Can an indoor cat find its way home?

Cats seem to have a sort of homing instinct which in some cases have guided cats to travel hundreds of miles back to their home. Most indoor-only cats tend not to travel far. While an adventurous indoor/outdoor cat is more likely to roam, a scared cat may not trust their inner compass, get confused, and get lost.

Will indoor cats run away?

Even indoor-only cats may slip out the door unexpectedly. However, chances are your cat did go too far. Cats are very territorial (even neutered ones). If driven out of their own territory by another alpha cat who is larger and more aggressive, cats will often seek safety indoors before running away.

Can a cat find its way home 20 miles away?

Though cats in scientific experiments have found their way home from far greater distances than that, any cat more than about a third of a mile from its home will likely be in unfamiliar territory, which may affect its ability to determine which way to go to get home.

How far do indoor cats roam?

According to Dr John Bradshaw of the School of Veterinary Science at Bristol University and author of Cat Sense, most cats roam between 40 and 200 metres (131 and 656 feet) from the home.

How can I find my lost indoor cat?

Bring along a recent photo of your cat and ask neighbors if they’ve seen him or her. Check under porches and shrubs and ask neighbors to check in sheds and garages in case your cat was accidently locked in. If you did not see the cat run out then make sure you check all hiding places inside your house.

Where do indoor cats hide outside?

Many indoor only cats don’t go beyond the yard or their immediate house and can be found hiding under bushes, hedges, plants, against the house, or in some nearby hiding place.

What happens to an indoor cat when it goes outside?

Even if the house is a few steps back, most indoor cats are so panicked that they can’t orientate. Instead of returning to the safety of their home, they run. Unfortunately, once outside the comforts of her home, anything could happen to a cat.

What to do if you find a lost indoor cat?

1. Make your scent known 2. Get the word about your lost cat out immediately 3. Use social media to tell everyone you know that your cat got lost 4. Search for your cat at specific times of the day 5. Focus on a smaller radius when looking for a lost indoor cat 6. Borrow a humane trap 7. Prevent your cat from getting out again

Do cats always find their way home?

But while we know that cats can often find their way home, until more studies are done, the answer of how remains a mystery. Even though cats possess a seemingly miraculous homing instinct, that doesn’t mean that all lost cats will find their way home.

How do I get rid of a stray cat in my house?

Place a baby monitor to alert you if the cat appears. Set up a cat trap. Place the litter box outside along with something with your scent. The familiar scent will lure the can back if she is nearby. Make posters, contact local shelters, post in Facebook groups.