Results of Catster Poll on Lost Cats
Last week, Catster published a poll, asking if you’d ever had a cat go missing or run away from home. Over 65% of you reported having lost a cat, and sadly, over 21% have had cats go missing that were never found. What can you do to improve those numbers? Here are some tips:
- Microchip AND tag your pets even if they are strictly indoor pets. Microchipping works even when a collar is lost, and tags enable finders to contact you quickly. Pet recovery services like Together Tag guarantee that the person who finds your pet can contact you even if you’re not reachable by phone, and ensures that they have access to your pet’s medical and vet information.
- Keep your cat contained. This doesn’t mean that Fluffy won’t ever be able to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Consider these options:
- Install cat fencing. There are many traditional and wireless options available.
- Build a catio to allow your cat access to the outdoors while being safely contained.
- Get a stroller for your indoor cat. Enjoy quality time and fresh air together. Watch for the upcoming Cat’s Meow’s Spring Strolling issue to find out more about this popular option (subscribe by email so you won’t miss it!).
- Harness and leash-train your cat. Yes, it can be done!
- If you’re still unfortunate enough to lose your cat, check out our post on Going the Extra Mile to Find Your Lost Pet.
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I’m surprised that there were so little missing for 2 hours. Some of mine have gone missing for a few hours and have always been found tucked away in the house somewhere I would never have thought of looking!
What a relief to find them! I feel sure they were playing a joke on me as they could hear me calling them! MOL.
Another option is to teach your cat to walk on a harness and leash. All of us inside kitties go out on our harnesses and LOVE it!
Pictures and a video of us are on an article Mommy wrote about how I love my leash. You can read it here if you want.
I suspect that one of the reasons so few were reported missing for 2 hrs is that unless it happened recently, it’s not something that most people remember years later or consider a cat as lost when they were simply tucked away in the house somewhere. Also, since you could only select one answer, those who’ve ever lost a cat for a period of more than a couple of hours are more likely to select one of the other responses first.