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How To Find A Lost Cat – And Stop Them From Going Missing Again

February 4, 2023

Are you currently wondering, where is my cat?! and freaking out just tiny bit? That’s understandable. Losing a furry friend – even momentarily – can be any pet parent’s worst nightmare. And there are many reasons why cats run away. So it’s essential to know to how find a lost cat fast.

If you have a missing cat, take a deep breath, and try to stay calm. Then, take a look at our guide below, which is full of tips and helpful information that can help you bring your cat home safely.

Contents

Why do cats run away?

Whether they are indoor or outdoor cats, our feline companions sometimes stray. There are many reasons why cats run away, but here are some common ones:

A female cat in heat or an unneutered male cat have a strong mating drive, which may cause them to roam in search of love
Cats are curious beings who love to hunt and explore their territory
Of course, it could just be that there’s a friendly neighbor feeding them

Check out blog post on the most common reasons why cats run away.

You’ll like: Kitten who lost ears, tail and leg from mysterious illness finds a new home

Whatever the reason, it’s quite common for cats to run away. So if you find yourself wondering where your missing cat is, you are not alone!

How long do cats go missing for?

Most cats don’t go missing for very long. Even if they stay out longer than usual from time to time, they’ll usually come home when they’re hungry and remember you’re their meal ticket. And reassuringly, cats have a great sense of direction.

However in some cases, cats can go missing for days, weeks, months or even years. They may return, or might not ever make it home. To prevent losing your beloved pet, use a GPS cat tracker and always know where your feline friend is.

If your cat is gone for more than 12 hours or overnight, it’s time to take action.

Don’t panic. Follow the tips in this article to bring your cat home safely.

What are the chances of finding a lost cat?

“If my cat has gone missing, will they come back?” This is a question nearly all parents of lost cats want to know. So, we turned to science to help us find an answer – what are the chances of finding a lost cat?

A 2018 study from Animals gathered data on search methods used to find missing cats, which ones were most successful, and where the lost cats were found. According to the study:

61% of lost cats were found within one year
34% of lost cats were found (alive, thank goodness) within 7 days
after 90 days, lost cats were less likely to be found alive 😿

How to find a lost cat with a microchip

Many people assume that a cat microchip will help them locate their cat immediately if they go missing. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Unlike a microchip, a GPS cat tracker helps you find your lost cat in minutes by letting you follow their location in real-time.

To find a lost cat with a microchip, you’ll need to wait until someone finds your cat and brings them in to a shelter or vet where the microchip ID can be read.

If your contact details on the microchip ID are up to date, and if you’re lucky enough to get a call about your missing cat, you’ll be reunited.

You can use the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup or the US Pet Chip Registry to learn more about microchip registry and missing pet identification.

While a microchip is a security must-have, it does not actively help you search for a lost cat or guarantee that they will be returned to you.

Cat hiding inside the house

It could well be that your lost cat is actually hiding inside the house. Cats hide indoors for a number of reasons:

They want to feel safe and cozy: maybe they found a comfortable box in the bottom of your closet and decided to take a nap
They’re scared or anxious: for example, if a two-legged or four-legged “stranger” is over for a visit at your place
They’re sick or pregnant: cats often go into hiding when they are feeling unwell, or are about to give birth

So do thorough check indoors, and ask other members of the household to help.

If you have a Tractive GPS cat tracker, use Find Mode – which pops up on the Tractive GPS app screen when your cat’s tracker is nearby – to locate a hiding cat indoors.

Cat Trackers – Shop Now

Cat hiding outside, close to home

According to pet detective and lost cat expert Kat Albrecht, missing cats tend to hide, in silence, typically staying close to home¹. Lost dogs, on the other hand, tend to run and travel great distances quickly.

That means your lost feline friend is probably closer than you think. They might have gone into hiding, outside and close to home, for any of the reasons above. Or they might have gotten stuck, lost or frightened while chasing butterflies.

After searching in the house, do a thorough check of your property or your immediate surroundings. Check places they could be stuck or hiding, including:

under the deck or porch
on the roof
in the garage
up a tree
inside the car
in a chimney
around the trash and recycling bins

Especially if your cat is an indoor cat, you’re likely going to find them near home.

How to find a lost indoor cat

Having an indoor cat go missing can be especially heartbreaking, because we aren’t used to them wandering far from our feet! 😿 So, how does one find a lost indoor cat?

The first step is understanding that cats are territorial creatures, and that they often don’t leave their territory on purpose.

Indoor cats usually have a much smaller territory than outdoor cats. This means they only feel comfortable exploring their “home territory”, so they probably won’t travel much further than a small distance from where they live.

In fact, a 2017 study found that missing indoor cats were found, on average, a distance of only 39 meters (128 feet) away from home.

Outdoor cats, on the other hand, are known to travel farther. They were found an average distance of 300 meters – or three football fields – away.

But now, back to indoor cats. Start searching your immediate surroundings in order to find a lost indoor cat. Call their name, put out some cat food, and check any potential hiding spots like in the garage or up a tree – and your feline friend will likely be back in your arms in no time.

Conducting a physical search for your lost cat

If your cat is missing and nowhere to be found inside or near your home, it’s key to start an active, physical search for them. In other words, don’t just wait for your cat to return home on their own.

A study by pet detective Kat Albrecht and professor Jacquie Rand found that 59% of lost cats were found alive precisely because their humans actively searched for them².

Here are some tips for your search:

Start searching right away. The sooner you start looking for your lost cat, the easier it will be to find them.
Start at home and work outwards. Remember, 75% of cats were found within 500 meters of where they call home.
Make a list of reasons why your cat could be lost. Then, you’ll know where to start your search.
Call for your cat by name. Researchers found that cats can recognize their human’s voice as well as their own name, even when strangers call it³.
Ask friends and neighbors to help you actively search. If they can’t, ask them to call or text you if they see your cat.
Check your cat’s old territory. If you moved recently, your cat may have tried to return to their old home.
Consider your cat’s personality. Are they more likely to be hiding, or exploring the neighbor’s farm? This story shows how one Tractive user discovered their curious cat Kiwi trapped inside a moving van!

Finding a lost cat with a Tractive GPS cat tracker

If your lost cat is wearing a Tractive GPS cat tracker, you’re in luck! This will make your search for your missing cat much easier. You can:

Hit LIVE to follow every step in the Tractive GPS mobile or web app with real-time location updates every 2-3 seconds

Track together with friends and family using Family Sharing
Use Find Mode once you’re nearby to pinpoint their location – they might be hidden behind or under something
Activate light or sound if it’s dark out, or hard to see where they are
Share current location with the public if your cat is further away, and you need help getting reunited – you can do this in the location section under the Tracker tab in your profile
Reunite with your cat, and give them a biiig cuddle

Ready, set, track!

Luring out a lost cat

If you haven’t been able to find your cat so far, the next thing you can try is luring out your lost cat with treats.

Put a bowl of your cat’s favorite treats or food outside your doorstep. You could even put food in additional spots around your home if you have a large outdoor space. Your cat might catch the smell and run home for a tasty snack. Make sure someone is there to spot your cat in case they come home for a bite to eat.

This can help lure your missing cat home. However, be aware of raccoons (and other wildlife) it may also attract!

How do I attract a lost cat?

Here are some more ideas to attract a lost cat back home:

Leave the garage, or another door cracked open – cats like to sneak inside
Put your cat’s favorite bed, blanket or scratcher outside – the scent will attract them
Put some special food out, like tuna or sardines. The smellier the better! Just make sure it’s salt and oil free. Heat up the food to increase the aroma
Go outside, and talk in your normal voice, as if you’re chatting on the phone – cats are known to be attracted to their human’s voice
Keep an eye out: cat parents have reported their cats returning most often between the hours of 8pm-2am and 4am-7am⁴

Making lost cat posters and social media posts

Still no luck finding your cat after your search? It might be time to put up missing cat posters. An effective lost cat sign should include:

a high-resolution photo of your cat
a physical description including age, sex, coat length and color, and any other special markers (like a unique fur pattern, or a colorful collar) that could be used to identify your cat
when and where your cat was last seen
your name and phone number

When putting up the cat posters, remember: cats go farther than we sometimes think. Hang posters at public transport stops to make sure as many people see your poster as possible. Cover the posters in plastic or tape for durability.

Download the free lost cat poster template from Tractive

In addition, you’ll want to post your cat’s picture and description on various social networks. And ask your friends to keep an eye out. On most social media platforms, there are specific groups or lists for lost & found animals in specific regions. Check the pages of animal shelters in your area; they’ll often post their latest finds online.

Contacting local vets and shelters

Perhaps your cat has already been found and brought into a vet or shelter. Call local vets and animal shelters to ask if anyone has brought in a cat matching your cat’s description. Leave them your number, so that they can call you in case your cat is eventually brought in.

Also check shelter websites – people often post missing cats they’ve found here.

You might find these regional resources useful in your search to being reunited with your lost cat:

Missing Animal Response Network – Lost Pet Recovery Training by Kat Albrecht
Animal Search UK

GPS Cat Trackers

Asking local animals

If you want to find a lost cat, here’s an unusual tip from some fellow cat lovers in Japan. If you see other cats in your neighborhood, talk to them! That’s right – enlist the help of other felines in the effort to bring your cat home. According to an article on Japan Today, some lost cat parents have had success by doing the following:

When you see other cats in your neighborhood, approach them kindly. Tell them, if they happen to see your cat, to tell your cat to come home.

It might sound strange, but if it can help you find a lost cat – why not give it a try?

Will my other cat look for my missing cat?

Some people wonder if their other cats will look for and maybe help them find the missing cat in their family. Eva Morchairs shared a success story like this on Quora:

Tofu (the cat) didn’t come home after being let outside to play. I stayed up all night worrying about her. Come morning, still no sign of her. I had another cat, Fifi, that wanted to go outside and play. Before I let her go outside I picked her up and held her face up to mine and made eye contact with her and asked her to go and find Tofu. I told her to go find her and bring her home. I gave her a small kiss on the nose and I opened the back door for her and let her go play. About twenty minutes later my mom called out to me – Fifi and Tofu were both sitting on the steps outside my back door.

So, it seems like it’s worth a shot. You could try asking your other cats to help you find the missing one. But of course, this may not work, as the companion cats may not be willing to explore unfamiliar places in search of the lost one, in favor of their familiar territory.

More tips on how to find a lost cat

If your cat is missing, it’s understandable that you may be anxious, and searching the web for the best way to bring your cat home. No one likes the feeling of not knowing where their furball is! But hopefully, with all these tips, you’ll be together again in no time.

To finish, we thought we’d share some extra quick tips on how to find a lost cat:

Look when it’s dark and quiet outside
Don’t bring other animals with you when you’re on your search – they may scare your cat away
Use a flashlight to search in the dark
Bring your cat’s favorite toy and treats
Continue calmly calling their name
Walk slowly and take frequent breaks from calling out, so that your cat has a chance to call back
Scan the surrounding area for movement or sounds.
Check places where your cat could get stuck
Set up a humane baited trap (available at a feed or hardware store). You can place some kitty litter and towels with your scent on them to lure your lost cat in
Hire a lost cat finder or pet detective
Offer a reward to anyone who can find your cat
Install motion sensor cameras or baby monitors around your house.
Search places where a lost cat could find warmth
Ask anyone who visited your property (such as a delivery person) to check their van or truck
Leave a piece of clothing or towel that smells like you outside your door
Sprinkle flour around and check for paw prints, if you suspect your cat is hanging around but not coming home
Publish a missing cat notice in the local newspaper

Finally, our last tip for finding a lost cat: Don’t give up!

If your cat is scared, they may not come out of their hiding place easily. So have patience – and faith that your cat will return.

How to prevent a cat from running away

Hopefully, you’ve found your cat with the help of these tips. Now, what can you do to prevent your cat from running away and going missing again?

Here’s how to avoid another nightmare:

Keep an eye on your cat in real-time with a GPS cat tracker – you can also set safe spaces so you get alerts if they leave their usual territory.
Create a cat enclosure.
Do anything you can to keep your cat happy and occupied at home.
Spay or neuter your cats, to prevent them from running away due to their strong mating instinct.

Remember, should your cat go missing, the most important thing is to not give up. Finding a lost cat might feel challenging, but chances are, you will be reunited in no time.

The good news is that studies have shown that about 74% of lost cats are eventually united with their family again⁵. So try to stay calm and hopeful until your feline friends is in your arms again.

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