Why Do Cats Run Away From Home? Do They Find Their Way Back?

Cats are unique pets, and among their characteristic behaviors, running away from home certainly tops the charts.

No matter which type of cat, indoor, outdoor, or both, almost every cat pet owner has experienced their cat wandering off and not coming back for days or even weeks. If wandering is an issue with your cats, keep reading to get a deeper perspective about why cats may run off and how you can find a solution!

One of the prominent features of cats is that they adore their territory. Oftentimes, they want to venture off out of curiosity, which means they will mostly return home.

After all, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. However, running away does not always mean it is curiosity and may be related to other common reasons. That's why we have written this article which has compiled all the reasons, signs, solutions if your cat runs away or has gone missing.

If you're a cat parent looking to know more about your furry friend, check out why do cats wag their tails or why do cats pant at Kidadl.

Why do cats commonly run away from home?

Cats casually wander off and may not come back for hours or days. While this behavior is fairly common, we understand that the owner will be worried regardless of the circumstances.

Although cats have a keen sense of direction, in some situations they may get lost, especially if they were chased, and they're hiding in a tree or under a vehicle. This is why you need to be aware of any identifiable signs that could indicate why they went missing.

One common factor why you are dealing with a runaway cat is that they may be in heat and are on the lookout for other cats in the neighborhood which may reciprocate as well.

Cats have sharp detection senses and may wander off when they find the scent of another cat in heat. Usually, this type of running away behavior is seen in a male cat, and chances are, they may not come home for several days in a stretch.

When pregnant female cats go missing, it is mostly when they are due to give birth.

This is because cats are highly private, and your female has probably found a spot of her liking which is hidden, undisturbed, and safe.

As mentioned earlier, cats have a sense of territory and they may extend their 'home perimeter' beyond your compound wall, which includes your neighbor's garden, the lane outside your house, or even the entire neighborhood.

If the surrounding of your house is inhabited by several other cats, there's comfortable room for doubt that your feline, especially a male cat, may have gone missing because it got into a fight over its territory. Although not common with all cats, hunting is another prime reason why your cat's prone to running away.

We can't forget that domesticated cats are descendants of hunter felines and have carried on the hunting gene.

In the case of cats that are avid hunters, your cat may have not found prey in your area, and so, has wandered off to capture something to fulfill their hunting instinct.

If you've noticed that your cat goes missing by keeping a constant daily schedule, your cat is has a double identity and is probably being fed something extra delicious by a neighbor.

When pet parents relocate, the change of environment coupled with the 'new area' distractions, which is not something highly appreciated by cats, may cause your feline to go gallivanting in search of its old territory. An unhappy cat is easily another reason why you are dealing with it going missing often.

In situations where a new animal is introduced, or the owner has just given birth, the cat feels neglected or threatened.

This is when they may go in search of a more comfortable place and go missing for days.

However, in many unusual cases, your cats have simply gone missing because they ventured into unknown territory and ended up getting lost.

Furthermore, a sad but quite plausible situation is when you have an old cat. When they realize their health is collapsing, old as well as injured cats, run away to die.

The only way to deal with this situation is to monitor its health and keep your cat indoors if health problems have been confirmed by a vet.

Why Cats Run Away From People

Oftentimes, a cat who tends to sneak away from humans is not used to them in the first place. Unless it's an indoor cat, which could mean it isn't a 'cat problem', instead of some underlying reason at play.

So, before worrying or complaining about cats that don't come close to us, let's try to find out what are the plausible causes of this behavior.

To decode what's going on in your nervous or shy cat's mind let's begin with one of the most common reasons, poor socialization.

It all boils down to how your cat was treated when it was a kitten. That is why you must let your cat explore and interact with different people as well as animals when they are young.

During the first nine weeks of their lives, kittens go through the socialization period, and that is when they explore their surroundings to develop various visual, audio, and olfactory stimuli.

If your cat was mistreated or mishandled during this stage, there's a chance that these bad memories have instilled a fear instinct in them, which is why they stay away from humans in general. If you have an old cat, this could be another reason why it's running away from other people.

All cats are unique with distinctive personalities, and as they age, even more so.

They would love their occasional pets and cuddle, but eventually, the cat needs some space and prefers being left alone.

Cats are highly sensitive to sound, and in some cases, when cats are approached by loud strangers they get nervous or scared and run away. For example, a stranger who has a loud, screechy voice, thumping footsteps, or makes sudden, quick movements will certainly startle some cats, which means they will flee.

Sometimes, changes in a cat's surroundings or even your house can result in them running away.

Perhaps you've shifted to a new house or brought another cat or pet, or simply have family staying over.

These changes could very well be the reason why your cat has disappeared. Once they get used to the new house or the changes have gone back to normal, they will come home.

Cat owners who have not neutered their cats, especially ones which are allowed outdoors, will probably go away when they are in heat.

This usually happens because they go through mood swings during this period, and their mind is more focused on finding a mate, than on you.

If you're dealing with a stray, adopted, or abandoned cat, and they stay away or hiss at you or are plain scared, you're probably dealing with a cat who has had a traumatic experience in the past.

Neglect, abuse, or extreme punishment from previous owners has proven to leave a lifelong impression of fear or stress among cats, which is why they distrust any human and start running away.

How long do cats go missing for?

Mostly, cats don't voluntarily go missing, and if they have, it can range from days to weeks depending on the situation. Sometimes, another animal could have chased your cat away, or it went outdoors hunting for prey.

However, if you live in a metropolitan area, be vigilant about your cat's activity outside. Mostly because of the amount of traffic, your cat could be injured after being hit by a car.

Cats are not known to voluntarily run off for more than 24 hours, and if they're gone for longer they could be dealing with an obstacle.

For pet owners who have outdoor cats, there is a chance that your furry friend has ventured outside its territory, but is trying to find its way home, and will come back in a couple of hours.

A cat missing for more than a day could mean it has fallen sick away from home and is injured, and in the case of a female, if she's pregnant she might have found a secure spot to give birth to her kittens.

Cats that have not been neutered usually go away for maybe two nights in pursuit of a mate.

Although it's common for cats to go missing for a day or two, sometimes they may be gone for around four days.

Chances are your cat has gotten itself into a sticky situation and will return unharmed. However, if you want to cross out any doubts, you can always call nearby shelters or vets to find out if they've seen your cat.

A week of absence may be worrisome, although not entirely fatal.

The cat could be hurt or lost and you should start a thorough search around this time around the neighborhood or local shelters.

If your cat has been gone for over two weeks, don't give up because if it is safe, it will still try to find its way back home. However, you may have to prepare yourself to for a worst-case scenario in which your cat has either gravely injured itself or lost its life.

If your cat does return, which we hope is the case, it may be a little frazzled as well as ravenous, but try not to give her extra food.

Start with little food at a time and work your way up, especially because overeating after being hungry for so long can get your cat sick.

Furthermore, check its body or fur to spot any injuries or pest infestations. Do take your cat to the vet as soon as possible to check if it has contracted any diseases.

If it's a female cat, then you may want to check for pregnancy.

Do cats find their way back home?

Cats are known for their impressive sense of direction, especially outdoor cats, and if your cat has taken off out of curiosity or is hiding somewhere, you can be confident that it will be able to retrace its steps back home.

If they're close to their territory, a loud call from their owners or a little food bowl rattle will usually bring them back.

So, there's nothing to worry about.

Scientific research has shown that cats are way better than many animals at finding their way around most puzzling situations.

It's almost an innate ability, which is why a cat who has gone away out of its own accord will not be gone for long. If you're worried they are lost, it's probably because they are dealing with some disturbance and have chosen to hide out for a night or two.

Even in the case of an injured cat, they may take a while to regain some strength and energy, but once the coast is clear they will be on their way back.

However, in case your cat is mostly used to the indoors, they could get lost due to less outdoor exposure and poorly developed olfactory and locomotive senses.

Considering they are still cats at heart, they will surely be able to catch on to some smells, especially familiar ones.

That's why it is suggested that you put their food and water bowl outside if they have gone missing. There's a high chance that they will return upon sniffing their favorite delicacies in the air.

Give it a day or two, but if the cat doesn't show up, the owners mostly have to take it upon themselves to search and locate it.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats run away from home, then why not take a look at why do cats trill or ragdoll facts?