Lost Cats

If a visitor comes in and says they are looking for their lost cat, the best practice is to first ask if they have signed in at front desk for staff to handle:

• If not, send them to Front Office. Tell them staff will meet them on Adoption floor (1) to assist.

• If yes, explain that a staff member will come shortly to help them. If no one shows up in 5 minutes, call the front desk to let them know someone is waiting.

If there is no staff member available to help, ask the following:

• Where was the cat lost?

• When was the cat lost?

• What does the cat look like? Age? Male or female?

• Do you have a picture?

Use this information to check cage cards and make sure they’re not just ‘shopping’, i.e., finding a cat they like and then claiming it as theirs. For example, if someone says their cat was lost on Sep 2 but the cage card indicates an Aug 21 intake, then clearly that is not their cat.

If a potential match is made, the person can take the cage card to Front Office for further confirmation that the cat belongs to them.