It's common for our furry friends to run away from time to time. When this happens, we panic. But we don't need to!
With our simple steps of searching, using social media, and luring your cat back home, you should be reunited in no time.
Read our top tips and expert advice on how to get your missing cat back, and learn some of the common reasons why they run away so you can avoid another stressful experience.
Quick Navigation
Key takeaways
Start searching for your lost cat
Use social media
How to lure missing cats home
Common reasons why indoor cats run away
Common reasons why outdoor cats run away
FAQs
Final thoughts
Start searching for your lost cat
The first step should always be to start proactively searching. It's never too soon to start, and you'll only increase your chances of finding your cat if you search as soon as possible.
Physically search the house
If you saw your kitty run away outside, skip to the next step
Starting with searching the house may seem like a waste of time. But trust us, more often than not, your kitty has found a well-hidden spot within the house to nap in. If you didn't see your kitty run away, then don't rule out the idea that they may still be in your home.
Unfortunately, you're going to have to make quite a mess to make sure you have checked everywhere thoroughly. Use the following checklist:
Open up the doors: Open all doors to bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, cupboards, wardrobes, drawers, and anywhere else you think your kitty could become trapped.
Move furniture: Don't just look under the sofa or move a couple of cushions. Unfortunately, you're going to have to move couches, bookshelves, cupboards, and wardrobes to make sure your furry friend hasn't become stuck either underneath or behind them.
Check for wall cavities: It sounds extreme, but it's surprisingly common. It's likely our fur babies have explored every part of our homes, including inside the walls. Check for any holes or entrances to wall cavities, and then gently knock and call your kitty's name. If you hear scratching or quiet meows, help them find their way out by placing food at the entrance.
Physically search the outside space
If you feel sure that your kitty has left home, it's time to search outside. Don't get overwhelmed. It can feel like a huge task, but if you go about it methodically and practically, the likelihood is that you'll find your furry friend.
Our cats are unlikely to travel too far unless you have recently moved house. In that case, they may be trying to return to your old home. Start close to home with the following checklist:
In gardens: In your garden and your neighbor's, check up trees, in long grass, in hedges, under garden furniture, and in bins. It's likely after running away, your kitty found a safe place to wait and hide that's close to home.
Under cars: Cars are seemingly safe places for cats to hide. Little do they know, it's one of the most dangerous spots they could choose. The proximity to roads, the possibility of oil leaks, and the potential for cars to move means checking here should be top of your list.
In and around outbuildings: Outbuildings like sheds, annexes, and garages provide cats with warmth and shelter. However, they are very easy to become trapped in. Ask your neighbors to check any they have while you check your own.
Start a PetRadar search
While searching outside, you can start a PetRadar search. This will mean you can reach over 4,000 people living in close proximity to you to spread the message about your missing kitty.
We organize a sponsored advertisement campaign that uses a digital missing cat poster to make as many people aware of your lost cat as possible. This advert will pop up on your neighbors' Instagram and Facebook feeds as a paid ad, spreading the message quickly and easily.
We also provide printable posters for you to stick up in your community and a personal dashboard to help you monitor any reported sightings. Ultimately, we're there for you every step of the way. We:
Provide emotional support
Instantly notify you when a sighting is reported
List your cat on the PetRadar website
Provide helpful tips and expert advice on how to find your kitty
Use social media
At PetRadar, we know just how important social media is when trying to find a lost cat. But you can tap into this superpower, too.
Most neighborhoods have WhatsApp or Facebook groups that are there to help each other out. Sometimes, they'll even have dedicated groups for missing pets. Join as many of these as possible and post about your fur baby.
In your post, be sure to include:
Images of your whole cat's body
Close-up images of memorable physical features
Description of your cat
Description of your cat's personality (e.g., timid, adventurous, aggressive)
Where the cat lives and where they usually like to explore
How to lure missing cats home
There will be times when you can't be out searching. And while your PetRadar search will continue to notify people, you may want to take steps to try and lure your cat back home.
Use the following checklist to make sure you're doing all you can:
Leave strong-smelling food outside: Cats have an incredibly strong sense of smell, which means by leaving food out, you can attract them from up to 4 miles away (6.5km)! Try tins of tuna, mackerel, and chicken.
Open up windows and doors: Familiar sounds like your voice, and the daily goings-on in your house will help your kitty locate home again. They can even recognize vocal patterns, so keep calling your fur baby's name throughout the day.
Leave blankets, toys, and scratch posts outside: Anything with your scent and theirs will be helpful in attracting your cat back home. Blankets they sleep on, toys, and scratch posts will be full of their scent!
Leave their litter box outside: The evidence for a dirty litter box attracting your cat is inconclusive. However, cats are very territorial, and their litter box will be somewhere they have clearly marked their own. The scent of this may help your kitty find their way home.
It's important to be aware that these steps can lead to attracting unwanted wildlife to your home.
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Top Tip: Try setting up digital wildlife cameras to find out whether your cat is visiting your home or whether you've acquired an abundance of foxes. You can then decide whether to set up humane traps for your cat or stop leaving food outside to prevent potential predators from taking over.
Common reasons why indoor cats run away
As an owner, the sad question of 'Why?' will enter your mind more than once. It's heartbreaking when your fur baby, part of the family, decides to leave. However, it's most likely not a reflection on you as an owner. Let's take a look at why an indoor cat might run away.
They are in heat
If you haven't neutered your indoor cat, then when they are in heat during their cycle, they will try to escape to find a mate.
Even if you are very careful about letting your cat leave the house, they'll likely find a way. Be sure to lock all of the doors and windows. Keeping the windows closed will also help to prevent other cats in the neighborhood from being attracted to your cat's scent.
If you think this might be what's happened, start searching outside as soon as possible. They probably haven't ventured far from home and will likely return once they have found a mate.
"Keeping the windows closed will also help to prevent other cats in the neighborhoodfrom being attracted to your cat's scent."
They are pregnant
It's a magical time when your cat is expecting kittens. However, it is a lot of responsibility. You need to make sure they feel safe, comforted, and secure. To do this, fill a cardboard box with blankets and keep it relatively dark in a corner of a room they feel safe in.
If they don't have this kind of area to give birth in, they may try to leave the house to seek it. This can put both your cat and their kittens in danger.
Their environment has been disrupted
Your indoor cat thinks of your home as its own. And rightly so. It's important you respect their environment, and this means introducing any changes gradually so they become accustomed to them.
If you disrupt their routine and environment, it's common for our kitties to leave and find somewhere that feels safe.
Common reasons why outdoor cats run away
While it is less common for outdoor cats to run away, it still happens. They have fantastic homing abilities that they would have practiced every day when exploring the great outdoors.
However, there are situations where your cat can become displaced. This means they no longer find themselves in their own territory and can become lost.
They have been chased
It's very possible that your kitty will have been in territorial feuds with other local pets. If these have escalated, it could lead to your cat being chased away.
Ask your neighbors if they have noticed their pets fighting or acting withdrawn or distressed. This could be an indication that there may be issues.
Your furry friend will probably be scared and lost. Once they have left their territory, it can be hard for them to find their way home. But it's still possible. Keep searching, and remember to call local veterinarians and animal shelters in case they have been found and handed in further afield.
They are sick or injured
Despite our kitties being so well domesticated, they still have their wild animal instincts that kick in every now and then. One of these times is when your fur baby is sick or injured. When cats feel more vulnerable to potential predators, they will take themselves away to find somewhere completely isolated.
This may lead to your outdoor cat leaving their usual territory and seeking somewhere that's secluded and hidden.
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Expert Insight: If you think this might be the case, try searching at night. If they've found a concealed hiding spot, looking during the daytime will be tricky. Instead, if you use a flashlight at night, you will see the reflection of their eyes, which will stand out even in the most secret of places.
You have recently moved house
Our kitties love their home. If they adventure outdoors, their territory stretches a lot further than your four walls and the garden. If you uproot this, they can become disoriented, stressed, and lost.
Moving house is an inevitable situation in our lives. But it doesn't have to risk losing your kitty. Instead, be sure to keep your cat inside for at least 2 weeks when you arrive at the new house. This will help them associate the new location with their territory.
If you let your cat out too soon, they will most likely try to return to your old home. Which, as you can imagine, leads to them getting lost. Make sure you contact your old neighbors to look out for them and stick posters up in your old neighborhood if you think this may have happened.
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Top Tip: You can also extend your PetRadar search radius to include your old location so the community is made aware of your missing kitty.
FAQs
Do cats come back home after they run away?
The majority of cats will come back home after they run away. They will use their homing instinct to locate their house. However, if your cat has become lost or is sick or injured, they may struggle to come home again.
Should I be worried if my cat ran away?
If your indoor cat has run away, then you should worry. Start searching straight away to ensure they return home safely. If your outdoor cat has run away, you may not need to worry as much. They will have practiced their homing abilities and will have a good level of 'street smarts.' If they are gone for over 48 hours, you should start searching for them.
A domestic cat will usually only roam around 40-200 meters from home (source). However, if they are lost or natural explorers, they may travel up to 2 miles and sometimes even further.
How can I attract my cat back home?
There are plenty of ways to attract your cat back home. These include:
Leaving strong-smelling food outside
Leave blankets, toys, and scratch posts outside
Open up windows and doors
Call their name[[/faq-answer]]
What are the chances of finding a lost cat?
At PetRadar, we have a 68% success rate, and we've already reunited 8000+ cats with their owners, so the chances of finding your lost cat are good!
Can cats smell their way home?
Cats can smell a scent from 4 miles away (6.5km). This means when they are trying to find their way home, they can use their sense of smell.
Do cats miss their owners?
Yes, cats do miss their owners. The bond you build with your kitty isn't purely built on food and shelter (although this helps!). If your kitty is lost, they are likely scared and will want to see you.
Final thoughts
Here at PetRadar, we're experts when it comes to cats running away. You can trust us to do everything we possibly can to get your kitty back home. Just remember not to panic. This will cloud your judgment and prevent you from being proactive in your search efforts.
Instead, follow this guide and methodically go through the checklists. You can also find a wealth of helpful information in our blog, detailing every scenario and what to do in each case.
Let's get your furry friend back in your arms Start a PetRadar search now.
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.
