Types Of Lost Cat Behavior
When it comes to lost cat behavior, there are several common signs and actions that can provide insights into their situation. Here are some key types of lost cat behavior to look out for:
- Quiet Behavior: Lost cats tend to remain quiet and hidden, avoiding unnecessary attention. They may refrain from meowing or making noise to stay unnoticed by potential threats. However, feral cats and outdoor cats may be less fearful and more vocal.
- Seeking Hiding Places: Feeling anxious and nervous, lost cats often seek out hiding places for safety. Indoor cats may prefer hiding due to the unfamiliarity of the outdoor environment, while outdoor and feral cats may hide but show less fear towards people.
- Restricted Roaming: Cats are territorial animals and typically stay within the boundaries of their territory. When lost, they may be hesitant to explore beyond a confined area, exhibiting limited movement and staying within a specific range.
- Interaction with People: Lost indoor cats may display trusting and friendly behavior towards humans. If a cat approaches you without fear, it could indicate that it is a lost indoor cat. You can try enticing it with treats or food to gauge its response.
- Fearful Body Language: Observing a cat's body language can provide clues about their emotional state. Fearful cats may exhibit behaviors such as making themselves appear smaller, pulling their ears back, dilated pupils, arched backs, raised fur, and even hissing if they feel threatened.
Lost Indoor Cat Behavior
When indoor cats become lost or displaced, they often experience significant stress as they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. This stress can cause them to seek out hiding places that may be unexpected or difficult to access, such as under benches, in basements, or other secluded areas. In these hiding spots, they may remain silent and unresponsive, even if their owners call out their names.
To increase the chances of finding a lost indoor cat, it's important to be proactive in your search efforts. Make a habit of regularly checking the surrounding area, especially in the evening when cats are more likely to venture out. Call out to your cat using a soothing voice and entice them with their favorite treats. The familiar sound of your voice and the enticing aroma of treats may help coax them out of their hiding place.
In addition to searching for your cat on your own, it's crucial to involve your neighbors in the search. Inform them about your missing cat and provide a description. They may be able to keep an eye out and alert you if they spot your cat in their vicinity. Use the power of social media by posting about your lost cat on community groups and websites dedicated to lost and found animals, such as Pet911. These platform can reach a wider audience and increase the chances of someone recognizing and reporting the whereabouts of your cat.
Displaced Outdoor-Access Cat Behavior
When an outdoor-access cat becomes displaced, their behavior can vary depending on their personality and the circumstances of their displacement. While outdoor cats are generally more confident and familiar with larger territories, they can still find themselves lost or trapped in unfamiliar surroundings. Common scenarios include cats accidentally getting trapped in vehicles or escaping during transport to a vet or another location.
To increase your chances of finding a displaced outdoor cat, it's essential to understand their unique personality and adjust your search accordingly. Shy or timid cats are likely to stay close to the point of displacement, hiding in fear. Bolder and more outgoing cats may venture farther, requiring a wider search radius.
One effective method for locating a displaced outdoor cat is to set up lures and safe traps. Consider the cat's natural behavior when lost, such as coming out for food during nighttime or early morning hours. You can borrow traps from animal rescue organizations or seek their assistance in setting up and monitoring the traps. Digital wildlife cameras can also be helpful in tracking any movements near the trap areas.
Keep in mind that the time it takes for a lost outdoor cat to return home can vary. Some cats may break cover after a few hours, while others may take several days to feel safe enough to return.
Lost Outdoor Cat Behavior
When an outdoor-access cat goes missing, their behavior can differ significantly from indoor-only cats, requiring a more specific approach to find them. Understanding what may have happened to prevent the cat from returning home is crucial. Possible scenarios include the cat getting into a fight, sustaining injuries, or being taken away by someone with ill intentions, or even mistakenly "rescued" by someone who thought the cat was abandoned.
To increase your chances of finding a lost outdoor cat, conducting a thorough physical search is essential. Unlike indoor cats, outdoor cats tend to roam farther from home, with a larger radius. However, if outdoor cats are injured, sick, or in a panicked state, they are likely to hide silently to protect themselves. In such cases, setting up a humane trap can be an effective method of capturing your cat.
Remember, outdoor cats may have a stronger survival instinct and may be skilled at finding food and water sources. However, they can also be vulnerable to dangers in the outdoor environment. Act promptly, remain persistent in your search efforts, and consider enlisting the help of professional pet trackers or animal rescue organizations if needed.
Regularly check the catalogue on Pet911 website to see if someone has found your cat and is searching for you.
Owner Behaviors That Create Problems
Cat owners may unknowingly hinder their chances of finding their lost cat through certain behaviors. It is common for owners to become fixated on incorrect theories or develop tunnel vision, which can divert their attention from effective search strategies. Additionally, experiencing grief avoidance and giving up too quickly can impede the search effort. Owners often feel helpless and discouraged, especially when faced with unsupportive remarks from others who underestimate the significance of finding a lost cat. While posting flyers and searching shelters are important steps, it is vital for owners to expand their search efforts.
Obtaining permission from neighbors to thoroughly search their yards and conducting a thorough physical search can greatly increase the chances of locating the missing cat. Merely asking neighbors to keep an eye out is not sufficient, as it may not encompass the comprehensive search required. Engaging in an aggressive search and utilizing humane traps, when necessary, can lead to successful reunions with lost cats.
Rescuer Behaviors That Create Problems
Rescuers sometimes encounter challenges when interpreting feline behavior, particularly when observing cats with xenophobic temperaments. Mistakenly assuming that a fearful cat is "feral," rescuers may overlook the possibility that the cat is actually someone's pet that has escaped outdoors.
While it is true that feral cats exhibit wild behaviors when humanely trapped, these behaviors can also be displayed by cats with xenophobic temperaments. Owners of lost cats with such temperaments have reported that their cats showed similar wild behavior when trapped. These behaviors are indicative of fearfulness rather than a lack of tameness.
To avoid misidentifying a cat as feral, shelter and TNR workers should scan all cats for microchips and conduct thorough research. Checking classifieds and lost cat reports can provide valuable information to determine if the so-called "feral" cat is actually someone's xenophobic pet that escaped some time ago.
By ensuring accurate assessments and taking the time to investigate, rescuers can help reunite lost cats with their owners, providing a better understanding of feline behavior and avoiding unnecessary misclassifications.
Cat Behavior After Being Lost
When a cat goes missing and is later found, it can undergo various changes in behavior. Each cat's experience is unique, and the time it takes for them to recover can differ. It is crucial to allow the cat ample time to adjust and bounce back from the entire ordeal of straying, getting lost, and being found.
Changes In Cat Behavior After Returning Home
Here are some common behavioral changes that a lost and found cat may exhibit:
- Exposure to the outside world: An indoor cat suddenly thrust into the unfamiliar outdoors can experience trauma, especially if it was accustomed to a city-dwelling lifestyle.
- Concerns about food: Cats relying on their owners for food and water may face anxiety and mental distress when deprived of their usual provisions during their time away.
- Missing their owner: Cats that have had long-term companionship with their owners may deeply miss them when they go missing. The absence of their loved ones for days or weeks can greatly affect their emotional well-being.
- Health challenges: Cats exposed to outdoor environments are at a higher risk of contracting illnesses, infections, and parasites. Poor physical health can impact mental well-being, similar to how it affects humans.
- Frustration with returning home: Some cats may intentionally wander off due to dissatisfaction with their owner or living situation. As a result, a previously unhappy cat may resist returning to its previous home and owner, even attempting to escape again.
- Finding a new home or companions: In certain cases, lost cats may find new homes or form bonds with other cats in their surroundings. If a missing cat establishes a new home or a group of feline friends, it may no longer exhibit the same attachment to its previous owner.
Understanding and acknowledging these behavioral changes can help owners support their lost and found cats in their recovery process, providing them with the necessary care, patience, and love they need during this transition.
Just Before You Welcome Back A Lost Cat
Experiencing a missing cat can be incredibly stressful for both the devoted cat owner and the cat itself. Upon finding your lost cat and welcoming it back into your home, it's important to be aware that its behavior may be different during the initial period, which can last from several days to a few weeks.
Regardless of how your cat behaves after time away, it is crucial to provide understanding and empathy. The sights and experiences it encountered, many of which are unfamiliar to them, could have been emotionally and mentally traumatic.
In our previous discussion, we explored the reasons behind behavioral changes in cats after being lost. We also touched upon the importance of reintroducing your cat to your home in a way that minimizes stress and anxiety. With time, your cat will gradually return to its familiar self, as if nothing had happened.
By offering patience, love, and a calm environment, you can help your beloved pet readjust and feel secure once again. Remember, the journey of recovery may vary for each cat, but with your support, it will gradually regain the sense of normalcy.