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Missing Animal Response Network

Lost Pet Recovery Training By Kat Albrecht

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Lost Cat Behavior

Back in 1997, MAR Network Director Kat Albrecht began to study the behavioral patterns of lost cats and dogs. Due to a background in search-and-rescue (searching for lost people), Kat understood the critical connection between behavior and the distances that people travel when lost. It made sense to Kat that the behavior of cats (and dogs) would also influence the distances that they travel. Here’s a small sample of what Kat has learned and now teaches the consultants and pet detectives listed in the Pet Detective Directory.

If you need help, check our Pet Detective Directory page to see if you can find a local resource (volunteer, paid professional, or a Facebook team) that can help you in your effort to recover your missing cat and you have a better understanding of Lost Cat Behavior or Missing Cat Behavior’s.

There are 3 Types of Lost Cat Behavior or Missing Cat Behavior

Displaced Indoor-Only Cats (i.e. Cats Who’ve Escaped Outdoors)

Lost Cat Behavior - Cat in Trap

If your indoor-only cat has escaped and is somewhere outside or in unfamiliar territory there is good news — your cat is probably not “lost” at all!  In most cases, a cat that is unexpectedly transplanted into an unfamiliar area is considered a DISPLACED CAT. Most cases of displacement involve indoor-only cats that escape outside. However, outdoor-access cats can become displaced as well.

When cats are displaced into an unfamiliar area, the cat is most likely hiding in silence, often not far from the escape point, and they will not meow! This is because cats are territorial and their primary protective measure from predators is to hide in silence. Cats that are afraid (and cats that are injured) will seek areas of concealment such as under a deck, under a house, under a porch, or in heavy brush and they will not meow! Meowing would give up their location to a predator. Their behavior has nothing to do with whether the cat loves you, whether it recognizes your voice, or whether it can smell you–it has everything to do with the fact that a frightened cat will hide in silence!

The method that Kat Albrecht and her network have pioneered (starting back in 1999) that has resulted in the recovery of thousands of “missing” indoor-only cats (and displaced outdoor-access cats) is the same method used to capture feral cats–the use of a humane trap. We call this “trap-and-reunite” or “TAR.” These wire cages are available for rental from your local shelter or veterinarian or for sale at hardware stores, pet stores, or online. Humane traps have a trip mechanism that when triggered by a cat (or other small animal), will shut the door and contain a cat inside. We highly recommend the Tru-Catch brand of humane traps (the brown trap shown on the right – which is the size “30D” and fits small cats like this 10 pound gray tabby). Order the size “36D” if your cat is larger). Compared to other traps (like the one on the left) which close loudly when shut, the Tru-Catch is much quieter and is less likely to panic a cat when initially trapped. Most likely, you won’t find these traps at the local hardware store but you can order them on-line at http://www.trucatchtraps.com.

Displaced Outdoor-Access Cats

Displacement for outdoor-access cats happens when the cat is chased out of their known territory (i.e. beat up by another cat, chased by a dog, or even panicked by fireworks where the cat bolts in fear and ends up in a yard he has never been in before). Displacement of outdoor cats can also happen when an outdoor-access cat is being transported to another location and accidently escapes—like when involved in a roll over car accident, escaping their carrier at a vet’s office, or escaping a camper while on a camping trip. Over the years, we’ve discovered that outdoor-access cats that were chased from their home ended up hiding in a neighbor’s yard ten houses down, too disoriented and afraid to come home! In these cases, even though the cat is technically an “outdoor-access cat,” it is a DISPLACED CAT and you should follow the instructions for displaced cats.

In one of the investigations that Kat Albrecht solved, her cat-detection dog located a missing cat named Gizmo who was missing for 3 days. Gizmo was hiding inside an abandoned bathtub in a yard just two houses away. While some cats have the remarkable ability to use the homing instinct to work their way back to their territory, other cats that are displaced either don’t possess this skill or they’re too frightened to use it. In cases of displacement, even though the cat is technically an “outdoor-access cat,” it is a DISPLACED CAT when it ends up in an area that is unfamiliar. A cat’s individual temperament can range anywhere from a bold “clown-like” cat to the other end of the spectrum which is a catatonic “feral-like” cat. This temperament will also influence how far he/she will travel and whether or not he/she will respond to human contact. Recovery techniques should be geared around a missing cat’s unique, individual temperament. If he or she is skittish, he/she will more likely be nearby hiding in fear and you’ll need to use a humane trap to recover him/her. If he or she is gregarious, he/she could easily travel several blocks (even a mile or two) and you’ll need to knock on doors and post fluorescent posters at major intersections in the area.

Lost Outdoor-Access Cats

By “Lost Outdoor-Access Cat” we mean that you are the caretaker of a cat that is routinely allowed to go outdoors, even for brief periods of time. One of the most profound discoveries that Kat Albrecht discovered early on is that the methods that should be used to search for a lost outdoor-access cat are much different than those used to search for a missing indoor-only (or a displaced) cat! When an outdoor-access cat disappears, it means that something has happened to the cat to interrupt its behavior of coming home. Cats are territorial and they do not just run away from home (like dogs do). Thus the tactics and techniques used to search for a missing cat should be different than those used to search for a missing dog.

Lost cat posters will not always help find your cat if it has crawled under your neighbor’s deck and is injured and silent. Large, neon lost cat posters should be used, and social media posts (especially for area-based social networks like Next Door), however, social media posts and neon posters should be a supplement to a targeted search in the immediate area of where the cat disappeared. Most often this involves an aggressive, physical search of a cat’s territory. And yes, that means looking under and in every conceivable hiding place in your yard and in your neighbors’ yards!

In 2017, a study was conducted by the University of Queensland, Australia (Kat Albrecht and Dr. Jacquie Rand conceived the study and UOQ and MPP collaborated on the study). Here is a summary of the study results:

  • 1,232 cat owners who’d lost a cat took part in the study.
  • The number one method that was the most successful in recovering a missing cat was conducting a physical search of the area.
  • The median distance found (how far the cats traveled) for missing outdoor-access cats was 315 meters (344 yards). This is roughly a 17-house radius from their owner’s home.
  • The median distance found (how far the cats traveled) for displaced / escaped indoor-only cats was much less—it was only 50 meters (54 yards) which is roughly a 2 ½ house radius from their owner’s home.

The results of this scientific study confirm what Kat Albrecht discovered years ago and that she teaches in the MAR course—the physical search for a missing cat needs to focus within your immediate neighborhood! Social media posts are important, but obtaining permission from your neighbor to search their property is critical! Simply handing a flyer to your neighbor and asking them to “search” for your cat IS NOT ENOUGH! Your neighbor is not going to get on their belly to look under their deck or under their house, yet that is where your cat is most likely to be! It is up to you, the owner, to conduct this type of slow, methodical search with a flashlight. If you are not comfortable in doing this type of search, then consider hiring someone from our Pet Detective Directory who IS comfortable in conducting this methodical search.

When an outdoor-access cat vanishes, the investigative question and mystery to solve is: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAT? There are basically eight things that could have happened to your cat–we call these “Probability Categories.” As you search for your missing cat, consider which category seems the most likely for your particular cat:

Eight Probability Categories related to Lost Cat Behavior

  1. YOUR CAT IS TRAPPED –Your cat could be up a tree, on a roof, under a house, inside a neighbor’s basement or shed. This means that your cat would likely be within its normal territory, usually a 5-house radius of your home. If you cat has ever vanished for a few days and came home very thirsty or hungry, he might be prone to becoming trapped.
  2. YOUR CAT IS DISPLACED INTO AN UNFAMILIAR AREA – Cats that are chased from their territory either by dogs, people, or other cats who beat them up and cats that are panicked by fireworks will often become “displaced” into unfamiliar territory. Many of these cats, once their adrenaline levels have subsided, will work their way back home, often showing up the next day or a few days later. But many of these cats, especially those with skittish temperaments, will be so panicked by the experience that they will hide in fear and will be too afraid to return home.
  3. YOUR CAT WAS UNINTENTIONALLY TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE AREA –Cases of unintentional transport include your cat climbing into a moving van or service vehicle and being transported to another city or even across the country.
  4. YOUR CAT WAS INTENTIONALLY TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE AREA –Cases of intentional removal include a cat-hating neighbor who captures your cat and either takes it to a distant shelter or dumps it in a field far from your home.
  5. YOUR CAT IS INJURED, SICK, OR IS DECEASED –Injured or sick (or displaced, panicked) cats will hide in silence. What this means is that before you print up lost cat posters or drive down to your shelter to look for your lost cat, SEARCH under and in every conceivable hiding place on your own property and on your neighbors’ property!
  6. YOUR CAT WAS RESCUED –By “rescue” we mean someone found your cat and assumed it was an abandoned stray and they took it into their house. This happens frequently, especially with cats that are not microchipped or that do not wear a collar and ID tag.
  7. YOUR CAT WAS STOLEN –Thankfully, this is just not very likely. While some purebred and exotic cats are stolen, the incidents where someone knowingly steals a cat are quite rare.
  8. YOUR CAT WAS KILLED BY A PREDATOR –This is sad to think about, but it does happen. Coyotes and Great Horned owls are predators that occasionally prey upon cats and small dogs if the opportunity presents itself. If you live in an area where these and other predators (hawks, eagles, cougars, etc.) roam, then this is a factor that you should consider. However, although coyotes can and do sometimes kill cats, not all coyotes are cat killers! We’ve encountered many cases where cats were lost for weeks in areas where coyotes dwelled and the cats were never harmed.

Digital Wildlife Cameras

Sometimes setting a humane trap is not the best method to use to recover a missing cat. In many cases, the use of digital wildlife cameras combined with feeding stations is a better way to confirm possible sightings or to confirm that your displaced cat is still in the immediate area. Cameras work especially well in cases where a cat is displaced in an apartment complex where there are zillions of cats, in areas where there are many raccoons, or in other situations where a humane trap would be difficult to use. The concept is setting out food with a wildlife camera that will snap photos of all the animals that eat that food so that when you come back the next morning, you can pull the SD card, put it in your computer, and see photos of raccoon, raccoon, raccoon, CALICO!! THERE IS MY CAT!! From that point you could work to strategically humanely trap your cat while avoiding the raccoons and other cats. This is something that any of the trained resources listed in our Pet Detective Directory could consult with you about if you decide to pursue this technique. We recommend infrared cameras that does not flash (because then no one sees them and they are not likely to be stolen). Here are some of MAR Network Director Kat Albrecht’s blog stories about dogs and cats that were recovered due to the use of digital wildlife cameras:

Bebe (displaced cat) – Bebe, a skittish cat who escaped and “lost” in a neighborhood for four months was finally captured on camera by MPP and hours later, captured in a humane trap.

Buddy (displaced cat) – wildlife camera helped confirm that he WAS in the yard but was NOT going into the small trap, thus a “drop trap” was used instead.

Mugsy (displaced cat) – wildlife cameras helped confirm that displaced cat Mugsy was in fact in a remote area of the woods.

Binky (displaced cat) – wildlife cameras helped rule out a wrong cat (gray tabby with white chest) in one area while the other camera confirmed right where Binky (Russian Blue cat) was hiding.

Burley & Keko (two different displaced cats) – wildlife cameras used to confirm that Burley was hiding in his own yard (it took 33 days for him to enter the humane trap!) and yet Keko was found miles away due to microchip.

Otto (panicked dog) – wildlife camera helped confirm that a “white & black dog” spotted in a remote area was in fact Otto, a missing dog.

Mack (panicked dog) – digital wildlife camera used to confirm missing dog Mack was in deed within a particular neighborhood. When a humane dog trap failed, he was ultimately captured using a “magnet dog & snappy snare.”

Bill (panicked dog) – digital wildlife camera used to confirm hiding place for Bill, a dog who escaped and was on the run for nearly one year!

For more information on wild life cameras visit Surveillance Cameras page.

Additional Lost Cat Behaviors

The Silence Factor: This is a term that Kat Albrecht coined to describe the lost cat behavior when a sick, injured, or panicked cat will hide in silence. It is a natural form of protection for a cat to find a place to hide under a house, a deck, a porch, bushes, or any place they can crawl. The Silence Factor kills many cats because while the cat is sick or injured and hiding under a neighbor’s deck, cat owners are typically busy “looking” for their cat down at the local shelter or they are busy posting flyers on telephone poles. Instead, the proper search for most cats in most situations is to conduct an aggressive, physical search of the immediate area while understanding that the cat might be close by but hiding in silence.

The Threshold Factor: This is an interesting behavioral pattern that Kat Albrecht observed with displaced cats. Many of these cats initially hide in silence, but eventually break cover and meow, return to their home or the escape point (window or door), or finally enter a humane trap. While some cats take only hours or a few days to reach their threshold, many others take several days (typically ten to twelve days) before they break cover. We suspect the threshold is reached due to their thirst, although more research needs to be conducted into this lost cat behavior.

Kitty Litter Myth

Kitty Litter Myth

Many web sites (and even some pet detectives) recommend that if your cat is lost that you spread cat litter, cat feces, or scent articles of the cat owner around the home that the cat is missing from. The concept is that your cat ran away or is out of the area and by putting something with your scent on it (a dirty t-shirt, dirty underwear, etc.) in your yard, it will attract your cat and encourage him to come back home. Some also advocate putting out dirty cat litter or feces—as if the cat needs this cue to help him find his way back home. The MAR Network does not advocate this practice for the following reasons:

The first reason we don’t recommend the kitty litter method is that the urine/feces scent could attract aggressive cats into the yard where a missing cat could be hiding. Cats are territorial and when an indoor-only cat escapes outdoors, that cat is often hiding within the territory of another (outside) neighborhood cat. Dirty cat litter can attract community “tom” cats (intact male cats) or other territorial neighborhood cats and that scent could predispose them to want to defend their territory, drawing them into the area where a displaced cat is hiding in silence. These territorial cats are put into defense mode when they detect the pheromones from another cat’s urine and feces, causing them to be ready to fight. These cats are then more likely to beat up and chase the lost (displaced) cat from his hiding place, making a recovery more difficult. However, using cat food (and a wildlife camera) will draw a territorial cat in also, but the scent of food will not likely trigger the same level of aggression / readiness to fight as urine and feces would. None of this has been proven in a scientific study (yet), but it is the opinion of the MAR Network that you are better off investing time and effort in conducting a physical search for your lost cat and using wildlife cameras or a humane trap than you are in putting out dirty cat litter.

You can likely find many on-line testimonials from cat owners who claim positive results from scent luring scattering dirty cat litter or feces in their yards or placing their cat’s litterbox on their porch. It is more likely that these cats returned home due to one of two factors: a behavior called “The Threshold Phenomenon” (described above) or simply due to their temperament than due to anything that they smelled. Cat owners mistakenly associate the fact that their cat returned home due to a scent lure (dirty cat litter) when, in fact, their particular cat would have returned home on its own anyway with or without a scent lure because it finally reached its threshold (indoor-only cats hiding in fear) or the cat was trapped somewhere and finally got free (outdoor cat trapped in neighbor’s garage, up a tree, etc.). As stated earlier, in many cases a food lure (placed inside a humane trap or set down on the ground with a wildlife camera pointing at it to capture photos) is the best type of lure to use and is a highly effective recovery method. Another scent that could help (at a humane trap) is to spray Feliway, a pheromone that helps to calm stressed cats.

The final reason why the MAR Network does not advocate using dirty cat litter as a scent lure for cats is the most important one: it is a passive approach to finding a lost cat. Cat owners might believe they are “doing something” by placing dirty clothing or cat feces in their yard. Some Internet folklore posts have claimed that “cats can smell a mile away” and advise you to simply put your cat’s litterbox outside, claiming “it works!” However, scientific research has shown that these cat owners would have a higher chance of recovering their cat by conducting an aggressive, physical search of their yard and their neighbor’s yards. We understand that it is less intrusive to your neighbors to set out a dirty cat litter box on your porch and hope that your cat will come home than it is to ask your neighbor permission to enter their yard and to crawl around under their house or deck, but a physical search of your neighbor’s yards (and baited humane traps and/or digital wildlife cameras) is the most effective recovery method for finding a missing cat.

If you would like to share information on just the Kitty Litter Myth you can share this post.

Cat Stuck Up A Tree?

If you locate your missing cat trapped up in a tree and you need assistance, visit the Cat in a Tree Rescue. If you live in Western Washington you can contact Canopy Cat Rescue, a non-profit organization that specializes in cats stuck in trees.  They maintain an international listing of tree climbers who offer rescue services for cats trapped in a tree. Their website also contains additional helpful information about how cats behave when trapped in trees and what to do if your cat is trapped on top of a utility pole.

Disclaimer: Initially posted on Missing Pet Partnership’s website (which was developed by MPP Founder Kat Albrecht), the following lost pet recovery advice is part of MAR Network’s 8-week and 10-week Missing Animal Response (MAR) Course and is posted on this site both to help train volunteer and professional lost pet recovery resources and to benefit pet owners needing advice. Feel free to link to this page so that this info may be shared in order to educate pet owners in your community. 

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Testimonials

It is very difficult to detail in a review how important Lisa was to find our precious Simba…

For my family, finding Lisa was invaluable.  We love our Simba and he, like our children completes our family unit; when one is missing a part of who we are as a family goes missing. Once again, we are now a complete family! If you share the same philosophy of family as we do about… Read more “It is very difficult to detail in a review how important Lisa was to find our precious Simba…”

The Snyder’s – Victor, Thea, Hunter, Tristan, Adaline, “Emma,” “Luna,” “Stitch,” and of course; “SIMBA”

What you do is absolutely priceless for the animals!!

Tracey and Jeff(Luzerne County Pet Recovery Services), What you do is absolutely priceless for the animals, but you put so very much into it. Thank you very, very much for doing what you do. You’re also just awesome people. I hope we get the chance to get together in less intense circumstances! In the meantime,… Read more “What you do is absolutely priceless for the animals!!”

Holly

28 Days Later, or Bringing Bunny Home

We were connected with The Feline Finders after our cat; Bunny was missing for a few weeks. We had tried to find our boy for weeks but were unable to get a valid sighting. After speaking with Lisa at The Feline Finders, she helped us identify where Bunny most likely was. Refocusing on this area… Read more “28 Days Later, or Bringing Bunny Home”

Richard N-D.

Hiring Bravo and Balynda Brown was the smartest choice!!

Hiring Bravo and Balynda Brown was the smartest choice I made when my cat, Napoleon, went missing!  Bravo immediately established the areas where Napoleon had been traveling.  It excluded the woods and the marsh across the street which had been my biggest fears.  With this information, Balynda helped identify a suitable food station where I… Read more “Hiring Bravo and Balynda Brown was the smartest choice!!”

Bonnie Beltz To The Rescue

Our cat, Pico, escaped off his harness and disappeared into the green space behind our new home. We were feeling hopeless trying to find him in the dense vegetation, but Bonnie guided and supported us on our search. Her tips helped lure Pico back closer to our home and allowed us to catch him on… Read more “Bonnie Beltz To The Rescue”

Sharon Was Terrific

I can’t say enough about Sharon Morris with her calm demeanor and extensive knowledge gave my nephew clear guidance that you can trust in his time of need. Just 24 hours gone my nephews phone was hit at least twice by scammers claiming they had found the dog and clearly did not. Then we found… Read more “Sharon Was Terrific”

Kathy

Mission Accomplished

Our petite tortoiseshell rescue found a hole in the fence the first day she was out with us under supervision and promptly got lost in deep woods on our rural property. Team Bravo came out after about a week and scented her very close to our home but miles away for Aidy given the terrain!… Read more “Mission Accomplished”

Susan

POOKIE’S STORY

Megan is our adult daughter who has some very significant special needs. She wanted a kitten for quite some time and we were surprised how long it took us to find one for her… but just before Christmas 2020, we found a cute little kitty that she named Pookie (after Garfield the cat’s special teddy… Read more “POOKIE’S STORY”

Megan and Family

She’s The Real Deal

Carmen helped me out in one of the most difficult times in my life: losing my wonderful, brat cat. Her dogs were both great, tracked where my cat has been, and gave me great tips to finding him! He was gone for 5 days with hours and hours of searching day and night. My cat… Read more “She’s The Real Deal”

Thank You MARN

With the Missing Animal Response Network, & their pet detective, Jamie Bozzi, & search-dog Indy, we were able to narrow down & focus our search efforts on specific locations of where our lost cat had recently been. Watching Indy react to certain areas &, later, hearing from witnesses who had seen our cat, cemented the… Read more “Thank You MARN”

We Found Him

Thank you for all your tips for finding a cat. My cat had been missing for 7 days. I never gave up. I searched for him days and nights and one very cold night at 11:30pm I called his name and heard a frantic meowing. What a wonderful sound .He was a half a block… Read more “We Found Him”

Balynda and Bravo

I know negative news travels much faster than positive, but I wanted to take a moment and tell you how much I appreciate everything Balynda and Bravo have done for not only Rascal and me, but all of the missing animals that they have worked on. Over the past weeks I have had the opportunity… Read more “Balynda and Bravo”

I FOUND MY CAT

Hi MAR team. My name is Suzan. I want to share my happy ending story that might help any other unlucky pet parents like I had before this night. My indoor scared cat ran from home on Suday afternoon. I just realized it at night. I called her in very sad way, and going around… Read more “I FOUND MY CAT”

Closure

Our dog Roscoe got out of our apartment on a Tuesday afternoon. We looked for him for the rest of the afternoon into the evening. The next day we placed posters and fliers while continuing to look. Because of posts we made on Facebook for lost dogs, Balynda and Bravo were recommended to us. Shannon… Read more “Closure”

Rascal the Pomeranian Rescue

I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for Balynda and her team. While I was home in NC visiting for the holidays, my rescue Pomeranian slipped out the front door while I wasn’t home. After countless hours and days of looking for him with no leads, we were sure someone had picked Rascal… Read more “Rascal the Pomeranian Rescue”

Haley C.

We got our cat back! Thank you, MAR!

With the Missing Animal Response Network, & their pet detective, Jamie Bozzi, & search-dog Indy, we were able to narrow down & focus our search efforts on specific locations of where our lost cat had recently been. Watching Indy react to certain areas &, later, hearing from witnesses who had seen our cat, cemented the… Read more “We got our cat back! Thank you, MAR!”

Melissa G, Palm Desert, CA

GREAT ADVICE AND SUPPORT

Hello from St. Louis, Missouri. I wanted to say I can’t thank Lisa enough for helping me through my lost pet last week. Pebbles was missing for 6 days and we did everything Lisa said. Her great ideas she helped calm my nerves and last night the day before Lisa was heading to St. Louis… Read more “GREAT ADVICE AND SUPPORT”

Brian Fleetwood

DON’T MESS WITH THE REST WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST

I’ve known Bravo personally for several years including during all of his training & I have seen the incredible progress he has made. Bravo was born to do this job & he loves it. There is no other dog I would ever trust the way I trust Bravo & his amazing loving owner/trainer, Balynda Brown… Read more “DON’T MESS WITH THE REST WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST”

Lee

P.E.I. loves Mike Chapman!!

Recently, we reached out to Mike Chapman for his expertise in helping to find a very shy dog on the run. In my 40 years of owning dogs, this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with something like this. Mike accepted our case, and led the way with knowledge, compassion, optimism, and… Read more “P.E.I. loves Mike Chapman!!”

Leah

Trailing Peanut the Hairless Pup

On February 14 after just moving in to our new home 4 days earlier our little 17 lb American hairless terrier, Peanut somehow came out of her collar and ran off. We did as most would do and immediately started to look for her and put flyers up. The following day as our panic was… Read more “Trailing Peanut the Hairless Pup”

Went Above and Beyond for Our New Rescue This Holiday Season.

Tracey and Jeff (Luzerne County Pet Recovery Services) went above and beyond for our new rescue this holiday season. Samwell has only lived in our home for four days when this foster family penned “escape artist” ran through a closing door on December 19th, 2019. From the moment we reached out for help, Tracey was… Read more “Went Above and Beyond for Our New Rescue This Holiday Season.”

Jen and Jeff Partyka, Glenburn PA

P.E.I. Loves Mike Chapman

Recently, we reached out to Mike Chapman for his expertise in helping to find a very shy dog on the run. In my 40 years of owning dogs, this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with something like this. Mike accepted our case, and led the way with knowledge, compassion, optimism, and… Read more “P.E.I. Loves Mike Chapman”

Belinda Brown brought my dog home to me

I am so thankful that MAR exists Belinda Brown is a hero to me. She swung into action with useful advice and coaching. It was her advice to set up food stations that saved my dog, Xin. Thank you is not enough to express my gratitude. Xin is very much a part of me that… Read more “Belinda Brown brought my dog home to me”

INVALUABLE INFORMATION

Hi Kat, I wanted to tell you how invaluable the information on lost/displaced indoor cats is on your website. The information was spot on about the cats behavior when lost outside their home. Our visiting family left our front door open long enough for our Gordy to escape. This happened late at night after we… Read more “INVALUABLE INFORMATION”

Anne R.

Balynda’s Dedication

Balynda, who has now become a friend, is excellent at what she does. Both she and Bravo are wonderful. They will be IMMENSELY valuable to North Carolina when they graduate. We are lucky!!

Jenny L.

Wonderful Caring People

Teddy, Lynn, and Winston worked tirelessly for 12+ hours each day for 13 days! Niko was lost at the beach on Long Island, NY.. VERY difficult area.. Niko traveled 5-6 miles in different directions… He was spotted by several people… who tried to “catch” him… there were a lot of snags along the way because… Read more “Wonderful Caring People”

I Owe You Guys

Deborah Cooke and Katie Albright both helped me greatly in getting my Archie back home! I’m so, so very grateful. Just by speaking on the phone and following their advice resulted in my getting my cat back after 13 days of him being gone. Deborah’s suggestion to drip Mackerel juice in a star leading to… Read more “I Owe You Guys”

Bonnie and Bodhi Search Team

I cant even begin to explain how amazing Bonnie Hale and her search dog Bodhi are!! Our cat Westie, new to outdoors and the area, went missing 12 days ago. Even with daily searches and 400 lost cat posters, several hopeful but deadend sightings we couldnt find her. Researching and reaching out to anyone who… Read more “Bonnie and Bodhi Search Team”

Lost Cat FOUND with Consultation!

“Annalisa Berns is a true detective who works methodically but also empathizes with pet owners and can think like a lost cat! She got in touch with us immediately, created a map (specific to our neighborhood) to guide our search, developed likely scenarios preventing our kitty from returning home and gave us a plan of… Read more “Lost Cat FOUND with Consultation!”

Tiffany & Roey

Gus Found Thanks to Annalisa Berns and Search Dogs June and Hope

“It was eleven days of pain. Gus went missing the afternoon of February 12th. After searching, posting posters, flyers and driving all over, we called Annalisa. She came over on February 22nd, with Search Dogs June and Hope. As she tracked Gus’s scent trail, she kept us posted with GPS maps that reflected his exact… Read more “Gus Found Thanks to Annalisa Berns and Search Dogs June and Hope”

2nd Chance

When I first contacted Tracey, my cat, Chance had been missing for 4 weeks. We had just moved into a new townhouse and at 5:30am I let him outside to go to the bathroom. I accidentally fell asleep while giving him “a minute.” When I woke up around 6:10 I panicked and searched the bushes… Read more “2nd Chance”

Thank You

I met Tracey through a mutual friend on July 12th. I coordinate a transport for Mary Ann Morris Animal Society out of Bamberg SC and we had a dog get loose on transport on April 21st – Luci. We were all devastated and desperately tried for the next 4 and a half months to get… Read more “Thank You”

Thank you!

I met Tracey through a mutual friend on July 12th. I coordinate a transport for Mary Ann Morris Animal Society out of Bamberg SC and we had a dog get loose on transport on April 21st – Luci. We were all devastated and desperately tried for the next 4 and a half months to get… Read more “Thank you!”

Suzanne Scott

LOST PET HELP LEADS TO THE RECOVERY OF DUKE

Just wanted to say thank you for posting the information about lost cat behaviour on the web. It was instrumental in finding my cat Duke who suddenly vanished into thin air (or so it seemed) last Tuesday. I did the usual – stuffing lost cat flyers into 200 plus mailboxes in my area, talking to… Read more “LOST PET HELP LEADS TO THE RECOVERY OF DUKE”

The Adventures of Pi and Loki

I rescued these brothers in October of 2016. Both these cats are Curious/ Clowns, however Pi is a little more shy and reserved. They both settled in to farm life beautifully. I did often worry about them because they like to get into vehicles if a door or window is open…….. then on October 23… Read more “The Adventures of Pi and Loki”

2 Lost Cats

A week my 2 indoor only cats got out through a broken window screen. You advised in an article that I should thoroughly search close by neighbors properties and I found them within an hour hiding in a delapetated shed at the back of my neighbor’s property just two houses away. They were completely quiet… Read more “2 Lost Cats”

By Grace Alone

Tracey is a naturally gifted pet detective, mentor, and friend. Her passion for locating missing animals is evident when you work with her. She is motivated, driven, and focused on the MAR techniques essential to successfully and humanely recovering beloved missing pets. Recently, we worked together to capture a male mixed breed hound named Fred… Read more “By Grace Alone”

Susan to the Rescue

Susan Long quite simply saved the day. There is so much emotional baggage tied up in that dumb, lovable, exasperating dog (and now he’s even more expensive). From the moment Susan answered the phone, she was all in on our behalf, arriving a few hours later to galvanize us into action. Oliver was found within… Read more “Susan to the Rescue”

TRANSPORT ESCAPE

On June 30th, 2018 I was devastated to find out that Tashi, my 1-and-a-half-year-old Lhasa Apso, got loose at the Granville North Carolina rest stop, from a dog transporter who was supposed to drive him from our old home in Northern VA to our new home in Tampa, FL. The County Humane Society, Animal Control,… Read more “TRANSPORT ESCAPE”

By Grace Alone

Dear Kat, I am writing you in response to my interactions with Tracey over the last few weeks. Tracey is a naturally gifted pet detective, mentor, and friend. Her passion for locating missing animals is evident when you work with her. She is motivated, driven, and focused on the MAR techniques essential to successfully and… Read more “By Grace Alone”

It Takes A Village

I met Tracey Dreibelbis on day seven trying to catch Fred whom had escaped from my neighbor’s boarding facility. She was very professional and informed me of Fred’s patterns over the past few days. She came up with a plan to catch Fred using my fenced in yard. We baited my yard with McDonald cheese… Read more “It Takes A Village”

Jamie McCallum

Every Shelter or Animal Rescue Group Should Take This Training Course

I had already been helping my wife Tracey with MAR work and she had won the MAR course during one of Kat’s training seminars. So I decided to take the course and fill in the gaps of what I had already learned and what I was missing. To my surprise I had opened a door… Read more “Every Shelter or Animal Rescue Group Should Take This Training Course”

Jeff Chopick, Kingston PA
Luzerne County Pet Recovery Services

You Helped Me Save My 2 Lost Cats

A week my 2 indoor only cats got out through a broken window screen. You advised in an article that I should thoroughly search close by neighbors properties and I found them within an hour hiding in a delapetated shed at the back of my neighbor’s property just two houses away. They were completely quiet… Read more “You Helped Me Save My 2 Lost Cats”

JD Lowery

Instumental In Finding My Cat

Just wanted to say thank you for posting the information about lost cat behaviour on the web. It was instrumental in finding my cat Duke who suddenly vanished into thin air (or so it seemed) last Tuesday. I did the usual – stuffing lost cat flyers into 200 plus mailboxes in my area, talking to… Read more “Instumental In Finding My Cat”

Alison Headland

Changed My Life – Traci M Durango

I took Kat’s on line course and it changed my life. Even if you choose to not have a search dog you will learn the science behind how, where and why animals go missing and what you can do to help

Traci M Durango, Colorado

I Couldn’t Wait Until the Next Week’s Lesson Arrived – Susan L.

I took the class expecting it to be superficial information that I already knew. I couldn’t have been more wrong! This class is in depth, research based, and very professional. I couldn’t wait until the next week’s lesson arrived. I highly recommend it for anyone that is helping to recover lost pets.

Susan L.

An Incredibly In-Depth and Informative Course – Sharon M

I had the opportunity to take the MAR 10 week course with Kat Albrecht over the winter. I found it to be an incredibly in-depth and informative course. Not only in the volumes of well thought out but professionally presented information she presented but also in the weekly telephone support she provided. Kat is truly… Read more “An Incredibly In-Depth and Informative Course – Sharon M”

Sharon M - Pembroke, NH

Kat is a Gem as A Teacher, You Will Be Learning From the Best! – Karin N.

I had bought Kat Albrecht’s books wanting to have more information in “Search and Rescue” comparing it with “Map Dowsing” the way I search for missing animals. I was happy when I found out about the Mar 10 week certified course “Kat Albrecht” was teaching. I sure was looking forward to my first class and… Read more “Kat is a Gem as A Teacher, You Will Be Learning From the Best! – Karin N.”

Karin N.

One of the Best Courses I Have Ever Taken – Judene D.

After many years in lost pet recovery, I found this course still taught me a great deal. It was one of the best courses I have ever taken. Kat’s knowledge, skill, experience, humor, compassion, and dedication make this a wonderful learning opportunity. I also find the ways Kat provides for MAR graduates to communicate with… Read more “One of the Best Courses I Have Ever Taken – Judene D.”

Judene D. - MAR Volunteer and Maine Lost Dog Recovery Volunteer, Maine

Loved the MAR Training – Jim B. Cincinnati, Ohio

Loved the MAR training and the insights from my MARs classmates. Very beneficial information in how to up my skills in searches for lost pets!

Jim B. Cincinnati, Ohio

Definitely so worth it! – Jennifer H. Comer

The knowledge I gained and continue to learn from the MAR training is amazing, I have always tried to find pets. Now I believe I am acquiring proper, proven,skills to reunite more families. The connections made, because of the MAR class, with other like-minded people, to share experiences and advice is irreplaceable. Definitely so worth… Read more “Definitely so worth it! – Jennifer H. Comer”

Jennifer H. Comer, Georgia

The Classes Were Convenient and Informative – Crystal C.

I was delighted to take a MAR training course from Kat. I was impressed with the details, depth, and the variety of materials shared with us during our course. The classes were convenient, informative and delivered with skill and an obvious passion for passing on her experience and knowledge to others so that more people… Read more “The Classes Were Convenient and Informative – Crystal C.”

Crystal C., Certified Professional Dog Trainer and MAR volunteer, Pennsylvania

Techniques learned through this course are credited for saving many lives and reuniting families

The MAR course helped me understand the behavior of a lost pet and the science of a search. The techniques learned through this course are credited for saving many lives and reuniting families.

Bonnie B.,Puyallup, Washington
Roaming Paws Lost Pet Services

Highly recommend MAR course

I found the MAR course incredibly useful and learnt and enjoyed learning about lost pet behavior as well as the behavior of owners and finders. Would highly recommend the training to anyone working in the field of lost pet recovery.

Anna R. Canberra, Australia

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