{"id":7068354,"date":"2026-09-27T12:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T12:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/what-we-learned-losing-finding-and-catching-our-beloved-cat\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T12:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T12:08:15","slug":"what-we-learned-losing-finding-and-catching-our-beloved-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7068354","title":{"rendered":"What We Learned Losing, Finding, and Catching Our Beloved Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u21a0 SEEK THE FULL STORY \u219e<\/h3>\n
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When Lincoln\u2014Andy\u2019s and my cat whom we consider to be our son\u2014fled from my arms and bolted into an unknown wooded area, we were devastated. Not only did Linc have no familiarity to the area, but we were also nearly 30 miles from home so the chance that he could gain familiarity by walking a short distance was simply not going to happen. To make our situation more troubling, both Andy and I had never lost an animal, so we were lost as well but in a different way.<\/p>\n

The good news is we did rescue Lincoln, and we were able to get him home safe and unharmed on Day Eight. I wrote before that this situation made us keenly aware that many stories do not end like ours, but this is why we feel compelled to open up.<\/p>\n

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We shared every heartbreaking to hopeful detail of Lincoln\u2019s escape<\/a>, our efforts to find him<\/a>, and his return back home<\/a>, but we have more that we want to add because we know this information can help others.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Therefore, we want to outline what we learned chronologically, writing best actions to take if your cherished animal runs away, major tips to amplify your efforts, and common but severe misconceptions to know.<\/p>\n

In the end, we hope no one has to go through this, but if it happens, hopefully this can empower you.<\/p>\n

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Focus Immediately<\/h3>\n

We learned the first 24 to 48 hours are the most critical. This is when a lost animal may come out from hiding, and that is when there is a risk that it could panic and move further from its escape location. The lesson we have here is simple: Start your search efforts immediately. Do not take a trip, and do not put this aside. You are the sole person that can speak for your animal\u2014do it.<\/p>\n

Here are recommendations to take from Professional Pet Trackers<\/a>, a professional animal tracking company. Here is advice they sent us on what to do within the first day of losing your dog or cat:<\/p>\n

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Click on each of the picture to enlarge it for readability!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We have much more that we will share about hiring a professional tracker below in this post so keep an eye out for that \u2026<\/p>\n

Get Microchips, GPS Trackers, and Tags<\/h3>\n

Lincoln is microchipped, but he did not have on a collar with a GPS tracker or a tag.<\/p>\n

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We cannot say enough: Microchip your animals!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Even animals that you think do not need microchips are, in fact, great microchip candidates because they could be the most threatened by a strange environment if they are lost. Microchip that dog who never leaves your side. Microchip that indoor\/outdoor cat. Microchip every pet because it quite literally could be the only connection you will have with your pet if it escapes.<\/p>\n

A message as well if you find an animal: Take it to get microchipped scanned.<\/p>\n

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Do not assume a stray is a stray! Strays you encounter may have loving homes despite looking like strays.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Even a cropped ear, which signifies being part of a trap-neuter\/spay-release program does not mean the animal is a stray. We alone have adopted two of three cats with cropped ears\u2014they were at one time strays, but they were rescued. Therefore, do not assume the animal that you fed or rescued or saved is feral or a stray without a home. Be responsible and see if it is microchipped. Animal controls, animal shelters, veterinary centers, veterinary emergency clinics, and even some police stations and fire stations can scan for microchips. You could be reuniting a lost love. Heck, you could even get a reward. Do the right thing.<\/p>\n

As far as GPS tracking, there is zero reason not to do this if you and your animal are exploring. The worst that can happen is the collar comes off so your pet does not have the tracker. Trackers can be replaced; pets cannot.<\/p>\n

Last note on this: Having a collar with a tag provides instant information to someone who can find your pet. Instead of having to wait to see if a found pet has a microchip, a tag can immediately provide a number for a person to call. Oh and QR codes in theory are great on a tag, but the reality is everyone does not know what a QR code is or what to do with it. A tag is simple and more accessible.<\/p>\n

PS\u2014A further note on collars that in no way relates to lost pets but annoys the heck out of me: Remove the bell on collars. Animals have highly sensitive ears, and a bell jingling every single time they move is horrible. And if you are going to disagree, at least try it. Dangle a bell of equivalent body-to-bell size around your neck and tell me that does not annoy the heck out of you.<\/p>\n

Stop Using AirTags as Animal GPS Trackers<\/h3>\n
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Apple did not invent AirTags for animal tracking or identification \u2026 so do not use them for animal tracking and identification.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Yes, they are cheaper, but cheap does not mean smart or superior.<\/p>\n

Before we lost Lincoln, our vet made us promise never to use AirTags as animal trackers. He said he has seen pets with literal burns through their throats. First, some animals swallow the tags. Second, tags are batteries\u2014when both sides become wet, that conducts electricity, and that literally burns a hole through what it surrounds. Simply put: AirTags are horrible for animals. Stop using them.<\/p>\n

Listen to Their Actions<\/h3>\n

Starting at the beginning of our story when I picked Lincoln up and decided we were leaving\u2014Lincoln told me he did not want to leave our home. He was nervous and squirming out of my hands to try to get back inside his home. If I had listened to his actions, I would not have pushed him, and we would have stayed. Animals know their limits\u2014just like humans\u2014so showing an understanding of what they say through their actions builds trust. Andy and I now have a saying when we see Lincoln take a definitive stand. We say, \u201cLincoln says, \u2018No’\u201d or \u201cLincoln says, \u2018Yes’\u201d (we do this for our other cat, Lysander, too) because we want him to know he has a voice and we hear and respect it.<\/p>\n

Build up Leash and Harness Confidence<\/h3>\n

Andy and I had started small when it came to training Lincoln on his leash and harness. We had practiced by associating him to his leash and harness by leaving them out in our home. Then we moved to putting him in his harness at home. That allowed us to transition to letting him investigate outside our front door with his harness and leash on, and that then moved into taking him into an enclosed courtyard twice a week. When we moved, we lost access to this enclosed courtyard, which is why I felt we could transition to a new location. Looking back, though, Lincoln was still not confident with his leash and harness, so one suggestion I have is to only move to a new area when confidence is restored. We are taking steps backward now\u2014starting at the beginning with Lincoln\u2014to rebuild his confidence. Therefore, move slow and realize sometimes you need to move backward to go forward, and both of these are okay.<\/p>\n

A note about harnesses too: Get a harness you have confidence in. Lincoln was in a PetSafe harness when he slipped out and ran away. We have always<\/em> had a problem<\/em> with PetSafe harnesses, and it was a big mistake putting Lincoln in one when we knew it was a horrible product.<\/p>\n

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What you should take away is we do not<\/span><\/em> recommend PetSafe harnesses<\/strong> so much so that we threw two in the trash because we cannot in good faith even donate them to another person.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Confirm Leash and Harness-Training Surroundings<\/h3>\n

When leash and harness training, ensure the area is conducive for training. Make sure the area is quiet and calm\u2014which we did, but where we faltered was ensuring the area was open \u2026 and I mean really open. Lincoln backed away from me and slipped\u2014bottom first\u2014through the bottom of a fence gate before I could get to him. While we were a couple yards from that fence, yards close quickly with a frightened cat. If I could redo this particular lesson where we were leash and harness training in a new area, I would ensure the area was open so that there would be surrounding structures to impede in my ability to get to our son quickly, if needed.<\/p>\n

Have Proper Harness-Training Skills<\/h3>\n

A top way a cat pulls out of his harness is by backing up and slipping out. One huge way to reduce this is to decrease tension on the leash and harness. Talk and move calmly so as not to frighten them.<\/p>\n

Never Yell or Run After an Escaped Animal<\/h3>\n

When Lincoln bolted, I was panicked, and my first reaction was to yell his name and run after him, but this is incredibly faulty. How you feel (panicked, scared, etc.) should not be how you act. Never\u2014and I mean never\u2014yell or run after an escaped animal.<\/p>\n

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Yelling and running immediately triggers their fear response, so maintaining a calm, neutral voice helps decreases the build up of fear, and maintaining sight on them as they run helps to locate them sooner versus later.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I know this goes against every natural instinct, but your natural instincts will make the situation worse no matter how great of a bond you have. Plus, let\u2019s be honest, too, even in best conditions, people cannot run as fast as a dog or cat.<\/p>\n

Reconsider a Search Party<\/h3>\n

When we lost Lincoln, I called in many people, which meant there were numerous feet walking and numerous \u201cLincoln\u201ds being called. If an animal is scared enough to flee from those it loves, the more people walking and yelling only makes that animal think there are more predators so it will further hunker down. Instead, keep a search party intimate. Only those your animal knows and trusts are allowed in.<\/p>\n

Search Quietly<\/h3>\n

We read and heard when searching to search quietly, even silently. This was another area we messed up on because along with calling in many people, some of those people rode with four-wheelers, which means on top of Lincoln already being scared enough to run from us\u2014the people he loves and trusts most\u2014he was then terrified of the new voices and then paralyzed by a four-wheeler circling in the area. In short, we made it unsafe in Lincoln\u2019s eyes, and that cost us time in getting him back.<\/p>\n

A note on what to<\/em> do: Walk silently at night and shine a flashlight in tucked away or tight areas. Look for the light reflection in your animals\u2019 eyes.<\/p>\n

Remember Facts<\/h3>\n

Remember facts because they are in your favor \u2026<\/p>\n

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About 75% of cats stay within two blocks of where they escaped. Therefore, more than likely, your cat is close.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Also, remember your mind is your worst enemy. Your biggest fears will render you unmovable \u2026 if you let them. Imagining the worst case scenario is unhelpful to your efforts, and the chance that the worst case scenario happens is highly unlikely. It turns out Lincoln was positively identified at the precise location he went missing, which goes to show my panicked and fearful mind was worse than reality.<\/p>\n

Keep Records<\/h3>\n

Similar to remembering facts, keeping records is super important in a few different ways \u2026<\/p>\n

First, it was alarming how quickly Andy and I forgot what happened. For instance, Lincoln bolted, and I ran after him. When I did not see him and Andy asked what direction Linc went, I immediately could not remember.<\/p>\n

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This is why\u2014as odd as it sounds\u2014we recommend filming yourself immediately at the height of any crazy moment because you can rewatch what you said to aid your memory.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Records also keep track of who you contacted, what you requested, what was done, and what you could continue to do. I had a pages-long document detailing this, and it was so helpful when Lincoln was found because I knew exactly who I needed to provide updates to.<\/p>\n

Lastly, we had timelines of sighting dates and times, maps of posted flier locations, top scent locations, and trail camera spots. Listing the last two specifically aided us when we removed fliers and pulled down our trail cameras.<\/p>\n

Place Scent Articles<\/h3>\n

Scent articles should be of you<\/em>\u2014not your animal. The founder of a nonprofit group that focuses on helping stray cats told us, \u201cLincoln isn\u2019t looking for his scent. He wants your<\/em> scent.\u201d With this in mind, scent articles should be worn clothing that came into direct contact with your skin\u2014the sweatier and dirtier the better. <\/p>\n

As far as where to put the articles, it is highly recommended to place them at the location<\/em> an animal disappeared to help bring the animal back to that area. Hang<\/em> clothes along tree branches versus placing it on the ground because the wind can carry the scent.<\/p>\n

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The left image shows Andy\u2019s shirt hung on a tree branch in the woods where we believed Lincoln ran.
The right image shows a blanket we use at the location of Lincoln\u2019s escape.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also, place scent articles on top of trail cameras. By doing this, an animal can smell the clothing, and you can capture a picture or video, which will confirm your animal\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

Also, a note on what scent article not<\/em> to use: A popular misconception is placing your cat\u2019s litter box outside.<\/p>\n

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We learned by both trackers and trappers that litter boxes should not<\/em> be used.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The smell signals to predators (such as other cats and wild animals such as foxes and coyotes) that there is a new cat, so those predators turn their attention to hunting down the new visitor, and that puts your cat in danger. Also, if hiring a tracker with a K9, the ammonia smell cancels the scent.<\/p>\n

Last note on a common misconception: Never use another animal as bait, such as the other cat or dog that lives with the lost animal. This can backfire in many ways. For the \u201cbaited\u201d animal, plans could backfire and then two animals are lost, the \u201cbaited\u201d animal would also experience unnecessary stress, the \u201cbaited\u201d animal could be traumatized by the incident\u2014after all, cats should never go in cages so to do that, would genuinely be traumatizing to it. As far as your lost animal, remember it ran from you\u2014the person it loves and trusts most\u2014so hearing or seeing another animal caged\u2014even if it knows the animal\u2014will make the lost one feel suspicious and fearful.<\/p>\n

Stay at the Escape Location<\/h3>\n

This can be argued, but Andy and I had success bringing Lincoln home, and one action we did was staying at the area Lincoln escaped\u2014and when I say \u201cstaying,\u201d I mean physically camping and living out of a tent until Linc was rescued.<\/p>\n

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I will add that I think staying at the area is essential if the animal escaped in an unfamiliar place. For us, Lincoln had nothing to associate where he bolted, so we believe having our scent at that location the entire time really helped.<\/p>\n

Another reason we support staying at the site is due to trapping\u2014the first day our trap was used, Lincoln prematurely triggered the trap, which prevented him from getting inside. We learned premature triggers happen frequently too, so being able to quickly reset the trap allows for more time to trap the animal.<\/p>\n

There are thoughts to keep in mind if you do camp: Camp quietly\u2014in voice and actions, do not bring strong smelling foods so that predators are decreased, and keep the location the same as much as possible. More detail on the last one: Do not move your tent in one location, then another, then another or scatter tons of belongings in the area. Changes are suspicious to a lost animal. Your goal is creating familiarity.<\/p>\n

Spread the Word<\/h3>\n

Raising awareness about a lost pet increases the odds of finding that animal, and raising awareness comes in two forms: Online and in person.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to online efforts, mark your animal as missing with your microchip company.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That way, if your pet is scanned, there will be immediate realization to your situation.<\/p>\n

Other online efforts we did were creating a shareable Facebook post and asking family and friends to share it.<\/p>\n

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People we did not even know reached out to us, saying they were in the area and would search for Lincoln\u2014those extra sets of eyes are a major advantage.<\/p>\n

Consider opening a PawBoost listing<\/a>, which is a national database for lost (and found) pets that spreads through the real and online community in shelters, rescues, animal control, and partners who help lost pets.\u00a0You do have to pay and pay to renew (every week), but the reach is far. Additional listings can be done with PetCo Lost Love<\/a> and Pet FBI<\/a>. Other online efforts can include contacting animal rescue organizations, animal care and control, animal shelters, animal emergency centers, and veterinarian centers. Also, it can help opening and posting in\u00a0Nextdoor<\/a>, which is a social networking app for people in the same neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Looking at in-person efforts, create fliers that are clear and simple:<\/p>\n