Lost your pet? The first 24 hours

The first hours after a pet goes missing matter most. These proven steps raise the chance it comes home, in the order to do them.

First hour: Search nearby, quietly

Start where you last saw it. Cats usually hide very close (within a few houses) and stay silent; dogs may travel further.
Call its name calmly, shake its food bag or favourite treats, and bring a toy it loves.
Check hiding spots: under cars, in bushes, stairwells, garages, rooftops, behind AC units. Ask building guards and cleaners.
Leave the door open if you can, with its bed, litter box (for cats) or clothes you have worn near the entrance — your scent guides it home.

Post an ad on Ulfa: clear photos (face and side), where and when you last saw it, and any distinguishing marks. Turn on phone notifications so sightings reach you right away.
Share the ad link in neighbourhood WhatsApp groups and on social media — the link shows your pet’s photo.
Print the paper poster from your ad’s page (its QR code opens the ad) and put it up at mosques, corner shops, vets and supermarkets, at eye level.
Talk to neighbours, building guards and delivery drivers — they move around the area the most.

Call or visit nearby vets, shelters and animal welfare groups, and leave its photo and your number.
If it is microchipped, contact the registry and make sure your phone number is up to date.
Search again at quiet times — dawn and late at night. Cats come out when it is calm; use a torch, their eyes reflect the light.
Follow the sightings on your ad and go to every spot it was seen.

Keep the ad active: bump it once a week and renew it before it ends.
Visit shelters in person every few days — descriptions over the phone are often wrong.
Turn on an alert for your city to hear about every new “found pet” ad; Ulfa also matches lost and found ads automatically.
Many pets come home after weeks. Don’t lose hope.

Never send money before you see your pet yourself, even for a “delivery fee” or “deposit”.
Keep one distinguishing mark out of the ad, and ask anyone who says they found your pet about it.
Meet in a public place, and bring someone with you.
Never share a verification code you receive by text message.

Approach calmly and don’t chase it. Give it water and keep it somewhere safe.
Check its collar for a number, and take it to any vet to scan for a microchip (usually free).
Post a “found pet” ad on Ulfa with a photo and the place — the site matches it with nearby lost-pet ads automatically.
Before handing it over, ask for proof: older photos, vet records, or the hidden mark.

A collar tag with your number, and a microchip registered in your name.
Keep recent, clear photos of it from several angles.
Close windows and doors when guests or deliveries arrive; neutering also reduces the urge to roam.