Everything You Need to Know About Keeping Your Feline Friends Safe This Lost Cat Awareness Day
Did you know that cats are 11 times more likely to go missing than dogs?* Surprising, isn’t it? And did you know that dogs have a lost dog awareness day (April 23rd) … but cats don’t?!
Well, that’s why identi have taken it upon themselves to introduce Lost Cat Awareness Day on 15th September, a day dedicated to bringing awareness to lost cats and the simple but effective measures you can follow to keep your feline friends safe.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to prevent your cat from going missing, what to do if it happens, and the essential tools every cat keeper should have.
Why Do Cats Go Missing?
It’s easy to assume that cats, being independent and territorial, will always return home. This isn’t always the case. Some of the most common reasons cats go missing include:
- Curiosity or chasing prey too far from home
- Being spooked by loud noises or unfamiliar surroundings
- Moving house and trying to return to an old territory
- Getting trapped in sheds, garages, or vehicles
- Theft. Especially pedigree breeds
Regardless of the reason, the outcome is emotional for both you and your cat.
7 Ways to Keep Your Cat Safe and Prevent Them From Going Missing
- Microchip Your Cat
Microchipping is one of the most effective ways to protect your pet. It’s a legal requirement in the UK (as of 10 June 2024) for all cats to be microchipped before the age of 20 weeks.
- Make sure your cat is microchipped by a vet or trained professional
- The microchip is registered with a DEFRA compliant microchip database
- Keep your details up to date with the microchip database
- If you’ve adopted or rehomed a cat, ensure the chip is transferred into your name
A registered and up to date microchip gives vets, rescues, and animal wardens the ability to reunite you with your lost cat quickly.
- Use a Secure Collar with an ID Tag
While microchipping is essential, a breakaway collar with an ID tag displaying your phone number helps passersby contact you if they spot your cat.
- Install a GPS Tracker
For outdoor cats or curious indoor cats, a GPS tracker can give you real-time location updates. Some trackers even offer virtual fences and activity logs.
- Secure Your Home and Garden
Check for gaps in fences, open windows, or cat flaps that lead to unsafe areas. Keep garages, sheds, and balconies secure and cat-friendly.
- Create a Safe Outdoor Space
If you want your cat to enjoy the outdoors safely:
- Build a catio (cat patio)
- Use cat-proof fencing
- Supervise their garden time
- Provide Mental and Physical Stimulation Indoors
Cats who are stimulated are less likely to try escaping. Toys, scratching posts, puzzle feeders, and climbing towers all help reduce the urge to roam.
- Keep Photos and Identifying Info Up to Date
Who are we to tell you to take more photos of your cat!
Regularly update your cat’s photos and note any distinguishing features. If your cat does go missing, this information is invaluable when creating lost pet posters or submitting reports to databases.
What to Do If Your Cat Goes Missing
Despite every precaution, sometimes cats still disappear. If it happens, act quickly:
- Search the immediate area – Call their name calmly and shake treats or toys they respond to.
- Check hiding spots – Cats can get stuck in sheds, under decking, or even in neighbours’ garages.
- Notify your microchip database – Mark your pet as lost immediately.
- Contact local vets and shelters – Provide a photo and details.
- Post on lost pet platforms and local social media groups
- Use scent items – Place your cat’s blanket or litter tray outside to help guide them home
Cats can return home days or even weeks later. Don’t give up hope too soon.
Remember: With identialert, when a cat is reported missing our Pet Protection Experts will pounce into action alerting local vets, rescues and wardens for you, creating missing pet posters and sharing them to social media. Not only that, you will receive notification when your missing pets microchip information is accessed so you can find out immediately when they have been found!
The Importance of Being Prepared
National Missing Cat Day isn’t just about raising awareness it’s a prompt to take action. With a registered microchip, updated contact details, and preventative tools like ID tags or trackers, you give your cat the best possible chance of being found quickly and safely.
Help Your Cat Stay Found – Not Just be Found
A chip is not enough on its own. Make sure you’re registered on a DEFRA-compliant microchip database like identibase, and explore added services like identialert, which combines your cat’s Digital ID with a 24/7 UK-based pet recovery service.
Losing a cat is every pet keeper’s nightmare – but with preparation, awareness, and the right protection, you can reduce the risk dramatically. Use Lost Cat Awareness Day as your annual reminder to update your records, check your safety measures, and spread the word to fellow cat lovers.
*Based on cat and dog missing pet reports recorded on PetsReunited in 2024.