My Cat Ran Away! What Should I Do?

It is pretty natural for cats to disappear. One minute they are napping in your lap, the next minute, you may not find it anywhere around your home. This may happen because your cat has an explorer personality.

You may be used to your cat being gone for days at a time because you know they may come back sooner or later. However, what happens if it takes far too long to come back? Most new cat parents may consider them unfit to have a pet, which is not necessarily true.

Generally, cats run away from home for several reasons, and most of them find their way back home. As a pet parent, you will need to act accordingly when your kitty goes missing. In this blog, we will discuss these factors in detail:

Why Did My Cat Run Away?

As mentioned earlier, cats can run away from home for several reasons. Understanding these reasons is the key to preventing such incidents from happening. In general, a cat may run away because of three general reasons:

• Cat’s natural instincts
• Unfortunate incidents, and
• Mental or physical cause

Let’s discuss all three reasons briefly:

Cat’s Natural Instincts

Cats are very independent and curious animals. They are very eager to observe and know what is happening around them. As they see something interesting, they tend to go and inspect. Here are main 4 natural instincts that a cat may act on and go missing:

Searching for a mate: Any cat, especially male ones, tends to wander off in search of a mate when in heat. They almost always come back once their heat cycle ends.

Chasing small animals: Cats have a strong prey drive and like to chase small insects, birds, and animals. It is possible for cats to lose their way home after a chase.

Territory fights: Even the smallest kittens are very protective of their territory. If another cat enters its territory, it may chase the other one and lose its way back home.

Hunting for food: Some cats may leave home to go after a food source that they discovered.

Unfortunate Incidents

Most cat owners may be used to their cats coming and going at will. However, if your cat disappeared for a longer time, it may have fallen victim to some unfortunate event. Here’s a list of unfortunate incidents that can happen to your cat:

Anxiety: Felines get anxious when they sense a dispute. If your cat experiences a major change in the household, it may get anxious and run away. If you see any sign that your cat has anxiety, treat it immediately to avoid such a situation. 

Age or illness: Some cats often become too old or sick to return home. It is very common to hear about dying cats suddenly leaving because they prefer to be alone and rest on their last days.

Factors Influencing Missing Cats to Come Back

Most cats that run away from home come back home often. Also, some may never find their way back home which is also a possibility. There are 3 significant factors that play a significant role in your cat’s coming back home. They are:

• Homing instincts
• Cat-human bond
• Cat personality

Homing Instincts

According to Lost Pet Research’s survey showed that 67% of indoor-outdoor cats and 25% of outdoor-only cats demonstrate homing behavior. However, only 7% of indoor cats have shown such behavior and returned home after getting lost.

According to some animal behaviorists, cats are able to follow directions based on the earth’s geomagnetic fields. Science has also shown that a cat’s keen sense of smell allows it to track familiar scents and return to its territory.

Cat-Human Bond

According to veterinary doctor Dr. Myrna Milani, cats get attached to their owners at an atomic level. Even if the cat’s expression of affection is subtle, the bond is built on mutual respect and understanding. This eventually allows both the cat and the human to learn to coexist and communicate. 

This deep bond brings joy and comfort to both parties, as well as works as a huge motivator for lost cats to get back home. The emotional connection they share with their humans can act as a beacon, drawing them back to the safety and love of their home. 

The familiar sounds, scents, and routines associated with their human can provide the necessary cues for a lost cat to return, reaffirming the strength and importance of their bond.

Cat Personality

Depending on the personality of your cat, it may be easier or harder to find. If your missing cat is timid or easily frightened, it will spend a significant time in hiding. It will only come out of its hiding place when it’s hungry and looking for food.

On the other hand, bold or friendly-natured cats are more likely to come to you when you call them out. Therefore, they are much easier to find. 

What Should You Do if Your Cat Goes Missing?

Now that you know the factors influencing your cat’s running away, you should know what to do in such situations. So, what can you do if your cat has gone missing? 

Here is our guide to strategically searching for your cat:

Step 1: Give a thorough search of your home. Oftentimes, cats go in a quiet corner of your home and take naps. So, it is possible to find your lost cat at your home napping comfortably.

Step 2: Go door to door around the neighborhood and ask to look under porches, garages, crawl spaces, basements, and other places your cat may squeeze into.

Step 3: If your cat is not found during the daytime, wait for dusk to fall. As cats are nocturnal and their eyes shine in the dark, it is easier to find them at night.

Step 4: Put up lost cat posters in strategic locations, include a clear photo and your updated contact information.

Step 5: Report your lost pet to PawMaw and alert community members in the area. 

Step 6: Search the lost pet database to see if anyone has reported your lost cat.

Step 7: Call animal control and shelters to see if your cat has been there. You can take weekly updates or visit them in person.

Step 8: Be prepared for your cat’s return. Leave out food and make sure there’s a door or window open to let your pet through in case they return.

Preventive Measures You Cat Take To Avoid Losing Your Pet

A little preventive measure doesn’t hurt. Once your cat is safely back home, take the following steps to avoid losing it again.

• Make sure your cat’s ID collar tags are updated
• Microchip your cat to make it easier to locate
• Do not leave your window or door open when your cat is unattended
• Spay or neuter your cat to prevent it from going into heat
• Train your cat to return home
• Provide a safe and secure cat sanctuary in your yard

Final Words

If your pet cat is strictly an indoor one with occasional access to the outdoors, there’s a high chance of it getting lost. Therefore, it is wise to identify the reasons for it going lost and do everything to prevent such incidents from happening. 

If your cat has already gone missing, follow the above-mentioned steps to conduct a systematic search. This will significantly help you bring back your cat to its loving home.