Cats are animals that enjoy routines. They are used to feeling and hearing the same smells and voices. Avoid taking them on holiday or to your friends’ places. This generates considerable stress for them. Indeed, when the cat finds itself in an unknown place, it hides away immediately because this environment seems dangerous to him.
When you go looking for your cat, several provisions are necessary:
Privilege searches in the evening or during the night. In addition to avoiding noises that would complicate your search, you will have more chances to find your pet because it is mainly active at night. Indeed, cats hunt at night and darkness gives them a sense of security.
Call him calmly and at regular intervals. It's useless to add extra stress to it. Repeat this each evening preferably.
Always have a flashlight with you. The light from your torch can reflect in your cat's eyes and make it easier to spot.
Cats enjoy familiar and repetitive noises. Try to reproduce reassuring noises for him: shake a bag of croquettes, use the sound of his toys (eg bells), etc. It may encourage him to come back to you. You can also reproduce the sound of his bowl, for example.
Make lists of probable shelters and check them:
Nature: piles of woods, bushes, piles of hay, undergrowth, etc.
Heights: walls, roofs, trees, etc.
Human constructions: abandoned farms, barns, etc.
Heat zones: car engine, electrical appliance, ducts, etc.
In the forest, pay particular attention to the water points
Inform your neighbors and local shops. Leave them a poster or flyer containing all the details about the cat. PetAlert offers an interface that automatically generates 3 formats of posters and flyers.
Notify the police, surrounding veterinarians, shelters and the local SPA to find out if it has been dropped off.