While it's normal for your cat to return a little later than usual from time to time, if your cat has been missing for 12 hours or overnight, especially if this is very unusual for them, there are six things you should do.
How long do cats take to come back home?
If your cat does not return home after a few hours, you will need to exert some patience. They may just be caught up or wandering, but can still be able to return easily enough. After 18 to 24 hours of being missing it is likely time to act as they may indeed be missing.4 Dec 2019
Do cats wander off for days?
Basic instincts govern felines, so your house cat may go missing for hours or even days at a time. Usually, a cat wandering off is due to curiosity, hunting, or territorial instincts. Cats like to explore their terrain, which could keep them away from home for a while.
How long can a cat go missing and come back?
It isn't uncommon for cats to go missing for 24 hours, especially if they like spending a lot of time outdoors. In some cases, cats can even stay away from home for up to 10 days at a time. We also know of cats that leave home while their humans are away on holiday, returning soon after the family arrives back.30 Jun 2020
What percentage of lost cats come home?
The percentage of lost dogs compared to lost cats was quite similar 14 percent for dogs and 15 percent for cats; and. Cat guardians were less likely to find their cat only 74 percent of lost cats were recovered, while 93 percent of lost dogs were recovered.28 Jun 2012
Can cats find their way home if lost?
Yes, cats can return home many days, weeks, months, and even years after they wandered off or were lost. According to the Lost Pet Research project, there were reports of cats traveling 50-80 miles in 2.5 years, 38 miles in 6 months, 30 miles in 10 days, and 20 miles in 21 days. So if your cat is lost, keep up hope.29 Nov 2021
How do you get a cat to come back home?
- Be organized. Assign a street or two to each member of the search party.
- Leave your front door open. The cat might want to come home after a while.
- Don't run.
- If you live near a major road, make sure your cat hasn't been hit by a car.
What do you do when your cat doesn't come home?
- Local vets in your area.
- Your local Police Station.
- All local animal rehoming charities.
- Your local newspaper (to put an ad in the 'lost and found' section of the classified adverts)
- Boarding catteries in the area.
How far can a cat find its way back home?
With that in mind, it's helpful to look at an average of how far cats can travel when they're lost. 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.
What percentage of lost cats find their way home?
The study reported that 93% of all lost dogs found their way home, but only 74% of the lost cats were ever found. Of those lucky dogs, 15% were reunited through the use of an ID tag or microchip but only 2% of cats.21 Feb 2019