10:00 AM Friday, December 23, 2022
Lori Hackett still remembers how she felt when her cat named Fitz accidentally walked out of her New Hope home in November.
“Devastated immediately,” Hackett recalled. “It’s just a really big land and you’re looking for a little cat.”
As night fell that November day, Hackett says she was terrified.
“I realized very quickly that it was like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Hackett said.
She put up signs and started walking around her neighborhood.
“He was trying not to lose hope as we searched for him,” Hackett said.
A neighbor saw Lori’s missing pet flyer and reached out.
“It was recent enough that I wanted to get into it right away,” said Erin, who didn’t want her last name revealed.
Erin is passionate about rescuing cats.
“A lot of people picked up a COVID hobby and mine was saving cats,” Erin said.
She looked for tracks in the snow and she also used traps filled with straw to keep warm.
One of the traps Erin uses is to catch a lost cat.
In search of a lost cat
Marie Tan with the Society for the Protection of Animals also helps find lost cats.
You need to get into your cat’s mind. What triggers them? Where are they going,” Tan said.
Tan says only 5% of cats are reunited with their owners, and often finding a lost cat doesn’t generate the same interest as finding a lost dog. However, Tan says you shouldn’t give up. She advises starting your search near you.
“If it’s an indoor cat, it’s usually found at three houses. They’re going to stay pretty close because they’re going to get scared,” Tan said. loses, it stays low to the ground and goes under decks and porches, so you have to look down. On the contrary, if your cat is a climber, you’re going to have to look up. It’s foolproof. Animals always the same when scared and many cats, especially indoor cats, will get scared if they are outdoors.
Once you’ve surveyed your neighborhood with fliers and talked to your neighbors, Tan says to post on your local Nextdoor page and alert your local police department that you’re missing a cat. Tan says most importantly, keep your search local.
It’s calling your local police department and handing it all out. Your number one resource will be Nextdoor,” Tan said. “Nextdoor has one of the highest animal bundling rates.”
Tan also reminds people that microchips frequently used on pets don’t work like GPS. Instead, they are used to providing a name and phone number to the pet owner. Tan says the phone number often got disconnected and doesn’t help locate the lost pet’s owner. She advises making sure the microchip is always updated with accurate contact information.
Finding Fitz
Lori Hackett and cat finder Erin did whatever it took to find Fitz.
Another neighbor saw the flyer and informed Hackett that Fitz the cat was under a shed. Hackett alerted Erin, and Erin pulled out her trap to catch him.
“When we caught Fitz, we were just telling them we needed this win so badly,” Erin said. “With a little dedication, you can save someone’s pet.”
Hackett was thrilled to have Fitz back home.
It was such a blessing. His expertise and giving me that hope of hanging on, there’s still a very good chance we can find him. That was it for me. It kept me going, to be honest,” Hackett said.
Erin warned Hackett that lost cats often take time to reacclimate to their indoor environment and overcome the trauma of being lost, hungry and scared. Hackett said Fitz was quickly back on his knees, which was perfect for the holidays.
Erin enjoyed the gratitude and the “victory.”
“We helped save a cat and keep him for the holidays,” Erin said. “It’s very rewarding.”
See also: Vacation trips turn into pet-friendly staycations at Dogtopia
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