Flyer maker › Guides · updated Nov 8, 2026

Lost your cat? Where to look and what to do

Most lost indoor cats are hiding close to home, often within a few houses, silent and still. Search slowly and look in small, dark places.

1. Search your home first: inside cupboards, behind appliances, in the box spring, the garage and the car.
2. Search outside with a torch at night, when it's quiet: under decks, porches, sheds, bushes and parked cars. Cat eyes reflect light. Ask neighbours for permission to look in their sheds and garages.
3. Call softly, then wait. A scared cat may not answer for minutes. Shake a treat bag or open a can of food.
4. Leave the litter box and bedding outside where your cat got out, with water. The familiar smell helps.
5. Make flyers (free here) and put them up close to home: neighbours are your best searchers.
6. Call shelters and animal control, and visit every few days. Report your cat to your microchip company.
7. Post online and check found reports near you every day.

Humane traps

Some shelters and rescues lend humane traps for catching a frightened cat near home. Check them often and never leave a trap in the heat or cold.

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Also

• Lost your dog? The first 24 hours
• Found a dog? What to do
• Found a cat? Is it lost, and what to do