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. Some reports say that up to 30% of cats will try and return to their former homes.
Each cat varies in how long it goes missing. Some people wonder when to stop looking for a lost cat, but there's no actual answer. Cats can go missing for days, months, or even years. The animal world is full of stories of cats that returned home years after pet owners gave up hope.
They often come back, but there are times when they don't. If your cat has been gone for longer than you're comfortable with, don't worry because studies have shown that cats are somewhat able to find their way back home, even though it doesn't happen a hundred percent of the time due to several factors.
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.
Try not to panic. Cats can disappear for days at a time and return with no trouble, looking perfectly healthy. While you might be worried, they're likely to stroll in and wonder what all the fuss is about. If they haven't yet returned, give them a few hours before you make a plan of action.
According to the study: 61% of lost cats were found within one year. 34% of lost cats were found (alive, thank goodness) within 7 days. after 90 days, lost cats were less likely to be found alive 😿
Cats are often lost, and in 76% of cases, you will find them. If you have a name tag on your cat, there is a very high possibility to find it. Someone will find it and will reach you, but if there is none, it may go to the lost and found department in this case.
Male wanderers tend to stay within a territory of about 150 acres, while females stay closer to home, roaming only about 40 acres. This means that your average male cat is likely to stay within 1500 feet of home, while your average female tends not to go much farther than 75 yards from your door.
It's theorized that they can follow their own scent trails all the way back home. Their powerful sense of smell is also why it's recommended to put a lost cat's litter box or favorite blanket outside. Those familiar scents could help them remember where they live.
Cats will miss their owners when they are gone, but the response to a cat missing you may vary. Some kitties may express their sadness through purring, meowing, or following their owner around, while others may show no outward signs of sadness. Here are some common signs your cat missed you: Meowing and Crying.
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.
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. They look for the first place to hide and then they stay there (sometimes for days on end) as long as it is safe and dry.
On average, it turned out that the cats spent a vast majority (79%) of their time outdoors while being just 50 meters or less away from home, with the maximum average distance being around 352 meters. There were exceptions, some of whom event traveled several kilometers away, but these were far outside the norm.
That's because they have an excellent homing instinct that helps guide them back even when they stray outside their usual territory. 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.
If you are sure your kitty is lost outside, get down on the ground and start searching for cozy spy holes. Look under and inside every possible hiding spot. Trust us, most cats are watching you look for them. Bushes, under porches or stairs, tucked beneath vehicles, or behind bins are some favorite lost cat spots.
Some reports say that up to 30% of cats will try and return to their former homes. Even if your old home is quite a long distance away, you should ask the new residents and your old neighbors to be on the lookout and check the area frequently.
Call around to all the vets, surgery centers, and rescue centres within a five-mile radius and ask if a cat fitting your cat's description has been brought in. Use a computer or a copy machine to create fliers with a description and a photo of your lost cat on them.
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.
The number one method that was the most successful in recovering a missing cat was conducting a physical search of the area. The median distance found (how far the cats traveled) for missing outdoor-access cats was 315 meters (344 yards). This is roughly a 17-house radius from their owner's home.
If an adult cat gets lost, it will remember you for several years given it has bonded with you before it got lost.
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.
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.