lost our cat, help!

Question
Our indoor/outdoor cat went out Wed. last week and did not come home.  It was a beautiful day but then rained and rained for 3 days.  We put up flyers with her picture around our subdivision. Yesterday a lady left a message that she had spotted our darling on her street on Sunday.  She did not leave a number but named the street.  This street is no where near where we live.  Maybe 3 miles away.  Do you have any suggestions?  Anything appreciated.

Answer
Hello,

Is your cat spayed or neutered?  It's kitten time so quite a few unfixed cats are roaming around to make kitties.

If your cat is fixed, then you can put fresh water and food out your door every night before sunset to draw cats back toward your house.  I like using Tuna in oil as it stays more stable and edible during the heat or cold temps also put down as a treat!  

Also you want to be very careful when answering tips on your cat - don't go to any area alone to meet someone "saying" they have seen or have your cat.  

3 miles is not too far for an indoor OUTdoor cat, though indoor cats will not go further than bout 1/2 mile from where they escape - your cat has a wider territory that it knows and has explored.  If a dog chased the cat outside of its territory, it's a matter of scenting enough food around to get it's nose back coming home!

Please let me know after you have some time (maybe this weekend?) to watch your food outside from sunset to dawn (this is when cats will come out to find food), and even if you don't at first see your cat, any cat coming to eat is a GOOD sign - as it will lead others to your food!

Good luck on spotting your cat eating and please don't forget to check your local shelters in person at least every 3rd day, just in case!  Thank you for writing so quickly, as we have a better chance to recapture your darling!

Will be looking for what you see this weekend.

Debbie