To those with missing cats (some info applies to dogs as well)

For ideas on how to help get your cat back home please read the following:
Heres some suggestions that may help kitty get home.You should:

-put the cats uncleaned litterbox (litter included) outside in a covered area so it dosn't get rained on

-whoever the cat knows or is close to, put a shirt of theirs (that they have worn so it has their scent on it) outside.Again, in a covered area.The reasoning for the above two is because cats are very attracted to familiar scents.

-put the cats food and water outside

-look for the cat outside in the early morning and later at night when it is quiet -walk around calling the cats name and stopping to see if you hear meowing because he may be scared to come out if he is hiding.Of course only do this if its safe or take someone with you.

-VERY IMPORTANT- If you haven't already, phone the spca.Their # is 861-7722.The spca is open 7 days a week and they answer their phones from 9:00 am-4:30 or 5:00pm (I'm not sure about closing time) They do not open for the public though until 12:00pm.

You should check at the spca every 4 days to see if your cat is there because when the spca gets a stray animal brought in they hold it for 4 days and on the 5th day it can be adopted out. I would suggest that you should go down to the spca in person to see if your cat is there rather than checking over the phone because if a mistake is made,as there are so many cats at the spca, you could end up losing your cat.

-check newspapers and also put an ad in the paper under lost and found.
The Capital News phone# for classified ads is763-7114.
The Kelowna Courier's phone # for classified ads is 763-3228. If you put your ad in by telephone it is free. If you put your ad in on line they charge you. Phone both papers before 12:00 pm (noon) to put your ad in and then it will get in the paper asap.
Both papers will run lost and found ads for free for 3 days.Before the 3 days is up you phone the papers and get them to put it in the paper again.You can keep the ad going for at least 2 weeks (maybe longer-you'd have to ask them)

Put a lost ad online. On Castanet, on Craigslist, on kijiji, on the BCVMA website there is a place for lost and found ads , Sun FM pet patrol and I'm sure there are others places online if you look around.

Put posters up in as many places as possible. (ie. on poles,on store doors, on mailboxes, in vet hospitals,etc)
Posters could be covered with some type of plastic to protect them from the rain. Saran wrap maybe???


Check vet hospitals in case your pet has been injured and is at a vets. Don't just check the vet in your area because if your pet was hurt on a weekend not all vets are open on weekends so your pet may have been taken to a vet further away.

Ask neighbors,the mailman,person who delivers newspapers and neighborhood children(they would probably notice animals more so than adults) if they have seen your cat. Local children or neighbors may even have taken your pet in.

Some things that I would like to add to the suggestions also is that your cat may or may not still be in the area of your home. Cats have been found in completely different areas of town so if you see an ad that sounds like yor cat but it was found in a different area, check it out because it may be your cat.

Also keep checking the BCSPCA website - Kelowna's stray pets on line. If you can't find the website I'm sure the SPCA could walk you through it.

Also, if your cat was a strictly indoor cat and it has gotten outside it is probably very scared and may not be to far away.The escaped 'strictly indoor" cat may hide somewhere and not move. A scared cat may not even come out of hiding if your calling for it so what you should do is look around your yard and your neighbors yard(with their permission of course) and I mean a thorough search in every possible hiding spot.If your cat is not found in the immediate area then expand your search and go through all of the above suggestions.

Last but not least, don't assume the worst and don't give up looking for your cat to soon. Cats can show up on someones doorstep or at the spca months later, I've seen it happen many times.
Good luck and I hope this helps to get some kitties and doggies back home.

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure that the vet clinic that did your cats (or dogs) tattoo has your current contact information (name,phone #,etc).
So everytime you move or acquire a new pet with an existing tattoo you need to get in touch with the vet that did the tattoo and let them know your contact info.
If you do not know what vet did the tattoo you can phone any vet clinic anywhere because all of the vets have the same tattoo information book and will be able to tell you which clinic to call with your new contact info.