Have You Seen Me?

Here's an interesting story: When pets go missing, dogs are often found while cats stay gone:

Why? Because man’s best friend is more likely to have identification tags and dog owners are more prompt in searching for their missing pets, according to a new study.

The findings, published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that while 71 percent of lost dogs in the Dayton, Ohio, area were reunited with their owners, only 53 percent of lost cats ended up back at home.In her survey of people who ran lost pet ads in local newspapers, Lord found that dog owners contact and visit shelters much sooner than cat owners after the pet goes missing.

More than one-third of the recovered dogs were found after a call or visit to a local animal shelter. Dogs are also more likely to sport tags or carry an ID chip implant, Lord said.

As for cats, they are often without tags and people wait longer to call shelters, which means the cats are often adopted out (or euthanized). Or people will find a "stray" around their house and adopt it that way. Which as it happens is how we got Lopsided Cat; he came around the house one day and decided to stick around. We know he had previous owners -- cats don't neuter themselves -- but who they are and what happened to them is something of a mystery to us. Lopsided Cats been with us for about five years now, however, so I guess he's not exactly pining for those other folks. Their loss; he's a cool cat.

Ever had a cat or dog go missing? Did you find them again?

Tags: Dogs, Cats, The mystery of disappearing pets

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 7 comments: (Add your own)

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6/8/07 11:41 PM | Permalink

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#6 Comment from onestrangecat
1/16/07 10:45 AM | Permalink

I have found missing animals, but mine are always safe and sound at home.

Both of my current cats came from the shelter and they came with the mircochips. The vet had trouble locating Sohpie's chip so I went back to the shelter (they put it in) and after 20 minutes or so they found it, for some reason it had moved. So she got a new one that has stayed in the area it's supposed to be in.

Kathy
#5 Comment from hopelessblondie
1/15/07 4:44 PM | Permalink

I don't live with my mum but my kitten did. He was gone for THREE MONTHS before I found out. If he'd had tags, he might still be my cat instead of somebody else's. (Note:all three of the other cats we've had were strays. He was born to a cat my mom had. Only non-stray. Only one we lost except from death.)
#4 Comment from lurkynat
1/15/07 4:30 PM | Permalink

Awwww!:((looking over at your cat)So John,
are you advocating more id tags with phone numbers for cats?:)
(trying to picture John's cat with id tags.... hmmmmm
natalie
#3 Comment from princesssaurora
1/15/07 4:24 PM | Permalink

We only have indoor cats, safer that way...

be well,
Dawn

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