Do Cats Come Back When They Run Away?

Although cats do not have built in Google Maps, they are highly intelligent and sensitive animals. They have privileged instincts and environmental stimuli can both capture their attention and awaken their curiosity. This is why, despite having a comfortable home life indoors, the outdoor environment can seem to provide a lot of entertainment and distraction.

The attraction of outside may be found in a potential mate, prey animals, beguiling smells or whatever piques their interest. This is why many cats try to escape. A cat running away may be trying to exercise their hunting skills, mate or simply to indulge their natural curiosity.

In general, cats which have not yet been sterilized have a greater predisposition towards escape. Satisfying their sexual desire can be a great temptation as they want to reproduce. For this reason, sterilization for cats is recommended. It will not only curb this desire and prevent unwanted pregnancy, but it will reduce the likelihood of developing behavioral issues, help prevent disease, reduce aggression and stop accidents which occur from escape attempts. In fact, one study suggests that sterilization can eliminate escapism and roaming behavior related to sexual desire in 90% of cases^[1].

A cat's personal history is also important, especially if we have adopted an adult cat. Often it is the case where we will not be able to know exactly what has happened to a cat before they arrive in our home. This is why it is also important to consider the character of the individual cat. Some cats are naturally more good-natured, docile, timid or calm. Others are anxious, hyperactive or inquisitive. In fact, researchers have suggested that there are generally 5 different personality types of cats^[2]:

1. Neurotic
2. Extravert
3. Dominant
4. Impulsive
5. Agreeable

The difference between personality types means they are more or less likely to have a desire to escape. For example, impulsive cats may take opportunities to try to run away when they appear, while a neurotic cat may be too afraid of the outdoors to venture outside on their own.

Unfortunately, there is no absolute answer as to whether a cat will return home after running away. The individual circumstances of each cat need to be taken into consideration. It is difficult for researchers since, even with the advent of microchipping, it is difficult to find data on lost cats.

Part of the problem is due to the cat's curious nature. Felines have great intelligence and highly developed senses which help them to identify stimuli in their environment and orient themselves within it. Despite this, there is no guarantee they will return. In fact, at least one study has shown that certain smells will encourage exploratory behavior in cats^[3]. This means that once a cat is attracted to a certain smell, they are likely to investigate it. Once they do this, they may forget how to get back home.

This is why is is so important to keep indoor cats safe and block any possible escape routes from the home.

Do cats know how to return home?

Not all cats need to remain indoors. Some cats are well accustomed to making small journeys either in the garden or in the local neighborhood. They have slowly been introduced to it and they can work their way back easily enough. However, even in these cases, it is important to take measures to ensure their well-being.

The best ways to prevent a cat running away include:

• Sterilization (neutering and spaying)
• Complete vaccinations
• Deworming
• Microchipping
• Cater well to their basic needs (food, comfort, etc.)
• Provide environmental enrichment
• Give the cat adequate affection and attention

Microchipping is very helpful as it can help insure a cat from being lost as well as being stolen or taken in accidentally as a stray. A veterinary clinic should have a scanner to scan lost cats and return them to their own after they ran away.

For indoor cats, many people want to know if their cat gets outside will it come back. We cannot say for definite either way. We can hope that, since the cat is likely to be scared, they will return home of their own accord. This does not mean you shouldn't look for them, as we explain further below.

In the face of being lost and disorientated, the behavior of a cat is variable. Some may have left a train they leave behind using urine and pheromones secreted from glands. Others may travel miles to try to return 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.

While you may be asking yourself, “will my cat come home?”, you need to know it is important you need to do something. These statistics on cats running away can help provide some context^[4]:

• 75% of cats are found within a 500 m radius of their home, so a physical search is very important.
• Cats which have regular access to the outside travel longer distances than indoor only cats which run away.
• 61% of cats are found alive within 1 year of going missing, with only 34% of cats found alive within 7 days.
• Highly curious cats are more likely to be found in the home of another person.

These statistics go to show that it is vital to start looking for your cat as soon as you consider the cat missing. A physical search and asking neighbors directly are a good start, but we provide tips in the next section to show you what else you can do.

Your pet escaping is a situation none of us want to imagine, let alone experience. However, knowing how best to react is important and panicking is going to be unhelpful even if it is understandable. The more experienced your cat is at going outside, the more likely they will return home of their own accord.

There are some tips you can follow on how to find a lost cat. Start by making brochures or posters to put up in the nearby area. Ensure you include the right information by which you can identify the cat as well as the appropriate contact information. You can also distribute them to veterinary clinics and shelters as people who find the cat may be likely to bring them there. Supermarkets and other centers for the community might also have boards for this purpose. You can post these on telegraph poles and lamp posts, but be careful as come local councils prohibit flyering and you may get fined. Classifieds in the local paper may also help.

In addition to these ‘old school’ methods, it's important to remember we live in the digital age. Sharing info about a lost cat on social media can be helpful, especially if you have a large local network. There are also messaging groups and forums which might be able to help you. Also, don't forget how important your bond is with a cat. If you go out into the neighborhood to look for them, they may recognize your smell and be more likely to come to you.

We cannot always control the impulses of a cat, but we can do what we can to reduce the chances of escape. These involve making sure they have as little reason as possible to leave. It does not involve causing them undue stress or fear.

• Positive environment: as with people, cats will want to return to the places where they feel comfortable, happy and loved. Therefore, if we want our cat to stay at home, we need to ensure this is a place which is positive, peaceful and secure. Each cat must have their own place to rest, to feed and do their business. Lots of fresh water and environmental enrichment is also important. They need to have stimuli to keep them engaged in a positive way and to reduce boredom. Remember a bored cat is more likely to try to escape as their needs are not being met.
  
  
• The right care and attention: a cat's home will never be complete without the love and affection of their guardians. You will need to reserve enough time to play with your cat and spend time bonding together. The proper care also means providing the right diet and nutrition, giving them an education, socialization and not overcrowding them or feeding too many unhealthy treats.
  
  
• Preventative medicine: every cat needs to receive adequate preventative medicine to preserve good health and to ensure stable behavior. Therefore, remember that you will need a vet's checkup every 6 to 12 months. Also, respect their vaccination and deworming schedules. This means if your cat does escape, they will be better able to avoid acquiring a disease.
  
  
• Sterilization: whether castrating/neutering a male cat or spaying a female cat, these are the most effective ways of controlling reproduction. You need to not only prevent pregnancy, but by removing ovaries or testicles, you will reduce their hormonal drive and reduce the likelihood of escape. Before you do this, it is very important to speak to your vet about the best course of action in sterilizing your cat. The professional will be able to advise on the best procedure and let you know what sort of things to expect.
  
  
• Positive reinforcement: if you are wanting to let your cat be an outdoor cat, you shouldn't just dump them outside and expect them to get back again. Tentatively, you can let them investigate a little space outside and then slowly increase the range. Whenever your cat does return, be ready to give them love, reassurance and a treat (whether in the form of food or a toy). This will help them to associate returning with a positive experience. This will mean they will be more likely to return.

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