SECRETS
of a
LOST CAT
Kathy “Kat”
Kat” Albrecht
Missing Pet Partnership
www.missingpetpartnership.org
Background:
Police Bloodhound Handler
Lost and Found! (1996)
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First 4 Searches: 2 Lost Cats, 1
Lost Dog (1997)
Launched Missing Pet Partnership
(2001)
SECRET #1:
No One Knows How Many of Us
(Cats) Are Lost Every Year
We keep stats on the number of people
lost, stolen cars, and stolen guns, but
there are NO STATISTICS kept on the
number of cats that are LOST each year!
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SECRET #2:
If I Vanish, GOOD LUCK,
LUCK, You’
You’re On
Your Own in Trying to Find Me
– We don’t offer lost cat services…WHY NOT???
– We expect untrained people to search for their
lost cats
– We expect untrained people to capture loose cats
– Some shelters won’t rent out humane traps (the
primary tool needed to recover a displaced cat)
– Pumpkin Case (54 days)
PUMPKIN: 54 Days
SECRET #3:
Sometimes All My Guardian Needs
is Encouragement to Help Find Me
– Grieving, people give up hope quickly…
– Hopeless people STOP SEARCHING!
– Encouraged people continue to search!
– Lost cats not found end up in shelters or
are absorbed into the feral cat populations
– Tank Case (37 days)
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TANK: 37 Days
SECRET #4:
When I’
I’m Sick or hurt,
I WILL HIDE IN SILENCE
• Behavior called “The Silence Factor”
• Protective Measure from Predators
• If not found in time, cats will SUCCUMB TO
INJURIES OR ILLNESS AND THEY’LL DIE
• Many are found in their outdoor litter box
• Rocky case
SECRET #5:
When I End Up in Unfamiliar Areas
I WILL HIDE IN SILENCE
• Any Cat Transported into Unfamiliar Territory is a
DISPLACED CAT
• Indoor-only Cats that Escape Outside
• Outdoor-Access Cats Chased Off
• Any Cat that Escapes (i.e. vets office)
• THINK CLOSE – USE HUMANE TRAPS!
• Hudson Testimonial
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Hudson Testimonial
"Our indoor-only 2 year old orange tabby named Hudson accidentally
got out of the house. We were heartbroken and didn't know what to
do. For a week we did all the things they tell you to do, post signs,
notify local vets and shelters, search by day and night, leave out
food, etc. Nothing was working and we were losing hope.
One week after he was lost, we saw him on our deck at night, but he
ran when we tried to open the door! We searched the internet again.
Your website reassured us and we decided to follow your advice
that humanely trapping him would be the fastest and best way to get
him in the house. We borrowed a trap from friends and set the trap
on our deck. On the fourth night, we got our Hudson! He lost weight
but he is now home and safe. Thanks for your useful and practical
information and suggestions!”
-- Lesley, Congers, NY
SECRET #6:
Sometimes I Need TIME Before I’
I’ll
Overcome My Fear and Respond
• Threshold Factor (7 to 14 days)
• To MEOW, to BREAK COVER, to RETURN TO
THE DOOR, or to ENTER A TRAP
• Cat in Vet’s Ceiling 22 days
SECRET #7:
Sometimes HIGHHIGH-TECH is Better
Than LOWLOW-TECH
• Use Motion-Activated Digital Wildlife Cameras
• When Presence Confirmed, Set Trap
(Marshmallows as Decoy)
• Owner Can Monitor Trap with Baby Monitor
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SECRET #8:
My Temperament Will Influence How
I Behave When I’
I’m Lost
•
•
•
•
•
Curious Clown – Most Likely to Travel
Carless (Aloof) Cat – Behavior Unknown
Cautious Cat – Behavior Unknown
Catatonic – Least Likely to Travel Far
Carol & Beau
Beau Testimonial
"The information on your website was a great help in
finding my displaced cat, especially the insight into cat
psychology. Previously a feral cat, Beau was rejected by
the colony as a kitten because he is deaf, and has been
an indoor-only cat for the past 2 years. He escaped after
dark one night and, even though he is pure white, I
couldn't see him anywhere. I live in a rural valley with
steep slopes and dense brush on all sides so searching
was almost impossible. Because he's deaf, calling Beau
was useless. I found your web site and was encouraged
by the information and testimonials. I placed a humane
trap next to the door where he had escaped. Three
nights later, after a terrifying thunder and lightening
storm l, I was awoken a 3:00 a.m. by loud meowing. The
trap had worked! I was overjoyed at the return of my
"purrfectly dry" kitty. I can't thank you enough!"
-- Carol Hewitt, Marbella, SPAIN
SECRET #9:
Sometimes How My Guardian
Behaves Prevents My Recovery
• Lack of Education (of how or where to
search for a missing cat)
• Tunnel Vision
•
•
•
•
Need in a haystack – Hopelessness
Stolen
Went off to die
Coyote Ate The Cat
• Sylvia
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Sylvia Testimonial
I credit your website for giving me the hope to
continue to look for my 19+ year-old Calico,
Sylvia, who was lost for one week after darting
out the front door. Several people told me she
might have "gone off to die" or been "eaten
by coyotes," but I followed your advice
regarding fliers et al -- and it worked! Sylvia was
one block away the whole time on a neighbor's
porch! We were reunited this morning. Thank
you, thank you, thank you!
-- Marcia, Oak Forest, IL
(CONTINUED)
Sometimes How My Guardian
Behaves Prevents My Recovery
• Grief Avoidance
– Give up Quickly
– Want to Move On With Life
– MARIPOSA CAT ATE BY BOBCAT
• Skepticism
• JULY 2008 - Ike Case
SECRET #10:
Sometimes How Rescuers
Behave Prevents My Recovery
•
•
•
•
Aggressive Cats Assumed to be “Feral”
VIDEO
Skittish Cats Assumed to be “Feral”
ZEKE
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SECRET #11:
Sometimes My Guardian Tries to Find
Me, But They Do the Wrong Things!
• Flyers (instead of Posters – 5+5+55 Rule)
• Improper Strategies / Techniques
–
–
–
–
Walk barefoot
Scatter kitty litter
Hire helicopter
Fail to search shelter long enough (1 week!)
• Focus on SHELTER and flyers, but they fail to
search THE NEIGHBOR’S YARDS!!
ROXIE RECOVERY!!
Roxie Recovery
FOUND: by a volunteer with a 2 million
candlepower spotlight (and not with the
200 flyers passed around the area!)
(B & D 2 million Candlepower rechargeable)
SECRET #12:
Coyotes Aren’
Aren’t As Bad As Most
People Think!
• More Cats Likely Killed by SILENCE FACTOR
Than by Coyotes!
• Variables That Influence Risks
– Solo Coyote vs. a Pack
– Mother Feeding Pups
– Plethora of Natural Food Sources (mice, salmon,
rabbit, fruit, etc.)
– Urban Coyotes Study +Cook County (1% domestic
food found in 1,400 coyote scats)
• Tank (37 days – coyote area – rabbit pellets
everywhere)
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SECRET #13:
Sometimes I Leave Clues Behind
on Where To Find Me
MANUEL CASE (VIDEO)
CONCLUSION:
We Need a Paradigm Shift!
SPAY/NEUTER, TNR PROGRAMS, and
ADOPTIONS ARE NOT THE ONLY
ANSWER TO SOLVING STRAY / FERAL
/ SHELTER CAT PROBLEMS!
SEARCHING for lost cats, and returning
them to their homes can have a
dramatic impact on reducing stray /
feral / shelter cat populations!
JOIN Missing Pet Partnership
• SUPPORT MPP’s efforts to develop lost
pet services.
• NETWORK with fellow lost pet recovery
volunteers.
• LEARN the latest discoveries in lost pet
behaviors and recovery techniques.
• VOLUNTEER to recover lost pets in YOUR
community!
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For More Info on MAR:
Q&A
Q&A
KATHY “KAT” ALBRECHT
P.O. Box 3085
Federal Way, WA 98063-3085
(253) 529-3999
www.missingpetpartnership.org
EMAIL: [email protected]
Missing Pet Partnership is on Facebook!
Follow Kat’s blog at www.katalbrecht.com/blog
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