Praise for our Website
Here's what pet owners who have used our website are saying:
"We lost a very shy, indoor-outdoor cat when we moved about 10 days ago... We've tried to do a house-to-house search of the area but many neighbors have politely refused having us search. When I finally got around to following your first advice (setting a humane trap), I got my kitty back within two hours of setting it up! I followed your website's advice about putting it next to the fence (not the house). Please keep doing the wonderful work you do."
-- Johanna, City Withheld
"I wanted to let you know how helpful your website was for us in recovering our lost cat. Our purebred Himalayan, Gizmita, slipped out the door on Aug 18 and even though she's done that occasionally before, she is usually at the door in the morning. This time she was not and was definitely lost. I found your website and contacted the pet search person in Connecticut as she was located near where Gizmita was born and we were just at the perimeter of her 100 mile search area. She contacted me back within a day and gave me lots of good tips, and urged me to continue looking and making the bright posters listed on your website.
"On Tuesday Sept 11, 4 1/2 wks after she'd left, someone called us. They had seen the bright posters and saw a cat close to her description digging through the garbage cans at her mother's house, licking empty cat food cans. So they fed her to keep her in the area and called us. My husband went over there (6 blocks away on the other side of the woods) and managed to catch her. She is thrilled to be home and luckily has not lost much weight and is in very healthy condition.
"The people who located her said they'd seen the posters so they had been keeping an eye out. The posters really made all the difference, especially as all the animal shelter volunteers kept telling us to look under bushes within 5 houses of ours (which we were doing also). Thanks to many concerned neighbors, many of whom had put out extra cat food when they found out Gizmita was missing, she stayed healthy and did not starve and is now safe at home."
-- Sarah Tsang Chase, Rutherford, NJ
"...We went online to your website (and other websites) to understand according to his personality/characteristics where he is most likely to be... the meow came from a garage across the street from our house - about 4 houses down. The house was empty and was for sale, that's why we did not check the garage earlier that week. Thanks again - your website made a difference."
-- Tami M., City Withheld
"Slick had never been outside before and he's declawed. I felt completely helpless in the situation and could do nothing to console my wife. That is when I found your website using Google... So I set up a humane trap. I set the trap out and baited it with Slicks favorite food - Meow Mix. I also put out a can of tuna in the yard and put out his scratching post and litter box." (After several days, Slick's owner finally found Slick.) "Yelling his name out the window, I held onto your posted information that the cats if scared will not meow, will be hidden, and are more than likely within a three house radius of where they normally live. Just about as I was to come to the end of the alley I looked over at the side of our neighbor's house and to my sheer amazement I could see wedged between the air conditioning unit and the brick wall was a ball of black fur with bright yellow eyes. It was Slick!!!!!! I parked the truck, engine running, and ran up to the chain link fence separating us. I called his name at least 20 times before he meowed. It then took all the subtle coaxing I could muster for five minutes to get Slick to take that first step towards me. He was positively petrified, but when I saw him take that first step I knew we were going to make it. Sure enough I scooped him up and brought him home safe. My wife was completely choked up when I called and gave her good news. Our little boy was home." (Then a few weeks later, Slick's owner saw a LOST CAT poster in his neighborhood and helped to locate that missing cat!) "After saying our goodbyes, I leaned over and told my wife that I felt we in some small part were able to repay the kindness that you showed us by creating your website and giving us the tools and the belief that we could find our dear Slick. From the deepest part of my heart and on behalf of my family and of course Slick...THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless You!
-- Eddie Plano, Texas
"I just had to write an email to let you know that your information about finding and trapping a lost indoor cat (both on the web site and the NPR interview recently) helped us get Mouse back after almost 2 months!...I wanted to thank you for providing such good information about finding lost cats -- I'm sure you're right that many feral cats are simply displaced because it's definitely a game of patience to continue looking for an animal that doesn't seem to want to be found. But believe me, they sure are glad when they are!"
-- Sarah Thompson, City Withheld
"I have to write and tell you that because of your website, our 8 month old Boston Terrier puppy and we are reunited!!!!!...we came across your website. The information I found was invaluable!!!! What really did it for us was HOW TO POST a sign for a lost pet. WOW!! If I didn't see that information, I would have done white, letter sized fliers. However, because of your website, we made large, florescent posters, just like you illustrated. And guess what...That is exactly how the family that found our puppy found us!!! They saw the poster!"
-- Kimberle McGill, Rufus and HOLLY
"At just about the one week mark, a stranger saw my notice and called offering some tips and a humane trap like the one described on your site. It was at this same time that I decided to pay your site a visit to see if perhaps I might gain some insight into Max's behavior pattern, and at least see what your organization was all about. Anything was worth a shot. Your section on cat behavior was not just illuminating, it was dead-on. It was one of those "ah-hah" moments. With evening drawing on I decided to give it a try and while Max had not been seen anywhere I "just knew" that he had to be nearby (reinforced by your information). It was kind of a blind choice as to where I placed the trap, but with a half can of tuna, I set things up in a sheltered area where I thought Max might have gotten out of the fenced yard. Within seven hours of placing the trap I happened to be up and decided to check, just in case. The door was down! It COULD HAVE been a neighbor's cat. Max, though scared immediately recognized both where and who he was with. He was hungry, uncomfortable from his infection, and tired, but willing to sit next to my Mom and be petted.
After a week out-of-doors, his whereabouts unknown, the worst being feared for a cat out of his element; within 12 hours of visiting your site and learning about what a xenophobic cat might do, we had Max back. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. It would not have been possible without you, and the help of a stranger who I hope will become a friend. The signs have now come down. In their place are signs thanking all those who kept an eye out, or looked, or asked after Max. Included is mention of your site and its address along with the recommendation to take a look BEFORE their pet gets away."
-- Stephen Lauterbach, Minneapolis, MN
"We took to heart your "1-3 house radius" and went out looking again closer to home for our outdoor access cat, Rocky. We finally found our precious Rocky and it was none too soon. We found him 2 houses away in a backyard, behind a shed, 20 feet into blackberry brambles wrapped up in barbed wire. We had both been in the area before close enough to hear him & him to hear us but we believe he was in silent mode. This time he talked back so we could crawl in & locate him. I feel he called out this time because he knew he was out of time. We suffered several wounds getting to him but nothing like he sustained. He tried so hard to get free of the barbed wire he pulled a chunk of skin off. This injury is pretty severe but he is going to make it.
Rocky also lost a lot of weight, was severely dehydrated, caught a respiratory infection, and developed a heart murmur. We know he got caught up the first day he disappeared or he would have come home so he was in there for seven plus days. His vet said he has used about 7.5 of his nine lives. He is still in the hospital but will make it. We want to thank you for your email and words of encouragement. We feel we never would have found him without your advice and helpful suggestions. And from now on both Rocky and his sister Teka are indoor-only cats."
-- Gary and Jennifer, Snohomish, WA
"Last week Saturday, my family and I had all left our home to attend my daughter's dance recital. The weather was absolutely beautiful, so we left our kitchen windows open, which are floor to ceiling long. We have done this numerous times and have never had any concerns, as our cat, Byron loved to sit and watch the birds at the feeder, but NEVER was outside, or had any desire to do so. After arriving home, we found the kitchen window screen dislocated from the frame and lying on the floor. The next day, we realized that Byron was missing. I have to admit I was panicked. Of all the pet owners out there, I considered myself one of the best. Our pets are loved immensely, spoiled, not allowed to roam freely, (much less allowed outside), vaccinated, microchipped, wear their collars, and are not declawed. I thought to myself, how could this happen to us, as there are thousands of people who let their cats roam the neighborhoods, and they have no fears?
I immediately called all the neighborhood humane societies and vet clinics with no success. I then stood in the yard and called his name, convinced if he was nearby, he would come running, as he was the most outgoing, friendliest cat in the world, in fact, so people and attention loving, he could almost be pesky at times. Needless to say, no luck. As I read your email about looking for your cat and explaining how even the friendliest cats most of the time won't come to their owner's voice, because they are so scared, I thought to myself, they're right. So the search continued. Every day and every night, we searched in our yard, the neighbors, with no success. We even put "lost cat" posters in everyone's mailbox.
The following day after placing the ads in the mailbox, I received a call from a neighbor behind us stating she had seen Byron in her yard twice. We were so excited, and immediately went to look for him. Once again, no luck. That night we continued our search with flashlights and found him sitting in this lady's same back yard. Unfortunately, the minute, he seen us, he fled and we lost him. Frustrated and devastated, I realized you were right. He was frightened and scared, so scared, he ran AWAY from us. We continued our search and to our surprise, found him in a hole in the ground next to a rain gutter besides her house. This hole was approximately 2 1/2 feet deep. He was back!!!!!
I just wanted to let you know, had it not been for your advice, we would've stopped looking for him after he didn't come to our voice. He's a beautiful flame point Siamese kitten, and despite the fact that he had a collar, we assumed someone picked him up to keep him for themselves. Like I said before, we assumed if he was in the same vicinity, he would've come running when he heard us. We never realized he would be so scared not to come.
Byron was missing nearly a week and I called the animal shelters daily to check for him. I told them what strategies I was using in hopes of bringing Byron home and they did not tell me to look, on my hands and knees, with a flashlight, as you guys did. We also set up traps with tuna, as mentioned by you guys.
Once again, thank you for your helpful advice and confidence in bringing our beloved Byron home. Your advice is the reason he is here, and you guys were completely right as the humane societies did not tell us this information. Please pass on to the next pet owner your helpful hints and advice. Once again, your email is the reason Byron is Home. Also to let other pet owners know to never lose hope. As frustrating and hopeless as it seems at times, our pets need us to have confidence in them.
--Stacy, City Withheld
Our littlest dog, "Goldie," jumped the fence a week ago to chase a mailman. She was then frightened by a neighbor trying to catch her as we were gone. I came home from work about 2 hours later and started searching. I made posters and checked shelters daily. Finally after finding your website I made new posters according to your specs and within 2 days I had multiple responses which led to bringing her home. I fully endorse the 22"x27" signs and I can't thank you enough. I can't say she is good as new, she went through some trials, but she is home and we are so very happy. You know your business, you profiled her exactly and that too helped in her capture. Everyone, this website contains the best advice you will ever find!
--Karen Johnston, San Diego, CA
I wanted to thank you for providing good information about missing pets and their behavior patterns. My indoor/outdoor cat recently disappeared and I started to get worried after he did not return within the usual 24 or so hours. I had made up some signs and posted them around the area. Within a few hours I got one response of a sighting; however, no cat as the sighting was almost 12 hours old. The next morning I found your site. Based on the information you provided about sign making and behavior patterns I was able to revise my sign/flyer and distribute it to all neighbors in the area of the sighting. Within about 4 hours people started to arrive home from work and I got reports of 3 sightings one of which was within the prior 10 minutes. I was able to go to the location of the sighting and within only a minute or so a tired, hungry and now happy displaced cat responded to my calls. Your site help me focus my search correctly and got me to be even more proactive than I had been. I knew that if I had at least done the physical search like your site suggests then I would have felt much better in the end even if I was not able to recover my cat. With the information you provided I was pretty sure my cat would still be relatively close to the area of the first sighting. In the end, all three sightings as well as the recovery point were within about a 1/8 of a mile from each other. Thanks again, Eric.
--Eric, Norwell, MA
I wanted to let you know just how many lives you helped save by your website. I have used this information to help find MANY lost pets. I work with animals and also have a local classified website to post missing and found animals www.peanutsfriends.org. Your advice has located dogs in seconds! Cats in hours! And it has returned lost pets to its rightful homes just by your THINK LOST, NOT STRAY logo. These dogs and cats would have otherwise been considered "abandoned" or "stray" or "abused" just by their appearance. Thank you for your hard work!
--Maria Burley, Leesburg, GA
Praise the Lord I found this website. My two-year-old cat, Jake, had been missing 10 days. He was live-trapped as a feral kitten, neutered and adopted into our family. I entered an exhaustive effort to find him when he became missing on March 2, 2008. I searched the web for help, rescue groups, checked shelters and went around our neighborhood and just could not figure out what could have happened to him. Then I found this site. After carefully reading your tips about cat behaviors and hiding in silence, I set out on a new search. I found him right next door in my neighbor's garage March 12, ten long days later. It is important to mention--this garage is not used for parking vehicles. It is FULL of stored "stuff": family heirlooms, work materials, furniture, junk, I do mean FULL. The key to finding Jake was when my neighbor went inside his house and left me to look around, all I wanted, on my own. Jake was scared, hiding in silence. I had been less than two feet from him, searching exactly where he was but he kept quiet. He did NOT begin to speak to me until he was sure I was alone and he was safe. I just kept calling his name and finally he answered. I am so relieved to have him home, safe. Thank you so much for posting this information . Your tips helped point me in the RIGHT direction.
--Annette Fowler, McLeansville, NC
*Our pages are copyright-protected. To share our lost pet information with others, please link or refer people to our website. To request permission to reprint material from our site, please contact us.