Lost cat behavior – why would a cat run away?

There are two very different types of lost cats. You need to be aware of them to better understand your missing cat and to look for your lost cat more efficiently. Cat experts divide the missing cat cases into “Outdoors cats gone missing” and “Indoors cats gone missing”. These 2 lost cat types will behave very differently.

Why the outdoors cat has gone missing

The number one reason for cats to go missing – and the main reason for outdoor cats to go missing - is because you have moved house. Remember your cat is territorial. You have just introduced your cat to a completely strange environment and your cat has not run away but is trying to return to its old territory, trying to come home to you. Even if your cat may not make it back to its old territory, it will try.

If you live reasonably close to your old house your missing cat is very likely to show up at the old address. There are amazing tales of cats returning over long distances. In either case your best bet to find your lost cat is to establish contact with the new tenants of your old home so they keep an eye out and maybe even some food to make your lost cat feel welcome.

Introducing an outdoors cat to a new territory

In order to avoid your outdoor cat to go missing after you move to a new address you will have to slowly and carefully introduce your cat to the new territory. You must keep your cat indoors for 3 weeks to a month. After 2 weeks of being indoors you should start taking your cat for supervised strolls out into the backyard and the surrounding areas. Make sure you embark on these introduction walks just before feeding your cat. Your cat will be much easier to convince to return home when you call it. Following these simple steps will help you avoid the number one reason why cats go missing.

Missing outdoors cat behavior – moving house scenario

If your outdoors cat is missing because you have moved house you know where to look for it. Your cat will be confused but it is used to the outdoors and it will very likely be ok. The tenants of your former house will be able to “capture” your cat very simply be letting it into the house and baiting the lost cat with a bit of food. If you old address is far away your missing cat will instinctively move into the correct direction giving you a clear path you need to observe and cover with your search activities to find your lost cat.

Indoors cat has gone missing

Indoors cats accidentally escaping and gone missing is the number 2 cause for missing cats. Lost indoor cats usually escape through an accidentally open door or window. The reason your indoor cat leaves the house is because it has seen a bird or another interesting visitor or smell which peaked its curiosity and convinced it to leave the save, well known environment of your house or flat.

Once outside, the life long indoors cat will be totally overwhelmed and usually panics. The indoors cat will hide and stay hidden observing the unknown territory from a save hideaway.

Indoors cats are usually close by

Missing indoors cats owners come to the conclusion that their cat has run away while it is much more likely that your lost cat is hiding very close by, having gone into their natural defensive mode. Unfortunately at this stage the missing cat will not respond to your calling or the fresh chicken outside the door. It is scared out of its wits and it is scared of you – the owner. This may be hard to believe but the fact is your lost indoors cat is now afraid of its life long companion and friend, the owner. It’s nothing personal, but do not follow the illusion that your cat will recognize you as a friend in this stressful situation. So how do you go about bringing your indoors cat back home?

Tactics for bringing the indoor cat back home

Knowing that the missing indoors cat will be hiding close by you are likely to spot it soon. Do not approach your cat. Instead prepare the house for the cat’s return, by opening the door or balcony access it is closest to. Only then approach your cat from an angle so you DO NOT stand in between your missing cat and your open, inviting house. The terrified cat is very likely to flee from its owner and if the avenue to return into the save house is open, the cat is very likely to flee home. If you however approach the cat from the house you will force it to flee further away and you might have blown your chances of getting your cat back any time soon. Resist the temptation to chase after your cat. If you do get your hands on your cat – you cannot let it go even if your cat fights you. Be prepared and wear some serious gardening gloves. If you capture your cat and it runs off again your chances of recovering your missing cat will drop significantly. Only after 4-8 weeks of hiding, some cats begin to show themselves because they are so hungry that they overcome their fear.

Where is my missing cat hiding?

So really the “runaway” cats don’t run at all. They hide and the ideal place for a hiding cat is where there are no other cats or dogs and where they have access to food and water (rubbish bins qualify for food). Indoor cats are normally found within a 5 house radius of their home. They will only move if they are chased away by a dog or a cat. Other than that, they will hide and stay put. They will typically hide during the day and sneak out at night for small bits of food and a drink of water.

Injured or sick missing cats

The percentage of lost cats which are injured or sick is rather small to the described main scenarios. You would think that an injured lost cat would want to come home but this is not the case. If your lost cat is in a lot of pain it will try to get away from everything it associates with that pain and as it got hurt at home or close to home it will not come home. If the lost cat is seriously injured and in pain it will go into its natural hiding mode which is simply the cats survival mechanism.

The cat homing instinct

Your cat has abilities, which go beyond anything the human 5 senses could accomplish or comprehend. The cat homing instinct helps a lost cat to find back home even over long distances (in the example of a house relocation it will find back to the old house). It has been recorded that cats have moved thousands of kilometers this way and successfully found home.

The second “homing instinct” your cat has relates to you – the cat owner. It has been reported and scientifically investigated and proven that cats can follow their owner who has moved away and left the cat behind. This is called PSI trailing. Some cats have followed their owner across entire continents (without having a forwarding address)