Main reasons for running away
There are several of them. The most popular is estrus, during which cats become uncontrollable, driven by the desire to mate, so animals even jump from high-rise balconies. The amazing ability of most cats to land on all fours saves them from death. But the owner loses his pet, so he is forced to go looking for him.
Accidental loss or escape for a cat is extremely stressful
Other popular reasons:
- hunting instinct. Cats by nature are created to catch birds and rodents, and the peculiarity of their visual apparatus is that they see a moving object very sharply. That is why a bird or fly flying outside the windows can cause a brave cat to jump after it;
- old age and illness. Cats often leave home to die alone. In this case, it is not necessary to look for the animal;
- accidental fall. Due to play or carelessness, a pet may fall out of a window or escape through an open door;
- resentment. This is the reason why animals kept in private houses with a fenced area may disappear. If the owner unfairly punishes the cat or gets a new pet, the offended animal may run away;
- a change of scenery. Many city residents decide to move their pet to the village or country house for the summer. However, the animal does not always understand that this is temporary; it believes that it has been abandoned, so it decides to rid the owner of its presence.
Note! In any case, no matter what reason prompts the cat to expand the boundaries of his world, you need to understand that he is experiencing extreme stress, is very afraid, and is waiting for his owner to be able to find him. Therefore, it is very important to know what to do if a cat goes missing and where to start looking for it.
Cats are hunters to the core, so they can accidentally fall out of a window while chasing a bird or insect.
Possible places where an animal can hide
If a cat accidentally fell out of a window or jumped out of it in the excitement of the hunt, you should start searching for it in the nearby area. Serious injuries are likely if the animal falls from 8 floors or higher; lower options, as a rule, allow you to limit yourself to stress. The domestic cat doesn’t want to run anywhere; he dreams of returning to home.
How to find a dog if it runs away and gets lost
The main places where a missing pet can be found are:
- spaces under balconies;
- bushes;
- basements.
It’s worth starting your search by visiting these places. It is important to understand that a domestic cat that finds itself in the city for the first time experiences fear, stress, and strives to hide from people, cars, and other animals that the streets are full of, so you should start looking for your pet from secluded corners. Often a fallen cat is injured, albeit slightly, so it may not come to the owner’s call.
Important! During the search, you need to listen carefully; it is possible that the lost pet will make itself known with a barely audible meow.
When learning what to do if a cat is lost, many owners use all available means: from visiting all basements to performing magical rituals and reading conspiracies. It can be very difficult to find a kitten, since passers-by who see the baby on the street may decide that the owner has kicked him out and take the cat home with the best of intentions. Kind people can publish announcements about their finds on forums or in groups on social networks, so such posts should also be monitored when searching.
When developing a behavioral strategy and deciding what to do if a cat goes missing, you should not fall into despair. You can only return a fugitive home through active actions; tears cannot help your grief. Therefore, you shouldn’t be lazy, you need to walk through the surrounding yards every morning and evening after work, calling the cat by name, completely ignoring the sidelong glances of passers-by who are amused by someone else’s grief.
Note! In winter, the cat strives to warm up, so it can run into the next doorway in search of warmth. You can walk around all the entrances of nearby houses.
The most common places where missing cats try to stay warm are basements or porches
In the summer, it happens that a forgetful owner did not close the windows on the balcony, which is why the cat could fall, not onto the street, but onto the balcony of the apartments below. You can start your search with your neighbors. A cat can only enter the forest if it is located near the house.
Searches on the street
An indispensable assistant when searching for a missing animal is a flashlight. Even if you are looking during daylight hours, you will need to illuminate the dark corners where animals like to hide. With a flashlight, you can easily notice the reflection of the eyes.
Start from the place where the cat was last seen or from the area near the house. Carefully inspect everything around, constantly calling the animal to you. Don't expect it to jump out right away. A stressed cat is unlikely to come out of hiding, even if it sees you. Say the animal's name quietly and softly so as not to frighten the pet even more. As you search, constantly stop and listen. Perhaps you can hear a faint meow somewhere?
To make your cat more willing to leave its hiding place, take a can of cat food. Call your pet and shake the jar. Perhaps she will follow a familiar sound or smell, realizing that she is hungry.
If your searches during the daytime do not yield results, return at night. As dusk approaches, the street becomes quieter and the animal calms down. In the dark, a lost cat will be more willing to leave its shelter. Lost animals are overly cautious during the day, but at night they feel safer.
What to do if you couldn’t find the cat right away
How to wash a cat: options if he is afraid of water and scratches
Owners need to know what to do if a cat is lost, and where to start searching for their pet. First of all, you need to determine exactly how the small pet left the home. Possible options:
- if he was released by careless guests, then it is likely that the cat is now in the entrance or has ended up in the attic, if there is access there;
- if a pet falls out of a window, pay attention to which side it happened from. The animal is scared and seeks privacy, so you should look from the side where the fall occurred. Very often it was possible to find the animal under the balconies above the owner’s apartment; the pet itself responded to its name.
Note! The more time passed since the fall, the greater the distance the animal could cover.
If the search “hot on the heels” is not successful, other measures need to be taken. There are several tips that will tell you how to find a cat if it has run away.
Don't despair, if the cat is alive, you can find it with some effort.
Spreading information about a missing cat
All sorts of methods are used for this. In every city there are popular forums where you must post information, photos of the cat and your contact information on them. There will definitely be people who are not indifferent. On social networks, for example, VKontakte, information about a missing pet can be posted in special groups dedicated to lost and found animals, as well as in the “Overheard... (city name)” groups, they have a fairly wide audience. The method is effective even if a lot of time has passed since the loss and the animal could have ended up in another area.
In addition, it is important to print and post missing notices. In some cities they are immediately torn off from notice boards and poles; in this case, distributing leaflets to passers-by will help.
How to create an ad:
- Indicate the cat's breed and approximate age.
- Note the distinctive features that will help distinguish the animal from similar ones, for example, a triangle-shaped birthmark on the neck.
- Indicate contacts, preferably several people (for example, husband and wife), in order to always be in touch and be able to respond urgently.
Note! It’s very good if you can post a photo of the missing cat, preferably in color.
Posting advertisements is an old method, but effective.
Taking steps to get the cat to come back on its own
When studying the question of what to do if a cat goes missing, it is important to understand that only active actions will help return the runaway to the apartment. You need to regularly go around the yards, call your pet by name, even if it is non-standard like Cosine or Pouf, the main thing is that the cat hears the sound of its owner’s voice.
It is necessary to check all the basements of nearby houses, because if a cat accidentally fell or jumped out during heat, then, trying to hide, she could crawl into the basement and sit under the pipes. You need to call the cat loudly and clearly in the wording that is used at home. For example, if Melissa for some reason became Fenya, then Fenya must be called, otherwise the pet will not respond and may disappear forever.
Note! If during the search the cat itself does not speak, but the owner hears the meowing of other cats, you need to check this place. Perhaps this is how males react to a cat in trouble.
Where to get information about accidents involving animals
This is one of the worst-case scenarios, but it is important to be prepared for anything. Some owners allow cats to roam freely, but traffic rules cannot be explained to the animal. Therefore, if an animal runs away from an apartment or private house onto the street, it is important to conduct a check in this direction.
First of all, there are special groups on social networks in which information about road accidents, including those involving pets, is published. Posts may contain photos, as well as information about whether the affected cats are alive and where they are.
Important! You should not think that irresponsible drivers who drive thoughtlessly kill their pets.
It also happens that the animal is so afraid that it runs out onto the road suddenly, making it impossible to stop the vehicle.
Lost cat: where to look?
The primary question, in our opinion, will not be “how” to search, but “where”: maybe the animal is not lost yet?
Start your search in your own home and thoroughly check all the closets, as well as the attic and basement: perhaps you accidentally locked your furry friend and he simply cannot get out.
Knock on all your neighbors and ask permission to inspect their plots, and if possible, their houses. The task is not an easy one, but the fact that a cat could visit a neighboring house and also fall into a trap there is more than real.
Look in dark, dry places - in dense foliage, bushes; perhaps in old pipes, boxes, crates, abandoned buildings.
Also, do not forget to raise your head and inspect the “second tier”: trees, roofs of houses, sheds and garages.
Be sure to return to the old search site - escaped cats tend to hide and not respond for several days, and only then, when they get hungry or calm down, speak up.
What to do when your pet is found
Having figured out how to find a cat if it has run away, you need to consider this issue. You should not scold, much less punish, your pet; it is an animal, and physical violence is unacceptable for it. It’s better to show the cat how much you love him, that you missed him and are sincerely glad that he was found.
Note! You can buy your pet a treat, but give it only a little, otherwise he may decide that running away is the easiest way to earn a treat.
Care and attention will help the cat understand that he is loved and expected
The escape or loss of a cat is a great stress for both the animal and its owner. Therefore, it is very important to surround your pet with love and care after returning. Most often, unneutered and unsterilized cats escape. Therefore, if breeding is not part of the owner’s plans, then it is worth considering surgery. It will become an invisible cage that will keep the animal within the house. In addition, it is a well-known fact that sterilized cats love their owners much more and have a calm, good-natured disposition.
