Why Do Cats Go Missing?
April 10, 2022
If you let your cat out and he or she fails to come home for dinner, the natural thing to do is panic. You start imagining the worst, but sometimes cats go missing for reasons that have nothing to do with accidents, injury or foul play.
Cats love to roam, so if your cat is an outdoor adventurer, they will jump the garden fence and go explore the neighbourhood.
When cats go outside they like to play, hunt, climb trees, nap and bathe in the sunshine. This all takes time and they’re not usually in a hurry to get home, especially if their hunting instincts have been successful. Finding a good hunting patch can keep a cat out for days.
For unneutered cats, romance is always top of mind. If they catch the scent of a female in heat, they will travel for miles to find her and probably stay out for a few nights entertaining her, but they will always return home eventually.
So it is quite normal for outdoor cats to disappear for a couple of days.
Cats have a strong sense of direction and will mark their territory as they venture out into the community. To help them do this, they have scent glands scattered all over their bodies, in the pads of their paws, along their sides and tail, as well as in their faces - cheeks, lips and forehead. When cats rub themselves against something, they leave traces of pheromones from these scent glands. Kind of like leaving breadcrumbs to help you find your way home.
With other cats in the neighbourhood leaving their scent wherever they wander, your feline will have a clear sense of where it is safe to roam. Using their powerful sense of smell, they are always mindful of their territory.
Your cat can survive without water for three days and without food for two weeks, so don’t panic. If your cat has not come home, call all your neighbours and get them to check their garages, garden sheds and basements. Kitty might be trapped or stuck somewhere.
The important thing is not to give up hope. The news is full of incredible stories of cats finding their way home after months and even years away.
One recent example comes from British Columbia and a 13 1/2-year-old cat who has been missing for five years. Because the cat had been microchipped, the BC animal rescue group, Find Lost and Escaped Cats, were able to return the lost feline to his rightful owners, who now live in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Check your local area for organizations that help find lost and escaped cats. They can help spread the word through their social media channels and by posting flyers in more neighbourhoods.