{"id":18317,"date":"2021-03-01T19:04:05","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T03:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/towncats.org\/sandbox202604\/?page_id=18317"},"modified":"2025-10-02T17:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T00:56:03","slug":"lost-found-cats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/towncats.org\/sandbox202604\/lost-found-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost & Found Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_toggle title=”What to Do If You Lost Your Cat”]<\/p>\n

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  1. Search your front and back yard<\/strong>, especially in bushes and behind any object that provides a hiding spot. Cats tend to follow the edge of a house or building rather than wandering in the open.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Search the inside of your house thoroughly<\/strong>.\u00a0 Cats can contort themselves to fit into extremely small spaces.\u00a0 If you believe your cat is hiding in the house, place high-value food (chicken breast, tuna, mackerel, etc.) near the spots they may be hiding to lure them out.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Ask your neighbors<\/strong> for permission to search their yards.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Distribute \u201cLost Cat\u201d flyers<\/strong> with a good photo of your cat door to door in your neighborhood.\u00a0 Post them in nearby parks as well.\u00a0 Offering a reward can be helpful.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Get the word out on social media<\/strong>.\u00a0 Use Facebook<\/a>, NextDoor<\/a>, Craigslist<\/a>, etc. to notify the public that your pet is missing.\u00a0 South County Animal Neighbors<\/a> is an active Facebook group in the Morgan Hill\/Gilroy\/San Martin area that specializes in lost pets. If you’d like Town Cats to post your lost cat on our social media page, please email lost-found@towncats.org<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Check with lost animal sites<\/strong> such as Petco Love Lost<\/a>, PawBoost<\/a> and PetHarbor<\/a> to see if your cat is listed as well as list your cat as lost.<\/li>\n
  7. Contact your local animal control agency<\/strong> with a description of your cat.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. If your cat is microchipped, call the microchip company<\/strong> as well as your veterinarian to inform them the cat is lost.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Rent humane traps from a local rescue or shelter<\/strong> (Town Cats has traps available). Indoor cats that accidentally escape outdoors can be disoriented and frightened making them less likely to respond to their caretakers\u2019 voices.\u00a0 Humane traps can be extremely effective tools in catching a frightened cat.\u00a0 Set the traps along the perimeter of your home with high-value bait (tuna or mackerel in oil are good choices).\u00a0 If your cat is close to home, he\/she will eventually get hungry and start looking for food.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”What To Do If You Found A Cat”]<\/p>\n

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      1. If you find a stray cat, the first order of business is determining whether or not the cat is truly homeless<\/strong>. More information can be found on this page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Check with neighbors to see if they recognize the cat<\/strong>, distribute \u201cFound Cat\u201d flyers in your neighborhood, and post to local lost and found pet groups on social media. If you’d like Town Cats to post the found cat on our social media page, please email lost-found@towncats.org<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. While you attempt to find the owner, we suggest setting up food and shelter for the cat somewhere in your yard or garage away from your existing pets<\/strong>.\u00a0 It is essential that you keep the stray cat separate from your pets; the cat could be sick or aggressive toward other animals.\u00a0 Give notice of the found cat to your local animal control or humane society in case an owner is searching for them.\u00a0 Have the cat scanned for a microchip at your local animal shelter or a veterinarian which can quickly reunite the lost cat with its owner.<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Want to keep the stray? If you\u2019ve tried to find the owner without success, you can opt to adopt the cat yourself, rehome the cat yourself, or surrender the cat to your local animal shelter. <\/span>Please note:
        \n\u200bPets are considered to be the legal property of their owners.<\/strong> Finding a cat does not entitle the finder to keep, sell, or give away the cat, nor does it convey ownership. If you find a cat, you must actively look for its owner for at least 90 days, and even then, the owner may still have a right to claim ownership.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        [\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”What To Do If You Found Kittens”]<\/p>\n