How do you find an indoor cat that escaped outside?

Question

The cat is about 1 year old or so. He has been mainly an indoor cat. He escaped about 24 hours ago. We looked for several hours yesterday with no luck. We have a live trap from the animal shelter set up. We set out some food and sprinkled catnip around the area. My major concern is that a bad winter storm is approaching this area. It is supposed to snow 1" - 3" tonight and then an additional 5"- 8" tomorrow.
Any other advice or hints?

Answer 1

My best advice is to keep calling for him and continue to search the area. Check with the shelter daily. Setting out food is a good idea but make sure it is in plain view so if he comes to eat you can look at a window and notice your cat easily. I would ask some neighbors as well. When a cat escapes they can be hard to find. I hope you find your kitty.

Answer 2

The only other thing I can think of is to put his litter box outside as well. Cat's have a very fine sense of smell and between his food and his litter box he may go in the trap. As a Vet Tech for 18 years and working with cat rescuers, I will tell you that the chances are very good that he is around your house outside somewhere. Of course you should have signs out all over the neighborhood. The snow could bother him, but if he has any sense at all, he'll go into a storm drain. Good luck with finding him.

Answer 3

Well cats like attention and to be petted so call its name and say "here kitty, kitty, kitty" a few times or take the catnip and put by yawls front door. Don't be setting up a trap because they instincts will tell them its dangerous and its a trap. The cat will eventually come after a few days because they are used to being in a warm house and with food 24/7.

Answer 4

sounds like you've done everything I can think of. Is the food you put out wet or dry food? Wet food smells more strongly than dry (as I'm sure you already know) and will make it easier for him to find his way home. Put up a few signs in your area with a picture, too. It's possible that someone in your neighborhood found him but isn't sure what to do next.
If it's any consolation, cats are really good at finding their way home. He may have just gone on a jaunt through town. :)
Good luck, I hope you find him! Please post back when you do!

Answer 5

Indoor cats become quite disoriented when confronted by the outside world. Your best bets would be somewhere quite near to your house, such as if there is anyway he could crawl underneath it or under something nearby like sheds, garages, vehicles, etc. Be very sure to check the engine blocks of vehicles before starting them. Sometimes animals detect residual warmth and crawl up into them. The results can be quite tragic when the car is started. If you have neighbors near by, be sure to ask them to check their property for any sign of your cat.

Good luck! Hopefully, you'll find the little fella soon.

Answer 6

I had a cat that was gone for 9 days...not in snow but rain...hopefully you will find your baby...what I did is I walked the neighborhood circling the area calling his name. I did this everyday [mine was too an indoor cat that had been declawed] I put up signs and went door to door....I never gave up and he came back skinny dirty and crying but I searched for 9 days. I put up flyers on people's cars, went to the local shelters and put his picture everywhere! Good luck I hope you find your baby!

Answer 7

My indoor cat escaped once and I did not know it. She spent the night outside. The next day I was in the back yard and hear a very pissed off kitty that sounded like mine. I called and there she was, mad at me because she spent the night out. Cats know where they belong and will come back unless you have a male cat who is not neutered. In that case he may or may not come back. They can stray for days.

Answer 8

Hey the can opener and can really works. My cat got out all the time and it was the only way to get her back. The first time she got out she was gone for three days but she came back. They leave markers for theirselves so as long as nobody has picked it up it should come back home on its own. Talk to s ome neighbors to see if they have notcied your cat wondering around.

Answer 9

It is probably hiding someplace such as under a porch, in a barn, storage shed, maybe even a garage. Our cat was lost and when he came back 3 days later he was all cobwebs so we figured he was inside someplace and couldn't get out. Hopefully he'll find his way home soon.

Answer 10

sorrytohear this, a runaway pet can be a stressful thing...most of the time, pets will have no problem finding their way home, if he does noit turn up within a few more days,start calling the animal shelters in your area. hope he comes home soon.