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:

• The Microchip company (if your cat is microchipped) so they can flag your cat as missing. They are usually open 24 hours a day, and will give advice. Every vet and rescue know their number and they are nearly always the first port of call when they find a lost animal.

• Local vets (all practices in your area, not just your own vet)

• Your local police station

• Local schools

• Your local animal rescue organisations

• Lost and found registers and websites

• The postman, milkman, window cleaner

• Your 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 : 0300 1234 999

NB. The earlier you report your cat missing, the more likely that he/she will be found.

Action Point 3 – Pounding the streets 

• 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 missing cat poster, 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 ‘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.

The ‘I’ve found your cat’ phone call:

This is SO IMPORTANT – if you are under 18 years of age, and someone calls saying they have found your cat, do NOT go to see the cat on your own under ANY circumstances. Take an adult with you – and a cat carrier of course! (In fact it is a good idea not to go alone, whatever age you are.)

And finally… don’t give up hope

Don’t give up hope, cats can disappear for several days and sometimes weeks particularly in good weather, and turn up unharmed. We know of several cases where cats have been lost for weeks, and even months (in one case three years!), but were eventually reunited with their humans. Cats are extremely resourceful, and will find food, water and shelter in the most unlikely places.

And when your cat comes home:

After you’ve made a big fuss of him/her and given them their favourite dinner, please remember to inform any authorities who have been asked to look for them, and retrieve the posters you distributed around town!