It was April Fool’s Day and the joke was on me. What started out as a normal day turned into a horrible prank by my cat, Jake.

I’m on the second-floor condo. Jake jumped over the balcony railing and into the woods. Just like that poof, he was gone.

After a week of searching and following random advice, I ordered your online Lost Cat Kit. For the first time since Jake’s been lost, I feel like there’s a chance I might get him back. These materials are so helpful and thorough. Until I downloaded your Lost Cat Kit, I did everything wrong. I was so busy listening to random advice; I put out his litter box, put his bed by the door, walked around shaking treat bags and calling him both day and night. Until I got the Lost Cat Kit, I had no idea how bad typical advice really is.

Now at 11 days, I expanded my search. Your flyers are paying off! A neighbor saw Jake in his driveway on Sunday! He showed me on his doorbell camera that a coyote chased a cat. I was both excited and scared, could this be my Jake? Did he get away from the coyote?

One of the neighbors I talked to recommended you. He told me you helped him find his big orange cat Julius when he got out a few years ago.

At last, another neighbor called near the outer perimeter of the search zone. she spotted Jake near the woods. I was so excited. I set up the trail camera where she showed me she saw him run.

After work, I checked the camera: it showed a possum, then at 4:08 a.m. my boy Jake came into frame! I got 5 videos of him. I’m so excited!


May 4th

Kim met up with me, making a game plan, showing me set everything up. As it got dark, I did the stakeout plan in my car, expecting a long night of waiting and wishing.

At only 2 hours and 15 minutes the sensor alarm went off. I took the towel and flashlight that you told me to carry and quietly walked to the trap hoping my boy was inside.

As soon as I got to the trap, I saw it was DEFINITELY JAKE in the trap. He was freaking out. Thank you for the important guidance on having the towel ready. I covered the trap, carried the trap to my car, secured him, collected all your gear and headed home.

I talked softly to him all during the drive home until his frantic yowls turned into regular meows by the time we got home.

I kept him inside the trap while I made doubly-damn sure the kitty door to the porch was not only locked, but blocked. My other cat Chloe took one look at him in the trap and ran to hide. She’s now under my bed wide-eyed. As you said, he “doesn’t smell right” to her and they will work it out soon.


BACK HOME AFTER 34 DAYS!

Once he was out of the trap, he ran all through the house, then back to me. When I got on the bed, he climbed all over me, purring and loving on me.

He’s been telling me all about his adventures and couldn’t really settle down last night while also trying to sleep right on top of me at the same time. Chloe is keeping her distance.

Thank you, Kim, for all your help and guidance in bringing my Jake home and encouraging me to NOT GIVE UP. You said he was out there and so close and you were right. We are both forever grateful to you.

As for Jake’s demeanor? As you can see in these photos, he’s settling back in to being safe at home!