05/31/2026
Missing feline calls are picking up as we head into summer, and I want to make sure people have solid information before panic sets in. 🐾
Most of the time, a missing kitty is hiding — not gone. Where they are and how you find them depends a lot on their personality, and the first 24 to 48 hours matter most.
A few things I see people get wrong every time:
Chasing them when they're spotted. Don't. Stay low, stay calm, let them come to you.
Asking a neighbor to "look around." Not enough. Ask permission to search their yard yourself — under the deck, behind the shed, inside the garage. Your neighbor is not going to do that for you.
Setting a trap with no plan. Start with a feeding station and a trail camera first. Confirm your animal is actually in the area before anything else. If you get to the point where trapping makes sense, reach out to me through dispatch and we'll talk it through.
I put together a full guide covering all of it — behavior, search timing, signage, shelter contacts, what actually works and what doesn't:
👉 https://oxfordaco.com/2024/09/20/how-to-find-your-missing-cat/
If your missing feline is in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, or the Oxford County UTs, report it through Oxford County Dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0. If you're outside my area, the guide has a link to find your local ACO through the State of Maine.
