In Brown County, when a cat goes missing, many owners blame the coyotes. We hear it all the time: “Our cat got lost and we just assumed a coyote got it.”
While that may be true in some cases, it’s more likely that the cat was picked up and brought to the shelter, or taken in by another family who thought it was a stray.
Last year, we received more than 100 lost cats at the shelter and only eight were reunited with their owners, compared with 113 dogs.
According to the ASPCA, only 5 percent of cats are returned to their owner by shelters every year.
There’s always hope that your missing cat might be found. First, be sure to contact us at 812-988-7362 and fill out a lost cat report. Give as much detail as possible to help us identify your pet if it’s brought to the shelter.
An indoor cat that escapes will likely be frightened and will most often stay close to home and hide. Make sure you conduct a thorough search in every nook and cranny inside and outside your home. Look under decks and in bushes, barns and outbuildings.
Even if your cat is friendly, he may be too scared to come out when you call him. Try searching at night with a flashlight so you can see your cat’s eyes.
Put out food, water and a litter box. If your cat is hiding out nearby, he may come back home looking for food and water.
If your outdoor cat is missing, first check with any nearby neighbors. Someone may have just picked him up thinking he was lost. If you’ve recently moved across town, check your old neighborhood, as your cat may still think that’s where home is.
Most importantly, be sure that your cat has identification. Getting your cat microchipped will help us locate you if your cat is brought to the shelter or to a vet. Having your cat also wear a collar with identification will help strangers know whether he’s close to home and that he does have an owner.
Don’t give up! We recently reunited a young girl with her cat that was missing for five months.
For much more information on finding lost pets, including how to get the word out via posters and social media, visit our website at bchumane.org/lostfound-pets.
— Brown County Humane Society
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In June and July only, spay Mama and we’ll fix her babies for free. Call SPOT at 812-703-0797
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If you sit for a minute, Bootsie appears, looking for a chin rub and a lap to lay in. He’ll wait patiently for everyone to get settled before he decides which lap looks the coziest.
Quiet and undemanding, Bootsie is not one to be under foot all the time. He’s fine entertaining himself for most of the day but likes to play attention when someone has time to interact with him.
Bootsie has been diagnosed with feline leukemia virus, but is currently healthy and ready for a new home. He’ll need to be an only cat or housed with other cats that also have feline leukemia.
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Call the humane society at 812-988-7362 to see if it’s been brought in and to fill out a report.
Check our Facebook page at facebook.com/bchumane.
Read our tips on looking for a lost pet at bchumane.org/lostfound-pets.
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