Yuku free message boards

If you still have questions after reading the links above, follow these steps:

Register with ezboard here.

Once you have registered:

1) Click on the New Topic button at the top right (and bottom right) of this page.

2) In the Subject line, create a unique title which will help others remember your case.

For example: Kitty Mocha missing April 8, 2003

(Rather than: "Lost Cat!" which is too general.)

3) In the body of your message, copy and paste the text below and answer the profile questions.

You need to be very detailed. What you take for granted and think everyone already knows, we don’t, so please provide every detail. It will save us time on further questions back and forth. I know this is a difficult time for you and you are in PANIC MODE, but it must be done so we can get to the truth about what happened to your lost outdoor cat and find the best solution to getting him/her back at home.


OUTDOOR-ACCESS PERSONALITY PROFILE

BASIC INFO ON YOUR CAT:

Your name:

What city and state do you live?

Your cat’s name:

Cat’s age:

Cat’s sex: (male or female):

Was your cat neutered or spayed?

Time and place you last saw your cat: date: day: time: am or pm?

When did you become aware that your cat was missing: date: day: time: am or pm?

Circumstance of cat missing:

What is the farthest distance you have seen your cat roam from home? Describe in number of houses in each direction or number of blocks etc.

Has anyone seen your cat since he/she became missing? Describe any sightings, date, time, last sighting of your cat?

Did your cat have a collar on?

Did your cat have I.D. tags on?

Does your cat have a microchip?

Do you have a photo of your cat? (If YES, email photo to yerr_sister@yahoo.com.)

Do you have a current missing cat flyer: (If YES, email flyer to yerr_sister@yahoo.com.)

How many missing cat flyers have your posted so far?

Have you sent flyers to all vets, shelters, and pet stores in your area, if so, what mile radius?

Describe your search efforts thus far, e.g., have you searched each neighbor’s yard, garage? Went door to door with flyers? Have you called for your cat late at night around 3am when it is quiet and cats abound? Have you checked your local shelter?

Tell us about your cat, his/her personality, and his/her normal everyday routines, e.g., likes to go lay on porch but never leaves the yard, leaves the yard but always comes in to sleep at night, etc.

PROBABILITY OF THEFT

1. Is your cat a purebred, exotic cat? Describe what he looks like.

2. Does your cat have any distinguishable markings?

3. How does he respond to strangers...runs & hides, aloof, or in their lap purring?

PROBABILITY OF RESCUE

4. Are there any feral cat colonies in your area? Any known "cat person" who collects cats? Or anyone who feeds the neighborhood cats or where a number of cats congregate?

5. Are you and your cat new to this place that you live in, or has he lived there all his life?

PROBABILITY OF INTENTIONAL DISPOSAL

6. Are there any suspected "cat haters" in your neighborhood? Has anyone complained about your cat? Are there any neighbors who are obsessed with their lawns, cars, or gardens that do not like cats going in their yard?

7. Any known "dog fighting dogs" i.e. scuzzy looking/acting gang-like neighbors with pit bulls?

8. Is there or was there at any time an abundance of loose cats in the area?

9. Have cats been seen but suddenly they have all vanished from the area?

10. Have you seen any neighbors with a humane animal trap in their yards before?

11. Do you have any neighborhood children who fit the following profile -- Caucasian male, age 10 to 17, introvert (loner) with a suspected history of cruelty to other kids, animals, bed wetting behavior, and/or fire setting? (don't expect you to monitor your neighbor's peeing behavior, just if you KNOW of it!)

12. Are there any other cats missing in the immediate area? If so, provide as many details as possible.

PROBABILITY OF UNINTENTIONAL DISPLACEMENT

13. Did this cat disappear during warm weather (when car windows were left down?)

14. Were there any moving vans, construction vehicles or property being moved the day he vanished?

15. What day of the week did he disappear? What time of day was he last seen?

16. Does your cat have a history of climbing into cars or laying on top of cars?

17. Does your cat seem attracted to cars, afraid of cars, or does he not care much either way?

18. Is your cat overly curious? Does he crawl into open spaces and boxes and explore?

19. Is your cat missing from an apartment complex, condo, or area with a high population of people and vehicles? Describe your neighborhood (i.e., end of cul-de-sac in residential area of Los Angeles, rural road surrounded by grape vineyards in Sonoma, California, etc.) Describe each household within 5 houses on each side and behind, do you know these neighbors, what are they like? Did you search each front and backyard of these houses? Are there piles of junk around or places a cat could get into or stuck? What is the farthest house you have seen your missing cat at, or the farthest distance?

PROBABILITY OF INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH

20. Is this a male cat? If yes, have you noticed any problems urinating in the litter box lately?

21. Is this an elderly cat?

22. Was this cat recently injured or sick? Under the care of a vet or on medications?

23. Have you ever seen this cat in a situation where it was hurt or sick and it took refuge and hide somewhere?

24. Before your cat disappeared, did you notice any cat fights as of late?

25. Have there been any new cats or new dogs brought into the immediate neighborhood?

26. Is there a know rat or snail problem in your neighborhood?

27. Have you heard that any of your neighbor dogs are aggressive towards cats?

28. Considering the houses where your kitty spent his time, what homes in that area have dogs?

29. Is this a solid black cat?

30. Are you aware of any occult activity in your immediate area?

31. What is the average speed of cars that travel on the roads right by your home?

32. Are there any known cultures in your area known to consume cats (Korean, Chinese)?

PROBABILITY OF WILDLIFE KILL

33. Do you live in an area where there are coyotes, fox, bobcats, owls or hawks? (If no, go to next section)

34. Have you seen or heard the above wildlife in your area? If so, when and where?

35. In your search for your cat, did you come across any tufts of cat fur?

36. Did your cat disappear at dusk, dawn, or in the middle of the night?

PROBABILITY OF BEING TRAPPED

37. Has this cat every disappeared before? If yes, did it come home acting hungry or thirsty? How long did you cat stay gone?

38. Has this cat come home with cobwebs, grease marks, or lots of dirt on it's fur?

39. Are there any homes under construction in the immediate area?

40. Was there any yard work or construction projects being done (involving any tools) the day he vanished?

41. On the day he vanished, did any neighbors leave to go out of town?

42. Have you ever seen this kitty trapped on a roof, up a tree, or up a pole before? Does he climb much?

PROBABILITY OF RUNAWAY

43. Have you owned this kitty all his life? (how long have you had him?)

44. Did you bring a new baby, a new cat, or a new dog into your home?

45. Have you noticed any new neighbor cats or stray/feral cats in your area?

46. Did any traumatic event happen right before your cat vanished?

YOUR FEELINGS ON YOUR CAT’S DISAPPEARANCE

47. What do you think happened to your cat?

After posting your profile, please email your cat's photo and your flyer to the outdoor-access moderator MoniQue with the subject line of "New Outdoor-Access Cat Case": yerr_sister@yahoo.com

All responses to the topic starter should be in the same thread unless it is addressing a more general question. By following these steps, all your kitty’s info in once place and for easy access to go back to refer to. I will review your cat’s profile and come up with what I feel is the mostly likely and probable scenario(s) of what happened to your missing cat. I will usually have a few more questions and then we will go from there. While I can't know exactly where your cat may be, I can help you determine the highest likelihood of where your pet might be, so that you can focus your search methods in these areas.

Stay as calm as you can, get as much rest as you can so you can think more clearly and have more productive ideas, a tired mind just creates more panic and may cause you to make bad decisions (even though it is hard to sleep) and stay hopeful. You have a very good chance of recovering your cat. One of the biggest mistakes a pet owner can make is to assume their cat is dead, the likelihood of your cat being alive is about 96% (see the statistics in the national pet recovery site I listed). Know this: there will be mostly nay-sayers who will tell you “hey, it’s only a cat, get on with your life,” do not listen to them. You are the one that will suffer the sleepless nights and grief if you don’t keep looking, so avoid the negative people (even if they are members of your family) during this time, unless they are going to help you. Some people will think your are crazy, but you are, after all your kitty is missing! This may be a very lonely time for you and it will seem that “no one understands.” Please know that we have all been (and I still am) there. This is a process that can take 2 days, 2 weeks, a month, 2 months, 3 months, but persistence does pay off and you have an excellent chance of getting your kitty back. Be strong, be brave, and be prepared!

- MoniQue