Woman uses human urine in desperate bid to find missing cat
A woman who lost her cat has revealed how a 'very odd hack' helped her find the missing pet.
Erika Lowe was willing to try anything if it meant she could track down her feline Ivy - even if it involved another woman's urine.
The 28-year-old has now revealed how using the bodily fluids of her cat's former owner allowed her to reunite with the animal days after she initially disappeared.
Erika explained that she drove three-and-a-half hours to pick up the grey long-haired cat before welcoming Ivy into her home in Orford, East Sussex, on 3 October.
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But while they were getting to know one another, she claims that her car was attacked with a hammer while it was parked outside her pad - and she suspects the noise startled her new pet.
"I only had her in my care for a few hours before she disappeared," Erika said. "It was so upsetting to lose her within hours of bringing her home."
The animal lover said that she believed Ivy had escaped through a small gap in the kitchen window, prompting her to launch a frantic search which spanned the course of three days.
Erika said her mind was 'all over the place', explaining she was unable to eat or sleep due to being worried sick about where her cat was.
She said: "I was panicking, thinking the worst had happened or that she had been stolen. The thought of the cat I'd always dreamed of not returning devastated me."
Despite launching a social media appeal to help find Ivy, as well as scouring the area with friends, family, neighbours, Erika was unable to locate her pet.
She also tried to attract Ivy home by placing her used litter, clothing and carrier outside of her home, but this also proved fruitless.
So when a woman who lives around 60 miles away contacted her after seeing her online post to suggest human urine might come in handy, Erika thought she may as well give it a go.
The fellow cat owner said that spraying this around the local area might help lure Ivy back home, as this method had previously worked for her.
Erika explained she got in touch with the previous owner - who kindly agreed to supply some urine - before she loaded it into a spray bottle and doused a nearby tree in it.
She set up a camera overlooking the area too, so that she could easily spot Ivy if she did suddenly rock up.
'I was ready to try anything at that point'
Discussing the 'unusual' hack, Erika said: "I was ready to try anything at that point. The previous owner was happy to help - in fact, she had heard of this trick before.
"I thought it was more likely Ivy would recognise her, as I'd only had her for a few hours. I used a continuous spray bottle for better surface coverage."
Erika said she was about to call it a night when she decided to look out of her window 'one more time', which proved to be a great decision.
Recalling what she saw, Ivy's owner went on: "I noticed a slight shadow underneath a van parked by the tree. I froze and just stared. The shadow moved, and I saw a large grey, fluffy cat.
"I shouted, 'Ivy!' She looked up, and I knew it was her instantly. I was in absolute bits. I just kept repeating her name over and over."
She rushed outside with a packet of treats and the rest, as they say, is history.
Erika thanked those who had aided her three-day search for Ivy, who she said has been 'loving and affectionate' since their reunion last week on 6 October.
Although she is over the moon that Ivy is now 'home where she belongs', she admitted it was 'heartbreaking that all of this happened because someone decided to smash up her car'.
Erika reported the incident to police and said she is still hoping whoever was responsible will be identified.
Cats spray urine to mark their scent, however, the suggestion that their owners wee can guide them home has been disputed.
According to Cats Protection, if your feline goes AWOL, your best off launching a search, calling their name, enticing them back with food or items that smell familiar to them and creating missing posters.
The charity also suggests alerting your neighbours, registering your cat as missing and contacting local vets or animal shelters.
Olivia Burke