My cat hasnt come home in a day

My cat hasnt come home in a day

One of the challenges of being a pet parent to a loving feline is the need to frequently answer one important question: “Where is my cat?” If you have an indoor cat and access to windows and doors is pretty limited, you don’t need to stress too much over the cat’s sudden disappearance. Especially if they are of a temperamental nature, they’ll come out when they’re hungry, thirsty, or bored with playing the hiding game.

On the other hand, if you have a cat that’s an indoor/outdoor cat, or is permitted to spend most of their time outdoors, you may have cause for concern if 48 hours go by without a cat sighting. While some people solve this with the use of a GPS tracking device like this one from Whistle as cats rarely go outside the radius the device is designed to cover, a clever feline can quickly figure out how to discard or disable it if it bothers them. If your cat is missing, there are a few common scenarios to check out.

The most common scenario, while many poke fun at it, is the old standby of the cat getting trapped in a tree, on a rooftop, or somewhere else they do not feel safe escaping on their own, and are in need of help. This is dangerous, especially in the summer months, because your cat needs water and food. If stranded waiting for help for too long, it can become a life-threatening emergency. So, begin by looking for your cat on top of and under things, where they may be unable or afraid to escape.

Check out these tasty Cat Nip Fever treats on Chewy.com to help encourage your kitty to come to you!

Most lost cats stay within a five-house radius of where their owners live, and even outdoor cats tend to stake their territory as a single city block, most usually one with limited interference from cars and other scary things. If you live in the city or the suburbs, and you can’t find your cat, check with the neighbors on your block.

Ask if you can have permission to look under their decks, in their sheds, or their backyards and gardens. Asking “Have you seen my cat?” is likely to yield a less than thorough search, or a compulsory glance, followed by a quick “Nope.” However, every so often a cat will be rescued by a well-meaning neighbor who recognizes him or by someone in the area who doesn’t know the cat’s owner.

A simple solution to this problem is to not only tag your cat with collar and identification, but to invest in other solutions like microchipping and

a QR code tag

like the one offered by PetHub. PetHub is a unique service that allows owners to set up a pet profile page for their pets with any information they want to include, from medications and special conditions to their pet’s favorite toy. If the pet is lost an alert can be displayed on the pet’s profile, as well as how to contact the owner. The simplicity of this solution helps to get your lost pet home faster with the help of a little technology.

If a feline is injured, it is often the natural instinct for them to hide somewhere secluded, as animals in the wild often wander off to nurse their wounds in safety, or to prepare for death alone. One of the most important reasons to be concerned if your cat goes missing is that getting them prompt medical attention may save their life, and that’s nearly impossible to do that if you them find her. Again, in the event the cat is injured, they are usually on your property, or somewhere on a neighbor’s property, well hidden from people and other animals alike.

There are cases where unfortunate things can happen to even the most street-smart felines. If you live in a more rural or suburban area, it’s more likely that your cat may meet up with a predator, such as a coyote, and could be killed as a result. Around Halloween, many cats go missing, particularly black cats, because they are kidnapped or harmed by humans. It is not always a safe world out there, which is why you should keep an eye on your cat, even an outdoor cat who knows how to take care of himself, on a daily basis. If the cat hasn’t come home in a day, it’s time to start looking.

Every once in awhile, cats will either intentionally or unintentionally be taken on a ride out of the area. Intentional instances are situations where someone has stolen your cat. It is sad that people do these sorts of things, but it is not unheard of.

Unintentional instances usually occur when a cat finds a safe place to hide, but it is in a vehicle or a box that’s being transported. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to rescue a cat that’s been taken far from home, which is why tags and microchips are so essential to your cat’s safety.

Fortunately, a majority of the time, cats are located within less than a city block, if not on your own property. They usually return safe and sound from their hiding spot, looking for a good meal and attention, not even aware you were so concerned!

Is it normal for a cat to not come home for a day?

It's not unusual for cats to go 'missing' from time to time. Sometimes they may disappear for a few hours, other times you may not see them for a day or two. It's important to understand that these vanishing acts are perfectly normal. Felines, by their nature, are adventurous animals.

Should I be worried if my cat hasn't come home?

You do not need to worry if your cat leaves, however, if it has been more than two days, you should consider notifying your local vet and animal warden that your animal has not come back, as they might have been injured, preventing them from coming home.

How long is normal for a cat not to come home?

It isn't uncommon for cats to go missing for 24 hours, especially if they like spending a lot of time outdoors. In some cases, cats can even stay away from home for up to 10 days at a time. We also know of cats that leave home while their humans are away on holiday, returning soon after the family arrives back.

What should I do if my cat doesn't come home?

If you do not find your cat and they do not return home within a few hours then consider putting out humane traps with your cat's favourite food in them. In addition, action the rest of your 'lost cat plan'. The sooner you find your cat the better, so don't wait.