The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [84]
ALOOF CATS will avoid people they don’t know, including members of a search-and-rescue group. This type will eventually come out of hiding and either show up meowing at your door or start to travel. For these cats, the best plan is to set up baited humane traps throughout the neighborhood, while searching yards and other areas near where they escaped.
OUTGOING, CURIOUS CATS act like the ambassador to your home. They enjoy meeting and greeting your guests. If you have a cat that matches this description, be aware that he is likely to wander as he is not easily frightened. The best game plan with this type involves speaking with neighbors, because your cat may have charmed one of them into bringing him inside and feeding him.
When searching for your cat, resist running, because swift movement might frighten him and cause him to go into deeper hiding. Don’t simply ask neighbors to look around for your cat. Instead, ask if you can nose around under their decks and other hiding places. Your cat is more likely to come to you than to a stranger.
If you happen to have more than one indoor cat and they get along very well, consider putting the feline pal inside a carrier and taking her with you when you search the area. The scent of this cat may be enough to lure your lost cat out of hiding.
FELINE FACT
In 1952, a Texas tabby named dusty set the record for prodigious progeny by having more than 420 kittens. She had her last litter at the age of 18.
For any indoor cat who becomes lost, post brightly colored posters within a radius of several blocks. Make the posters eye-catching and include a photo of your cat, his name, your contact info, and perhaps a reward. And don’t forget other avenues such as contacting area veterinary clinics, local shelters, animal control, and police departments in your locale.
Let me offer one final strategy: if possible, leave a sliding door open four to six inches or a back door or garage door propped open a bit. Some cats wait until dark to come out of hiding and may come back home when they feel it is safe to do so. You may be relieved in the morning at the sight of your “lost” cat sitting next to her bowl waiting for breakfast.
Let’s See Some ID
Q My indoor cat, Chance, wears an identification tag on his collar. He never seems to want to go outside. My beagle, on the other hand, doesn’t always come when he is called. I spent the money on a micro-chip ID for the dog, but I don’t see the need to do the same for Chance. Am I wrong?
A Even though Chance loves the indoor life, he could find himself lost. We can’t control our cats’ movements every moment. He may become lost during a car trip, if a door is left open in your home, or under other circumstances.
The cost of microchipping is quite affordable these days and is totally priceless when it comes to reuniting lost pets with their grateful owners. Contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter to find out more about the procedure. Many clinics and shelters offer discount microchipping on certain days of the month or during special events.
Even though Chance sports an identification tag, he could lose his collar. That’s why I’m a big promoter of having pets microchipped. Microchipping does not automatically guarantee the safe return of your lost cat, but it sure increases the odds.
Microchipping is a quick and virtually painless procedure. Your cat does not need to be anesthetized. A veterinarian uses a special needle to insert the microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under your cat’s skin between the shoulder blades. A cat found with no outward signs of identification can be scanned for the presence of a microchip using a special wand device commonly found in animal shelters and veterinary clinics. The microchip provides your contact information as well as your veterinary clinic and the manufacturer of the chip.
Sadly, about 40 percent