Our program offers you advice, tips, and encouragement to assist you in recovering your furry, family member. Our program is based on information learned from Kat Albrecht, founder of the national non-profit organization Missing Pet Partnership in Clovis, California.
Kat is a former police bloodhound handler, crime scene investigator, search-and-rescue manager, and police officer-turned-investigative pet detective. Kat pioneered the use of humane traps to facilitate TAR - Trap and Reunite- a method of using a baited, humane trap in conjunction with a detailed understanding of the behavior of lost cats to recover lost indoor-only cats.
The silence factor. A lost indoor-only cat WILL NOT come when called, will not answer an owner's call, and will not meow until the 7th to 10th day. They will not show themselves, will not emerge during daylight hours, and will not allow themselves to be seen or found during this time. In the few instances where owners or neighbors have gotten a glimpse of their lost cats, the majority of cats immediately fled. This behavior in some cases will continue up to seven weeks, possibly longer.
They're closer than you think. Research indicates that most lost indoor-only cats are hiding much more closely than most people realize, generally within a 2-3 house radius from their home. They hide in sewers, under storage buildings, between fences and under decks - in the smallest and most unlikely places you can imagine. These cats are frightened and revert to feral cat like behaviors - hide, stay quiet, and don't move.
The single most effective way of getting your cat back is through the use of humane traps. It is imperative that you begin the trapping process as soon as possible after losing your cat. At Feral Friends, we recommend the use of two traps strategically placed, baited and set nightly for at least four weeks. In the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we have humane traps available for your use for a fully refundable deposit of $50.00 for one trap or $100.00 for two traps. Please e-mail us for more information.