I have been fostering kittens for a while now, and have a special needs cat as well as a mature cat in our household. One thing I teach all the kittens very early is to come to me, using food as a enticement. When I feed them in the morning and night time, I call them saying "food food". When I give them treats, I always call them using the words "treat treat".
By using these 2 words together and only at food or treat time, your kittens and cats will come out of anywhere when hearing this call. Somehow they identify the double words more so than a single word. Works for me every time. And when one of my own cats have escaped the house, they come from any where when they hear the distinctive call.
Each time I get a new cat, I just make sure to call it by name as often as possible every time I see it when I first get it. Then later, I can call any of them by name and just that cat will come to me when I call. I hadn't even realized I'd trained them by name, until someone mentioned that they each know their names and come when called. All I have to do to get all to come at once is make any kind of food sound, whether it's preparing their meal or rattling a treat bag-those things cause any cats I have to come and assemble at my feet.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My cat got out before the big snowstorm. I have been told to put out strong smelling cat food and a clothing item of mine. This will hopefully give him a direction of where he lives. Does anyone have additional ideas?
By joyce m mundie from Pittsburgh, PA
Quickly! Put a "Lost Cat" add in the pet area of Craig's list & your local newspaper or nickle add (with you area posted) these are usually free & call all the local vets & animal shelters & leave your phone number & a description! Also, hang lost cat notices on the poles of mail box's in your area. Cover the front & backs or these notices with clear tape or have them laminated to keep out the weather. You cat may be in someone's home or in a shelter...
I once found my cat stuck under my house & he couldn't get out because of the lattice, & I found my neighbor's cat in my garage. He was gone a whole month, but after one month, he was skinny, but okay. I would have never known this was my neighbor's cat but he came next door & asked if I'd seen it, so be sure to talk with all your neighbors, just in case! Ask your neighbor's to look in their garages & under their house! If you do find it, put a quick-release collar & tag on it.
Great advice by cyinda. Your kitty is very close to home. be sure to check any small buildings, under the house, any holes a cat could possibly get into.
Don't give up looking! I just heard about a local family who found their pug, who had gotten loose before the bad weather. A group trapping feral cats to have them fixed actually caught him in one of their traps after several weeks! He was hungry and dehydrated a bit but fine and glad to be reunited with his owners. Good Luck!
