It’s estimated that over 10 million pets go missing in the U.S. each year, and cats make up 30-40% of those lost pets. According to the American Humane Society, only 2-5% of lost cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners. With so many cats going astray and never making it back home, it raises the question – do lost cats even want to come home?
Losing a beloved pet can be heartbreaking for owners. When a cat goes missing, it’s natural to worry if they’re safe and to hope they’ll find their way back. While some lost cats do eventually return on their own, many factors influence whether a lost cat will try to come home.
In this article, we’ll explore the navigation abilities, territorial instincts, and homing behaviors of cats to better understand what motivates a lost cat. We’ll also provide tips on how to find a lost cat and discuss preventative measures to keep cats from wandering off in the first place.
Reasons Cats Get Lost
There are several common reasons why cats may get lost and wander away from home, even those that are normally indoor-only pets. According to Weenect, cats have a strong desire to explore their surroundings and hunt, which can lead them to roam further than intended if they find an open door or other opportunity. Cats can also get spooked by loud noises, construction, or other disturbances that cause them to bolt out of fear.
Additionally, moving to a new home is disorienting and stressful for cats. As reported by Reveal Pet Food, it’s common for cats to escape outside during the process of moving to survey the new area. But without sufficient familiarity, they can easily become lost. Keeping cats confined to a single room during a move and the initial days in a new home can help prevent them from dashing out doors and getting lost.
While most indoor cats want to come home, their natural instincts to hunt, fear of loud noises, and stress with change means that they can unintentionally find themselves lost outdoors. Taking preventative measures like securing doors and windows, easing transitions, and tagging cats with ID can help mitigate the risk.
Cat Navigation Abilities
Cats have excellent navigation abilities that help them determine where they are and how to get home. They rely on the following senses:
Strong Sense of Smell
A cat’s sense of smell is approximately 10-20 times stronger than a human’s. They have nearly 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their nose (PetMD). Cats use their powerful sense of smell to identify familiar scents that act as olfactory signposts, tracking the scent trails that lead back home.
Good Vision
Cats have excellent vision and can see well in low light. They have a wide 290 degree field of vision that only has a few blind spots (Basepaws). Their vision helps them navigate using visual landmarks and terrain features around their home territory.
Internal Compass
Cats have an innate internal compass that helps them maintain awareness of which direction they are facing. This helps keep them oriented in the direction of home when navigating back (Pawaii).
Cat Territoriality
Cats are highly territorial animals by nature. A cat’s territory consists of the area that they consider their own and will defend against other cats. According to the ASPCA Pet Insurance, cats mark their territory using scent glands and visual cues like scratch marks on trees, establishing boundaries that other cats should not cross[1]. Some common territorial behaviors include urine marking, rubbing, scratching objects, and aggressive displays if another cat intrudes on their turf.
Cats instinctively map out the layout of their territory using landmarks and scents to remember where the boundaries are. They perform regular perimeter checks by walking along the edges while depositing pheromones from scent glands located in their paws and face[2]. This allows them to notice any changes or intrusions quickly. Understanding cat territoriality helps explain behaviors like aggression towards other cats entering their turf or urine marking inside the home.
[1] https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/how-to-deal-with-territorial-cats/
[2] https://www.paws.org/resources/aggression/
Cat Homing Instinct
Cats have a strong homing instinct and ability to find their way home even over long distances. According to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, cats rely on multiple senses including sight, hearing, and smell to navigate back home (Herrick, 19221). Their keen sense of smell allows them to follow scent trails for miles.
Cats are also able to determine direction using the Earth’s magnetic field, the sun, landscape, and man-made structures. Even cats kept exclusively indoors can develop mental maps of their surroundings to aid navigation. Although some cats have better homing abilities than others, most possess an innate drive to return home when lost.
There are many stories of cats traveling hundreds of miles over weeks or months to return home. According to one report, a cat walked 1,200 miles over 5 months to return to her family after getting lost on a camping trip (Animal Wellness, 20152). This demonstrates cats’ strong motivation and ability to find their way even over very long distances.
Risks to Lost Cats
When cats become lost outdoors, they face many dangers that threaten their safety and lives. Some of the major risks lost cats encounter include:
Weather – Lost cats can succumb to extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow. Without shelter, lost cats are exposed to the elements which can lead to dehydration, hypothermia, heat stroke, and freezing. Young kittens and sick or elderly cats are especially susceptible.1
Cars – Roaming into streets and parking lots puts lost cats at high risk of being hit by vehicles. This is a leading cause of death for outdoor and lost cats.2
Other animals – Lost cats may be attacked by other cats, dogs, coyotes, and wildlife when trespassing into unfamiliar territory. Without the ability to escape and hide, they can suffer severe injuries.3
Starvation – Lost cats struggle to find food and water on their own. Lack of access to food sources leads to malnutrition, starvation, and related illnesses that can be fatal if the cat is not found quickly.
Finding a Lost Cat
When a cat goes missing, it’s important to take immediate action to try to find them. Here are some of the most effective ways to help locate a lost cat:
Post fliers with a photo of your cat and your contact information in your neighborhood, at local veterinary offices, pet stores, and shelters. The more eyes looking for your cat, the better. Expand your search area over time. See tips on creating effective lost pet fliers.
Go door-to-door in your neighborhood and surrounding blocks asking people to check garages, sheds, and under porches where a cat may hide. Provideneighbors with your contact information in case they spot your cat.
Contact local shelters and animal control agencies to file a lost pet report. Visit shelters in person too, if possible, to check for your cat. Leave a photo and your info in case your cat is brought in. Check for lost/found pet postings on websites or social media pages for your local shelters.
Search the neighborhood methodically. Look under parked cars, in thick bushes and tall grass. Call or shake treats to entice your cat. Search at dawn/dusk when cats are most active. Use scents familiar to your cat like bedding. Look where cats hide – under decks, in crawlspaces, etc.
Enlist volunteers to help search if available. The more eyes the better. Provide them with tips on how to search and your contact info.
Consider hiring a pet detective to aid in the search, especially if your lost cat does not turn up after a thorough neighborhood search. They use tactics like wildlife cameras and dogs to track lost pets.
Don’t give up! It can take time and a methodical search to locate a missing cat. Be sure to keep checking shelters and searching your area for as long as possible. Most lost cats will turn up close to home if given enough time.
Preventing Cats from Getting Lost
There are several effective ways to help prevent cats from getting lost in the first place:
Collars and Tags
Putting a breakaway collar and tag with your contact information on your cat can greatly increase the chances of getting your cat back if they do get lost. Make sure the collar fits properly and the tag has your phone number so you can be contacted if your cat is found (Source).
Microchipping
Microchipping your cat and keeping the registration information up-to-date is critical. A microchip can be scanned by shelters and veterinarians to identify your cat if found. Be sure to register the microchip and keep your contact info current (Source).
Cat-Proof Fences
Installing cat-proof fencing around your yard is an excellent way to give cats outdoor access while preventing them from wandering. Use fencing designed specifically for cats that has smaller gaps at the bottom to prevent squeezing through (Source).
Bringing a Lost Cat Home
If your cat has been missing and you are reunited, the process of bringing them home requires care and patience. After likely enduring stress and fear outdoors, a lost cat needs time to decompress once home. Let them relax in a quiet, comfortable space with familiar smells and allow them to approach you.
One of the most important steps is taking your cat to the veterinarian for a full checkup right away. Your vet can assess their physical health, treat any injuries, test for diseases, and administer preventative medication like dewormers or flea/tick control. According to the PDSA, vet visits are crucial after reunification, as even healthy-seeming cats may have underlying issues after being lost. A medical evaluation ensures any problems are caught early and treated properly. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/reuniting-with-lost-pets
With patience and care, most cats can transition smoothly back home after being lost. However, continue monitoring their health and behavior in the days and weeks following. It may take time for your cat to fully relax and resume their normal routine. If issues persist, consult your veterinarian for advice on helping them readjust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the research indicates that lost cats generally do wish to find their way back home. Cats have good navigational abilities and retain memories of their home territories. Their homing instinct leads most lost cats to at least attempt to return to their familiar homes and owners.
However, the many risks faced by lost cats mean that a large percentage never actually make it home. Getting lost is very dangerous for domestic cats who lack survival skills. Therefore, it is critical that cat owners take preventative measures such as microchipping and identification collars to maximize the chances of reuniting with a lost cat.
If you find a lost cat, be sure to have it scanned for a microchip at the vet. Also check for lost cat ads and go door to door in the area the cat was found. With some diligence and luck, many lost cats can successfully be reunited with their relieved owners.