog.org.uk/lost-and-found/lost-pets/

Chipworks 0330 107 0958 https://www.chipworks.co.uk

Animal Tracker https://www.animaltracker.co.uk/lostPets/

Microchip Central https://www.microchipcentral.com/lost-a-pet/

Animal Microchips 01823 413494 https://animalmicrochips.co.uk/index.php

Pet Identity UK https://www.petidentityuk.info/home_pet_365/#missing_pet

PetScanner https://petscanner.com/index.php/lostpets/#lostpetfeatures

ProtectedPet https://www.protectedpet.com/home

SmartTrace https://smarttrace.org.uk/

Remember to keep your cat’s identification updated, such as a collar with tags or a microchip, to increase the chances of being reunited if it gets lost again in the future.

Create and distribute ‘missing’ posters

Make posters with a clear photo of your cat, a description of its appearance and your contact information. Include details such as the cat’s name, age, gender and any distinctive markings. Include when and where your cat was last seen.

Hang the flyers around your neighbourhood, community centres, veterinary clinics, pet stores and other local gathering spots. You can also post it through letter boxes and ask local businesses to display the poster in their shops and premises. Remember to post the information on social media platforms and local lost-and-found pet groups/websites.

Share the poster on your Facebook page and ask friends/family to do the same. Post it also on local Facebook groups.

Do the same on Twitter, remembering to Include relevant and local hashtags in your tweet as this will widen your audience – for example #Bolton. You can also tweet the poster to relevant organisations and groups on Twitter, asking them to share it.

Contact local animal shelters and rescue organisations

Reach out to nearby animal shelters, rescue groups and veterinary clinics. Provide them with a description of your cat and your contact information. Email your ‘missing poster’ to them so it can be displayed. They can keep an eye out and notify you if your cat is found or brought in.

Contact details of all vets within a 50-mile radius can be found here: http://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/

Cat rescue organisations in your local area can be found here: https://www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-rescue-centres-uk-ireland

Contact your local council

Contact your local council and ask them to inform you of any road accident involving animals in your area. A list of local councils and their contact details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Register your cat as missing online

You can also register your cat as missing with the following websites:

http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/

https://www.petsreunited.com/

http://www.petsbureau.co.uk

https://www.lost-cat.org/en-gb/

http://www.nationalpetregister.org/

BE AWARE!

If someone claims to have found your cat, ask them to send photos of him/her. Never meet the individual alone or in a secluded place. If you have offered a monetary reward for the safe return of your cat, do not transfer or send this – hand it over face-to-face, once your pet is safely back in your safekeeping.

Set up a humane trap

If your cat has been missing for a while and you suspect it may be nearby but hiding, you can set up a humane trap with enticing food. Consult with local animal welfare organisations for guidance on using traps safely and effectively.

Stay positive and persistent

Keep searching and never lose hope. Cats can sometimes return home on their own after a few days. Continue spreading the word and checking in with local shelters and organisations regularly.

Further guidance for missing pets can be found on the CatChat website:

https://www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-missing-lost-found#lost

Found a Cat?

When you come across a cat you think may be lost, it’s important not to automatically assume that it is a stray.

Remember, the cat could very well be a cherished pet, dearly missed by its owners.

If you have found a cat, there are several steps you can take to ensure its well-being:

Assess the cat's condition

Determine if the cat appears healthy, injured or in distress. If the cat is injured or in immediate danger, you need to contact your local animal warden or emergency veterinary practice for assistance.

Check for identification

If the cat has a collar, look for an identification tag with a number you can call.

If there is no ID tag, place a paper collar on the cat to ascertain whether the cat is definitely lost or is a stray.

Remember that cats can roam a wide area and sometimes visit other houses for extra food. A paper collar can be downloaded here. If no-one calls you within a few days it’s likely that the cat is lost or is a stray.

Ensure that the cat has access to food and water whilst you continue to make enquiries on behalf of the cat.

Provide temporary shelter

If the cat seems healthy and you are able to safely handle it, you can provide temporary shelter in a quiet, enclosed space like a bathroom or spare room, kept apart from other pets. Place a comfortable bed, food, water and a litter box in the area. If you are unable to take the cat into your home, try to provide a dry and waterproof space outdoors and line it with straw.

Scan for a microchip

Take the cat to a local veterinarian or animal shelter to have it scanned for a microchip. Microchips are small devices implanted under the cat’s skin that contain owner contact information. A scan can help identify the owner and facilitate a reunion.

Check to see if there is a missing cat in your area

See if there are any Facebook groups in your local community dedicated to “lost and found pets.” These groups are often available in many areas and can be helpful in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Another good place to look is the Nextdoor app.

Notify local authorities and shelters

Contact your local animal shelter, rescue organisations or animal warden to report the found cat. They may be able to assist in finding the owner or provide guidance on what to do next.

Contact local veterinary practices

Give the cat’s description to all local vets. Contact details of all vets within a 50-mile radius can be found here: http://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/

Spread the word

Post about the found cat on social media platforms, local community groups and lost-found pet websites. Include a description, location where the cat was found and your contact information. This can help reach a wider audience and increase the chances of reuniting the cat with its owner. Remember to ask around locally.

Do not provide a complete description – if someone contacts you to say the cat is theirs, you can then ask them for the omitted details. This way, you can verify the authenticity of the person enquiring about the found cat, ensuring their intentions are genuine rather than simply seeking a “free cat”. Remember, criminals often obtain cats in this way to use as bait in illegal dog fights.

Create and distribute ‘found’ posters/leaflets

Make posters with a clear photo and brief details of the found cat. Do not provide a full description so you can check any additional details with possible enquirers. Display the posters around your neighbourhood, community centres, shops, cafes, etc.

Cats often find themselves lost only a few streets away from their homes, so post leaflets through doors in the local neighbourhood too.

If the owner can’t be traced

You could consider adopting the cat yourself. Ensure that you take the cat to a veterinary practice for a health check. Vaccinations, neuter and microchipping can be arranged by your vet.

If you’re unable to keep the cat, please contact your local rescue organisation to enquire with them about admitting the cat for rehoming.