Odds of Finding a Lost Cat After a Week: Breaking Down the Stats
Key takeaways
Trying to locate missing cats can feel hopeless, and at some point, you'll find yourself asking, 'What are the odds of finding them again?' We've answered all of your questions.
74% of lost cats are found. This means you've got a great chance at being reunited with your buddy.
The majority of cats are found within 5 days. After this, the odds of finding them begin to fall.
In this article, we explore all the stats relating to lost cats. This includes where most cats have been found, the timeframe of the search, and the search methods. We also offer our expert tips and advice to help you find your furry friend as soon as possible!
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Key takeaways
What are the odds of finding a missing cat?
Where are cats usually found?
Can cats find their way home?
How long does it usually take to find missing cats?
Tips for finding lost cats
FAQs
Final thoughts
What are the odds of finding a missing cat?
If your cat goes missing, it can often feel like an impossible task to get them back home. However, this isn't the case. In actual fact, you are more likely to be reunited with your cat than never to see them again.
However, these odds change depending on a few circumstances. This includes how long they have been missing.
After two days
According to a study, the median recovery time for most cats that had gone missing was under 5 days (source). 74% of cats are found, and the majority will be found within this time period.
This is because they are unlikely to have traveled far within a couple of days. Also, a cat can only survive without water for two days. It's likely they would have found water, but you can't be sure. This is why you must start searching for them as soon as possible.
After a week
A 2018 study found that 34% of cats were found alive by their owners after 7 days (source). Compared to the overall positive statistic that 74% of cats will be found, this seems somewhat bleak.
It points to the fact that a thorough physical search in the first week is essential to finding your kitty.
After a month
If you still haven't found your furry friend after a few weeks, you may begin to lose hope. It's a heartbreaking situation to come to terms with. The same 2018 study didn't specify the odds of finding your kitty after a month, but they did observe that after 90 days, very few cats were found alive.
While your odds may decrease, it does not mean you should give up. There are countless stories of owners finding their cats after months and even years.
Whether it's been two weeks or two months, keep searching. Be consistent in calling local shelters, leaving food and blankets outside to lure them home, and physically searching.
Where are cats usually found?
There are a few very common places where cats are usually found. Knowing these can help direct your search efforts and make them more effective.
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Find out why cats run away and why dogs run away so you can prevent your furry friend escaping in the future.
Someone else's house
As you can see from the table above, finding your cat inside someone else's house is the second most common place to find them.
However, this depends on your kitty's personality. The study also found that cats were likely to be found in a neighbor's house IF they were considered highly adventurous or curious by their owners. Therefore, if you have an indoor-only cat that's timid or shy, they may be unlikely to venture into another house.
Be sure to notify as many neighbors as possible to make sure they all check their houses. To do this, start a PetRadar search.
All you have to do is select the radius of your neighborhood that you want to reach, and then we'll create sponsored posts advertising your missing kitty. Basically, this means your neighbors will see that your cat is missing through sponsored posts that pop up on their Instagram and Facebook feeds.
Outside
Now, we know 'outside' is vague and even a little obvious. So, let's break it down even more to the most common hiding places.
As you can see, the most common place for cats to be found outside is in a yard. For this reason, your search efforts should focus on the outside areas of your and your neighbors' houses.
Use the following checklist when checking back and front yards:
Check the perimeter of the garden where long grass and hedges usually grow
Check up trees
Check in and around outbuildings and garages
Check in and around bins
Check under cars
Check under and in garden furniture
When you're exploring further afield, use the following checklist:
Check nearby woods
Check abandoned buildings like barns
Check farms and fields
Check under cars
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Expert Insight: Remember, if you have an indoor-only cat, they are unlikely to travel too far outside. The study found that 75% of cats with outdoor access traveled 1609 meters, whereas indoor cats only traveled around 137 meters.
At local shelters or vets
It has been found that many cats are found and handed in to local shelters without the owners' awareness.
Unfortunately, this results in a high proportion of euthanasia. One study found that in America, shelters only wait 3-5 business days before euthanizing a cat (source).
This highlights how essential it is to call shelters and vets continuously. Calling them once isn't enough. You need to be consistent in asking for updates and, if you can, visiting them in person.
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Top Tip: To avoid the possibility of your kitty being euthanized, get them microchipped! This will mean that any shelter or vets will be able to scan their chip to find your contact details. They can then call you to notify you they have found your furry friend.
Can cats find their way home?
The answer is yes. Cats can find their way home thanks to their incredible homing abilities. However, some cats may find it more difficult than others, depending on their experiences.
This also doesn't mean you should just wait for them to come home. Often, they will need a little help, especially if they have wandered outside of their territory.
The homing instinct of a cat refers to their ability to understand their environment. Using their powerful hearing, sense of smell, sight, and sensitivity to the Earth's electromagnetic field, they can build a map of their territory.
This is an instinctual ability to help cats survive in the wild and to help them hunt. Our cats are naturally curious, and one reason for this is because of their territorial nature.
They will need to explore and understand everything within their territory to feel calm and secure. This is why even domesticated kitties still have fantastic homing abilities.
What affects a cat's homing ability?
While all cats will have some sort of homing ability because of their instinctual nature, some may be more practiced than others. Common things that can affect your cat's homing ability include:
Age
Whether they are indoor or outdoor
Their personality
Their sense of smell and hearing
For example, an indoor-only cat will have mapped out the inside of their house but will not have an understanding of the space outside their home.
Because they haven't been allowed to expand their territory and explore, they will find it more difficult to find their way home if they find themselves outside.
Another element that can impact homing ability is a cat's personality. If you have a naturally timid, shy, or scared cat, then they may feel too anxious to find their way home.
"Another element that can impact homing ability is a cat's personality. If you have a naturally timid, shy, or scared cat, then they may feel too anxious to find their way home."
How long does it usually take to find missing cats?
We all hear stories of cats being found years after they've gone missing. But how common is this? Unfortunately, it is a rarity.
It's recently been proven that the median amount of time for lost cats to be found alive is six days. After this, the likelihood of locating them alive begins to drop every day.
This can be seen in the two graphs below. The curve begins to flatten after a week. This doesn't mean there isn't hope. You shouldn't stop looking for your furry friend just because a week has passed. Every cat and situation is different!
Tips for finding lost cats
To find a lost cat, you'll need to use a range of different search methods and techniques to increase your chances of finding them.
Every cat is different, and most owners won't be able to predict how they will behave when they are lost. So, let's explore some expert tips to help you out.
Try a pet detective or lost cat finder
Sometimes, we don't have enough hours in the day to do everything we can to find our lost pet. Don't beat yourself up about it. We have busy schedules, and it can be difficult to drop everything when your cat decides to go for an adventure.
This is when using a lost cat finder tool or a pet detective can come in handy. A pet detective can help you with their animal behavior expertise and rigorous search techniques. This means you can increase the chances of finding your cat without taking time off work.
Alternatively, use a tool like PetRadar. We can notify over 4000 of your neighbors to let them know about your missing kitty with just a click or two from you.
The more people who know to keep an eye out for your buddy, the more likely you'll find them. We also manage all the reported sightings so you can keep a clear head in this stressful time!
"The more people who know to keep an eye out for your buddy, the more likely you'll find them."
Try setting a humane trap
You can use the following checklist to try and lure your cat back home:
Leave strong-smelling food outside, like tuna and chicken
Leave toys, blankets, and scratch posts outside to help your cat find its territory
Leave doors and windows open so cats can recognize familiar sounds
Leave their litter box outside
Once you have done this, you can set a humane trap in the area. If you're unsure where to put it, you can set up digital wildlife cameras to monitor your kitty's behavior.
As the name suggests, these traps are not cruel. They are safe to use and are a fantastic way of getting your stubborn furry friend home.
Use missing cat posters
Don't disregard the importance of missing cat posters. Most people will stop to look at these posters, especially if they are fellow cat lovers!
Unfortunately, they can attract people who will misuse the contact details. Fake sightings, prank calls, and storing your details are common, and it's not what you need at this time!
This is why PetRadar offers a free downloadable missing cat poster that has a scannable QR code.
This means people can report sightings without needing your personal data, like phone numbers. This is also a quick and easy way for people to report sightings rather than copying a number down.
Use social media
Social media is an incredible tool when you want to tell a lot of people about something. For this reason, it can be super helpful when trying to locate your lost cat.
At PetRadar, we use sponsored Instagram and Facebook posts that target the people in your area. Once you choose the radius of neighbors you want to reach, and we create a sponsored post that features your cat alongside some details about them that you can write.
This will then be boosted to reach thousands of people. They can click on the ad, and it will take them through to our website, where they can report a sighting. We will instantly notify you so you can act fast.
FAQs
How long does it usually take to find a lost cat?
The majority of lost cats are found in the first week of searching. After this, the chances of finding them safe and sound start to decline.
Can a cat go missing for two weeks?
Yes, a cat can go missing for two weeks. If a cat gets lost, they may struggle to find their way home, which means they can be missing for weeks, months, or even years.
What are the chances of finding a missing cat after a month?
The chances of finding a missing cat after a month are slim but not impossible. Most cats are found within the first week.
What to do if your cat has been missing for two weeks?
If your cat has been missing for two weeks, don't give up hope. This is the most important time to be searching as much as possible, taking steps to lure your cat back home, and calling local shelters and vets.
How long will a cat hide if scared?
Most cats will hide for about 24 hours if they are scared. Once the adrenaline and fear have worn off, they will likely come out of hiding to try and find their way back home.
How do I attract my cat back home?
To attract your cat back home, try the following:
Leave strong-smelling food outside
Leave toys, blankets, and scratch posts outside
Open up doors and windows[[/faq-answer]]
What are the chances of a cat coming home?
74% of cats come home after going missing. This means the chances of finding your lost cat are in your favor.
How far can cats smell their home?
Cats can detect a scent up to 4 miles away (6.5km). However, this would have to be a very strong smell, so they may not be able to smell their home from that far away.
Final thoughts
We will do everything we can to get your cat home. They are part of the family, and when they go missing, it is devastating. That's why we take such pride in reuniting cats. So far, we have reunited 8000+ with their owners.
It's also important for cat owners to take preventive measures to keep their pets happy so they don't run away. Most of the time, it is not the fault of the owner. However, there are a few things you can do to limit the chances of your kitty going missing. These include:
Keeping a steady routine
Introducing change slowly
Respecting your cat's home and space
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.
