Common Reasons Dogs & Cats Go Missing

It’s heart-wrenching to think about a beloved pet going missing, and it’s completely understandable to feel anxious and fearful during such a time. Pets can run away for various reasons, including:

Immediate Steps if Your Dog or Cat is Lost

Who do you call when you lose your dog or cat? You can start by calling your neighbors. There’s a great chance your search may end there. Who do you contact for lost dog or or cat support after you call your neighbors? Here’s a checklist of immediate steps for what to do when you lose your dog or what to do when you lose your cat.

Expand Your Lost Dog or Cat Pet Search

You’ve already exhausted countless searches, desperately trying to figure out how to find lost pet resources that actually work. Nothing’s panned out, and all you want to do is shout, “Help me find my lost dog [or cat]”!

Understanding Lost Pet Behavior

Lost cat behavior or lost dog behavior can be tricky to understand. Understanding the behavior of lost pets is crucial to effectively finding them. When dogs or cats go missing, they can travel varying distances from home, often based on their fear, stress, and environment.

Long-Term Strategies for Missing Dogs & Cats

If you are still looking for your missing dog or cat, who should you contact if your dog or cat goes missing? Here are some long-term strategies.

Prevent Future Pet Escapes

Once your pet is safely home, take steps to prevent future escapes to ensure a quicker return if it happens again:

Skip to content

Learn more about how Purina and Petfinder are caring for pets and their owners.

Location

Use current location available

Find a dog Find a cat

Adopt or Get Involved
Dogs & Puppies
Cats & Kittens
Other Types of Pets

Favorites

Home
Adopt or Get Involved
Animal Shelters & Rescues
Animal Advocacy
How to Find a Lost Cat or Dog: A Step by Step Guide

How to Find a Lost Cat or Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide

Woman and child in kitchen petting a gray dog

It only takes 60 seconds!: Get Started

Find Your Best MatchIt only takes 60 seconds!

Get Started

Search for Animal Shelters or Rescues

Location

No location suggestions available

Enter Shelter or Rescue Name

More in Animal Advocacy

View All

Animal Advocacy
What to Do if You Find a Lost Dog or Cat
Animal Advocacy
The Importance of No-Kill Animal Shelters
Animal Advocacy
How to Surrender a Cat: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding pets for you...

Resources

FAQs
Mobile App Download
News Center
Put Petfinder On Your Site
Contact Us

Adopt or Get Involved

All Adopt or Get Involved
Adopting Pets
Animal Shelters & Rescues
Other Types of Pets

About Dogs & Puppies

All About Dogs & Puppies
Dog Adoption
Dog Breeds
Feeding Your Dog
Dog Behavior
Dog Health & Wellness
Dog Training
Other Dog Information

About Cats & Kittens

All About Cats & Kittens
Cat Adoption
Cat Breeds
Feeding Your Cat
Cat Behavior
Cat Health & Wellness
Cat Training
Other Cat Information

Shelter & Rescue Registration
Sitemap
Terms of Service
Notice at Collection
Privacy Policy (updated)
Accessibility
Cookie Policy

All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., or used with permission.