Immediate Steps to Follow if Your Cat Gets Out

If you see the cat going out…

- Drop everything and quietly, quickly follow the cat out the door. Grab a phone if you can, you might
need assistance.

- Talk to the cat gently. Running and shouting will scare the cat and it will run.

- If the cat is bonded to you, it might stop and wait. Or the cat might just stop to figure out which way
to go next. Either way, the cat is most likely to stop a short distance from your house, and you
might be able to pick it up. Hold the cat firmly while going back into the house.

If you do not see the cat going out, but discover later that he/she is gone…

- Put out food, water and a bed by the door or window the cat went out. The bedding should
have the missing cat’s scent on it. Also place food and water in other locations where the cat
can find it. If possible, leave the window or door open that it went out. If cats get frightened,
they could turn around and try to come back in the same way they went out.

- The cat is probably within hearing or seeing distance of you. Look for it in your yard – under
decks, under bushes, etc. Check your immediate neighbors’ yards. Do so calmly and quietly so
you don’t scare it. Repeat the process several times during the day(s) - do not do it only once.

- Sit in your yard, off and on for periods of time, and talk quietly to the cat. It may be very close
and listening to you.

- Go door to door and talk to all your immediate neighbours.

- Put up posters everywhere in all directions from your house and preferably with a photo
of your cat. Also deliver small notices to all your immediate neighbours.  

- Offer a reward.

- If your cat is tattooed, notify the veterinary clinic that did the tattoo and also make sure
your owner information is current.

- If your cat is microchipped, notify the veterinary clinic that implanted the microchip and
also notify the microchip company. Verify your contact information with both.

- All MEOW cats are microchipped with PETIDCO (formerly AVID Canada) Microchips.Notify PETIDCO at 1.800.338.1397. They will fax a lost report to all clinics in the city. If your cat is still in the MEOW Foster-to-Adopt period,
please call your Adoption Coordinator.

- If your cat is not microchipped or tattooed, call all of your local veterinary and 24 hour emergency clinics.

 - Consider placing a Lost ad in the Calgary Herald and The Calgary Sun.

- Submit lost reports to other agencies and animal rescue groups:
MEOW Foundation www.meowfoundation.com or phone 403.230.6033
The Calgary Humane Society Lost reports must be done in person at 4455 - 110 Ave SE
Calgary Animal Services Phone 311 or visit in person at 2201 Portland St. SE or visit their website: www.calgary.ca/animalservices
Petlynx www.petlynx.net Submit a lost report for free
Shaw TV Lost Pets Ph: 403. 716.6010

- Make sure your cat sitter has a copy of these instructions.
- Remember to take down all your lost posters if your cat is found.

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Found Cats

It may be that you have noticed a strange or new cat around your yard or neighbourhood.
If you have noticed this cat around at all hours day and night, if it looks to be in poor condition
or its condition is changing for the worse or if it appears to be very hungry thirsty or in distress,
it could very well be lost, abandoned or stray. MEOW recommends the following: