Difference between revisions of "Get an Escaped House Cat to Come Home"
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Losing a pet is a traumatic experience for the whole family and can be heart-breaking for children. Cats are naturally curious and love to explore their environment. Unfortunately, they are not always able to find their way back. Don't panic, there are ways to bring Felix home. | Losing a pet is a traumatic experience for the whole family and can be heart-breaking for children. Cats are naturally curious and love to explore their environment. Unfortunately, they are not always able to find their way back. Don't panic, there are ways to bring Felix home. | ||
| − | [[Category:Managing Cat Behavior]] | + | [[Category: Managing Cat Behavior]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Acting Quickly=== | ===Acting Quickly=== | ||
| − | #Make sure that the cat is not inside the house. Cats have a tendency to crawl inside drawers and love to sleep in confined spaces.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-crack-a-great-mystery-why-do-cats-love-sleeping-in-cardboard-boxes-10029762.html</ref> Before alarming everybody and panicking the children, make sure that the cat is really outside. Call it and offer food. Quickly inspect its favourite places and look for an open window or door. | + | #Make sure that the cat is not inside the house. Cats have a tendency to crawl inside drawers and love to sleep in confined spaces.<ref name="rf1">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-crack-a-great-mystery-why-do-cats-love-sleeping-in-cardboard-boxes-10029762.html</ref> Before alarming everybody and panicking the children, make sure that the cat is really outside. Call it and offer food. Quickly inspect its favourite places and look for an open window or door. |
#* Don’t forget to check the garage and the garden. Your cat might just be napping on the grass. Look below the car and in warm places, where cats love to sleep. | #* Don’t forget to check the garage and the garden. Your cat might just be napping on the grass. Look below the car and in warm places, where cats love to sleep. | ||
#Call for help and explore the area around your house. If your cat just left the house, don’t panic. Ask your household and your neighbours to explore the area around your house. Cats usually don’t travel much and are likely to be close by. | #Call for help and explore the area around your house. If your cat just left the house, don’t panic. Ask your household and your neighbours to explore the area around your house. Cats usually don’t travel much and are likely to be close by. | ||
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#* Leave your front door open. The cat might want to come home after a while. Make sure that it can access the house. Leave its favourite blanket or litter box outside to let the smell travel. It will help your cat if it lost its way. Don’t forget to leave someone inside to check for potential intruders. | #* Leave your front door open. The cat might want to come home after a while. Make sure that it can access the house. Leave its favourite blanket or litter box outside to let the smell travel. It will help your cat if it lost its way. Don’t forget to leave someone inside to check for potential intruders. | ||
#* Don’t run. You might want to hurry while searching for the cat in the streets. Sudden movements will scare your pet. Cats dislike sudden movements and are wired to hide when threatened. | #* Don’t run. You might want to hurry while searching for the cat in the streets. Sudden movements will scare your pet. Cats dislike sudden movements and are wired to hide when threatened. | ||
| − | #* If you live near a major road, make sure your cat hasn’t been hit by a car. Cats are unfortunately prone to these accidents. <ref>http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-safe/minimising-risks-outdoor-cat</ref> | + | #* If you live near a major road, make sure your cat hasn’t been hit by a car. Cats are unfortunately prone to these accidents. <ref name="rf2">http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-safe/minimising-risks-outdoor-cat</ref> |
| − | #Call the police. If you have a pedigree cat, it might be worth going to the police station. Breeds have a monetary value and are targeted by thieves.<ref>http://www.petsamaritans.co.uk/what-to-do-when-your-cat-goes-missing/</ref> Bring a picture and a description with you. | + | #Call the police. If you have a pedigree cat, it might be worth going to the police station. Breeds have a monetary value and are targeted by thieves.<ref name="rf3">http://www.petsamaritans.co.uk/what-to-do-when-your-cat-goes-missing/</ref> Bring a picture and a description with you. |
#* Bring a picture and a description of your cat. It will help the police. | #* Bring a picture and a description of your cat. It will help the police. | ||
#* Try to make sure that your cat hasn't escaped. You don't want to waste the time of the police. | #* Try to make sure that your cat hasn't escaped. You don't want to waste the time of the police. | ||
| − | #Organize a new search party between 5 and 8 pm. It is worth searching again in the evening if you didn’t find your animal during the day. Cats hunt at night.<ref>http://www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/cat-care-faqs</ref> They also dislike noise and are more likely to get out when everything is quiet outside. Remember that they have a better night vision than humans. | + | #Organize a new search party between 5 and 8 pm. It is worth searching again in the evening if you didn’t find your animal during the day. Cats hunt at night.<ref name="rf4">http://www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/cat-care-faqs</ref> They also dislike noise and are more likely to get out when everything is quiet outside. Remember that they have a better night vision than humans. |
#*Begin your search at dusk when the sun is still shining. The setting sun will create long shadows, which are ideal to spot your little friend. | #*Begin your search at dusk when the sun is still shining. The setting sun will create long shadows, which are ideal to spot your little friend. | ||
| − | #* Don’t forget to take a lamp torch with you. Remember that a cat’s eye will reflect the beam of your torch, making it very visible at night. Point your lamp torch in all directions and below the cars. Look for the typical reflection in the retina.<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96414364</ref> | + | #* Don’t forget to take a lamp torch with you. Remember that a cat’s eye will reflect the beam of your torch, making it very visible at night. Point your lamp torch in all directions and below the cars. Look for the typical reflection in the retina.<ref name="rf5">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96414364</ref> |
#* Shake a can of the cat’s favorite food as you walk around. The sound might attract it. | #* Shake a can of the cat’s favorite food as you walk around. The sound might attract it. | ||
#Investigate door-to-door. Cats like to sneak inside neighbours’ houses for a nap or to eat food. It might be worth ringing bells to investigate. Start with the houses close to your home and extend the perimeter progressively. Don’t forget to bring a picture of your cat. | #Investigate door-to-door. Cats like to sneak inside neighbours’ houses for a nap or to eat food. It might be worth ringing bells to investigate. Start with the houses close to your home and extend the perimeter progressively. Don’t forget to bring a picture of your cat. | ||
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#* Ask local business to placard your poster inside and outside their shops. | #* Ask local business to placard your poster inside and outside their shops. | ||
#* Don’t placard a poster if it’s illegal to do so. You don’t want to be fined. | #* Don’t placard a poster if it’s illegal to do so. You don’t want to be fined. | ||
| − | #Use the power of the internet. Cats usually stay in the area where they live but can occasionally travel further.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/entries/14475729-9c37-3b12-9d6b-3f51bae8fe45</ref> Using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, is the best way to alert a lot of people quickly. | + | #Use the power of the internet. Cats usually stay in the area where they live but can occasionally travel further.<ref name="rf6">http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/entries/14475729-9c37-3b12-9d6b-3f51bae8fe45</ref> Using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, is the best way to alert a lot of people quickly. |
#* Target local website and popular social media. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to make sure that the whole area where you live is covered. | #* Target local website and popular social media. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to make sure that the whole area where you live is covered. | ||
#* Publish an ad in the local newspaper. It is less effective but you want to be thorough. | #* Publish an ad in the local newspaper. It is less effective but you want to be thorough. | ||
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===Catching And Taking Care Of Your Cat=== | ===Catching And Taking Care Of Your Cat=== | ||
| − | #Approach your cat gently. If you or your friends spot the cat, be careful. Your animal might be afraid or wounded.<ref | + | #Approach your cat gently. If you or your friends spot the cat, be careful. Your animal might be afraid or wounded.<ref name="rf2" /> Call your friends for backup and try to talk to the cat. Look for potential escape routes and try to anticipate its movements. Approach slowly and, if possible, offer food. Let the cat sniff your hand and give it time to trust you. Gently take the animal in your arms. |
#*If your cat is visibly wounded, try to be extremely careful. You don’t want to aggravate the situation or cause unnecessary pain. | #*If your cat is visibly wounded, try to be extremely careful. You don’t want to aggravate the situation or cause unnecessary pain. | ||
#* Make sure you take the right cat! It’s not always easy to distinguish similar animals. Look for distinctive marks and try to see if he recognises you. | #* Make sure you take the right cat! It’s not always easy to distinguish similar animals. Look for distinctive marks and try to see if he recognises you. | ||
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#* Don’t let your cat out too soon after its disappearance. It needs to find its marks and get used to the environment. | #* Don’t let your cat out too soon after its disappearance. It needs to find its marks and get used to the environment. | ||
#* If you decide to let your cat go out again, go with it. Let your pet explore a small area at first. Increase the zone in which it is allowed each day. | #* If you decide to let your cat go out again, go with it. Let your pet explore a small area at first. Increase the zone in which it is allowed each day. | ||
| − | #Bring your cat to the veterinary physician. If you cat was out for a few days, it might be worth bringing your animal to an animal clinic. Injuries, such as a rib fracture, are not always easy to spot. Your cat might also have caught a skin disease or flees. <ref>http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/accidents-injuries/e_ct_wound_treatment</ref> | + | #Bring your cat to the veterinary physician. If you cat was out for a few days, it might be worth bringing your animal to an animal clinic. Injuries, such as a rib fracture, are not always easy to spot. Your cat might also have caught a skin disease or flees. <ref name="rf7">http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/accidents-injuries/e_ct_wound_treatment</ref> |
#* If there is a visible wound when you recover your cat, don’t delay the visit. An infection might spread quickly. | #* If there is a visible wound when you recover your cat, don’t delay the visit. An infection might spread quickly. | ||
#* Don’t forget to take its medical history with you. It might matter in a treatment. | #* Don’t forget to take its medical history with you. It might matter in a treatment. | ||
