| For most of you your cat will feel like part of the | | | | way of finding a lost cat. |
| family. The thought of losing it will fill you with | | | | If you lose your pet and don't have a GPS collar |
| despair. Cats, though they will be domesticated to | | | | fitted then it is important to go about finding |
| varying degrees, are still animals. They must be | | | | them in the most effective way. |
| allowed to express natural behaviour. Cats are | | | | The most critical element of finding lost pets is |
| adventurous and self reliant and they will roam to | | | | time. If, as I suggested earlier, you have a well |
| the full extend of what they consider to be 'their | | | | established routine then you will know very quickly |
| patch'. | | | | when something is wrong. This is the time to |
| Prevention is always going to be better than a | | | | begin acting, with no delay. As the owner, you will |
| cure, both practically and emotionally. To minimise | | | | be in the best position to find your cat. You will |
| the risk the most effective tool is a well | | | | know their favourite places in their immediate |
| established routine. The most obvious point to | | | | surroundings. Search them first. It far more likely |
| build your routine around is dinner. The cat is, not | | | | that your cat will be in a common and familiar |
| yours. If your cat gets into the routine of eating | | | | place than anywhere else and a very large |
| at a particular time each day it will time its | | | | proportion of missing pets are found at this early |
| adventures around dinner and always be back in | | | | stage. |
| time. Another good practice would be to not let | | | | If you have looked in every place you can think |
| your cat out again after it has had its dinner. This | | | | of it is time to enlist some help. Get as many |
| routine will ensure that your cat will stay safe and | | | | people as you can think of who know your cat |
| still be allowed to roam naturally. | | | | and the local area. The more of you there are, |
| Even if these steps are followed and you do | | | | the better your chances of finding them. If your |
| everything in your power to keep your cat safe, | | | | searching still bears no result then it might be time |
| they can still go missing. In preparation for this | | | | to consider other options. Advertising that you |
| you can take significant steps to greatly increase | | | | have lost your pet can be very effective in |
| the chance of you being reunited with your | | | | producing results. You must make sure that the |
| missing cat. The most effective step to take to | | | | photo is a recent one and that the information on |
| ensure a speedy reunion is some form of | | | | the advert is clear and accurate. |
| identification tag. | | | | It is most important that you advertise on a local |
| Obviously the most basic and simple kind are pet | | | | level. Use posters in locations which are very |
| identification tags. This must include on it your | | | | familiar to both you and your pet. You may also |
| pets name, your name, your address and your | | | | want to advertise in the local press. There are |
| phone number and be attached to your pets | | | | also lots of online pet networks which allow you |
| collar at all times. These days there are also many | | | | to share photos and information with other pet |
| other high-tech options available, many of which | | | | owners in your area. All of these will increase the |
| are highly effective. | | | | chance of reaching someone who might have |
| Implanted micro chips have been around for | | | | seen your missing cat |
| some time now. These allow for a lot of | | | | After a day or two of no results it will certainly |
| information to be stored on them and are very | | | | be worth visiting local rescue shelters. Someone |
| inconspicuous. The disadvantage of chips is that | | | | may have found your pet and, not knowing who |
| they need to be inserted under the skin, which | | | | the owner was, taken it to a shelter. |
| your cat will not thank you for. You also need | | | | You are far less likely to need these final few, |
| specialist equipment to read the information on | | | | traumatic steps if you take precautions in |
| them which could delay your reunion with your | | | | advance. Prevention is definitely better than a |
| missing pet. | | | | cure and can be highly effective. If you keep to a |
| The next, and most high-tech option, is to attach | | | | routine and take the time to enable easy |
| a GPS - collar to your pet. This allows the location | | | | identification, or even location, of your pet then |
| to be constantly monitored. With this information | | | | you will make both your life and your cat's life a |
| it is possible for you to be informed if your pet | | | | lot easier. For more details about the most |
| strays beyond a safe distance from the house, or | | | | effective system on Pets identification please visit |
| enables you to very quickly locate them if you | | | | Alert4Pets website. |
| want to. This is by far the quickest and easiest | | | | |