Shaking a food dish, treat jar or favorite toy will sometimes lure animals out of a hiding place. If they are outside, cook up something smelly on your grill, bacon or liverwurst; something that might bring your cat home for dinner! Open the windows of your house and get the house smells outside.
Yes, cats can return home many days, weeks, months, and even years after they wandered off or were lost. According to the Lost Pet Research project, there were reports of cats traveling 50-80 miles in 2.5 years, 38 miles in 6 months, 30 miles in 10 days, and 20 miles in 21 days. So if your cat is lost, keep up hope.
Of stray animals entering shelters in USA and Australia, reported reclaim percentages for cats are typically 2–4% compared to reclaim percentages for dogs which usually range from 26–40%, but can be as high as 90% [6,7,8]. Cats are 13 times more likely to return to owners by means other than a visit to a shelter [9].
Shake a box of their favourite biscuits to entice them home. If your cat has a favourite toy, try leaving it in your garden. Cats have a strong sense of smell - leave out a regular blanket or bedding to encourage your cat out of hiding.
Neglect and abandonment are two other potential reasons why your cat may not come home. If you are always leaving your cat home alone, or don't provide them with enough food, water or anything else that they need to survive and live a good life, they may seek shelter, love and care elsewhere.
It isn't uncommon for cats to go missing for 24 hours, especially if they like spending a lot of time outdoors. In some cases, cats can even stay away from home for up to 10 days at a time. We also know of cats that leave home while their humans are away on holiday, returning soon after the family arrives back.
It's important to understand that these vanishing acts are perfectly normal. Felines, by their nature, are adventurous animals. Their innate curiosity can see them wander away from home as they explore their surroundings, satisfying that predatory instinct.
If your cat is gone for more than 12 hours or overnight, it's time to take action. Don't panic. Follow the tips in this article to bring your cat home safely.
Scientists estimate cats can smell their food from between 126 – 154 feet away (roughly a football field wide). No wonder your cat comes running to their bowl before you've even put it down! However, we do know that cats noses have a “secret superpower”. All cats have a dual scent mechanism.
There are many reasons why cats run away from home, including fear, searching for a mate, looking for somewhere quiet to give birth, or simple curiosity. “It's unlikely that many cats actually 'run away' in the sense of purposefully leaving their current home,” says Head Veterinarian of Cooper Pet Care, Patrik Holmboe.
If the weather is cool, check warm places such as behind heating appliances, under cars or in vents. Indoor or outdoor cats can be found outside under decks, on rooves, under parked cars, in tall trees, dense bushes or in drains. Most cats, when feeling overwhelmed or lost, will hide instead of run.
Knock on doors and hang large, colorful “lost cat” posters in your area. Alert dogwalkers, mail carriers, joggers and anyone else who regularly visits your neighborhood, as well as anyone nearby who feeds outdoor cats. Use local social media sites and missing pet registries to help get the word out.
The Life Expectancy of an 'Outdoor Cat'
While cats kept safe inside generally live for about 12 to 20 years, cats left to fend for themselves outdoors are usually dead before they reach 5 years old.
When a cat is scared by something outside, they may hide indoors for a few hours to a couple of days, depending on their personality and the intensity of the fear. Providing a safe and quiet space for your cat to recover, along with gentle reassurance, can help them come out of hiding sooner.
Let them explore in their own time and don't panic if they hop over a fence, or go further than you feel comfortable, most cats come back after a few minutes, at which point you can give them a tasty treat to encourage their return.
If you've ever asked yourself, "Does my cat know me?" you can rest assured: your cat knows you. In fact, she may even know you better than you know yourself. Animal behavior experts and pet owners have both observed that cats learn their human housemates' habits.
Cats Can Identify Their Owner's Scent
Humans recognize one another's odors through artificial techniques, such as shampoo and perfume. The cat's nose penetrates this facade and detects the scent of our skin. Changing the scent you wear will pique the cat's interest.
A cat's sense of smell is the primary way he identifies people and objects. Cats have more than 200 million odor sensors in their noses; humans have just 5 million. Their sense of smell is 14 times better than that of humans.
The average male outdoor cat may have a territory of a few acres, while a female's may be much smaller. Some studies show that cats walk a few dozen yards to more than half a mile per day.
Anyone simply "present" in their life is someone they may remember, but not associate with any emotion. But as long as you and your cat have shared a pet or two, and as long as you fed them a few of their favorite meals, your cat will remember you as well no matter how long you are gone.
Research has shown that cats don't show signs of separation anxiety when their owner is away. Some cat owners know this: you return from a holiday but your cat acts pretty indifferently! Other cats even behave like they are "offended" and pretend not to see you at all.
Try vets and shelters, but don't rely on them While searching will most likely be the key to finding your cat, it's still worth calling nearby vets and visiting pounds and shelters every few days, if only to give you some peace of mind that you are doing everything you can.
Over seventy percent of missing cats made it back home, one way or another.
Take a food/toy reward out with you and sit down quietly. This way you can keep an eye on your cat while letting them explore freely and call them back if you feel like they've wandered too far. You should build up the length of time your cat is outside over a few sessions.