Making 'Lost' posters before the event

[Amo_angelus]

I think it's tempting fate making them up early.

I also found that it only takes two minutes to make up a poster. What I did when one of my indoor pets went missing is I went out looking for her straight away, then my dad and sister came around while my upstairs neighbors passed the message on to my next door and both went searching their gardens. So by the time dad and sister arrived I had two gardens fully searched, posters and reinforcements.

It seems like the less fate tempting option.

[maryas]

For the record I only believe in fate for good things so I haven't tempted fate by doing this 
[/quote]

I'm sure you haven't Helen and fingers crossed you will never have to print the posters.

Mary 

[Tiggy's Mum]

I didn't actually 'make' the posters, just designed them and saved them as a word document so I'm prepared should I ever need it.  It took ages to find a photo that showed them from the right angle and then I had to resize the pics to go in a word document.  I think for indoor cats, who if they get out are immediately lost, this is a really good idea.  For those who are out and about then you'd have more time to start making posters before you'd class them as missing but even then if you're in a panic and starying to worry that's the last thing you'd want to be doing.

For the record I only believe in fate for good things so I haven't tempted fate by doing this 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I think it's an excellent idea.  I sort of agree about the tempting fate bit, but then again, it's usually sod's law that if you are unprepared for something it will happen and if you are mega prepared it won't happen!

For anyone who doesn't want to go as far as making posters and writing a description, just compiling a list of what to do should the worst happen and keeping it in a safe place might be helpful.  It's so hard to think rationally under those circumstances.

[Topsy Turvey]

I think its a good idea.  I agree with Helen - its really hard to think in those circumstances but hopefully it won't happen to any of us.

[maryas]

I sort of agree that it is a good idea BUT also I agree that it could be tempting fate.

When Smudge went missing last September I was in a right state and it was unbelievable how quickly I got my posters typed, printed and posted around.  When something like that happens it makes you go 10 times faster.

Hope it never happens to any of us ever again.

Mary

[Tiggy's Mum]

Don't say stuff like that hOrZa   

I can't imagine trying to make them in a panic, I had to keep looking at them to get their distinctive markings etc and it took ages to find good photos of them.  Have everything crossed that I'll NEVER need to use them but that's one less thing to worry about if I ever did.

[hOrZa]

or you could be tempting fate, who as we know is a fickle thing.



also must be female

[Kirst]

Thats a great idea! I think I shall do the same!

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Great idea Helen ..... fingers crossed you never have to use them.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Had a bit of a fright with Riley earlier in the week, my Mum had come to stay and look after them while I was in hospital overnight.  When I got back home I called him expecting him to come bounding over but he was nowhere to be seen, I looked everywhere (including under the bed twice) but I couldn't find him. 

I was convinced that he must have escaped and panic set in very quickly.  My Mum was adamant that he couldn't have got out but then commented on how she hadn't seen him since the night before and how she had seen a grey and white cat outside that morning

Anyway, it occurred to me once he had been found (under the bed  ) that particularly in indoor / catproofed garden only homes if our cats ever got out they would be immediately 'lost' and as such the poster/leaflet campaign would be best started immediately and that I'd rather not waste time making the posters when I could be out calling and looking for them.

I've just spent the best part of an hour designing a poster for each of them in Word, finding pics that show them how they actually look, resizing them, writing accurate descriptions and I now have these saved in case the worst ever happens.  Just thought I'd pass it on as thought it was a good idea