Wondering how to keep your outdoor cat from running away? Using my first-hand experience and deep research, I have shared helpful tips you can use to keep your cat from running away.
Reasons why your cat is running away
Cats are exciting pets that are very independent and enjoy discovering the restraints of the territory, exploring the territory along with the special scent ( you can call it sampling the yard). In their strolls around, they also try to come in contact with other pets. This wandering away to look for a mate often involves several overtures including warm gestures to signal availability to potential mates in any particular zone.
Another reason cats wander away is often when they are trying to find the old house. This often occurs when you move to a new location and your cat becomes disoriented and anxious. You can assist your cat to adjust to any new environment and minimize the chances of running away.
For people, the idea of borders of the house is reflected in constructing some fences. Kittens do not have similar space awareness. The house territory is not straightforwardly the house in which their belongings exist or their family lives. In the forest, the kitten’s land could expand through a radius of more than eight kilometers.
The cat running away can be explained by various reasons below:
- Looking for the mate: One of the key reasons they might escape from the house is to complete their sexual urges. The kittens particularly approach sexual active growth phase between five and six months though it could occur later based on gender, or breed. While on heat, the male kitten enjoys the female’s kitten scent and they can look for every other out of the population. When the kitten’s sexual drive is lengthened, they might even keep going to search for companions as well as move farther afield.
- Evade the risk: Cats might feel specific risk and could just decide to run away to be safe.
- Curiosity: It might be challenging for people to identify the reason why, but kittens might escape seeking stuff that attracts them. Regularly their hunting instincts could result in them catching prey. When curiosity gives them food and everything they want, they may keep chasing until they forget to return.
- Hyperactivity: A lot of kittens are hyperactive and therefore yearn to be active releasing energy. Running away is one way to do this.
- Reaction to stress: Any change in the regular life of your pet could be very stressful. Events such as change of location, moving to a new house, the introduction of a new pet, and many more could contribute to your cat’s stress.
They may not come back because:
It is crucial to differentiate from escaping away or being not capable of returning the house. The reasons why a cat running away might not be back such as.
- Death: Unluckily, here are some risks outdoor for kittens. The street incidents, toxic chemical additives, and being eliminated from the opponent are all of the most popular.
- Vanish: Kittens have an excellent sense of smell and at times, they can be carried away trying to trace the origin of a smell. This is another way for them to disappear and you may never see it again.
- Abduction: Cats get stollen quite often and it is quite crucial to obtain an ID for them.
How to keep a cat from running when you move to a new place
- Ensure your cat is micro-chipped.
Any pet can get your cat micro-chipped and this will ensure your cat’s info can be retrieved and you can be contacted. All your details will be available for whoever comes across the cat running.
- Get a collar with your phone number on it
Buy a cat collar that has a space for you to enter your phone number. This will come in handy in case someone who comes across your cat wants to reach you to let you know of your wandering pet.
- Prepare a basket:
Before you move, prepare a basket so your cat can sleep on it during the move and for a few days after setting in your new home. This will allow the cat to transition into the new environment with less anxiety and stress. You can also put your cat’s favorite food next to the carrier/sleeping basket that your cat uses.
- Moving is stressful
If you can avoid the stress associated with moving by keeping your cat in a relatively calm room and environment, it would go a long way in reducing the stress. Also, consider using vet-recommended Feliway Calming Diffuser which will help reduce the fighting and conflict.
The great ways of avoiding your cats to escape
When your cat has been missing for some time, you shouldn’t panic. Panicking wouldn’t help in any way. First, try to understand your cat’s latest behavior. Was your cat unhappy and what could have led it to run away. Again, stress is a big factor and you should always investigate what the source of anxiety was. In some situations, the kitten can show other indications of dissatisfaction before they vanish.
Move around the neighborhood or monitor the areas your cat could have escaped to. Some might find shelter in trees, beneath a car, and other shelters. I also encourage you to talk to your neighbors who may know a few things to give you clues. The cat or kitten might have moved away in look for the companion or to get comfy with other cats – their own species.
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com
This is a great post