Using Amber Alerts for a Lost Indoor Cat
Pet Amber Alert companies offer one or more of the following services:
- Automated phone messages to people that live in the area where your cat went missing.
- A flyer faxed and/or emailed to local vets, shelters and animal related businesses.
- Sponsored ads on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
- Paid Google ads. These appear as ads on webpages visited by people that live in the area where your cat went missing.
- Postcards mailed to people living in the area where your cat went missing.
Many of these companies claim to be #1 or have a high success rate. Be aware that these success rates only indicate that the pet was found and NOT that their service directly led to that recovery.
Do Phone Call Alerts Work?
Phone call alerts go out to (nearly) everyone within a certain radius of where your cat went missing. Different companies use different phone databases. Some only send to home phones while others also send to cell phones.
Phone call alerts can be a way to get the news of your lost cat out quickly. BUT if you have a limited budget, SAVE your money for posters and flyers. Most indoor cats tend to hide, so phone call alerts are less effective. They are more likely to work for very bold/friendly cats that are more likely to approach people.
Does Online Marketing Work?
Some Amber Alert companies will advertise your lost cat on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Google. These ads are targeted to people that live in the area where your cat went missing.
With phone call alerts, you pay for each call made whether or not a person ever hears it. With online advertising, you pay for the views of your ad.
A Comparison of Amber Alert Companies
Find Toto
FindToto.com offers a combination of phone alerts, social media advertising and paid google ads. Check out their alert packages below.
LostMyKitty.com provides a FREE email/fax alert. They will create a lost cat flyer which they will email and fax to over 25 local shelters, vets, rescues groups and other animal related businesses.
See the Lost My Kitty phone alert packages below. Learn more in the their frequently asked questions (FAQ) located at the bottom of their homepage.
My Lost Pet Alert
MyLostPetAlert.com offers a combination of fax alerts, phone calls and Facebook advertising. Check out their alert packages below.
Companies to Avoid
Some Amber Alert companies have A LOT of bad reviews or just don't offer useful services for lost indoor cats. These are ones that I would avoid.
- Cuddles United - Their services description doesn't seem feasible. They claim a live person rather than a recording will make all the phone calls. Also has some bad reviews.
- Pet Amber Alert - Currently has an F rating with the BBB. Also many bad reviews.
- Pawboost - While I recommend their free services, their paid Facebook advertising uses a 10-mile radius which is too large for most lost indoor cats.
- PawMaw - Has a poor description of services. It's unclear what a "PawMaw alert" actually does.
- Tabby Tracker - Good free services but their Facebook advertising radius is too large.
When to Use Lost Pet Postcards
Mailing lost pet postcards is one of the more effective Amber Alert options. Unfortunately, it is also slower to send out and the most expensive.
If you have the time to hand deliver flyers, then this is cheaper. It is even more effective IF you actually talk to your neighbors as you deliver them. Just remember that placing flyers in mail boxes is against the law.
Lost indoor cats may be found weeks to months after they go missing, and they are often within 1/2 mile of home. If your cat has been missing more than 2-3 weeks, mailing postcards can be a good way to generate new interest AND reach more people.
A Comparison of Postcard Companies
LostPetCards.com is a family-owned business with over 15 years experience. I have heard that this company delivers cards very quickly. Price per card varies from $0.55 to $0.65 with a minimum order of 1,000 cards.
24PetConnect (formerly Pet Harbor) states that they will send out cards by the next business day. Postcards start at 500 cards for $499. To order cards, you first need to submit a Lost Pet Notice.
This is a marketing mail service offered by the USPS. Cost varies depending on location and mailing routes selected. Use the EDDM Online Tool for a price estimate. The minimum required mailing is 200 postcards.
Be aware that this is only the cost of postage, and you will need to print postcards that meet their size specifications. You can get postcards printed from Staples or Vista Print. USPS also provides a link to several printers that meet their mailing specifications.
