Lost Animal Finder

Help I have lost my cat!

Lost/Displaced Indoor Cats (Outdoor cats coming soon!)

Cats that are 100% indoors generally look for nearby shelter if they get out. Statistics show that most are found within 2-3 houses from their home.

I use the word "Displaced" because unless something happened to it, your cat may know where they are. They may even be watching you and just not interested in coming inside right now.

1. Do a quick check of your yard and anywhere your cat has escaped to before.
2. Have you searched INSIDE YOUR HOUSE? There are many social media posts from frantic people searching all day for their cat, who was hiding somewhere cozy inside and came out for snackies.
3. The most important step which is often overlooked is a THOROUGH SEARCH of your own property and neighbouring properties. Your cat could be trapped inside a car/building/garage/garbage can and be unable to return to you.
4. Ask each neighbour if you may search their property thoroughly. It’s not enough for them to say they haven’t seen it. Please, will they open their outbuildings and let YOU check them? Have they had a basement door open recently, or a car door/trunk? Any trades / service vehicles it might have jumped into? Do they have any cameras?
5. Is your cat an intact male? This changes the game and your cat could range much further in search of passion.
6. Don’t call loudly in distress as this may make your cat even more fearful. Talk to them like it’s time to come in for tuna and snuggles. Shake some food but again gently. You’re just trying to make yourself more attractive to overcome your cat’s fear of revealing their position.
7. Sit outside talking happily in the mornings & evenings when it’s not too busy. Cats tend to be more active with some cover of twilight, but take whatever opportunity you can to search.
8. Put out some fresh dirty clothes and something the cat lays on, this smell may entice your cat out of hiding, that may even be watching you. In poor weather try to use a box or other shield to keep kitty home if they check back. Change those clothes every day or 2 if possible.
9. Kitty litter is sometimes posted. This may attract other pets or predators, keeping your own cat in hiding or increasing risk of harm. You may read to spread your own urine around your yard, don't do that either.
10. If not found after thorough search, it’s time to widen the search and ask for help.
    • Talk to Friends, Family & Neighbours.
    • Post on neighbourhood and city Facebook groups showing a couple of photos, time last seen & direction and ask for help. Update with sightings and crucial information so that people helping are on the right track. Your posts will be shared and re-shared, attracting people that want to help. Check your Message Requests on Facebook.
    • If they're not local, could they share your lost posts in more groups, or watch for important replies like sightings?
    • If they can't go out and search, could they make a few signs?

Signs, BIG NEON SIGNS! Think BIG yard sale signs that get attention. Get some neon poster-board and make signs like this example. Get people to help! Someone has a printer, someone can assemble signs, several people can post them in different areas.

Call/Text for a brief no charge consultation 250-490-6665

Think positive and visualize your pet safely at home!

Contact local resources every 1-3 days

Penticton / South Okanagan / Similkameen
SPCA (250) 493-0136 Tuesday to Saturday: 12 pm to 3 pm
Animal Control (250) 492-3801 Monday – Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm

Kelowna / Central Okanagan
SPCA (250) 861-7722 Tuesday to Saturday: 12 pm to 4 pm
Animal Control (250) 469-6284 - Emergency (after-hours) 604-815-6006