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missing cat posterHow to Make a Missing Cat Poster

A missing cat poster is something that we all pray we will never need. But when one of our cats go missing a lost cat poster is essential to let people know that your cat is lost and that you are looking for your cat. Rest assured most people are sympathetic and when losing a pet people will tray and help, using a missing cat poster will be one of the best ways we can ask people to help!

Now if the worst has happened and your cat is lost and you need to make a missing cat poster then the chances are you are very worried and you want to just download a lost cat poster template and alter it to suit.

missing cat poster template
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Missing Cat Poster Template

I have made a template that you can download, I have used Microsoft Word and all the fields are editable so it should be fairly easy to modify the template. If you need help then I can be contacted through the comments section at the bottom of the page, I will do my best to help you make a poster.

Below I have given a breakdown of some of the best things to include on your missing cat poster and why. I have also added a section at the bottom that gives ideas of where to display your poster and where to hand out flyers.

Photograph of Your Cat

lost cat photoI cannot stress enough just how important a photograph of your cat is on your lost cat poster. Don’t forget most people will only glance at your poster and will probably not read the description of your cat at all. The photograph should ideally be a close up of your cat including face, eyes open and as much of your cat as possible.

Layout of Lost Cat Poster

From the top of the page to the bottom –

  • Start with LOST CAT in large capital letters, red bold text in a simple font such as Arial works well.
  • Then have the photo of your lost cat, the photo should dominate the page.
  • Next consider using the word REWARD, again capitalised.
  • Your contact details – Name and Phone Number only.
  • Follow this in smaller text a description of your cat and where the cat was last seen
  • Finally add your name and phone number on tear of strips at the bottom of the page.

lost cat poster exampleMost people will only glance at your poster. You need them to very quickly see three things. LOST CAT, photo of your cat (they may have already seen your cat without realising she was lost) and REWARD.  These are the three things that will make them take notice and read the rest of your poster.

Offering a reward could make the difference when trying to find your lost cat. Somebody may have taken the cat in or even stolen your cat; a reward could tempt them to contact you. Kids will look for your cat and if a reward is offered be prepared for every kid in the neighbourhood contacting you as believe me a reward will have them all searching. This is another reason why a good photo and description is essential.

When you add your name and phone number make them easy to find on your missing cat poster and even consider adding tear off slips at the bottom of your poster that people can take with your name and phone number. I would advise against adding your address to the poster.

Description

Now the description of your cat is very important, yes they have the photo but with a description they have a bit more to go on and you can highlight features of your cat that they may not have taken in by glancing at the photo.

Another thing to remember is that not everyone owns cats, and most people that own cats don’t have pedigree cats so using terms that you would here at a cat show are not going to help.

Bad Example – Mature Red Point Siamese Queen of show winning type. Vivid blue eyes, straight profile and good chin. Excellent points colour with clear coat, wonderful coat texture which lies close.  Whippy tail, tall legs with an elegant frame.

Good Example – 3 year old Siamese cat with short coat. No collar but is microchipped. She has ginger ears with ginger tabby stripes on her face and tail, pale white/cream coat and legs. She has blue eyes a long face, very big ears, long legs, body and tail.

Remember to describe what a ‘non-cat person’ would see. Don’t use terms that a cat breeder or judge would use, describe the cat as a laymen would. Just say what you see. e.g Blue = Grey, Red = Ginger, Havana = Brown, Apricot = Ginger.

At the end of your description don’t forget to add where your cat was last seen and also add a final plea such as she is an indoor cat with no road sense or she is epileptic and needs daily medication. Also don’t forget to say if your cat was wearing a collar or indeed if your cat is microchipped.

Is Your Poster Fit for the Purpose

If you intend to display your poster in a shop window or notice board then a piece of A4 paper should be fine. However if you wish to display your poster outside then you will need to protect it from the rain and wind by covering it in a plastic see through cover.

If you are thinking of putting your poster on a lamppost then you will need to not only protect from the elements but also put the poster on card to make it rigid otherwise the wind will blow it and nobody will read it if it is wrapped around the lamppost.

Where to Display a Missing Cat Poster

Now the location of where you display your missing cat poster is probably just as important as the actual design and content of the poster. There is no point in following all the steps above if nobody ever actually sees the lost cat poster!

Now obviously you want as many people as possible to see your poster, but you also want the residents both young and old in the immediate and surrounding area to be your main targets. Display your posters initially within a two mile radius of your home (or the place you lost your cat), you can widen the area later if needed.

Using suitable (fit for the purpose) posters and display them  at a height both young and old, tall and short can see them, also consider that drivers at traffic lights will be sat down.

Try and target areas that a lot of people will see your lost cat posters in such a post offices, supermarkets, newsagents, off licences, grocers and corner shops, vets and pet shops. Don’t forget to hand deliver a mail shot or to even put flyers on parked cars.

If you can’t display your poster inside a shop or post office that is on your list then put your poster outside on the nearest visible lamp post. As long as people see the lost cat posters who cares where they are posted.

Also display your missing cat poster outdoors on lampposts and at traffic signals. By adding the posters to lampposts you are likely to catch pedestrians and can also target residential areas. Using traffic signals and railings at traffic junctions you can target drivers and their passengers, remember a large proportion of these people live in your area.

Finally and this could sound a bit strange but it could be an idea to make a missing cat poster before your cat is lost. This way you don’t have to look for a suitable photograph or mess about trying to make a decent poster. Writing the description will be easier as your cat is sat in front of you so you can write what you see and you will be calm and collected as you are not stressed out because your cat is missing.

Now hopefully your cat will be found either through your posters or a vet or animal rescue centre finding a microchip. Now once you a reunited with your cat don’t forget to go round and take these posters down, thank the shopkeepers and anyone who helped because you never know when you might need to advertise your cat has gone missing again!

About the author

Ross Davies

Ross is a UK Siamese & Oriental Cat Breeder breeding and showing his cats and kittens under the prefix Burnthwaites . He is the author on various cat related websites and blogs including 'Siamese Cat Breeder' and 'CattyLicious.com'.

Ross is the creator of this website and has lived with cats since being a very young child. He started breeding cats in 2001 and has showed them successfully breeding many best in show cats.

Ross is a GCCF cat judge and also sits on cat club committees and both the Oriental and Siamese Cat Joint Advisory Committees. He holds certification in both feline behaviour & psychology and also cat anxiety and stress.

Ross writes extensively about cats and has been featured in magazines such as Your Cat and Our Cats and also guest authored on newsletters for various cat organisations. He is also a guest speaker at cat seminars.


Tags

cat safety, lost cat


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  1. Hi and thank you very much for all the information on how best to construct the poster & how to distribute it. Could you please let me know why you advise not to put my address on the poster? At the moment all I can think is the more information the better but I may be missing something (other than my cat).

    Thank you

    1. Hi James

      Adding your address potentially leaves you more vulnerable to people trying to scam you. For me I would suggest not adding your address, but I guess if you have your wits about you then you could add the address if you thought it would help.

  2. Hi Ross, thanks for this, I’ve used your template for my missing bengal…I also converted it to a jpeg, so I could post over facebook and lost cat forums, as well as emailing to all rescue centres & vets in the area. Fingers crossed!

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