Report your lost cat officially
Do these on the first day, alongside posting here and sharing in the Facebook groups.
Fill in the government's missing pet form
The Report of Missing Pets form on servizz.gov.mt covers cats too, for residents of Malta and Gozo. The Animal Welfare Directorate then alerts vets, clinics and sanctuaries, and tells you if your cat is found.
Phone your vet, and the vet who chipped your cat
- Found cats are often taken to a vet to be scanned, so ask yours to look out.
- If another vet chipped your cat, ask them to check the record is right.
- Phone other vets and the licensed sanctuaries near where your cat was lost.
Check your microchip details
A chip only helps if it leads back to you. If you've moved house or changed number since, update it now. See microchipping and registering.
Ring the Animal Welfare Directorate
Call 153, extension 17 (Gozo: 7969 1717). Their ambulance scans the animals it collects for a chip and can return them to their owners.
Hurt stray in Malta? Try a vet or a rescue first
Most feeders take a hurt stray to a vet or a licensed rescue, so someone can follow its care. If neither is possible, call Animal Welfare on 153, ext. 17 and ask where the cat will be taken.
In Gozo, the Animal Welfare Section's 24/7 ambulance is on 7969 1717.
Useful contacts
- Report of Missing Pets (official online form, dogs and cats) · openThe Directorate's microchipping section tells vets, clinics and sanctuaries, and lets you know if your pet is found.Source
- Animal Welfare Directorate (injured strays, cruelty, general help): 153, extension 17Freephone via Servizz.gov. Its 24/7 ambulance picks up sick or injured strays that aren't microchipped. It isn't a service for privately owned pets.Source
- Gozo Animal Welfare Section (round-the-clock ambulance for injured strays): 7969 1717Source
- Licensed sanctuaries (official list) · openSource
Checked 28 September 2026. Spotted something out of date, or a rescue or vet happy to be listed? Tell us.
Sources
- Servizz.gov: Report of Missing Pets
- Animal Welfare Directorate: contact
- Animal Welfare Directorate: who we are
- Animal Welfare Directorate: licensed sanctuaries
- Ministry for Gozo: animal welfare
Checked 28 September 2026. Rules and numbers change: if something here is out of date, please tell us.