What To Do When Your Lost Cat Returns Home: 4 Key Steps

A cat owner caring for their lost cat after they have returned home

Key takeaways

When your furry family member returns home after a long time away, you may not know what to do.

However, it's important we take the right action to help them adjust to their usual home life again.

We're offering our top tips and 4 steps to take to ensure you have a happy reunion with your furry friend before detailing how to prevent your kitty from going missing again.

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  1. Key takeaways
  2. 4 Things to do when your lost cat returns home
  3. How to prevent them from getting lost again
  4. FAQs
  5. Final thoughts

4 Things to do when your lost cat returns home

It's a joyous moment when your furry friend returns home after a long adventure in the great outdoors. Often, we've prepared ourselves to never see them again, so it can be overwhelming when we realize they're back in our lives.
This makes it difficult to know what to do and how to properly care for them, so, let's cover the basics.

1. Cuddles!

First things first, show that cat some love! They're probably a little disoriented, very tired, and a bit confused. Let them settle into normal home life again by:

Preparing a peaceful room that they can relax in: In this room, include familiar-smelling blankets, toys, and clothing as well as treats, food, water, and a litter box.

Giving them plenty of love: It's important to respect your cat's boundaries, but it's also important to show them just how much you love them. Cuddles, scratches, and treats will all be appreciated!

Keep your house quiet: Even though they have returned, they may be more skittish than usual. This means there's a risk of them running away again. Avoid having visitors over or making any loud noises. Keep their environment as relaxed and quiet as possible to help them feel secure and safe.

Even though they have returned, they may be more skittish than usual. This means there's a risk of them running away again.

A cat owner cuddling their lost cat after they've returned home

2. Grooming

After a long time sleeping outdoors and not getting their usual care, your kitty is probably well overdue a good grooming! While we may think cats are fairly low maintenance, it's important we pay attention to their needs to make them as comfortable as possible.
It's likely your cat will need:

Their nails clipping: When a cat's claws become too long, they can curl and dig into their paws, causing infections. They can also get stuck on certain materials, risking them being pulled out. Keeping them nice and short is the safest and most comfortable option for your kitty.

Their coat brushing: A good brush will usually clean your cat's coat enough to avoid a bath. It will also help get rid of any mats that, if left, can become painful. If your kitty is particularly dirty or dusty, you may need to brush their coat, too.

De-fleaing: Living outside is the perfect place to pick up a nasty infestation of fleas. These can be uncomfortable for your cat and, if left untreated, can also infest your house, making it nearly impossible to get rid of them!

Two cat owners grooming their lost cat

3. Check them over for injuries

With all the love and happiness, it can be easy to overlook potential injuries your kitty may have from their adventure. Unfortunately, fights with other cats, getting stuck in awkward places, and traffic all make it very likely your cat may have gotten hurt.
It can be difficult to tell when your kitty is in pain, as they will instinctually hide it. Look out for the following signs:

Excessive licking: Licking one particular spot repetitively can be a sign that your cat is trying to self-soothe or heal themselves. Check the area for any signs of soreness.

Excessive vocalization: Yowling, meowing, and hissing can also be signs that your kitty is in pain. Interestingly, purring can also indicate an injury, as cats will do this in an attempt to soothe themselves.

Hiding: When cats are injured or sick, they are vulnerable. This means instinctually, they will seek isolated and secluded places to keep themselves safe. So, if your kitty is hiding in the house, they may be suffering.

Limping: A more obvious sign of injury is limping when walking or holding a paw up when sitting. If this is the case, check their paws for infection or cuts. If you can't see anything, it may be more likely to be a break.

Reduced appetite and sleeping more: Cats are unlikely to eat or drink or be generally active if they are injured or sick.

a sick lost cat resting after returning home

4. Book a vet visit

Even if there are no signs of injury or illness, booking a visit to the vet is an essential step if your cat has been gone for a while. They'll be able to do a general check-up, looking out for:

Signs of infection

Signs of disease

Injury

Malnourishment

Dehydration

They can then give them the proper care they need to get them back up to tip-top condition and will be able to give expert advice to you on how to care for them.

How to prevent them from getting lost again

Now you've got them safely home, the last thing you want is another missing cat. Every responsible pet parent should know the best ways to keep their furry friends safe to avoid another nightmare situation in the future!

Get your cat microchipped

Getting your cat microchipped is now the law in many countries, and it's for good reason. A microchip is a tiny chip that is inserted just beneath your kitty's skin. When the chip is scanned, it will link to your profile on a huge database of pet owners. On your profile, there will be:

Your address

Your contact number

Your name

This means that no matter where your pet ends up, anyone with a microchip scanner will be able to contact you as soon as possible.
🤓
Expert Insight: It's a quick and pretty much painless procedure, and one that will keep your pet safe and accounted for forever. Find out how much a microchip costs in this guide.
a cat getting microchipped

Keep them indoors

Many cats can live a safe and happy indoor/outdoor life. However, this depends on many different circumstances, and sometimes, owning an indoor cat may be more suitable. For example, it's best to keep your cat indoors if:

You live in a busy area, like a city

You live on a main road or near a main road

Your cat has never had experience outdoors

You have a particularly skittish cat or frightened cat

If you do decide to keep them inside, there are a few ways to ensure they live a fulfilling life by making sure they get enough:

Mental stimulation: As cat owners know, our kitties are very intelligent animals. This means they need sufficient mental stimulation to prevent boredom and subsequent anxiety. Playing with them, training them, and ensuring they have different areas of the house will be enough for most cats!

Physical stimulation: Cats love to run, jump, and climb. They are agile creatures, and being cooped up in a small flat or house with nowhere to explore can cause distress. Playing with wind-up mice and laser toys can help ensure your cat gets their fair exercise.

Company: Without the endless adventures of the great outdoors and various other cats and people your kitty will come across, they can get a little lonely. This is especially important to consider if you work away from home for most of the day. While cats are independent animals, they shouldn't be left alone every day. Ensure you spend plenty of quality time with them!

a cat resting indoors after returning home

Train them

If you are a cat owner who loves giving your kitty as much freedom as possible, then allowing them to go outdoors is a necessity, and there are ways to do this safely.
We usually assume dogs are the most natural pet to train, but cats can learn many behaviors and tricks if you put your mind to it. Training your cat to come back home after being outside is a valuable lesson. Follow these steps:

1.

Supervise your cat outside: Accompany your cat outside and stay together in a secure area, like a garden.

2.

Call them back to you: While outside, call them back to you every few minutes and give them a treat. Use the same recall word every time.

3.

Give them dinner: Only stay outside for a maximum of 15 minutes and time it with their dinner. When you call them back inside, immediately put their food down.

4.

Repeat: Repeat this every day while slowly increasing the time spent outside. Eventually, you'll feel confident enough to let them out on their own.

Opt for a GPS tracker

A GPS tracking device that clips to your cat's collar can be a good solution for nervous pet parents. These usually have little impact on your kitty's wellbeing or enjoyment of the outdoors and can put your mind at rest.
Often, these tracking devices will have a linked app that allows you to follow your cat's location in real time. Alongside this, they can track sleep patterns and heart rate, helping you catch any health issues early.
A cat exploring outdoors

FAQs

Do cats come back home after they run away?

Many cats will come back home after running away. Once their adrenaline has worn off, they will seek the safety of their home, often being able to find their way using their sense of smell and sensitivity to the Earth's electromagnetic field.

How long can a cat be missing and still come home?

[A cat can be missing for days, weeks, months, and even, in some cases, years before wandering home and settling back into their normal routine.

How long should I keep my cat in after being lost?

If your cat has returned home after being lost, you should keep them inside for a week or two to help them adjust to home life before venturing outside again. This will help them recognize the house as their territory.

Do cats know when they're lost?

Yes, cats will know when they are lost. Cats usually have a large territory, and when they find themselves outside of this, they can get disoriented and confused. The lack of familiar smells and sights make it difficult for your cat to navigate their way home, this is called becoming displaced.

How far can cats find their way home?

Outdoor/indoor cats can find their way home from far away as they will usually have very large territories. However, an indoor cat will struggle to navigate their way home after they have stopped being able to smell the familiar smells of the house.

How long can a house cat survive outside?

A house cat may be able to survive outside for months and sometimes even years if they are able to find warm shelter and food. However, during the winter, or in a busy area like a city center, this is less likely.

Final thoughts

Taking good care of lost pets when they return home is essential to help them return to their usual routines and find comfort in their home once again. Without this, you can risk them running away again.
If your pet is currently missing, start a PetRadar search. We'll alert over 4,000 of your neighbors about your furry friend by using social media advertisements. We've already found over 12,000 lost pets and reunited them with their families, so you'll be in good hands!

Written by

Image of the author
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.

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