A lost pet is the worst nightmare of pet
owners. And yet missing cats is a prevalent problem amongst cat owners,
especially when living in big cities. To prevent their pets from running away,
some families might prefer keeping them inside from outside dangers.
This
decision, even though going against a cat's instinct, is an excellent way to
keep a cat safe. These felines are always hunting for prey in the houses and
yards. But what do you think of an indoor-only cat? Do they get bored at home
even if they have everything they need?
Indoor
cats are still curious as wild cats, but they cannot go outdoors. While it is
always important to keep these domestic cats happy, you also watch out for them
while they wander around the house.
Are Indoor Cats Good at Finding Their Way Home?
Indoor
cats are more vulnerable than outdoorsy cats when getting lost. They're not
used to having to navigate strange surroundings, and their instincts for
finding home aren't as finely tuned as those of outdoor cats.
We all
know that cats possess a lot of homing abilities, doesn't matter whether they
are indoor, outdoor, or stray cats. Call it instinctual, primal, or what you
may, but there's no denying the sheer intelligence of these feline animals.
Many cat
owners are indeed concerned about letting their domestic cats go outside for
fear of whether they can find their way home. Unlike other lost pets, a lost cat has more chances to return home.
Animal
behaviorists believe that a cat's sense of smell is 14 times that of humans,
but not all cats understand direction well. While dogs may get all the glory
when it comes to recognizing their owner or fetching stuff – cats are certainly
masters at a few things too.
Despite
this, if any of your kittens happen to get lost, search in your local area,
animal shelters, vet clinics, and everywhere within a one to four miles radius
surrounding your home. Inform the clinics and animal shelters about a missing
cat.
Many cats
feel lost when they move
to a new place with their family because of the unfamiliar territory. So
don't forget to search your old neighborhood. Your cat would likely be panicked
and frightened, hiding somewhere away from other large predators and maybe
other cats, too.
How Do I Get My Indoor Cat to Come Home?
If you
have an indoor preferring cat and let it outside, it may not find its way home
again. Such cats who suddenly find themselves out do not possess quick homing
skills to get back home.
Cats are
curious, and they're also very territorial. And this is not limited to just
feral cats. You may think because your cat is used to the comfortable home
environment, they won't know how to find a way back, but there are several ways
cats can find
their way home, even from long distances.
Unless
your lost cat is an excellent hunter, you also need to worry about food, water,
and shelter. If it's winter, freezing temperatures, and if it's summer,
heatstroke is a risk.
A cat
doesn't share the same homing instinct as a dog or many other animals. Feline
creatures are infamous for marking their territories with urine spraying or
bunting scent glands, helping set some olfactory cues if they get lost.
The lost cats can
find their way home just by following the scent of its litter box, food
bowl, or even you. Hence, if you want to call your missing cat, find their way home, leave food
and water outside your door. Consider leaving a baby monitor near the food,
too, as it may detect faint meows if your cat comes back.
A simple
principle to follow to ensure your furry friend is back is, "Happy
home-happy cat." A beloved cat lost is much more likely to want to return
to a caring owner, providing meals and shelter, than a cat who would be
returning to an abusive owner who does not offer those things. You must keep in
mind, not all cats find their way back to their family.
How Far Can a Cat Go and Find its Way Home?
You might
assume that your indoor cat would never leave your home, but you'd be
surprised. Even the most pampered pet might find themselves outside. So, can an
indoor cat find its way home?
Put
simply, a lost cat might possess the ability to return home, but that does not
necessarily mean they want to return. The reasons behind a cat's uncanny
ability to find its way home aren't fully understood yet. It's thought that
cats possess a homing instinct, a way to tell directions in ways other than
using their physical senses.
So if the
question persists, can a cat find its
way back home? Based on scientific evidence, we can establish that yes, a
cat does have a way of finding its own route home either with its sense of
direction or olfactory cues.
Conclusion
If your
cat does wander off or go missing, don't fret. Keep a close eye on them for the
first few hours and notify animal control if necessary. Most kittens will find
their way home relatively quickly. Also, make sure you have microchipped or ID
your cat in case an escape/lost situation comes up.
Over all,
as long as you are attentive and always aware of your cat's whereabouts, you
can keep them safe. A domestic cat is still a cat with all of the instincts,
habits and traits that made the species survive for thousands of years.
