How I found my lost cat.
• No Collar
• No Flyers
• No Neighbor help
• 1 Year old kitten
• Completly black cat
• Complete Indoor cat / Never been outside
• Just moved into a completly new area 14 hours away from home
What happened:
Momo fell out of my bedroom window 11pm chasing a moth. After noticing 30 minutes later he was gone, My S.O and I went outside to look for him and accidentally chased him across the street and into a thick forest of thorns. We yelled for him for a good hour then soon went back home.
Here's what we did the next 2 mornings:
1. We made a trail of wet food across the street and back home. Not enough food for him to eat, but to smell.
2. Shirts, dresses, blankets, anything with our scent he would recognize we put out all over our yard to the window he fell out of. /// IN THE YARD
3. we set his cat litter outside, with his shit and all. ( The cat littler box we had was brand new one too) This cat litter box had a roof and door flap. We glued popsicles sticks to the inside so he could get IN but not OUT // IN THE YARD
Note: - You can make a harmless trap out of anything. A cardboard box even ( Take the box and completly tape it shut, grab a knife and cut a door into it that can open and close by pushing it in and out. Make sure it's easily openable. Glue popsicle sticks to the inside and test the door. The door should be able to open inward and let a cat IN but the door in blocked by the popsicle sticks and the cat can't get OUT + tip: add something to look in so you're not left wondering.
4. We left food out next to the window he escaped. Food and water. Websites always said not to - but that's what brought him back home. /// IN THE YARD
5. We bought baby monitors to listen outside the room. We couldn't have the window open so this helped us keep an extra ear out. /// YARD
6. daily walks, car riders, changing the clothing every other day to newly scented.
7. Wore multiple layers of clothing, hats, gloves and crawled in small places filled with spiders and bugs just to look for him
8. Opened house entrances between 12 am to 5 am and kept watched.
9. Microwaved cat food every couple hours and mixed it to get scent super strong and out.
10. Sat in the forest for a couple hours talking and sat in the yard for a couple hours talking
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CATS:
- Cats will recognize their humans voice but will still act scared and run from you in a new environment
- No sad voice, no cheerful voice, use your NORMAL VOICE. Talk OUTSIDE and CALMLY in the DARK and wait. Do not move if it finally approaches you
- Keep lights OFF! Your house- the entrance - everywhere. I know it's hard to see but you'll adjust.
- STAY. UP. AND . WATCH. PATIENCE !!! I didn't sleep for 3 nights. It was worth it.
- DO NOT TRY TO CATCH YOUR CAT AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT !!!!! If it doesn't fall for a trap or doesn't go back in- WATCH QUIETLY . Learn its new routine even if it's been a couple hours since it left. Find ways to lure it in. It's ok if it takes a couple nights
- If you scare it too much from your yard, your cat will avoid it instead.
- Fire works , Gun shots, parties, bands all roared in my neighborhood- and I still found my baby that same night, rained twice . Don't worry.
- Cats like to sneak in. Leave as many sneaking openings as possible
What I think truly helped my cat find his way home :
• My clothing and scent
• The cat food left in front of the window
• Opening my entrances at 3 am
• My calm voice when I saw him
• My steady and slow movement
I snatched my baby up whole while leaning over the window and swore I would never let him out of my sight again. This happened in 3 nights and two days. A lot happened these days - I got attacked by a dog, Job interviews, family leaving, calling animal control, etc...
I hope this helps you find your cat. Be patient and do not give up. It was 4 am when I found my baby. I was about to give up 3 hours ago but I decided to stick it out.