Prevent Your Cat from Going Missing

Your cat is part of your family so you would be naturally upset if your precious pet went missing. Cats are different from dogs in that they have the innate ability to return home. However, there are so many external factors out there that hinder a cat’s ability to return home. Here are some tips to prevent your precious feline from going missing in the first place.

• Encourage your cat to sleep indoors and play in the backyard. Cats are inherently curious creatures but outdoor cats are much more likely to become victims of cars and nature. Protecting your outdoor cat is simple – encourage your cat to sleep indoors at night.  Provide food to lure the cat in at night and then do not let it out until the morning. Night time is a rough time for drivers to see and although a cat can see better at night, human drivers cannot. This is also a prime time for predators to come out hunting, especially if you live near the bush.  Allow cats in the backyard instead of outside a fence where they are more susceptible to danger. Don’t have a backyard? Allow your cat to play in a monitored area where you are near. This still gives them the outdoors they crave without the problems.

• Never leave your cat alone while on holiday. Find a trusted friend, coworker or boarder to watch your cat while you are away. Cat’s are clever creatures and can squeeze through openings as small as their heads! This makes it easier for them to escape while you are on holiday. Leaving your cat with a trusted friend will give you piece of mind and keep your kitty safe. Ensure that your cat’s care taker heeds this advice, and has updated contact information for while you are gone.

• Be sure your pet has a collar and identification. Identification tags are the number one step in pets being returned to their owners.  Make sure to update the tags if you change residence or telephone numbers. The collar should be worn all times by your pet; even if they are an indoor cat they have a way of getting out.  This will also let anyone who finds your cat know they belong to someone.

• Take care to keep indoor cats indoors. Indoor cats who never or rarely venture outside are not as likely to return home since they don’t rely on this skill. They might become disoriented and easily frightened if they find themselves outside.  Take care that your pet stays indoors by making sure that the door is latched behind you and that when people come over, especially workers to service your home they know your cat is not to go outside. If the cat escapes immediately go look for it. More than likely they will not go far and come running to you if not give them an incentive to come back inside.

• Desex your pet. Not only will it keep your cat from roaming; it will help to control the Aussie cat population, which is terribly overcrowded.

• Take a yearly photo of your pet. Have this photo stored some place that you can easily access it. The ideal place to store it would be an online site such as flickr, your computer hard drive, or a photo album easily accessible or all three places.  This photo will be necessary to put up posters, send emails and show to the shelter if you have to look for your pet.

• Can you describe your pet? Being able to accurately describe your pet’s qualities and traits will help you in the long run.  Cats can look strikingly similar to the untrained eye especially in photographs but if your cat has a spot ,a trait, or characteristic that is unique be sure to have this information.

Cats are inherently curious creatures but monitoring your little moggie will help to ensure they stay with you and do not end up somewhere else.
Do you know any tips for keeping cats from roaming?