BUT FIRST!

Do you or your neighbors have sheds or other infrequently used storage areas? GO CHECK THEM NOW. This is the season when chilly, disoriented cats seek shelter and accidentally get shut in, sometimes for weeks.

Quotes from the families of the lucky ones found in time:

    "Exactly 1 week almost to the hour that our Daphne disappeared (10/18/12), she reappeared tearing across the street. It appears she must have been closed in somewhere. She is in good shape."

    "Good news!  I found Angel this morning!  She was locked in an outbuilding of a neighboring business.  I was doing a walk around the block calling for her and finally heard her.  We had to unscrew an air vent in the eaves to get her out. To add to the story, the business she was locked behind was one of the first places I dropped off the lost cat flier. I mentioned being worried my cat might be in one of their outbuildings and assumed they'd check. Never assume, I should have asked to check back there myself!"

   "Cora is alive and well, though thinner, having spent two weeks in (and around?) our neighbor's packed-full garage. We looked there early on, due to the advice of websites. Our neighbor kept alert eventually found clear signs of a cat in residence. I took over food and a carrier. As we worked our way through the garage, we heard meows. I put down food, and out she came. Lessons learned: do heed the advice to look in nearby sheds and garages, do ask neighbors to be on the lookout." 

  "Hi, we found our cat Kiki tonight. The advice from your web site is what helped me locate him. He was trapped in a neighbor's out building for 7 days. Over the past week I had checked that house and garage a couple of times and didn't hear anything. I just decided to go out tonight while it was quieter and sure enough, I got up to that garage and called out and the reply was loud and clear!"

   "Yes! I found him :)... He was locked in a neighbor's shed the whole time. No one actually lives in the house most of the year, but someone comes to take care of it once a month. He must've gone into the shed to stay dry then the caretaker closed it without realizing he was in there. I thought I heard him meowing when I was walking through the neighborhood, so I came closer to where the sound was and realized where he was. I had to pry the door open just enough for him to squeeze his way out. Poor little guy was so upset and starving. I'm so happy he's ok though! Thanks!"

   " We are very excited to let you know that we found Ludo this afternoon hiding in a neighbor's garage in the rafters four doors down. I would like to share with all cat owners looking for their lost cat not to give up hope and if you want to increase the chances of finding your loved one sooner, make it a point to request permission for you to physically inspect your neighbors back yards and garages/sheds. Also be sure to check shrubs and any high areas such as trees, roofs, and above ground in garages/sheds."

"Kubrick came home last night. It looks like he may have been trapped in someone's garage, and he is very dirty." .

"Yesterday afternoon I got a call from my neighbor up the street - about 10 houses away. Pebbles had been trapped in their shed for some unknown amount of time with no food or water. They think at least 2 weeks... She's been lost for 6 weeks! She was very weak (unable to walk) and is spending a couple days hospitalized, but she will come home hopefully tomorrow!"