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If your cat escaped through an open window, or some other way, DO NOT block that access off. Many times a cat will follow their scent back to the point where they left the home. If you have blocked that access off, your cat will become confused, feel unwanted and leave.
Be careful who you enlist to help you find your cat. Use only the people who the cat knows. A scared or traumatized cat is not going to come to a stranger. Parking strange cars in your yard, will just cause her more confusion and she may retreat farther and farther from her home.
If you are fortunate enough to see your cat, drop down to a sitting position immediately. Do not make eye contact. Your inside only cat is on full alert mode, she is outside for perhaps the first time in her life. There are smells, and sounds that she is being bombarded with. DO NOT run toward her, sit down at an angle so she can see you, but do not approach her.
Talk to her as if she was right next to you. As hard as it is to do, keep your voice CALM adding excitement or emotion to your voice will almost guarantee that she will run from you. If she walks up to you, don't grab her until she is right next to you. Then calmly pick her up, grab her by the scruff of her neck, support her hind legs and hustle her into the house. Breathe a sigh of relief, this was an easy catch!
But what if you have walked three house lengths in all directions and you still don't see your cat? How long do you wait before you spring into action?
You don't wait. You simply can't. Her being outside exposes her every minute to dangers. If your neighbors have barking dogs, she could be huddled under the porch of a house scared to move. If you have trees on your property or near it, don't neglect looking up. Cats when they are scared and they can't find a good hidey-hole they will climb. Look on telephone poles and power poles as well as in the trees.
Grab that photograph off your fridge and start knocking on doors. Get permission from homeowners to look under porches, inside garages, sheds, inside cars or trailers. Be thorough in your search. Don't tresspass. Get permission from the owners before venturing on the property. Show the photograph especially to the kids in the house and ask them to contact you if they see her. Pass out your business card if you have to, but leave contact information at every home on the block or in the area.
Make fliers up, either on your home computer, or have the local printing company make them. Put them on sturdy paper. I suggest you buy a roll of clear shelf paper, the sticky type and put that over the poster or the flier. Tack the posters up at eye level everywhere you can. Vet's offices, feed stores, pet stores, grocery stores, local shops, telephone poles, street corners. Don't stuff these fliers inside other peoples mailboxes. That is against the law, and all it will get you is a lecture, or a fine.
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