Key takeaways
Domestic cats and stray cats alike have an incredible plethora of senses. These all work together to allow our furry friends to develop a homing ability. Some cats have even been known to find their way home from 80 miles (128 km) away.
These include smell, hearing, night vision, whiskers, and sensitivity to the Earth's electromagnetic fields, which means cats can find their way home.
In this article, we'll explore what impacts their homing abilities, how it works, and why your cat might have run away before detailing how pet owners can attract their cat back home.
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Can cats find their way home?
Age: The older the cat, the less chance they have of finding their way home. This is because as cats age, they lose some of their senses. My 21-year-old best buddy lost her hearing, which is an essential element of their homing abilities. She quickly had to become an indoor only cat!
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor cats will have a better sense of direction and spatial awareness outside the home. Think of it as practice every time your cat goes on an adventure and returns home for dinner. However, indoor cats won't have this practice under their belts. This means they are more likely to become confused, lost, and disoriented.
Distance from home: How far your kitty has traveled will determine whether it can travel home. The further away, the more difficult it will become. However, don't lose hope. Recent research has shown cats will travel up to 80 miles to find their way home (source).
Can cats find their way back to a new home?
How do cats find their way home?
Sense of smell
Incredible hearing
Night vision
Sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field
Whiskers
Why do cats run away?
Changes in their home: Disruptive visitors, loud builders, or new pets can all impact how safe a cat feels in their own home. If their usual routine has changed drastically, they might decide it's time to find a new location. To prevent this from happening, keep an eye on your cat's behavior after any changes in the house. If they seem visibly stressed, be sure to make adjustments to their environment to keep them from leaving.
Your cat is pregnant: A mother cat will want to find somewhere safe, quiet, and secluded to nest in and prepare for her kittens. If you haven't provided this in their home, they will leave to find it. If this happens, finding them as soon as possible is important to ensure their safety.
Your cat is in heat: If your lost cat isn't neutered, they have likely gone on an adventure to find a mate. To prevent this from happening, keep them indoors at this point of their cycle and keep windows shut to avoid attracting other cats in the area.
Your cat is sick or injured: A cat's instinct when they are sick or injured is to isolate themselves so they don't encounter predators in their weak state. Not all cats will run away to do this, but it is very common as cats prefer keeping to themselves when they are vulnerable.
You've recently moved home: Missing cats who have just moved home will often try to return to their old house. Keep them indoors for at least two weeks to prevent this from happening.
How can you attract a cat back home?
Leave their litter box outside
Leave their food bowl outside
Leave blankets and clothing outside
Leave windows and doors open
FAQs
Do cats miss their owners?
You may assume that cats are independent and solitary creatures. However, as they became domesticated, they learned how to live in groups and alongside people. This means that they are now social creatures who do miss their owners when they are separated.
How far do cats roam when they're lost?
Most cats usually only travel around 0.2-0.5 miles (0.3-0.8km). However, if they lose their sense of direction, they can be known to travel up to 80 miles (128 km).
Do lost cats remember their owners?
Cats have an incredible memory and can recognize a human's face for an astounding ten years. This, along with their well-attuned senses, means that cats can definitely remember their owners!
What to do if your cat didn't come home?
If your cat didn't come home when they usually do, it's essential you act quickly. Spread the message to your neighbors, call local shelters, leave their favorite food outside, and start searching and calling their name with a bag of treats. Read more at our complete guide to finding a lost cat.
Can domestic cats survive outside?
Most domestic cats can survive outside, but it depends on a number of factors, like weather, the age of the cat, and the area they are in.
What do indoor cats do when they run away?
It's most likely that your indoor cat will hide when they run away. If they aren't used to the outdoors, loud noises, strangers, and other animals will frighten them. Search secluded, secret spots for your missing cat close to home!
Do cats get scared when they're lost?
If your missing cat isn't used to the outdoors, they will most likely be scared if they get lost. This means they could go into hiding for a couple of days, but once their adrenaline calms, they will most likely find their way back to you.
Do cats remember where they live?
Yes, cats do remember where they live! Their strong sense of smell, spatial awareness, and territorial nature mean that their home is very important to them. This means a lost cat will be able to navigate home.
Final thoughts
Written by
In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.
