I found a lost cat, now what?
Do you know that most “lost” cats are found within a 4 block radius of their normal territory? Nationally the reclaim rates for cats are quite low; between 2 and 5%. Evidence is building that lost cats may have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are left where they are, rather than being brought to a shelter. A recent study released by the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, found that lost cats were over 13 times more likely to be reunited with their owners by non-shelter means and that 72% of lost cats returned home on their own.
What to do:
Bring the cat to a local vet office or shelter to be scanned for a microchip. Microchips are a small computer chip that holds a code unique to that animal. Using that code an animal care provider may be able to find owner information.
Put up LARGE flyers in all major intersections near the area he/she was found. (See 5+5+55 posters on the Missing pet partnership website)
Contact All shelters and veterinary offices in your area. Sometimes cats travel much farther than you might think. Be sure to complete a found cat report including a good photo at each shelter.
If the cat looks healthy and is not in danger: Do not feed it, and encourage it to go home.
If the cat is injured, emaciated, or is struggling to survive: Call your local shelter to find out where to bring it for care.
Resources:
http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/: Missing Pet Partnership is a fantastic organization with some very valuable tips on how to re-unite lost pets with their owners. We highly advise posting the 5+5+55 posters at the surrounding intersections that the cat was found.
http://sonomahumane.org:
Click Lost & Found Tipsfor additional tips, and a listing of local shelters.
https://www.facebook.com/& social media: Ask anyone you know to share his/her photo. You would be amazed how many animals have been re-united this way! Consider posting to Sonoma Pets Alive as well.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/: Post a lost cat ad with the same details listed above. Post several photos from different angles to show any special markings. Don't forget to look through the found pet postings.
Thank you for stopping to help a lost cat! Approximately 320,000 animals enter shelters each year in Northern California alone. 240,000 of those are "strays." If we could keep even a small percentage of those missing pets in their homes and out of shelters, it would have a huge impact on our community.