Never underestimate the distance an animal can travel. If there is an open, unrestricted area (i.e. no gardens, fields, farms, train tracks, riverbeds, beaches, etc.) then an animal can walk or run a kilometre within 2 or less hours. Depending on whether running or walking. In the case of cats, If the area is built up it can be approximately 1km in 2 days.
During stressful situations a natural self-preservation instinct usually kicks in. This means an animal will hide, not respond to calls or will not call out.
If you find your animal, never approach them unless they approach you. Even though you are so happy and relieved, let them come to you, or walk towards them low down and slow.
Cats prefer hiding in backyards because there are normally more spaces to hide. Even though you might be on the right track, you can easily miss them.
Never walk up and down calling an animal if you are close to home, start at the furthest point and call as you are walking back towards your house.
Don't call and walk away, wait for a response, call and wait a little while.
Driving while searching is usually not advisable, you will drive faster than a scared animal that is hiding can react to and drive past them.
Finding a cat in the day is extremely hard. Cats are crepuscular animals which means they are usually most active before and at pre-dawn, dawn, dusk and early to late evenings, I normally don't recommend active searching during the day when searching for cats.
Searching for dogs, daytime is best, in the summer, avoid searching during the hottest time of the day.
If you have other dogs, take them with you on the search, let them lead you, and do not force them to keep walking if they are busy smelling the area, follow them. They will not only spread familiar scent on the road, but the can also sometimes sniff to see which way the other dog went. Ensure that the tar is not too hot before taking your dog out, if you can’t put your foot on the ground without it burning, then your dog cannot walk on the tar.
Use torches (not cell phone torches) to search, torches allow the eyes to reflect, making them easier to see at night. Slowly move the torch side to side to give different angles for the eyes to reflect off the light.
Physically search inside bushes, they may not respond to calls, even from people they know.
Scatter a cat’s used litter in strategic places around your garden – and at the front gate of your property – do not use all the litter at once. If the cat does not use cat litter, dig up some soil from a used garden spot and use that for the scent instead of litter.
Hang up some dirty washing on the clothesline. Include a piece of clothing or blankets of each family members including other pets.
When making a missing poster, ensure that the following information is on it: NAME, AGE, GENDER AND STERILISATION STATUS, AREA (include the road name, suburb, area and province), DATE, 2 CONTACT NUMBERS, MICROCHIP STATUS, COLLAR COLOUR, DISTINGUISHING MARKINGS, MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
If your pet is missing in a rural area, or where there are informal settlements, find out which low-cost local language newspaper is sold there (e.g. Isolweze in KZN). Take out an advertisement in that paper with the reward stated.
Never hand over money to anyone claiming to know where the pet is, even if they state the animal's life is in danger. Fraudsters will often put you into a state of panic - they know you are desperate, and they prey on that.
Never meet anyone on your own. If the police cannot escort you, request a family member or security company to assist.
Stay safe, be aware of your surroundings and carry pepper spray if you have some.
Always ensure that you keep your phone's location on when searching and download a cell phone app like Life 360 which will allow your family or friends to keep an eye on you in real time.
Offer a reward if financially possible.
Sadly, most people are often only willing to assist when money is involved - I have had many clients who ask neighbours to search their yards with no luck, only for them to miraculously find an animal within a couple of hours after a reward is offered.
Hand out flyers to car guards, security guards, community police and petrol attendants if any places in your neighbourhood have these. People who work later in the evening or early in the morning have a higher chance of spotting your pet, please ensure to tell them not to approach the animal.
Advise your pet microchip company that they are missing to set an alert on that microchip. Ensure that your details and photos are up to date.
Call the 3 nearest SPCA's and all welfare organisations in the area. Some people tend to prefer one SPCA to another and will sometimes take an animal out of one area to another.
PHYSICALLY Go into The SPCA's or welfare organisations, and hand them a flier with a clear picture of the animal. Visiting these organisations at least every 4th day is highly recommended (in case of a shelter that has no option but to make space by euthanasia) I have had a few clients who called to report their animal missing, to be told their animal is not there and when they physically go their pet is in a holding area - your description of a pet might not be the same as someone else's.
Facebook is a must - plaster the posts in your area's Facebook groups, lost and found pages, etc.
Get in touch with your area's street WhatsApp groups, if you need assistance with contact numbers for the street groups, contact or go and see your area's ward counsellor to see if they have a list - proactive ward counsellors should have a list.
In at least a 5km radius. If you have a missing cat, find out if there are any feral catch, spay and release programs in the area or an area where feral cats are fed. Tame cats will join feral colonies if they find one because of the regular food source.
