As a public service for the residents of Windsor/Essex and Chatham/Kent counties, Jazzpurr Society has started this webpage for those who have lost or found a companion animal. It does not replace other methods of locating your lost companion. Please be sure to call the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society daily, other local shelters, do a thorough search of your neighbourhood periodically, talk to neighbours and mail carriers. Put up posters in your neighbourhood, community centres, libraries, laundromats, convenience stores, etc. Remember to also place an ad in the Windsor Star's Lost & Found Classifieds.
We highly recommend that all companion animals be micro-chipped at your local veterinary clinic.
What + Who = Where: Feline Behavior Profiling
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Question from Michelle:
My indoor/outdoor cat has been missing since January 7th of this year. I've had him for 12 years and we are very bonded. He had been feeling stressed due to a temporary visitor and a younger male cat struggling for dominance.
Wyatt always stayed very close to the house, however, the week before he disappeared he had started going two houses down and sleeping in a neighbor's shed during the day. When I came home I would go down there and he would come home with me as soon as he heard me call him. On the day he disappeared we got a snowfall that lasted a full week. He was home with me in the morning. I left for 3 hours and never saw him again.
I went back to the shed and called, climbed in and looked around - nothing. I crawled under my neighbor's house, posted flyers, filed lost cat photo/report with shelter, ran a lost ad with photo in local paper, walked the neighborhood at night when it's quiet, calling and calling. My feeling is that Wyatt either left because he was stressed or wandered so far that he became displaced. Predators are a possibility but he went missing in the early evening and coyotes/raccoons don't usually show up in this area until much later.
It's been 5 months and I think of him daily. I run a cat rescue org. and just lent a trap to a woman who recovered her own cat after 4 months - he was 2 miles from her house. Should I continue to look and expand my search area? Wyatt is not xenophobic. He may be initially shy or freaked out but I feel he would eventually approach a person for help since that's what he's known. I've seen that before in cats that I have rescued.
Thanks for any advice!
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Response from Kat Albrecht:
Previously I spoke about the behavior of xenophobic cats and how the use of baited humane traps can be used as a recovery tool. I stressed the fact that in the majority of cases, these cats will not travel far but will often be found within a very close proximity to their escape point. This is not the case with indoor/outdoor access cats that suddenly vanish. They are two distinctly different types of investigations. The tactics, techniques, and resources that we (Missing Pet Partnership) uses in our search efforts for a missing dog vs. a displaced indoor-only cat vs. an outdoor-access cat that has vanished are entirely different.
In any investigation, there is a question that must be answered - a riddle that must be solved. In a homicide case, the question is "who done it?" In a plane crash, the question is "how did this happen?" The investigative question to ask in lost dog investigations is "WHO HAS THIS DOG?" because unless the dog is xenophobic and is avoiding people or it is lost in the wilderness, it will most likely be picked up by someone who then determines (and controls) what happens to the dog. The investigative question to ask in displaced, indoor-only cat investigations where the cat has escaped outdoors is "WHERE IS THIS CAT HIDING?" because in nearly all cases, the cat is going to at least initially hide near the escape point. Then, depending on its temperament, it may begin to travel. And finally, as in your case, the investigative question to ask in the disappearance of an outdoor-access cat that has suddenly disappeared is "WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS CAT?"
When an outdoor cat disappears it means something has happened to the cat to interrupt the customary behavior of coming home. I have been working since 1998 to develop Feline Behavioral Profiling - a system of classifying lost cat behavior into eight designated "probability categories" (listed at the bottom of this message) in order to make a prediction of what likely happened to a lost cat. Criminal profiling (developed by the FBI in the 1970's) involves the science of examining the "behavior" and signature of a crime scene and giving an analysis as to the personality profile of the offender. The mathematical formula that the FBI uses is "WHAT + HOW = WHO" (what the suspect did and how they did it can lead to WHO committed the crime). In Feline Behavioral Profiling, we can examine the circumstances and the temperament of a cat in order to predict what happened to the cat. The mathematical formula that we use in Feline Behavioral Profiling is "WHAT + WHO = WHERE" (what most likely happened to the cat and how that cat typically behaves can lead to WHERE the cat can be found).
In order for me to give accurate advice about your lost cat Wyatt, I would really need to interview you in great detail to get an accurate picture of this cat and the circumstances. You gave me a few good details, but there are really a multitude of other questions that need to be answered. For example, are there any cat-hating neighbors in the area who may have wanted to remove your cat intentionally from the area? Are there any known cat hoarders who possess 100 cats who may have taken Wyatt into their home? Was Wyatt gregarious and likely to approach strangers? If not - if he tended to dart and hide from them - then you can rule out the fact that someone "rescued" or "stole" him (unless they set a baited humane trap or had a net). Has Wyatt ever climbed on or inside cars? If so, then he is at risk of being displaced. But you said he disappeared in January during a snowy time so the probability that he climbed into an open window or open van is dramatically reduced. He could, however, be at risk of climbing into a car engine to keep warm - having been wounded or killed or transported out of the area because of this act - but you probably would have found him on or inside cars in the past. Do you see how each missing cat case is unique and how the actions and temperament of an individual cat will influence the predictions of what most likely happened to a lost cat?
Obviously, just as is the case with criminal profiling, Feline Behavioral Profiling is not an exact science but it has proven to be effective in the past. Because I am working on so many aspects of trying to develop lost pet services, I am no longer able to offer profiling services. But I have certified one person, Jenne Mundy, in Feline Behavioral Profiling. Even though so many months have passed, I encourage you - and anyone else who has an outdoor-access cat vanish - to consider using her services in order to get a clear assessment of what might have happened to your cat. It may not bring Wyatt back home, but perhaps it will give you information that will help you - you just never know. Jenne Mundy's web site is www.catprofiler.com.
One last comment - you mentioned that you checked around the shed and crawled around under your neighbor's house -but did you climb around under ALL of the neighbor's houses within a 3 to 5 house radius of your home? If you only crawled under the house with the shed, then it is quite possible that he became trapped under a house that you did not search. Absent someone humanely trapping him, someone picking him up and taking him into their home, him being killed by a predator, him being chased off by another cat or dog which caused him to be displaced, or him climbing into a car engine and being transported out of the area - then the only thing left is that he became trapped or was injured/killed within his territory. And if that was the case, then his instinctive response would have been to crawl under or in something within his territory. So you might, even at this late stage, get permission to from all of your neighbors to crawl under their homes to search for his remains. If you conduct a search like this, I suggest that you don't tell them you want to look for a cat that has been missing since January as they will think you are NUTS. Just tell them you think your lost cat might be hiding under their house and ask permission to crawl and look for it. While using a flashlight, use your nose, your ears, and your eyes. This will sound morbid, but you may be able to detect the odor of decomposition, you may see something flat and furry, or you may hear flies buzzing. If you are like me, when my cat was missing, even if she was dead I just wanted the closure. I hope this offers some type of information that is helpful to you.
Below are the eight probability categories that I mentioned above. Whatever happened to your cat falls into one of these categories.
PROFILING TERMINOLOGY
If your outdoor-access cat is missing, there are eight categories of what may have happened:
#1 Probability of Theft
By "theft" we mean that someone intentionally took your pet from you or your property with the specific intent to permanently deprive you of that pet. A purebred or exotic cat that is "over friendly" and wearing no collar and living with an owner in an apartment complex is at a higher risk of theft than is a skittish domestic short-haired gray tabby that lives on a farm and runs from people. In order for an animal to score high in this area, there would need to be indications that the animal was at high risk (i.e. purebred, rash of disappearances, physical evidence, revenge motive, etc.)
#2 Probability of "Rescue"
By "rescue" we mean that someone has found your pet and assumed that it was abandoned. This is where a rescuer felt they needed to "save" this animal and took it into protective custody and either kept it, turned it into a rescue group, or gave it to someone else. Often times these rescuers do not make any attempt to find the missing animal's owner. Dogs wearing no collars are at higher risk in this category than are cats.
#3 Probability of Intentional Disposal
By "intent to dispose" we mean that someone either wanted to kill your pet or wanted to remove it from the area. Barking dogs, outdoor-access cats that defecate away from their guardian's yards are at risk of this category. So are animals that live in the area of bird fanciers, animal haters, fighting dog (pit bull and other fighting breeds) ring members, and people who take pleasure in committing acts of cruelty to animals.
#4 Probability of Unintentional Displacement
By "unintentional displacement" we mean that someone accidentally moved your pet out of the area but did not know it. This most often happens to curious cats that climb into open car windows, open moving vans, or could have crawled inside an object (box, couch, etc.) that was moved out of the area. Cats that have been known to climb into cars in the past are at high risk in this area whereas cats who hate and fear cars and open vehicles are a low risk.
#5 Probability of Injury, Illness, or Death
It is obvious what is meant here-we are looking at how likely it was that your cat might have succumbed to an illness, injury, or poisoning. Unfortunately, this is always a risk when a cat ventures outdoors. But we have discovered that an injured cat will most often seek shelter within its established territory. A recent study showed that 90% of injured/deceased cats were found within a one-house radius of their owner's home and 80% of them were concealed. Sixty-three percent of these cats were not killed instantly but 100% were within areas that their owner's had searched several times. What this means is that many of these cats were alive but did not meow when their owner's called. In order to rule out the possibility that your cat fell into this category, you need to obtain permission from all of your neighbors to go into their yards and search for your cat yourself. Use a flashlight, look under and in everything and understand that your cat might be there but as an instinctive protective measure, it might not meow and respond.
#6 Probability of Wildlife Kill
If you have seen or heard wildlife like coyotes, foxes or bobcats in your area, then your pet is at some level of risk. The terrain and frequency of sightings will often dictate the level of risk.
#7 Probability of Being Trapped
Because of their curious nature, cats become trapped. Whether inside of a neighbor's house, shed, under a house, up a tree, or inside a pipe, becoming trapped is one of the primary reasons why cats disappear. Most often a cat will be trapped within its established territory, unless it has been chased out of the immediate area (i.e. up a tree or pole). Even when chased out of the area, most cats can find their way back home, often times using the remarkable "homing instinct." Cats that have shown signs of being trapped in the past (found up a tree, missing for a few days and came home thirsty or hungry) are prone to getting trapped again.
#8 Probability of Territorial Displacement
Cats are territorial and seldom "run away" from home (as dogs do). However, oftentimes they are driven away when another cat beats them up or a dog chases them out of their territory (where they are comfortable) into an area that is unfamiliar. Cats displaced into unfamiliar territory will typically, at least initially, hide in silence. Then, depending on the cat's temperament, some will return home in hours while others will be too panicked to ever return home. Some will begin to travel - even up to miles from home. If you have searched in all of your neighbors yards and you've confirmed that your acat is no longer in your immediate area, then post highly florescent REWARD LOST CAT poster board signs (examples can be seen at www.lostapet.org) at major intersections leading away from your home to generate potential leads.
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Jazzpurr requests a tax-deductible donation of $10 for all Lost Ads. Found Ads can be placed for free.
LOST
To add your lost companion to this section, please send a description and/or photo to . Make sure you provide a contact method (phone and/or email address) for people to contact you. We suggest that you leave out one vital piece of information so that the caller can positively identify you as the rightful guardian when they call.
Please contact us if you find your companion so that we can keep this page as current as possible. All listings will be deleted after 6 months.
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Picture
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Description/Contact
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Added: July 5, 2004
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Shih-tzu dog(male) "Tate" was last seen in the alley behind University Avenue and Campbell. He is beige/white. He was wearing a tiger print collar with a blue bone name tag and green bell vet tag. Has an eye ulcer that requires daily medication to prevent blindness. Very much missed. REWARD
253-8171 or 560-7585
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CAT
Added: April 13, 2005
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Female brown & gray tabby with white. Four paw declawed and tattoo. Missing from the Essex area since April 5, 2005.
776-6486 ext.240 or 776-5865
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CAT
Added: April 12, 2005
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Black cat with small patch of white. "Orphie" is an unneutered male approximately 9-10 months old. No collar. Missing since April 10, 2005 in the California Rd area (between Tecumseh Rd & College Ave.)
966-8734
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Added: March 14, 2005
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White Siberian Husky , 10 month old female last seen on February 2, 2005. She was wearing a blue collar (may be missing), and is bi-eyed. She escaped out of a fenced yard in Amherstburg, Ontario. She been seen running loose throughout Southern Ontario. Sadly missed by owners. Reward!
(519)736-7640 or (519) 996-4832
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Added: January 23, 2005
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Small, black and white. Two years old. Missing from Amherstburg (Texas Rd & Kingsbridge area). "Sasha" has tattoo in her ear #NX2 and is spayed.
736-1415 or 980-8642
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CAT
Added: January 2005
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1 year old tabby with a loonie sized spot on back. Missing from the Marentette & Howard area
254-4521
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Added: January 2005
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Gray cat with orange and white markings. Fixed and declawed kitten. Female. Missing from the Raymond and Virginia Road (Riverside) area
974-2416
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CAT
Added: November 8, 2004
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Black, medium length hair with white spots. Spayed and 4-paw declaw. Missing from the Garvis/Banwell & Riverside area.
735-5377
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CAT
Added: October 29, 2004
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Black female cat with one spot of white on chest. "Chompie" is a spay female who was born with a 2 inch tail, and still has her claws. She has been missing 2-3 weeks from the Riverside area.
944-9894
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CAT
Added: October 19, 2004
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Gray & black male cat. "Tommy" is a 3.5 yr old cat missing from the Roseville Garden/Jefferson area. He was not wearing a collar, and is neutered and declawed.
969-0027
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CAT
Added: September 28, 2004
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Small, skinny black & white spayed female cat 1 year old. Missing from the Central area (Westcott Avenue). No collar, missing 2 days.
974-0752
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Added: August 24, 2004
Revised: September 3, 2004
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Orange male cat, 3 years old. Short hair, not wearing a collar. He has a nick out of the tip of his right ear. "Link" is missing from the Riverside & Buckingham area.
944-0968
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Relisted: April 26, 2005
Added: June 28, 2004
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Male, neutered. "Sloppy" is 2 years old and friendly. Missing from the Reedmere/Raymond (Riverside area) since Friday, June 25th, 2004.
REWARD!
776-7185
816-0207 or 818-3844
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FOUND
To add a found animal to this section, please send a description and/or photo to . Make sure you provide a contact method (phone and/or email address) for people to contact you. We suggest that you leave out one vital piece of information about the animal so that you can test the caller and easily identify the correct guardian. (You wouldn't want the cat going to the wrong person)
Please contact us if you find the rightful guardian, so we can keep this page as current as possible. All listings will be deleted after 6 months.
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Picture
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Description/Contact
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Not the cat; similar
Added: July 25, 2005
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Grey, Russian Blue-type young little cat with green eyes. Very sweet personality, likes everyone. Arrived around July 11, 2005, and has adopted our porch. South Walkerville area. Call if owner, or if interested in adopting.
256-8060
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CAT
Added: April 27, 2005
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Black cat with white feet, green eyes found in the Windermere and Ontario Street area a week ago. Declawed. Very friendly.
258-8041
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CAT
Added: April 23, 2005
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Persian, long hair, declawed found in the College & Felix Avenue area.
991-8002
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CAT
Added: April 23, 2005
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Long hair gray & brown cat, no claws. Found in South Essex, Concession 8.
253-9930
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CAT
Added: February 22, 2005
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Short hair brown tabby with white markings on face, chest and legs, approx 2-5 years old. Has been on Morand St in the Howard and Cabana area since January 2005.
969-8211
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CAT
Added: February 16, 2005
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Very friendly, young cat with dark fur with a few white hairs. Has orange patch on face and thin line of white on nose. Neutered and declawed.
737-6267
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CAT
Added: October 12, 2004
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Small, black cat with green eyes. Approximately 8-9 months old and found in the Pillette Road area two weeks ago.
948-2951
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CAT
Added: October 12, 2004
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Female cat who is mostly white with black on ears and mustache. She has a fluffy tail, golden eyes and is skinny. Was found wearing a blue harness in the Devonshire Heights area last week.
250-7250
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CAT
Added: October 4, 2004
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Female, aprroximately 3 month old kitten. Green eyes, small dark brown & beige tabby with a beige stripe on nose.
723-4084
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CAT
Added: August 24, 2004
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Long hair brown & tan cat. Found in the Riverside (Virginia & Edward Street area) a week ago. Wearing a brown flea collar. Declawed and friendly.
796-5011
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CAT
Added: August 4, 2004
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Large male cat. He is gray with white legs and front. Declawed and friendly. Found on Riverside Drive in the Town of Tecumseh approximately a month ago.
735-0966
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