BLOG / Cat

How Do Cats Find Their Way Home?

main banner
by Alexander Thompson
Jul 28, 2022
4 minute read
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Why Do Cats Run Away?
  • How Do Cats Find Their Way Home?
  • What to Do When Your Cat Go Missing?
  • How Can You Prevent Your Cat from Running Away?
  • Conclusion
Cats have a fascinating sense of direction. And this quality is one of the frequent news headlines that shares stories of cats that find their way home even years after they were lost. Cats are pretty good with their bearings by relying on their senses.
Evidence supports that cats can find their way home better than other animals. For example, Francis Hobart Herrick, Professor of Biology at Adelbert College, published a study called “Homing Powers of the Cat”. He separated a mother cat from her children and found that she can find her way back to her babies 7 times from distances that varied from 1 to 4 miles.

Why Do Cats Run Away?

During their reproductive season, cats often run away. They also run away to hunt in a new location or get another human’s attention. Other reasons why cats run away are because of territorial instincts and a stressful environment.

New Environment

Moving is stressful for cats. Your feline friend usually takes a long time before settling in. And in some cases, your cat may decide to return to your old house. Outdoor cats especially have already spent time establishing and protecting their territory. Therefore, they would naturally want to return to it.

Territorial Instincts

Cats love conquering territories. Therefore, even if your house is large and spacious, they will keep looking for more domain, especially if they can go outside freely. Cats usually mark territories with their scent glands. And these areas include your house, the yard, streets, and even your neighborhood.

Hunting

Cats are predators with strong hunting instincts. You will know your cat is enjoying a hunt when he returns home at night with a dead mouse and proudly presents it to you.

Curiosity

Your feline friend will want to explore the world, especially when he is free to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, because curiosity kills the cat, the further away your cat explores, the more danger they are prone to encounter. In a safe neighborhood, your cat may find narrow places like a fence or tube exciting and eventually get stuck when going through them.
a cat playing on the lawn

Multi-pet Issues

Your cat may feel threatened when you introduce him to another pet, whether it is a dog or another cat. As a result, your cat may run away from you. When introducing your pets, monitor their initial introductions and ensure everything goes smoothly.

How Do Cats Find Their Way Home?

Although the reason why cats are expert explorers is still unknown, it is known that cats have a homing instinct. A homing instinct is an animal’s ability to navigate its way home even through unfamiliar territory.

Strong Sense of Smell

Cats’ sense of smell is incredible, with their noses containing up to 200 million scent receptors. Furthermore, cats’ mouths have a special scent receptor. Therefore when cats stick their tongues, they are smelling things with their mouths.

Magnetic Fields

It is a common belief that cats can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and use it to find their way home. Although how they do it is still unknown, many animals, including whales, turtles, and pigeons, navigate their way using Earth’s magnetic field. And this is pretty amazing.

Landmarks

Just like humans, cats also navigate their way using landmarks. How you would recognize a building to know your location is the same way cats recognize their surroundings using landmarks. Furthermore, cats have a spatial intelligence that is highly developed and helps them recognize even complex routes without making any mistake.

What to Do When Your Cat Go Missing?

Indoor cats are more afraid of getting out. Therefore they hide and return to their known territory. Consequently, you can always find your cats close to home but in hidden corners.
Your cat disappearing and returning after a while is quite normal. But when they go missing for 12 hours or overnight, especially if this is unusual behavior, there are things you need to do, including;

Checking the House Thoroughly

If your cat goes missing, please avoid panicking at first. It is wise to check through your house from top to bottom. Your cat may have found a new secret hiding place, or he may have entered when you weren’t looking. Furthermore, there is a possibility that your cat is hurt or isn’t feeling well.
a cat sleeping on  the sill

Ask Neighbors

If you still can’t find your cat after checking your house thoroughly, the next step is to ask your immediate neighbors for help. Your cat could hide in their garage, shed, or greenhouse. It is best to visit your next-door neighbors and the neighbors across the road. Furthermore, you should check properties behind your garden and outside space.

Think About Your Cat’s Past Behaviors

Reflecting on your cat’s past behavior might be helpful. For example, does your cat keep strict movements, or does he spend an increasing amount of time outdoors? If yes, your feline friend may be expanding his territory or finding other places to spend time.

Contact the Microchip Database

You can contact the microchip database and report your cat missing if your missing cat is microchipped. Afterward, looking for clear and recent photographs showing your cat from different angles would be best. The pictures should also show distinguishing coat marks and patterns that help easily identify your cats.

How Can You Prevent Your Cat from Running Away?

If your cat is an uncastrated male, sterilizing him from a young is effective in preventing him from running away. It is best to invest in a digital Pet ID tag for your cat, especially if he spends most of his days outdoors.

PAWAii Digital Pet ID Tag

The PAWAii Digital Pet ID Tag is a digital ID tag that makes finding your pets easy if they get lost. You can also modify the information on the tag, adding relevant info, including the owner’s contact, pet information, allergy, and habits. Finders can take proper care of your pets with this information until the pets can return to their families.
The PAWAii Digital Pet ID Tag is suitable for dogs as well, you can click to learn more: https://www.pawaii.com/blogs/blog/pet-id-tag.

Conclusion

Cats are independent. Therefore, most of their owners allow them freely go outside. But unfortunately, not all cats come back home. And this disappearance can be worrisome for the owner, especially when the cat does not come home for a few days. Fortunately, buying a tracking tag for your cat can save you stress.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.
CATEGORIES
Latest Articles
Professing love to your furry companions with considerable care.
Dog
Embarking on the exciting adventure with your canine pals.
Cat
Launching the journey into your feline friends' inner world.
CATEGORIES
Latest Articles
Professing love to your furry companions with considerable care.
Dog
Embarking on the exciting adventure with your canine pals.
Cat
Launching the journey into your feline friends' inner world.
BLOG / Cat
How To Make Your Cat Use Water Fountain?
by Alexander Thompson
Dec 15, 2022
2 minute read
Cat owners must have had the experience of having cat bowls with water in them. But instead, these cats are more interested in drinking from the owner’s cup. Many cats even end up breaking several cups. You may also discover that your cat is attracted to the sound of running water whenever you turn on a faucet or shower. They are even eager to lick the flowing water, but to no avail. As a cat owner, you may then prepare a water fountain for your feline friend only to find out that your pet is uninterested in it. Fortunately, this is the right place if the aforementioned has been your experience. This blog can help you make your cat fall in love with a water fountain, whether you have purchased one or not.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Often Should You Replace Cat Water Fountain Filter?
by Alexander Thompson
Dec 07, 2022
2 minute read
Your pet’s overall well-being is your sole responsibility as a pet owner. You must provide all the love and support your furry friend needs to stay healthy and happy. But you can only do this when you understand what is expected of you. One of these expectations is providing your pets with a regular supply of safe, clean, healthy food and water. Cat water fountains help to meet this need partly.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Get Rid of Cat Smell?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 30, 2022
2 minute read
Homeowners get irritated by lingering cat smells. And sometimes, the home residents become used to the scent and no longer notice. However, guests and potential buyers will notice the smell. Moreover, cats find their smells offensive. Cats usually use urine to mark territories. A cat may develop behavioral issues after smelling another cat’s scent, especially a cat from another household. These behavioral issues include agitation, aggression, or peeing in inappropriate places like outside their litter boxes. For example, your cat may continue peeing on the carpet due to the lingering urine smell on that spot. 
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Take Care of Senior Cats?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 24, 2022
2 minute read
One way to keep your domestic cat alive and healthy for as long as possible is to feed her well. However, it gets somewhat tricky when your feline friend grows old. Wondering how old your cat is? Cats age in a different way from humans. The aging in cats often depends on the breed and the environment they live. Generally, cats that are 11 years old are considered to be in their senior stage.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Should Your Cat Use An Elevated Bowl?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 17, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are known for being choosy about what they eat. However, your cat’s willingness to eat might depend on how and what you feed her every day. Choosing the best food bowl can be tricky, considering the endless options available in the market. One of these options is an elevated cat feeder, which becomes much more popular in recent days. Unlike traditional cat food bowls designed to sit flat on the ground, the elevated cat bowls sit up, adopting an elevated position to make your furry ball eat in a comfortable manner.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Tips for Taking Plane with Your Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 14, 2022
2 minute read
We have grown so close to our pets that we see and treat them as part of our family. That means they are most likely to follow us wherever we go, including on planes. Taking your furry friend on an airplane is more complex than it seems. It requires adequate planning, from knowing the best airlines for such trips to preparing your cat for every possible situation weeks before the trip. It is also important to have contingency plans to take care of unforeseen flight cancellations or delays.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Long Do Cats Sleep?
by Alexander Thompson
Nov 10, 2022
2 minute read
Cats sleep most of the day. On average, some cats can sleep 15 hours a day, some even sleep up to 20 hours a day. This is because cats are crepuscular creatures – they are more active at dawn and dusk while sleeping in between.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Pick The Right Toys for Your Cat?
by Alexander Thompson
Oct 11, 2022
3 minute read
Toys are essential supplies in a cat’s life. You need these exciting pieces to keep your cat’s hunting instincts and desires active. Toys also consume your cat’s physical energy and create a strong bond between you and your furry friend. However, most cat owners do not know the right toys to choose for their cats.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How To Trick Your Cat to Drink More Water?
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 19, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are descendants of desert animals. Consequently, they didn’t drink water as often as canines. But, increased water intake helps with urinary conditions and flushes the kidneys and urinary tract. Unfortunately, getting cats to drink more water is tricky and sometimes impossible.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How to Find A Lost Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 12, 2022
2 minute read
Cats are naturally curious animals and love playing hide-and-seek with their owners. So, these feline creatures get lost from time to time. If your cat is missing, you shouldn’t be too worried. Instead, you should determine the scope of the search first and then start your search immediately. This blog discusses effective methods that can help in finding your cat. But hopefully, you won’t have to use these methods.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Much Should You Feed Your Cat?
by Alexander Thompson
Sep 02, 2022
3 minute read
Usually, cat food packaging contains instructions on how much food to feed your cat at each age and weight stage. Nevertheless, some cat owners, especially novice owners, are still concerned that their cat is not eating enough or overeating. Furthermore, the eating habits of different breeds of cats may vary. So, correctly judging the quantity of food your furkid consumes seems important.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Why Is My Cat Breathing Heavily
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 31, 2022
2 minute read
Unlike dogs, cats hardly breathe heavily or pant. If your cat has been doing this recently and you wonder why this is so, this blog is for you.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Does My Cat Love Me?
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 29, 2022
2 minute read
Cats have strong personalities, keeping to themselves most of the time. Although they have cute acts and moves, their behavior is sometimes incomprehensible to humans. Cats are often aloof, making it seems like they have cold personalities. It is often easy for cat parents to even overlook how much their cats love them. Nevertheless, if your cat acts in the following ways, you can be sure that your feline friend loves you.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Tips to Prevent Your Cat from Getting Lost
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 25, 2022
2 minute read
No one wants their cat to go missing. But except you learn how to prevent this, there are chances your cat can go out one day on their own and become lost. This article will show you how to keep your furry friend safe and sound indoors using a few practical tips and tricks.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Here Is Why Your Cat Headbutts You
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 17, 2022
2 minute read
Cat headbutts are not strange to most cat parents. Also called head bunts, this action is hardly random in cats.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
How Can You Read Your Cat’s Body Language?
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 15, 2022
2 minute read
Like humans, cats also have their body language. These sweet furry creatures communicate in various complicated ways. Sometimes, your cat just wants to be alone. Other times, she may want to move close to you and get really cozy. Understanding these, and by extension, learning cat body language, will strengthen your relationship with your furry ball.
Read More
BLOG / Cat
Why You Should Not Declaw Your Cat
by Alexander Thompson
Aug 11, 2022
2 minute read
Claws are essential to the everyday life of your feline friends. They use them in climbing, playing, and even stretching. Declawing cats or removing their nails also mean you are taking off some of the bones of their toes, which is both crucial and harmful.
Read More
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscibe for our newsletter to get updates on the latest products, offers, and more.