Lost Cat Recovery Guide
Next Steps

Alerting the right people

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IN THIS LESSON

Do this ASAP

When it comes to finding a missing cat, it’s always better to overreact than underreact. It’s far easier (and more joyful) to update people that your cat has been found than to realize too late that you didn’t act soon enough.

✅ Step 1: Contact Your Local Humane Society

  • Ask about their lost pet procedures.

  • Inquire about their stray hold period. Many shelters have a hold period of only 3 days before an animal can be adopted out or, in some cases, euthanized.

  • Visit in person during these hold periods to check for your cat. Don't rely on phone descriptions or photos—they may not recognize your pet.

Tip: Continue checking in person every few days for the first few months, even if you don’t receive any calls or leads.

✅ Step 2: If No Humane Society Is Nearby

  • Call your local police department’s non-emergency number and ask where strays are taken in your area.

  • File a lost pet report with the facility they direct you to.

  • If animal control officers are active in your area, consider dropping off flyers for them as well—they're often the first to interact with strays.

✅ Step 3: Alert Veterinary Clinics

  • Let your own vet know your cat is missing.

  • Contact other local vets in your area—if someone finds an injured cat, they may bring it in for help.

✅ Step 4: Use Social Media & Online Resources

Facebook and Nextdoor are powerful tools in recovering lost pets. If you don’t already have accounts, now’s the time to create them.

Join local Facebook groups, starting with:

  • Neighborhood groups

  • Nearby neighborhoods

  • City-wide groups

Ask group members if there are any missing pet pages specific to your area and post there as well.

Use these websites to report your cat missing:

Keep your search local. Most lost cats stay within a half mile or less of where they went missing—unless they accidentally hitched a ride in a car or truck.

📆 How Often to Post

  • Post every 3–4 days to keep your cat top-of-mind.

  • Repeated exposure is important—many people overlook outdoor cats and assume they belong in the neighborhood.

  • Avoid over-posting (like multiple times per day) so you don’t get flagged or blocked from groups.

📌 What to Include in Your Posts

  • Clear, high-quality photos of your cat

  • The date, time, and exact location your cat went missing

  • Your contact info

  • Do not offer a reward—unfortunately, this can attract the wrong kind of attention.

📎 HamCo Info – For Hamilton County, Indiana Residents

File a lost report with the Humane Society for Hamilton County. We’re fortunate to have a no-kill shelter with a generous 7-day stray hold and in-house medical support.