Finding new groups

New round of social media

Social media offers an incredible reach at zero cost—but only when you use it strategically. Your time and emotional energy are precious right now, so let’s focus it where it can actually help you bring your cat home.

🎯 Focus on Local, Not Viral

You might be tempted to post everywhere, but national or global groups will not help you. Your cat isn’t in a group full of worldwide cat lovers—they’re somewhere nearby.

Best platforms for local reach:

• Facebook (city/county/neighborhood groups)

• Nextdoor

Other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X rarely help unless you have a large local following.

🔍 How to Find the Right Facebook Groups

Search terms like:

• “[Your city] lost pets”

• “[Your neighborhood] chatter”

• “[Nearby cities or counties] community”

• “Pet alerts [Your County/City]”

Join all local city and neighborhood groups within a 25-mile radius.

• Don’t go further unless you have a reason to believe your cat may have been transported (e.g., seen entering a vehicle).

📸 What to Post (And What Not to Post)

Less is more. People scroll fast. Give them what they need at a glance.

Your post should include:

• 1 Missing Cat Flyer graphic (from Canva or similar)

• 1–2 additional clear, color photos of your cat if available

• NO long photo albums or blurry shots

📝 What Your Caption Should Say

Use the Who / What / When / Where method:

MISSING CAT – [Cat’s Name]
Our beloved cat went missing from [Street or Intersection] in [City/Town Name] on [Date]. Last seen near [Landmark or intersection].

They are [any identifying traits briefly: “shy, not likely to come if called”].

Please check your garages, sheds, cameras, and under decks.

If seen, do not chase. Call/text [Your Phone Number] immediately.

Thank you for helping us bring [Cat’s Name] home. 🙏

TIP: If writing is hard right now (understandably), you can run your draft through AI to clean it up for clarity and tone.

📍 Tips for Posting to Nextdoor

• Post in your own neighborhood, then ask friends or neighbors in adjacent areas to post it for you as well.

• Add an update in comments every few days to bump the post back to visibility.

• Include the same flyer graphic and caption as you did for Facebook.

🚙 When to Expand Beyond Local

If there’s any reason to believe your cat might have hitched a ride (in a moving truck, a car, etc.), widen your net. There are real cases of cats being found 30–40 miles away, even months later.

But remember: the overwhelming majority of lost cats are found within a 1-mile radius, so always prioritize your local area.