Post by chrisleitz on Apr 25, 2006 15:02:56 GMT
Firstly, don’t panic too soon - cats often go ‘missing’ and then arrive home late, or even the next morning, wondering what all the fuss is about. So, give them a few hours at least before you take action.
Action Point 1 - First, check all these places:
• every room in your house / loft / cellar / all cupboards
• behind curtains / under duvets / behind settees / under beds
• washing machine / dishwasher / tumble drier / oven / microwave
• chimneys / dustbin / water butt / compost bin / sheds / garages
• green houses / outside toilets/ vehicles / Gardens / hedgerows
• ask neighbours to check their sheds, garages etc.
Action Point 2 - Make a list of the following details...
• the cats name, age and colouring
• when and where your cat was last seen
• length of hair - long or short
• any distinguishing features - white paws, striped tail etc.
• male or female?
• neutered or entire?
• were they wearing a collar, if so, what colour?
• is he/she microchipped?
• a photograph if possible, (people remember photos better than descriptions)
And give those details to:
• local vets (all practices in your area, not just your own vet), for details of vets in your area go to: www.any-uk-vet.co.uk
• police station
• local schools
• your local animal rescue organisations
• lost & found registers and websites
• postman, milkman, window cleaner
• local newspaper (lost & found sections)
• local television
• local catteries
• local radio (they often broadcast lost & found appeals)
• the RSPCA helpline, as they match up lost & found cats across the UK : 0870 5555 999
• N.B. the earlier you report your cat missing, the more likely that he/she will be found
Action Point 3 - Pounding the streets
• PLEASE NOTE, if you are under 18 years of age, do NOT go looking for your cat alone after dark, preferably take a friend with you and go in daylight hours
• walk around your local area, paying particular attention to any garages, lock-ups or empty houses
• call for your pet by name (you may feel daft at first, but this often works)
• shaking a box of his favourite biscuits, or squeezing a favourite squeaky toy may help
• stop regularly and listen ~ give your cat a chance to answer your call
• stay in one area long enough for your pet to reach you if he is in the vicinity
Action Point 4 - Advertise
Make up a leaflet, including a contact telephone number and with a photo if possible. Don’t put a full description of your cat, that way if someone contacts you saying they have found your cat, you can check those extra details with them to know if they are genuine.
Get plenty of copies made, and distribute as follows:
• IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are under 18 years of age, do NOT distribute leaflets alone after dark, preferably take a friend with you and go in daylight hours
• post them through every door in your immediate area
• display at: post offices, supermarkets, pet shops, vets, library, launderette, hairdressers, pubs and at: newsagents, fish & chip shops, corner shops, garages, doctors, dentists, police station
• don't forget to check local shop windows for a 'Cat Found' notice, just in case!
• on notice boards in halls such as scouts, brownies, playgroups, youth clubs, social clubs
• tie or tape leaflets to telegraph poles, lamp posts, phone boxes, bus shelters and letter boxes
• also display one on your own front gate
• offer a reward if you can - don't state an amount, just say 'substantial reward'. Even if it is a small amount to you, it might be a large sum to another person or child
Other Suggestions:
• show the photo to dog walkers, Lollipop persons, traffic wardens, road sweepers
• check Lost & Found section in local newspapers for ‘found’ adverts
• contact your local council’s Environmental Health Department. This can be a difficult call to make, but they will be able to tell you if a cat matching your description has been found killed on the road. Unfortunately as far as we are aware, councils have no facility for checking for microchips, so they will not contact you in this circumstance.
• post a message on cat forums under their Lost & Found heading,if you can also include a photo (max 200 x 200 pixels). You may need to set up a User Account to be able to leave your message there.
• If your cat is microchipped, let the company you are registered with know your cat has gone missing
NATIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS
• Petsearch (UK) - A nationwide charity which operates a network of help lines and registers for lost and found cats across the U.K., helping owners become re-united with their lost pets. Visit their web site for details of help lines in all areas of the U.K., or for general enquiries: Tel: 0121 743 4133 or Fax: 0121 743 7389 or email: ukpetsearch@freeuk.com. Website: www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com www.petsearchuk.org.uk/
• Doglost - Dogslost operates a computerised 'lost and found' register for both cats and dogs. Dedicated to re-uniting lost and found dogs and cats across the UK: www.doglost.co.uk
• National Pet Register - lost & found register for all types of animals (UK) - www.nationalpetregister.org
• AVID Pettrack - 24 hour lost & found helpline for microchipped pets only: 0800 652 9977
• Animal Rescuers on-line Lost & Found register: www.animalrescuers.co.uk/html/lostfound.html
• Animal Search UK: 24 hour helpline: 01432 761 406 or send an Email. Web: www.animalsearchuk.com
• Pet Smiles: Separate on-line registers for 'lost' and 'found': www.petsmiles.com
• My Moggy: - Lost & Found cats across the UK ~ mymoggy.com/
• A Missing Pet - Online Lost and Found pets register, also includes ready made 'Lost Pet' and 'Found Pet' posters you can print off and use. Website: www.amissingpet.co.uk
• Pet Detective - If you have lost or found a pet, you can register their details on the Pet Detective site. There are separate sections for the UK and the USA. petdetective.co.uk
• Missing Cat - online Lost & Found website: www.missing-cat.org
• Lost Your Pet - Posting a 'pet found' notice is free, but there is a £5.00 life-membership fee for listing a lost pet: www.lostyourpet.net
• Others:
thehovel.com/bb/index.php?f=28&ppage=20&sort=lastpost&order=DESC
www.soyouhavelostyourcat.co.uk/#1
www.petcentral.co.uk/index2.htm
animalsearchuk.com/home.htm
www.understandinganimals.com/forum/index.php
www.petchat.co.uk/index.php
Other useful contacts:
National RSPCA Helpline: 0870 5555 999
National Cats Protection Helpline: 08702 099 099
Missing Pets Bureau: 0800 0195 123
Pet Search UK: 0121 743 4133
Animal Search UK: 01432 761 406
Action Point 1 - First, check all these places:
• every room in your house / loft / cellar / all cupboards
• behind curtains / under duvets / behind settees / under beds
• washing machine / dishwasher / tumble drier / oven / microwave
• chimneys / dustbin / water butt / compost bin / sheds / garages
• green houses / outside toilets/ vehicles / Gardens / hedgerows
• ask neighbours to check their sheds, garages etc.
Action Point 2 - Make a list of the following details...
• the cats name, age and colouring
• when and where your cat was last seen
• length of hair - long or short
• any distinguishing features - white paws, striped tail etc.
• male or female?
• neutered or entire?
• were they wearing a collar, if so, what colour?
• is he/she microchipped?
• a photograph if possible, (people remember photos better than descriptions)
And give those details to:
• local vets (all practices in your area, not just your own vet), for details of vets in your area go to: www.any-uk-vet.co.uk
• police station
• local schools
• your local animal rescue organisations
• lost & found registers and websites
• postman, milkman, window cleaner
• local newspaper (lost & found sections)
• local television
• local catteries
• local radio (they often broadcast lost & found appeals)
• the RSPCA helpline, as they match up lost & found cats across the UK : 0870 5555 999
• N.B. the earlier you report your cat missing, the more likely that he/she will be found
Action Point 3 - Pounding the streets
• PLEASE NOTE, if you are under 18 years of age, do NOT go looking for your cat alone after dark, preferably take a friend with you and go in daylight hours
• walk around your local area, paying particular attention to any garages, lock-ups or empty houses
• call for your pet by name (you may feel daft at first, but this often works)
• shaking a box of his favourite biscuits, or squeezing a favourite squeaky toy may help
• stop regularly and listen ~ give your cat a chance to answer your call
• stay in one area long enough for your pet to reach you if he is in the vicinity
Action Point 4 - Advertise
Make up a leaflet, including a contact telephone number and with a photo if possible. Don’t put a full description of your cat, that way if someone contacts you saying they have found your cat, you can check those extra details with them to know if they are genuine.
Get plenty of copies made, and distribute as follows:
• IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are under 18 years of age, do NOT distribute leaflets alone after dark, preferably take a friend with you and go in daylight hours
• post them through every door in your immediate area
• display at: post offices, supermarkets, pet shops, vets, library, launderette, hairdressers, pubs and at: newsagents, fish & chip shops, corner shops, garages, doctors, dentists, police station
• don't forget to check local shop windows for a 'Cat Found' notice, just in case!
• on notice boards in halls such as scouts, brownies, playgroups, youth clubs, social clubs
• tie or tape leaflets to telegraph poles, lamp posts, phone boxes, bus shelters and letter boxes
• also display one on your own front gate
• offer a reward if you can - don't state an amount, just say 'substantial reward'. Even if it is a small amount to you, it might be a large sum to another person or child
Other Suggestions:
• show the photo to dog walkers, Lollipop persons, traffic wardens, road sweepers
• check Lost & Found section in local newspapers for ‘found’ adverts
• contact your local council’s Environmental Health Department. This can be a difficult call to make, but they will be able to tell you if a cat matching your description has been found killed on the road. Unfortunately as far as we are aware, councils have no facility for checking for microchips, so they will not contact you in this circumstance.
• post a message on cat forums under their Lost & Found heading,if you can also include a photo (max 200 x 200 pixels). You may need to set up a User Account to be able to leave your message there.
• If your cat is microchipped, let the company you are registered with know your cat has gone missing
NATIONAL LOST & FOUND REGISTERS
• Petsearch (UK) - A nationwide charity which operates a network of help lines and registers for lost and found cats across the U.K., helping owners become re-united with their lost pets. Visit their web site for details of help lines in all areas of the U.K., or for general enquiries: Tel: 0121 743 4133 or Fax: 0121 743 7389 or email: ukpetsearch@freeuk.com. Website: www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com www.petsearchuk.org.uk/
• Doglost - Dogslost operates a computerised 'lost and found' register for both cats and dogs. Dedicated to re-uniting lost and found dogs and cats across the UK: www.doglost.co.uk
• National Pet Register - lost & found register for all types of animals (UK) - www.nationalpetregister.org
• AVID Pettrack - 24 hour lost & found helpline for microchipped pets only: 0800 652 9977
• Animal Rescuers on-line Lost & Found register: www.animalrescuers.co.uk/html/lostfound.html
• Animal Search UK: 24 hour helpline: 01432 761 406 or send an Email. Web: www.animalsearchuk.com
• Pet Smiles: Separate on-line registers for 'lost' and 'found': www.petsmiles.com
• My Moggy: - Lost & Found cats across the UK ~ mymoggy.com/
• A Missing Pet - Online Lost and Found pets register, also includes ready made 'Lost Pet' and 'Found Pet' posters you can print off and use. Website: www.amissingpet.co.uk
• Pet Detective - If you have lost or found a pet, you can register their details on the Pet Detective site. There are separate sections for the UK and the USA. petdetective.co.uk
• Missing Cat - online Lost & Found website: www.missing-cat.org
• Lost Your Pet - Posting a 'pet found' notice is free, but there is a £5.00 life-membership fee for listing a lost pet: www.lostyourpet.net
• Others:
thehovel.com/bb/index.php?f=28&ppage=20&sort=lastpost&order=DESC
www.soyouhavelostyourcat.co.uk/#1
www.petcentral.co.uk/index2.htm
animalsearchuk.com/home.htm
www.understandinganimals.com/forum/index.php
www.petchat.co.uk/index.php
Other useful contacts:
National RSPCA Helpline: 0870 5555 999
National Cats Protection Helpline: 08702 099 099
Missing Pets Bureau: 0800 0195 123
Pet Search UK: 0121 743 4133
Animal Search UK: 01432 761 406
