Sorry to hear Ivan has gone AWOL .... It's never too soon to start worrying as far as I'm concerned. You know you cat and if this is out of caracter then the sooner you start the search the better your chances of finding him.
Here is the usual list of advice tht I post ... for now I would concentrate on items numer 2 and 12.
Good luck and please try not to worry too much (easier said then done I know).
Here are a few things to try:
1. Posters, Posters, Posters with picture and details with contact number.....hand out to neighbours and anyone you see. Put up in local shops, pubs and supermarkets. Stick to all local lamp posts. (If it rains go and collect them and replace - the neighbours and council don’t mind you putting them up so much that way). Also put one in your and friends cars - it amazing how many people see them this way. Make smaller flyers and push through every letterbox on your streets and the surrounding area. It is a good idea to offer a reward … of course this doesn’t have to be money … a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers is just as good.
2. Knock on doors and ask neighbours to check their sheds and garages WHILE YOU WAIT … it's surprising how many people say they will check but as soon as the door is closed they forget. Knock on 10 days either side of your house on both sides of the street.3. Register him lost at all vets/catteries/rescue homes within a 20mile radius. Follow the link and click on the map to find rescues in your area
http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html4. Leave food out and a toy of his
5. Leave out an unwashed item of your clothing
6. Put the contents of your hoover bag on your garden - it’s full of smells that they will recognise and if doesn’t bring him directly to your door will at least hopefully keep him in the area. Alternatively if you have a litter tray that has used put some of the used litter on the garden as this will have familiar smells in it.
7. Contact the local fire brigade and see if they have had to rescue any stuck cats
8. Ask the local children to look - they are great for knowing all the local hidey-holes and love helping. Also have a word with your local post-person and milk man if there is one that delivers in your area.
9. Ask the local radio station to announce he’s missing and give out a contact number
10. Put an advert in the local paper
11. Contact your local environmental services dept (bin men) they keep a log of all animals picked on the roadside ... I know this is not a pleasant call to make and hopefully it will come back as negative.
12. Go out after dark when it is quieter with a friend / partner and walk round the local area gently calling every so often (give him a chance to answer you). Keep talking as you walk round that way if he is in the area he will hear you.
13. When you talk to vets and rescues, ask them about any known local feral colonies and where they are based. If Kitty has been missing for more than a few days s/he might have wandered further afield and might be “hanging round” near a colony for security (safety in numbers) and company. If vets/rescues know locations of colonies, these might be useful to get some ideas of where to start looking.
Finally have a look at these sites - they are all EXCELLENT
http://www.chaptan.co.uk/xmas_auction/index.php?topic=115.0 (this is a new forum created after the CatChat forum closed down. There are loads of members and full of cat rescuers and carers)
http://www.mymoggy.com/ http://thehovel.com/bb/index.php?f=28&ppage=20&sort=lastpost&order=DESC http://www.soyouhavelostyourcat.co.uk/#1 http://www.petsearchuk.org.uk/ http://www.amissingpet.co.uk/http://nationalpetregister.orghttp://www.animalsearchuk.com/Good luck and stay positive.
Hopefully your little one has just got itself shut in a shed somewhere.
And finally ……. IMPORTANT NOTE: When you get your furbabe back remember to remove ALL the posters and inform all vets / rescues / websites etc that they are home.
