A mustache may be a good disguise if you are hiding from the paparazzi.

But nothing could hide Mr. Mustache from the power of love.

Mr. Mustache found friends everywhere. His heart was so big, Tabby’s Place created an eight-foot cardboard statue just to celebrate his existence. All the cats of Suite D orbited him like a golden sun.

Due to his advanced age and FIV+ status, Mr. Mustache found himself hiding in plain sight from most adopters. But the love he was seeking was searching for him, too.

When angel volunteer Diane and husband Ron adopted Mr. Mustache, happy tears flowed down every face. Mr. Mustache’s whole life had led to this moment. His smitten parents were worth the wait.

They gave him the dignified new name of “Stauche” and nestled him in a home of unconditional love, with a fabulous fenced-in catio for sunbeams and dreams. Mr. Mustache’s golden years had begun.

But one last act of “seeking” proved irresistible.

As best we can guess, Mr. Mustache was dazzled by a bird. Zest filled the old orange cat’s legs, and he soared out of his catio enclosure. When he landed, he was suddenly a missing cat.

You can be five yards from home and feel lost in space. You can be within the sound of your family’s voices and think you’re an orphan. You can have a heart made of sunshine and find yourself shivering.

Your only hope is a love that never gives up.

Mr. Mustache went missing during the coldest week of the year. But his parents’ hearts blazed with devotion. And they were not alone in seeking.

Once you are a Tabby’s Place cat, you are always a Tabby’s Place cat. The lines between “friend” and “family” are as soft as the first rays of dawn. The experienced, extraordinary Danielle (Tabby’s Place Director of Operations) and Lori (volunteer of unparalleled valor) helped to lead the effort.

The team would need courage as they suffered setbacks. There were sightings that evaporated like dreams. There was one terrible scare, a report of a lookalike cat who had passed away. There were eight-degree mornings and frozen fingers.

Then, there was a breakthrough.

The cat in the flyer — with that mustache, those hazel eyes, and those magical creamsicle swirls — had been seen. The first glimpse came on a neighbor’s night cameras. Our expert trappers traced his patterns.

At last, the search led to a good neighbor’s cat colony. Thanks to Lori’s unforgettable flyers, hand-delivered to every neighbor, this neighbor knew she had a celebrity on her porch.

Now it was time to trap him.

Mr. Mustache was not so sure. Fairy tales generally do not include a drop trap. When you have been lost, you may need a little convincing to be found.

But you cannot hide from the love of your lifetime.

At last, Mr. Mustache could no longer resist. In one triumphant snap of the trap, the hiding and the seeking became one. After eight long days, the cat made of sunshine is basking in his family’s love. The lost has been found.

And if his story can help one friend find their way home, Mr. Mustache will not be able to disguise his joy.

It is essential to note that, for all the heartache,  there was no reason for despair. Lost cats can be found. There are time-tested steps to steer the quest. And while we hope you will never have to experience this, we hope you’ll tuck these tips in your pocket just in case:

• The biggest mistake is giving up the search too soon. Be persistent and don’t lose hope. We’ve seen many cats be returned to their families after months or even years of being lost.

  

• Double check your house. Many “lost” cats were hiding in their home the entire time. Check inside furniture, closets, etc.
• Contact your cat’s microchip company to alert them your cat is missing. If you have not registered your cat’s chip, make sure you do so.
• Report your cat as missing to your local animal control officer, nearby shelters and impound facilities. Follow up regularly.
• Make flyers with your cat’s picture, description, date and location where the cat was last seen, and contact information. Share flyers with neighbors, animal control, shelters, impound facilities, and vet hospitals. Refresh flyers every few weeks.
• Make large, colorful posters and post them throughout your neighborhood. Make the poster simple, bright and easy to read. Update these posters every few weeks.

  

• Offer a reward. This can be small, and you don’t have to disclose the amount. This will get people’s attention and incentivize them to keep a look out for your cat.
• Try to trap your cat with a humane trap. This works best for indoor-only cats, who typically don’t travel far when lost. Your cat is most likely very close by, but too scared to come out to you. A trap is the most important tool in getting back lost cats.
• Ask your neighbors to check their garages and sheds. Your cat may have gotten trapped somewhere.
• Place items with a familiar scent inside or near the trap. Use a blanket, shirt, pillow case or other items from home.
• Leave a door open to the outside at night if you can do so safely. Place some food in the room and monitor the area. Some cats will make their way back into their house on their own at night. Watch out for wild animals.
• Call for your cat, especially at night. Use a soothing tone and stay close to your house. Hearing your voice will be comforting and draw your cat near.
• Set up a wildlife camera to see if your cat is visiting the area at night. You can also set cameras up in areas where there are reported sightings.
• Check Pawboost, Petfinder, Petco Love Lost, and Facebook for postings of found cats. (On Facebook, search “Lost Pets in [your area].”) You can also post your kitty on these sites.
•  It bears repeating … remember Mr. Mustache, and don’t give up!

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