Ohio State University researchers found that posting a sign to find your missing pet is the way to go.

But cat owners have a significantly lower chance of seeing their feline friends again than dog lovers. Lead researcher Linda Lord found that 71 percent of lost dogs were found, compared to just 53 percent of lost cats.

The study also found that dog owners are a little more anxious when their pups come up missing. They only wait one day to start calling and visiting animal shelters. Cat owner wait three days before starting the search.

The shelter is also a great place to recover a lost pet. More than one-third of the missing dogs made it home after a call or visit to an animal shelter and more than one-quarter wore an identification tag.

While the visiting the local pet shelter showed great results, posting signs throughout the neighborhood was an even more successful play. Fifteen percent of dogs and 11 percent of cats were returned when owners posted signs.

Lord said, "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."