How to Effectively Use Flyers to Find a Lost Indoor Cat

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Flyers can be an effective tool for finding a lost cat, BUT most people use them incorrectly. The biggest mistake that people make, is only posting flyers in their neighborhood.

Flyers should be distributed door-to-door, handed directly to people or posted where lots of people walk or visit.

When flyers are posted in neighborhoods, they are unreadable to drivers. Be sure to also use posters!

Flyers should be distributed by hand or posted where people walk or visit

Posters are meant to catch your attention and be readable from a distance

Flyer Legalities

Please be aware that putting flyers in mailboxes is against the law. In many locations this may not be enforced, but be aware that you could be subject to a fine.

Whenever possible, I recommend actually knocking on peoples' doors and handing them the flyer directly.

Other effective methods for distributing flyers:

Secure the flyer on or around their door such as under the welcome mat.
Turn your flyer into a door hanger and place on the door nob.
Place your flyer in a plastic bag and put it on your neighbor's walkway. Add a rock to prevent the flyer from blowing away.
Mail your flyers though this can get pretty expensive.

Flyer Design Tips

Flyers CAN include more text than a poster, but don't add too much or people won't read them.

Text to include on the flyer:

An emotional appeal for help such as "Please Help Us Find Kitty"
"Lost Cat" is larger bold text
Reward if one is being offered. Also recommend including the text "for information leading to return."
A very brief description of your cat. Include any special features, especially if they will be visible from a distance.
Date lost or last seen. If your cat has been missing for a while, also include dates of any recent sightings.
State that your cat is "indoor-only"
Ask people to "Please check your garages, sheds or basements if they have been left open" since your cat went missing
A phone number in larger bold text. If you need multiple people to receive the calls, consider getting a Google Number rather than including multiple phone numbers.
Include a Call to Action such as "Call or Text If Seen" or "Call Immediately Anytime." This might seem obvious BUT people often DON'T CALL when they see a lost cat. They often mistakenly think they have to catch the cat first.
Request that people "take a photo of this flyer with your cell phone so you'll have it on-hand"

Optional text to include on your flyer, BUT don't put too much text!

Area lost from or last seen. For personal safety, only put an area, town or intersection and do not include your address. If posting online or for a cat that might travel far, be sure to include your state too.
An email address, Facebook page or website for more information. Offering more ways to get in touch such as texting, email or Facebook can increase the number of potential sightings that you receive. A Facebook page or website can also allow you to provide additional information (such as more photos) and updates on the search.
Include a note if your cat is shy or skittish such as "Shy! Do Not Chase!"
Ask people to "Check any security camera recordings for possible sightings." Many escaped indoor cats only come out at night so security cameras can be a great resource.
Ask people if they feed outdoor cats or leave pet food outside overnight. State that your cat may be attracted to the food.
Ask people to "Take a photo" if they see a cat that looks like yours
Ask people if they own a cat that looks like your cat. This can help rule out possible false sightings.

Selecting a Photo

One of the most important parts of your flyer is the photo of your pet.

Include one or two photos.
If possible, select a photo that shows your pet’s entire body. Standing in profile is best but these can be hard to find. You want people to easily see the size and shape of your pet as they would look from a distance.
Try not to use photos from unusual angles such as pointing down from above or your pet rolling over on their back. Likewise, try to avoid photos of your pet wearing clothes or being held by a person.
Crop out as much background as possible. You can use a program like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Paint (a free program on many PCs). Here is a demo of removing photo background using Paint. If you prefer you could pay someone else to do this by hiring someone on Fiverr, which starts at just $5 for many projects. Just search for "remove photo background" and make sure the person you hire has a fast turnaround time.
If you don't have a good photo of your pet, you could try searching for photos online that look similar. Only use these if they look very similar to your missing pet.

All unnecessary background has been cropped from this photo

All background has been removed with Photoshop

If cost is an issue, save money by printing off your flyers with 2-4 per page

Should You Offer a Reward?

I often recommend starting without a reward. IF you don't get any sightings within a week or two, then you can consider adding a reward. This can also be a way to generate new interest in your search.

For more detailed discussion on when to use a reward, read this article.

Where to Distribute Flyers

Since most indoor cats do not travel far, start by distributing flyers in your neighborhood or the location where your cat went missing.

In urban or suburban areas start with 500 feet and up to 1/4 mile
In rural areas start with 1/4 mile and up to 1/2 mile

Whenever possible, I recommend actually knocking on peoples' doors and handing them the flyer directly. People will be more likely to help AND you never know what helpful information you might learn.

Other effective methods for distributing flyers:

Secure the flyer on or around their door such as under the welcome mat.
Turn your flyer into a door hanger and place on the door nob.
Place your flyer in a plastic bag and put it on your neighbor's walkway. Add a rock to prevent the flyer from blowing away.
Mail your flyers, though this can get pretty expensive.

Post flyers where people walk or visit. If people walk in your neighborhood, put up some flyers in addition to posters.

If possible, get permission to post flyers or posters at local businesses such as:

Gas stations within 1-2 miles of where your cat went missing
Library
Post Office - also give one to your local mail carrier
Laundry mats
Pet stores
Grocery stores
On public notice boards

Distribute or post flyers at local events.

Fairs
Local tag sales

If your cat went missing in a commercial or industrial area, get permission to place flyers on cars in the parking lot.

When to Distribute Flyers

The best time to distribute flyers is during your neighborhood search. This way, you can combine handing out flyers with knocking on doors to get permission to search yards.

If you have already done your search, distribute flyers as soon as possible.

Flyers are also helpful when following up on potential sightings. Consider adding text asking people if they have a cat that looks like yours.

If your cat has been missing for several weeks, consider redistributing flyers. At this time, you might add the following information to your flyer.

Ask people to "Check any security camera recordings for possible sightings." Many escaped indoor cats only come out at night so security cameras can be a great resource.
Ask people if they feed outdoor cats or leave pet food outside overnight. State that your cat may be attracted to the food.
If your cat is particularly friendly or out-going, you might consider adding a reward at this time as well.