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].
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.
Their first instinct is to find a place to hide. If they have ever escaped before they will run the same direction and go the same place they did before (even if it was years ago). Cats will usually stay within a 3-4 house radius from where they went out as long as they can find a place to hide within that area.
In fact, the Missing Animal Response Network has found that cats will often hide for one or two weeks after becoming displaced from their territory.
You do not need to worry if your cat leaves, however, if it has been more than two days, you should consider notifying your local vet and animal warden that your animal has not come back, as they might have been injured, preventing them from coming home.
If your cat considers the new place to be home, they may have “memorized” the magnetic map, so they can use this to try to return to your new home. However, chances are also very good that your cat may travel back to your old home, particularly if they lived there for a long time.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
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.
Ask friends and neighbors to help with the search, and check under decks and porches, in garages and sheds, and other places where a cat could hide or get trapped. Keep in mind that a cat who is unused to being outside, or a cat lost in an unfamiliar area, will likely be scared and won't respond to your calls.
Stress. Stress is another common reason why cats run away. Cats are creatures of habit – they don't like changes in the household or to their routine.
There are exceptions to this rule, however, out of the hundreds of kitty reunion stories on our page, cat owners have reported their cat returning most often between 8pm-2am and 4-7am. It would be helpful if a family member could sleep on the ground floor to listen for any scratches or meows during the night.
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. They can spend long periods of time in one area moving from hiding spot to hiding spot.
Over seventy percent of missing cats made it back home, one way or another.
Indeed, a healthy cat can even judge within three inches the location of a sound being made three feet away, which assists in the locating of prey. They can also “hear sounds at great distances – four or five times farther away than humans.”
Luring Out a Lost Cat
Albrecht says owners trying to lure out their cat should use food. You can even place food just inside the door and then close it once your cat heads back inside. You might also consider leaving food and water outside the home in case the cat comes back at night.
Living in an atmosphere filled with these ammonia fumes can cause a great deal of respiratory discomfort and problems. These fumes cause irritation of the bronchial membranes of the lungs, leading to an increased production of phlegm, coughing and difficulty breathing.
Do cats actually miss their owners? Yes, they do. The cats miss the owners whenever they are away or have been detached from the owner. They notice the absence of all the showered love their owners have left for them.
Also, cats often miss their previous owners when rehomed and try to find their way back. If you've just moved or taken in a new cat, keep a sharp eye on him for the first three weeks or so until he gets settled in his new place.
Knock on doors in your neighbourhood and ask if people have seen your cat. Show them a photo of your kitty and give them a phone number to contact if they see your cat in the days to come. Leave out your cat's favourite food each night, preferably a strong-smelling type of food that will lure your cat home again.
No matter how independent your cat is, we do not recommend leaving your cat alone without daily visits from a friend or a professional cat-sitter for more than two or three days. Today, there are many options to care for your cat while you are away. Keep in mind that, cats tend to be independent, territorial animals.
Hunting & primal behaviour. Hunting is a natural behavior for cats. The fact felines are born with a predatory instinct means that as soon as they sense a bird, a mouse or any other wild prey, the hunt is well and truly on. And it's this thrill of the chase that can lead to them vanishing for hours at a time.
Some cats may walk miles each night in search of a meal or patrolling the borders of their territory. Estimates of feral cat territory sizes range from two to 1,000+ acres.
Cats have the power to sense their owner's emotions. So, cats have the ability to feel whenever their owner is sad. Beyond sadness, domestic cats are also able to feel whenever their owner has switched moods and emotions.
Cats don't cry tears when they're sad or in pain. But Halls says whether your cat is experiencing emotional or physical pain, they'll exhibit behavioral changes that could include vocal crying. The sound of a cat crying is typically longer in duration and lower in frequency than day-to-day cat chatter.