It was a warm summer day and we had the kitchen door open, the dogs were asleep, and Tucker seized the opportunity to take a freebie. Since he's an indoor cat, we did some research on the Internet, talked with the Vet, the Pet Shop and even got some advice from the ETSY community. Here's what I learned on cat rescue:
1. Indoor cats will typically stay close to home-within a 5 house radius. You need to think like a cat, and look for safe havens like a porch, or deck where they might hide. Sit outside and softly call their name. They may recognize you and come close enough for you to pet them and ultimately bring them inside.
2. Once they are out for a day or so, they will be so scared that they will find a safe spot and freeze in place. They won't come to you during the day when you call, even if you have food or rattle a treat bag. Wait until night comes and when it's quiet, set out a Kitty Buffet. Tuna, treats, and catnip placed near the point of escape, will often entice them to come home.
3. OR, sleep on a sofa with the door open and then food set inside and wait for them to come in. Of course, you risk enticing other critters to come in also. After I found a mouse on my patio heading for the treats, I decided on another approach!
4. Open a bedroom window, place a chair nearby for them to jump in and have a fresh can of tuna opened. For three days, Tucker yowled around the house too scared to come in, but the chair near the window did the trick. He finally got close enough for me to pet him, and then I was able to reach down and pull him inside.
5. Last resort, get a humane trap. The Pet Shop suggested to put greens on the bottom, so the metal won't scare them. Set the trap, place their favorite food inside, and then wait up for the cat to step inside. The cat will be terrified, so you'll need to be awake and able to bring them inside quickly and release.
Hope one of these tips work if you every have to initiate a cat rescue!
Hello SITSTA! I have a little gray cat that likes to sneak outside every chance he gets. We used to play tricks like that to get him back, but now that I have kids to keep track of, he just has to go play until he gets bored and wants to come back in on his own. Then he meows at the door until we open it. He's an indoor cat, but the bastard wants to explore. He can be outside and crying to get in. We'll open the door two minutes later to leave, and he'll shoot out the door like he hasn't been out in forever. We're trying to be as careful as we can. The neighbors don't like him. I worry that they'll exact revenge one day. But Twilight is so freaking sneaky, that there's really no stopping him.
ReplyDeleteOh my Aunt has a cat and we always have this problem! These are great tips and I will definitely pass these on to her:)
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