Lost cat? What to do when your cat goes missing

Check cupboards, wardrobes, under beds and behind appliances. A cat that's unwell or frightened can hide somewhere unexpected and stay silent.

• Check sheds, garages, outbuildings, bins, hedges and under parked cars.
• Ask neighbours to look in their sheds, garages and cars, because cats easily get shut in.
• Take a torch, even in daylight, to look into dark corners.
• Shake a treat packet or their food box. Many cats come to that sound even if they don't come to their name.
• Go out again at quiet times, early in the morning and late in the evening, when it's easier to hear a faint meow.

If your cat wears a PetTag, turn on lost mode from your dashboard. Anyone who scans the tag sees that your cat is missing, and you're emailed when the tag is scanned, often with an approximate location.

• Tell the database your cat's microchip is registered with, and check your phone number and address are up to date.
• Call local vets and rescue centres, including your nearest Cats Protection branch, and send them a photo.
• It's a hard call to make, but your council's street cleansing team can tell you if a cat like yours has been found on the roads.

• Post in local Facebook groups, on Nextdoor and on lost pet pages, with a clear photo, where your cat went missing and how to reach you.
• Register your cat on a UK lost pet site such as Animal Search UK.
• Put posters up nearby and hand them to neighbours: a big photo, the word MISSING, and one phone number.
• If you've moved recently, search around your old home too, because cats sometimes try to go back.

Some cats come home after days or even weeks. Keep checking with vets and rescue centres, and update your posts when there's news. When your cat is home, turn off lost mode and thank everyone who helped.

• A microchip with up-to-date details. In England it's the law for pet cats.
• A quick-release collar with a lightweight ID or QR tag, so a neighbour can reach you without a trip to the vet.
• A few recent photos, including one that shows any markings.
• Keeping them in at night, and during fireworks.