Cats, those most mercurial of creatures, are fond of wandering off for a few days from their homes, and, most likely, doing cattish things while gone.

Many will return, but many also don’t return. In those instances where a person or family’s beloved feline seems to skip town, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is offering a seminar with pet detective Kat Albrecht of Missing Pet Partnership on what to do when those mysterious furballs disappear.

The seminar is aimed at finding where lost cats may go, by focusing on where they tend to go, how they behave when lost, and how they can be found. Case studies of lost cats who were found will be shared as part of the seminar.

“By understanding the behaviors of lost cats, we can increase the likelihood that a lost cat will be recovered and reunited with its owner,” Albrecht noted.

This seminar is an opportunity for cat lovers in King County to learn more about feline behavior, and learn how to help owners who are searching for their lost pet, the county reports.

The seminar will take place 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64th Ave S., Kent. The seminar is free. To register, call (206) 296-3946 or contact volunteer manager Sarah Luthens by email at sarah.luthens@kingcounty.gov.

Pet detective

Albrecht, of Federal Way, is the founder of Missing Pet Partnership, a nonprofit organization that aims to reunite owners with lost pets and reduce euthanasia rates at animal shelters. To learn more, visit www.missingpetpartnership.org.

Federal Way animal services

In 2010, Federal Way broke from King County to launch its own animal services unit through the police department.

Federal Way operates a local pet hotline at (253) 835-7387 as the main source for information and to file animal complaints. The animal services unit may be of assistance in the following situations:

• When a lost animal is found

• When a person wishes to make a complaint about an animal, such as a barking dog

• When an aggressive animal is loose

• When a person is looking for a lost pet

• When a person wishes to license a pet or renew a pet license

The city has partnered with the Humane Society of Tacoma/Pierce County for animal needs such as shelter, spay and neuter, and euthanasia. In 2011, the Humane Society took in 825 animals from Federal Way. 90 were reunited with their owners, and 66 animals were placed into foster homes. 32 healthy cats and 34 feral cats were euthanized in 2011.

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This report contains information from past Mirror reports.