If your indoor cat has been missing for 24 hours, you'll need to be proactive. Indoor cats can go missing for a number of reasons, including being sick or injured, pregnant, in heat, or adjusting to a new house.
It's important to thoroughly check the inside of your house before assuming they have escaped. Check wall cavities, under and in furniture and appliances, and open up all the doors.
When extending your search to the outdoors, be sure to call local shelters, vets, and neighbors for help. The more people, the better!
Quick Navigation
Key takeaways
Why your indoor-only cat has gone missing
Finding your missing cat in the house
Finding your lost cat outdoors
Attracting your cat back home
FAQs
Final thoughts
Why your indoor-only cat has gone missing
Cats are curious adventurers. Even if you think your kitty is the perfect indoor buddy, they've likely assessed all of the escape roots from the house. This doesn't mean they are unhappy. They may just have the urge to wander and explore.
However, if your cat goes missing, there are a few common reasons why this can happen. Being aware of these will help you care for your kitty and prevent future attempts to leave.
They are sick or injured
Many cats go missing when they are sick or injured. This is because they are aware that they are vulnerable when they are sick, so their natural instincts make them seek somewhere safe away from potential predators.
Even if you think your cat feels safest indoors, they still often run away to hide. Don't take this as a reflection of you as an owner. It's a natural process, even for a house cat. If you're worried this has happened, make sure you start searching for them as soon as possible so you can get them the help they need.
They are pregnant
If your cat is pregnant, they will want to find somewhere sheltered, quiet, and safe to give birth. If you don't provide a specific area within the house for them to do this, it's possible they will venture outside to find it.
If this happens, it's incredibly important you find them as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the mother cat and their kittens.
You have recently moved house
While cats have fantastic homing abilities, they may not be able to find their way back to a new home. In order for them to be able to navigate home, they need familiar smells to track.
If you have recently moved house, they may find themselves heading towards your old place. If you think this may be the case, keep in contact with your previous neighbors so they can be on the lookout.
Something is disturbing them in the house
Cats are creatures of routine. If this is disrupted, they may feel scared and seek a new home. Common causes of this can include:
New visitors
Building works
Loud noises or music
Other animals
A new baby
Respect your cat's space and ensure they feel secure and safe to prevent them from seeking a new home. If you think this might have already happened, try to get rid of any disruptions and keep your house quiet and secure to encourage them back home.
They are in heat and seeking a mate
If your cat hasn't been neutered, it's possible that they will try to escape to find a mate when they are in heat.
To prevent this from happening, lock all windows and doors and secure the whole house. It might seem drastic, but cats are excellent escapists the majority of the time. When seeking a mate, they'll do everything in their power to leave the house.
Finding your missing cat in the house
Despite thinking your cat has disappeared without a trace, it's very likely they've just found the ultimate hiding spot in the house. It's always worth a thorough search of your home before panicking.
Move your furniture
Cats are notorious for being able to squeeze themselves into the tiniest of spaces. While it's adorable, it can also be stressful. The furniture around your house offers plenty of exciting places to fall asleep in. Be sure to:
Lift up sofas
Move bookshelves
Move coffee tables
Move TV stands
Lift up chairs
Move plants
Open up doors
While going about your daily business, you may have inadvertently shut the door to your kitty's favorite sleeping spot. Make sure you open:
Bedroom doors
Cupboard doors
Appliance doors (fridges, washers, dryers, these furry nightmares will sleep anywhere!)
Wardrobe doors
Drawers
Checking wall cavities
The majority of houses will have a few holes here and there that lead to cavities in the walls. You can guarantee that your house cat will have explored every place they can, and this will include the walls if they can get to them!
Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds, and it's surprisingly common. If you think this may be the case, pick up your kitty's favorite treats and place them at the possible entrance points.
This will help your cat navigate its way back to an opening. You can also gently knock on the walls until you hear quiet meows or scratching.
Finding your lost cat outdoors
If your cat is definitely not indoors, you'll need to start searching outside. If they've never been outdoors alone before, it's easy to assume the worst. However, they are animals with great survival skills, and they've probably not ventured far.
Search the immediate outside space
If your cat has been missing for 24 hours, the likelihood is that they are near home. This means checking the immediate area around your house should be your first priority. Go through the following checklist one by one, checking each place thoroughly.
1.
Under cars: Check under the cars in your drive, your neighbors' cars, and the rest of the street you live on. Cars may feel safe and secure for cats, but unfortunately, they are a dangerous hiding spot. The proximity to roads, the possibility of oil spills, and the potential for cars to move means this should be your first priority.
2.
Front and back gardens: Trees, hedges, bushes, and long grass will provide the shelter your cat is seeking. It's possible they may have hidden and feel too scared to make their way back to the house, no matter how close they are. Make sure you don't startle them by continually calling their name gently and shaking a treat bag.
3.
Outbuildings and bins: outbuildings, garages, and compost bins often have a small route in that a cat will be able to find. Open up all the doors and lids, and check in and around the spaces. They may just be getting a few hours of kip in someone's shed and gotten locked inside!
4.
[[quote]]"If they've never been outdoors alone before, it's easy to assume the worst. However, they are animals with great survival skills, and they've probably not ventured far."[[/quote]]
Call local shelters
If the local community finds a missing cat, their first instinct will be to take the pet to the local vets or animal shelter. If your lost cat is microchipped, they will be able to contact you to let you know your furry friend is safe.
If they aren't in the microchip database, it's worth calling and visiting the animal shelters to check the recent cats that have been handed in.
Ask neighbors for help
Your neighbors are there to help you in times of need. And when your cat goes missing, their help is essential for your kitty's safety. Ask them to do the following:
Check their garden
Check their house
Check any garages, outbuildings, and bins
Spread the word
Help with the search around the neighborhood
To reach as many people as possible, start a PetRadar search. We'll organize a sponsored ad campaign that will target your neighbors on Instagram and Facebook. While they're scrolling, they'll see paid advertisements for your missing kitty. You can include distinguishable features, unusual traits, and areas they might explore.
You choose how many people you want to reach, and we'll do the rest. Including providing you with a personal dashboard to monitor how many people have seen it, instantly notifying you with updates when sightings are reported, and listing your cat on the PetRadar site.
If your search hasn't proven successful so far, there are ways to encourage your kitty back home whilst you rest. Try the following:
Leave their litter box outside
Open up the windows
Leave treats outside
Leave their food bowl outside
Don't feel guilty if you aren't out searching every minute of the day. Do as much as you can, but remember to take it easy. Cats have extremely advanced homing capabilities, which means they'll most likely find their way back to you.
FAQs
Can an indoor cat find its way home?
While it may be a little more difficult, an indoor cat can find their way home. Their powerful sense of smell, incredible hearing, and sensitivity to the Earth's electromagnetic field means that they'll be able to locate their house.
What are the chances of finding a lost indoor cat?
While it may be more difficult to find a lost indoor cat compared to an outdoor cat, it's still very likely. At PetRadar we have a 68% success rate.
Where would indoor cats go if they are lost?
If an indoor cat is lost, they will likely seek quiet, secluded, and sheltered hiding spots for safety. Once the panic and adrenaline have worn off, they'll start to try and find their way home.
What to do if an indoor cat escapes?
If your indoor cat escapes, it's important to remain calm and act fast. Alert your neighbors, and start a search in and around the outside space of your house. Remember to look up trees, in hedges, in bushes, and in any bins or outbuildings. Leave their food bowl, litter box, and treats outside to lure them back.
How far can cats smell their home?
Cats can smell a scent from an incredible 4 miles (6.5km) away. This means if your cat is missing, they'll be able to find their way home. However, if you have recently moved, they may try and seek their old house.
Will my indoor-only cat come back?
The likelihood is that your indoor-only cat will come back if it escapes. However, you shouldn't wait for this to happen. Instead, proactively search and take steps to lure your cat back home.
What do I do if my indoor cat has been missing for a week?
If your indoor cat has been missing for a week, don't give up your search. Many cats have been known to return home after weeks, months, and even years. Keep searching, calling local animal shelters and vets, and leaving food and treats out to lure your cat back home. Remember to let your neighbors know and keep them engaged in the search.
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Top tip: Don't feel guilty if you aren't out searching every minute of the day. Do as much as you can, but remember to take it easy.
Final thoughts
If your indoor cat has been missing for 24 hours, you're going to be understandably distressed. However, there is an extremely high chance of being reunited with your furry buddy.
Twenty-four hours may seem like a long time, but cats go missing all the time and eventually find their way home.
However, it's important not to assume your cat will return home on its own, especially if it hasn't got outdoor experience. For this reason, be proactive and start a PetRadar search. Our priority is to reunite lost cats with their worried owners.
It's a terrible feeling when your cat goes missing. We'll be sure to spread the message to as many people as possible and support you through the process. We won't stop until we get your cat home!
Written by
Lauren Jeffries
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.
