A lost dog is more likely to be reunited with its owner than a lost cat, according to two new studies, and a sign in the neighborhood may be the best way to recover a pet.

In one city in southwestern Ohio, researchers found that 71 percent of lost dogs were found, compared to just 53 percent of lost cats, according to a news release from the Ohio State University.

More than one-third of the recovered dogs were found by a call or visit to an animal shelter. More than one-quarter were found because the animal wore an identification tag.

The studies were conducted in Ohio by professor Linda Lord. Less than half of the lost dogs had tags, despite a state licensing requirement.

The studies found that 66 percent of lost cats listed in newspapers returned on their own, but less than one in 10 dogs did.

Cat owners typically wait three days before calling or visiting a shelter, but dog owners only wait a day.

One of the best ways to locate a pet may be to post a sign in the neighborhood, the study showed. Signs resulted in the return of 15 percent of recovered dogs and 11 percent of found cats.

How To Find

Lord said that many pet owners may not know how to go about finding their lost cat or dog.

"Pet owners should think about having a plan in place in case their pet is lost. Both animal shelters and veterinarians can educate their clients and the public about the best course of action to take when a pet is missing," she said.

She said the most important thing is being able to accurately identify a missing animal, especially by using tags or implanted microchips.