Lost & found
Lost a cat, or found one?
Most missing cats are found close to home, and most 'strays' already belong to someone. These steps give the best chance of a reunion.
If your cat is missing
Act quickly, and search close first. Indoor cats who escape usually hide within a very short distance of home — often within a few houses — rather than travelling. They are frightened, silent and extremely well hidden.
- Search your own property thoroughly. Under decks, in sheds, garages, crawl spaces, inside cupboards and behind appliances. Cats fit into impossible places.
- Search at dawn and dusk when it is quiet. Take a flashlight even in daylight — eyeshine is often the first thing you see.
- Call softly and then listen. Shouting frightens a hiding cat. Sit still and wait in silence for several minutes.
- Ask neighbors to check their sheds, garages and outbuildings. Most found cats are found this way.
- Put familiar items outside — their bed, a litter box, your worn clothing. Familiar scent helps a disoriented cat orient home.
- Post locally. Community pages, neighborhood groups and physical flyers with a clear photograph work better than anything online alone.
- Contact shelters, vets and animal control in your area, and check back regularly rather than once.
- Update your microchip registration and report the cat missing with the registry.
Keep going longer than feels reasonable. Cats are found weeks and occasionally months later.
If you have found a cat
Before assuming a cat is homeless, check. Many outdoor cats are owned, well fed, and five minutes from their own back door.
- Check for a collar or tag, and look at body condition. A clean, healthy-looking cat very likely has a home.
- Have the cat scanned for a microchip at a veterinary clinic or shelter. This is usually free and is the single most useful step.
- Ask nearby households and post in local groups with a photograph and the location found.
- Consider a paper collar with a note asking the owner to contact you, if the cat is friendly and tolerates it.
- Look for an ear tip. A straight-across tip on one ear means the cat is a sterilized community cat who lives outdoors and should stay there.
- Do not remove kittens with a mother nearby unless they are in danger. The mother is usually close and is the best possible care they can receive.
- Contact a veterinarian immediately if the cat is injured, very young, or appears unwell.
Our article on helping a stray cat safely covers approach, containment and next steps in more detail.
Report
Tell us about a lost or found cat
We cannot guarantee intake or a search, but sharing information helps — and sometimes a match is exactly what someone else is looking for.
FAQ
Lost and found questions
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