While some cats might have the sharp instincts and survival skills to find their way back home, they're still vulnerable to dangers outdoors. So why risk them getting lost at all? Here's how your cat might find their way back home - and what you can to do to prevent them from getting lost in the first place.
With all the reasons cats get lost or end up wandering away from home, you might’ve deal with at least one “missing cat” situation in your life. But can cats find their way home? Are their senses as good as dogs’ – and can these help them make their way back to you if lost?
The answer, somewhat annoyingly enough, is a big “It depends.” And as something as experts on tracking down lost dogs and cats, we’d always recommend you don’t rely on your cat’s sense of direction to lead them back home.
Like we’ve mentioned, it’s a big “Maybe.” Some cats do have a good sense of direction – but that may be more so the case if they’re cats that are used to wandering around the outdoors.
Unlike dogs, cats are only half-domesticated animals. This may explain why cats are wanderers by nature; every cat parent knows it! At present, the research isn’t 100% clear on how a cat is able to navigate their way back home.
Now the theory is that a cat may instinctively be able to choose the correct direction even if it finds itself in a place for the first time. But how?
Well, for starters, cats may be among those animals able to sense the Earth’s magnetic fields.
Also, the presence of iron in mammals’ inner ears and skin may act like a natural compass.
But again – this might be more the case if you’ve got:
Why it’s not a good idea to rely solely on your cat’s sense of direction
For an indoor cat that’s gotten lost, their senses and instincts might not be sharp enough to lead them back home. (Especially if they aren’t used to wandering past your backyard or hunting for their own food. Meaning standing up to other cats and animals outdoors.)
And to be fair, a lost outdoor cat is at risk for a whole range of dangers as well – from:
Passing cars,
Predators,
Other cats – especially when mates or territory are involved
💡Which is why preventing your cat from getting lost is the most practical action step you can take. No need to rely on whether your cat can find their way home or not.
While on vacation – or 175 countries if you’re on a Premium subscription
For example, you could set up a “safe zone” around your home via your Tractive mobile app – which instructs your tracker to monitor your cat’s movements within it.
Now the minute your cat sneaks past it, you get an escape alert on your phone – so you can go intervene right away.
Cats are gifted with powerful senses. They interact with the world with not just their acute sense of hearing and vision, but also with their fur and paws and well-developed sense of smell. (In fact, cats have around 19 million scent receptors – meaning they have a better sense of smell than even some dogs!)
All these senses help them gather information from their environment and make their way around – including in the dark.
Cats also rely on scent marking as a means of claiming “territory” – which can also help them navigate their way back home.
These scents work like a mental map to help your buddy make their way around on the basis of memory.
This ability to imprint on their surroundings can help them navigate even unfamiliar environments. (Like if your cat’s wandered miles away from home!)
Because of this enhanced sense of smell, your cat can detect familiar scents from quite a bit of a distance. That, combined with their bond with you as their caregiver, can all help them find their way back home.
⚠️ At the same time:
Outdoor cats – who are more likely to have these heightened senses due to practice – only tend to have an average lifespan of 2-11 years.
Indoor cats can live up to 20 years, but might not have the same keen sense of smell or survival skills for the outdoors.
Either combination could turn your lost cat’s wanderings into some dangerous escapades.
Which is why it makes sense to…
Prevent a “lost cat” situation with these steps
While it does make sense to plan ahead for an emergency, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your wandering cat doesn’t end up getting lost – and potentially running into danger.
Ensure your cat is easy to identify
With their very own collar, ID tag, and ideally a microchip. All of these help a stranger, vet, or shelter identify you as the cat’s owner and inform you they’ve found them.
Because unfortunately, a cat that’s picked up by a shelter might be rehomed – or even euthanized – if the staff can’t identify an owner past a certain holding period.
💡 It’s also a good idea to ensure you and your cat are familiar faces in your neighborhood. So your neighbors can all lend a helping hand during your search – or alert you if they see your cat wandering around their backyards.
Escape-proof your home & backyard
A secure fence can be a lifesaver if you’ve got a curious cat at home. But let’s face it – physical fences tend to be:
Expensive to set up and maintain over time
Cumbersome and time-consuming to put up
Not ideal for a particularly motivated outdoor cat that’s picked up the scent of a female in heat, needs to hunt or show another cat on their territory who’s boss, or is just plain bored. (And can just jump over it or squeeze through it.)
💡So imagine being able to set up a “fence” in under 5 minutes – from your couch – and at a fraction of the cost of a physical one?
Aka, a Virtual Fence that does all the cat-monitoring for you once you set up a “safe zone” around your cat’s territory or property perimeter.
All of which you can do via your Tractive mobile app – which, yes, also helps you figure out your cat’s territory and how far it reaches! (And how far your buddy is likely to wander.)
So you can set this territory as a “safe zone” – and get an escape alert the minute your cat ends up wandering outside of their usual territory.
Figure out your cat’s other favorite hangout spots
Whether it’s at the local hotdog stand, your neighbors’ backyards, or an entire new family the next district over – your cat has their favorite spots where they like to:
Or just hang out (where they might be getting some extra nibbles and snacks)
Figuring out these favorite spots is a great way to ensure you know where to look first if your cat gets lost. (And where you’re also most likely to find them.)
Pictured here is Parsley the Maine Coon’s Location History – and an account of his outdoor adventures from his mom, Fiona:
“He regularly goes to other people’s houses, whether he knows them or not, and he doesn’t care if they have another cat.
He just walks past and makes himself at home. He even crashed a party once…
“Sometimes I’m at my wits’ end with him as he causes so much worry, not to mention them midnight visits dragging him out of a pub – sometimes in my pyjamas!
Besides, if you come across any “danger zones” in your cat’s territory – you can actually mark them out and broadcast them to fellow cat parents in your area.
Still think your cat can find their way home by themselves?
While your cat’s natural instincts and sharp senses can help them find their way home, this might be more so the case if you’ve got an outdoor cat. Aka, one that’s:
Used to finding their way around with their sharp senses,
Knows how to survive in the wild,
and can deal with the discomfort of roughing it out outdoors
If you think your indoor cat has the same survival skills, it’s likely they can sniff their way back home to you as well. (And on the bright side, indoor cats aren’t likely to wander off too far from home either.)
But in both cases, there’s no end to the dangers both indoor and outdoor cats can run into while outside. (There’s a reason why outdoor cats have shorter lifespans than indoor ones, after all.)
Which is why it always makes sense to prevent them from getting lost in the first place.
Which you can do by:
Ensuring your cat is easy to identify with at least an ID tag and microchip.
Keeping track of your cat’s favorite hangout spots. Which could range all over your neighborhood – and help you know where to look first in case they get lost.
See where they are in real-time, no matter how far they go. Get alerts if they roam too far from home. Find out where they’ve been and discover their favorite spots. Let others track with you. Track sleep and activity.
