Spread the Word

• Create a flyer to post in the area where you found the cat. Include a minimal description of the animal, the date and cross-streets. Use a bold heading like “FOUND CAT.” Include all your contact phone numbers and your e-mail. Make it nice and easily readable. Print lots of them and also e-mail them. Place the cat’s pix on Facebook and other social media sites and our site, too. You can download free flyer software on the Internet.

• Think like a marketing executive. Place an ad in your local newspapers, in the Recycler and Recycler.com—some placements are free!—on Craigslist.com, and in nearby pet supply stores.
• Be sly. Withhold some of the distinctive characteristics of the animal. Sadly, unscrupulous people will claim a found animal to sell to research facilities or worse. It’s best to say something like “small white cat” and wait for any respondents to share more detailed identifiers with you. Trust your instincts.
• If a caller claims to be the stray’s owner, be cautious. Meet the person in a public place during daylight hours. Tell someone where you’re going and share contact details of the person you’re meeting. Do not give your home address. Ask that person to provide proof of ownership such as license receipts, vet records—then call that vet to verify—and family photos that include the cat.
• If you are unable to find the rightful owner, understand the limitations of rescues and municipal animal control: too many animals and not enough resources or homes. You have taken the initiative, time, and trouble to rescue a cat and may be frustrated that others aren’t meeting you halfway. Say “thank you” to you!

Read On:

Who's That Cat
So very sad, but so very true: Many cats labeled “feral” were once someone’s pet and are now rightfully confused and terrified to have been abandoned or lost. If there are at a shelter, they’re in real danger....

In The Meantime
Still can’t find the cat’s rightful owner? You’ll keep looking, but for now, it’s still you, so step it up a notch...

Websites for Lost and Found Pets
First, check the websites of all local shelters. They usually post pictures and/or descriptions of animals in their “care.” The followings websites are highly recommended by us if you’ve lost or found a cat...