Write down the sighting
- Record the exact address or map point.
- Ask which direction the cat entered and left.
- Note the time, weather, traffic, people, and animals nearby.
- Ask whether this was one sighting or a repeated route.
Verify without dismissing
Compare the report with photos of your cat's face, side markings, paws, tail, and size. A wrong report can waste time, but an incomplete report may still place your cat in the right block. Keep the witness reachable if possible.
Reduce pressure at the location
Send one or two calm people, not a group. Search hiding cover nearby. If you see the cat, sit low, angle your body away, and avoid a direct approach. Use the voice and sounds of an ordinary feeding routine rather than frantic calling.
Look for a pattern
With permission, place food and a motion camera in a safe spot near the sighting. Check it on a schedule. Repeated visits tell you much more than scattered food bowls and can support a trapping plan.
Keep the location controlled
Share detailed recovery plans only with the people who need them. Public updates can bring well-meaning searchers who chase the cat or move food. Update your poster to say "DO NOT CHASE. CALL WITH SIGHTINGS."