Tips from Humane Society of Huron Valley on preventing lost cats
The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted a study in 2007 and reported that 48% of all lost dogs had some form of identification while only 19% of cats had a tag or a microchip. Plus, dog owners will start looking for a lost dog within 24 hours, while cat owners wait 3 to 4 days to report a missing cat.
One woman that called recently to report her lost cat said that last time she’d seen him was 10 days ago. We could hear the sadness in her voice at the loss of her beloved cat. When we asked why she’d waited so long to call, she replied “He likes to prowl the neighborhood so I thought he’d just show up when he got bored and come home.” Unfortunately, too many people assume their cat will just show up.
Here’s a fact that cat owner’s in Washtenaw County should know - if your cat gets brought to HSHV with no form of identification it could go up for adoption on the fifth day it is here. That means if you wait more than a few days for your cat to “just show up”, it may already be too late. The cat that you’ve loved and cared for may have been adopted by a new family. That is not the outcome you or he had hoped for.
According to our statistics, only 69 lost cats were reunited with their owners so far this year. That’s 69 out of over 700 stray/lost adult cats listed in our system. Despite our best efforts we can only do so much when a grey tabby cat with no other identification comes through our doors.
What can you do? 1. Get your cat a Microchip. HSHV offers $40 microchips. Call (734) 662-4365 to schedule your appointment. 2. Get a collar and identification tag for your cat. Many places offer this service. If a cat wanders around with no collar, your neighbors may assume it has been dumped and bring it to HSHV. 3. Call HSHV to report your lost cat within 24 hours of his/her disappearance. Call (734) 662-5585. 4. Post your lost cat on our FREE Lost & Found web site. 5. Start looking for your pet immediately. Cats in the Bag has some wonderful information on how to attract a cat that may be lost or scared.
Please help us find your lost cat, we can’t do it without you. If your cat could talk he or she would tell you that this Thanksgiving they would be forever grateful if you can make sure they can find their way home to you.
Contact Deb Kern, Marketing Director at the Humane Society of Huron Valley at deb@hshv.org. The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving all of Washtenaw County, Canton and Plymouth. The mission of HSHV is to promote responsible and compassionate care of all animals in our community. For more information, call (734) 662-5585 or visit www.hshv.org.
Comments
anti-thug
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 2:42 p.m.
Atticus F. did you ever even seen arrowwood,lol i don't even think a criminal even past the place on Pontiac trial, arrowwood is on Pontiac,come on there was no "murder"the new media created a Sensation,it really had to of been another accidental American shooting, did you the mike Moore move on gun control,anyway the south side of ann arbor is a way different place then the northside
Paul the Malcontent
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 : 6:31 a.m.
http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/veterinary-voice-outdoor-cats-dangerous-for-bird-populations/
mlivesaline
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 11:53 p.m.
I'm sure that Top Cat's neighbors don't her cats running all around their yards. Keep your pet cats indoors and you wouldn't have the heartbreak of losing them. She would be the first to complain if the neighbor dogs were just wandering around free.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 5 p.m.
Wow. I am really glad that my neighbors in Ypsilanti arent terribly uptight about cats wandering on their property. Granted, when I used to have a cat, I let her outside all of the time but she wasnt one to climb fences so she stayed nice and safe in my large backyard, protected from the other neighborhood cats by her two canine body guards. She's dead now (of old age) but she never ran away. Now that she is gone, my next door neighbor's cat is the head cat in the neighborhood. She poops on my garden and you know what? So what? It's a garden. All her poop does is make my flowers grow nicer. And she is a very good mouser and that is a service that I really appreciate. Judging my the huge number of birds in my yard, I dont think she is getting too many of them. I wish my neighbor would get more cats to patrol my yard. They are good for my dogs too who like to play "chase the cat." I will suggest that she microchip the cat though if she hasnt already. I would be sad if that cat were to ever go missing. She is a very nice cat.
Atticus F.
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 4:35 p.m.
Dear god, please stop all creatures (including cats) from "relieving themselves wherever they please"...And god, please also stop all of your creatures (including cats) from "tresspassing" on triplev6's property. Amen.
catydid
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 3:34 p.m.
Cash, I do play with my cat and show it lots of love and affection. I also provide it ample food and water. Plus, short of drugging my cat with antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds or keeping him in a cage, there's absolutely no way possible for me to keep him inside. He actually clawed a hole in the screen of an open window to let himself out at one point. Plus, I have 4 kids who were born in a barn. I do not have a fenced in yard and due to construction in my neighborhood, I can't put one in until the empty lot on the east side of my house is sold and due to the economy, that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon.
TripleVSix
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 2:12 p.m.
If your cat, being an object owned by you and for which you are responsible, comes on to my property and I don't want it on my property, you (not the cat) are trespassing.
AAJoker
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 2:11 p.m.
Any cat owner that allows your animal to run free is irresponsible and truthfully no longer an "owner" but instead simply a provider. No problem with me, I have a live trap on my property waiting for your cat and I'm happy to transport it far far away...
Cash
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 1:47 p.m.
How about keeping your cat INDOORS??? You can build a nice little run for them outside (fenced on top as well) if they MUST go out. Play with your cats a lot and they will be happy inside. I also feed the birds near my patio doors so the cats can watch them (just like cat tv). Cats CAN be happily contained indoors.
catydid
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 1:10 p.m.
We have a cat that we rescued as a kitten. We had him fixed and he had all of his shots but one day he decided he wanted to go outside. As I opened the door to go to work, he ran out. I spent 45 minutes trying to get him back in and had to get to work so I just left him out there and hoped for the best. When I got home that day he was sitting on the porch and ran in as soon as I opened the door. Ever since then, we haven't been able to keep him in. He comes in to use the litter box and to eat and to sleep, but other than that, he's outside. About a year ago he was hit by a car and broke his leg. 2 days and $700 later we brought him home from the vet. The vet said we had to keep him in the house for 4 weeks to give the bone time to heal. We ended up having to give him some pretty hefty meds (valium and amitriptyline) to get him to stay in. Now he meows when he wants out and meows when he wants in. He's a good cat and very friendly and judging by the number of mice he leaves on the front step, he's a pretty good mouser. I guess the point of my story is that there are some cats that will not stay in the house no matter what you do. Based on how much cat litter I go through, he's not using anyone's flower bed as a litter box either.
TripleVSix
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 12:07 p.m.
Here's another idea: don't let your cat wander illegally around the neighborhood. The official term for that is trespassing.
Wolfgang
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 11:28 a.m.
Although I completely disagree with you Top Cat, there is something very poetic about your statement.
kmgeb2000
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 10:57 a.m.
As the shelter is full of cats, it seem that letting cats out is not a wise choice. Between the cars, coyotes and other hazards that abound for cats in the "wild" it just seem stupid to let them outside. They don't respect property boundaries like dogs typically do (with fences), and why should the sand around my house be your cats litter box?
Wolfgang
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 10:33 a.m.
I hear that Vernice! those pesky geese need leashes especially, or some kind of invisible fence to keep them off the sidewalks. I have seen cats on leashes before, but they don't look very happy. I think the most important message to take away from this article is to put identification on your cat. Personally, I don't understand the point of owning a cat if people are going to leave them outside all the time anyway.
Vernice
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 10:26 a.m.
I'd like to point out that birds relieve themselves wherever they please too. My car is proof. I think bird leash laws are in order.
MjC
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 10:12 a.m.
Abororiginal, you can't put a leash on cats (it doesn't work!). Still cats are smart enough to deal with any dog or rare northside coyote (that's what trees are for), and although the cats I've owned have taken out a few mice here and there I've yet to see one ever kill a bird (they fly away). I have seen local hawks take birds out though - maybe we should leash the hawks? My major worry is with uncaring humans. It's why after years of owning cats I've reluctantly kept my newest rescue indoors. Cats love to be outside - it's a quality of life issue and I continue to struggle with this decision. This was a good article for those of us who care for cats - thank you!
Wolfgang
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 9:58 a.m.
whatever Arboriginal. I saw you walking your 3 unleashed cats and baby mountain lion the other day and you had no poo bag on you.
Arboriginal
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 : 7:57 a.m.
"he likes to prowl the neighborhood" How irresponsible! It's time for cat leash laws. Cats kill birds and relieve themselves wherever they please. Do cat owners carry around the little blue bags? Luckily, here on the Northside we have coyotes that help find wandering cats.