Lost and found

Losing your cat is stressful. If your cat goes missing, contact your local council, animal shelter and vet as soon as possible—these agencies often receive 'lost' pets and will scan them for a microchip to find their identity.

What do I do if my cat goes missing?

Act quickly! Cats whose owner can’t be identified by a collar with details or by up to date microchip details, may be rehomed or euthanised.

This is why it's important you register your cat in Dogs and Cats Online and keep the details up-to-date;

• Log in to Dogs and Cats Online and check your contact details are up to date. Update your cat’s status to ‘lost’ and set a message for public display;
• Contact your council, the RSCPA, the Animal Welfare League and local vets as soon as possible – your cat may have been collected and taken to a shelter;
• Notify your neighbours;
• Place an advertisement or lost notice on community notice boards and social media sites, e.g. the Lost Pets of South Australia Facebook page and the Animal Welfare League of South Australia has a section for lost and found pets on their website;
• Check any additional microchip registries have your up-to-date contact details.

Include the follow information about your cat in any advertisements or notices you post.

• Time and place last seen;
• Breed;
• Sex (e.g. desexed male);
• Approximate age, size, and colour;
• Any distinguishing features;
• Whether it was wearing a colour.
• A clear colour photo.

I’ve found a cat. What do I do?

If the cat has a collar with identification, call the owner.

Council officers and vets can scan found cats for a microchip and attempt to locate its owner.

If you come across a stray lactating female, try locating her nest and kittens to relocate to a vet or animal shelter.

If the cat requires veterinary assistance, you should transport it to a vet as soon as possible if it is practical and safe for you to do so.