But What If They Don’t
The cat has now disappeared under your porch. You can see him in the farthest corner. So how do you get his attention? Set out some yummy cat food and water for him nearby. Then you retreat, and you wait. You want the food as near to your front door as possible. If you are lucky, the cat will come out when he is calmer and eat;and come in the house.
Lure Your Cat With Food
This is one of the more obvious tactics if you want to know howto find your cat in the house. Prepare some strong-smelling cat food or treat thatyour feline pet wouldnt be able to resist. Often, a can of tuna or freshlycooked chicken pieces will be enough to lure any cat out of hiding. Kittenswouldnt be able to resist a bowl of cat food mixed with kitten milk formula. Heatup the food so the smell makes its way to every corner of the house and drawyour hungry kitty out.
How To Find A Cat In Your House
A lot of times, when cats go missing, theres a pretty goodchance that theyve gone into hiding. And in several cases, the missing catturned out to just be hiding right inside the owners house! If youve just broughthome a new cat, hiding in the housewouldbe one of the things you should watch out for. Cats have a certain talent forsqueezing into the most unlikely hiding placesopenings and corners you wouldnever initially think to look at. While there are certainly some things youmust do quickly once your cat goes missing, firsttake these steps to find your missing pet if hes hiding right under your nose.
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Where Is My Cat Hiding Hiding Places In The Garden
If your house also has a garden or a terrace, it is convenient to check:
- Behind bushes or large plants.
- Behind or in planters and pots, especially if they are empty.
- In open garbage bins.
- Under any furniture or stairs that may be in the area.
- In the storeroom or in any wardrobe you have in the area.
Inspect the quietest places to where your cat can be hiding.
Why Do Cats Sometimes Move Only One Kitten
If you see that a cat had kittens outside moving one kitten to another location or simply away from her other kittens, you may be seeing an instinctive drive to cull a sick kitten.
Its a brutal fact of the animal kingdom that only the strong survive. Mother cats can sense if their kittens are unhealthy.
If the kitten is weak, is unable or unwilling to latch on for feeding, or too small, a mother cat will often abandon the kitten in order to save her energy for her healthier babies.
Oftentimes, people will see a cat moving one of her kittens and assume that the rest will be close behind.
Later, they discover that the kitten wasnt the first one to be taken to a new location but rather has been culled.
People will often go to the new location, sometimes only several feet away to check on the mother and her kittens only to discover that the kitten has been abandoned.;
If you see a mother moving a kitten, keep an eye out for the rest of the kittens to follow.
If you dont see the mother or more kittens relatively quickly, retrieve the kitten if possible and take it to your local shelter immediately.
They have the resource to rehabilitate the kitten and get it adopted.
If you want to adopt the kitten yourself, simply take it to your local vet for proper care.;
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How To Find A Lost Cat With A Microchip
Many people assume that a cat microchip will help them locate their cat immediately if they go missing. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Unlike a microchip, a GPS cat tracker helps you find your lost cat in minutes by letting you follow their location in real-time.
To find a lost cat with a microchip, youll need to wait until someone finds your cat and brings them in to a shelter or vet where the microchip ID can be read.
If your contact details on the microchip ID are up to date, and if youre lucky enough to get a call about your missing cat, youll be reunited.
You can use the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup or the US Pet Chip Registry to learn more about microchip registry and missing pet identification.
While a microchip is a security must-have, it does not actively help you search for a lost cat or guarantee that they will be returned to you.
What Is Cat Separation Anxiety
Cat separation anxiety happens when you have been away from your cat for too long. Social or not, your cat may begin to feel neglected when you leave them alone.;
Felines do get mad. When you are away from the house, separation anxiety makes your cat feel vulnerable. Anxious cats may hide or isolate themselves until you return home.
It is difficult to discern if your cat has separation anxiety because they may not show it.;
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Humane Traps And Wildlife Cameras
If the owner/guardian says that their dog is skittish and is running loose and they can’t catch him, or if the owner/guardian of a missing cat says she is an indoor-only cat that escaped outside, suggest that they utilize feeding stations with baited humane traps and wildlife cameras to help recover their pet.
Cat Hiding And Cats In New Homes
When bringing newly-adopted cats home, they often use a form of Bradshaws math. The standard advice to prevent cat hiding is to set up a small room like a bathroom or utility closet and make sure that room has all the cats essentials like food, water and a litter box.
Then, leave the cat alone in the room and let her get accustomed to part of her new environment at her own pace. But if you peek in, youll often see the cat hiding somewhere within the room itself, too.
With my cat, Mimosa, she took up a hiding position under the sink cabinet presumably to try and achieve Bradshaws goal of safely boxing herself in as much as possible while still being able to spot any advancing intruders.
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Why Does My Cat Hide In My New Home
A cat who hides after moving into a new house may be apprehensive about the change of scenery. Time typically works its course if you just let them get used to their surroundings.
If giving your cat their time does not work, you can try to lure them out with some treats and slowly work with them. No matter what, never try to force your cat away from hiding.
How To Find A Frightened Cat Inside Your Home
Common questions cat lovers ask is Where can I find my hiding cat? and Is it best to put them in their cat carriers or find a blanket or anything that is quicker?
Reaction time matters in an emergency, so it helps to be prepared. Many cat lovers keep carriers or a stack of pillowcases by the door. Carriers are preferred but take up a lot of room, so some cat parents prefer a pillowcase or carriers that are soft and collapsible for easier storage.
Heres how to find a frightened cat whos inside:
I hope these tips have helped you find your lost and scared cat.
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Never Pull A Scared Cat Out Of Hiding By Force
If your cat is hiding because its scared of something dont attempt to pull her or him out by force. Youll only be sending Kitty into panic mode. Even a docile cat can and will use claws and teeth when panicked. Dont risk your hands and dont scare your cat even more, as its only likely to get him or her to stay in hiding for longer.
Hopefully, you can now tell why your cat is hiding. If youre still unsure or need more help, ask a question in the cat behavior forum. Our members are always happy to help out!
How To Make A Cat Hideaway
Cats love having small spaces to hide and get away from it all, as it helps them to feel calm and secure. If you have a slightly nervous cat, this could be the perfect refuge for them.
Watch our video to find out how you can make a hideaway for your cat using an old t-shirt and a box.
If you have more than one cat you will also need to make sure that there are enough options to prevent the more assertive cat from taking up all the locations and excluding the others. If you have young children, its also important to make sure your cat has places to go that arent accessible by them.
All cats, irrespective of their age, benefit from having somewhere safe and secure to go when they feel the need, and an elderly cat will be no exception. Older cats can suffer from stiff and painful joints and jumping up onto high places can become difficult or even impossible.
Make sure that several ground level places are available and if possible, provide some gradual steps up to their usual high place, just so that they have the choice.
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Do Some Pregnant Cats Hideaway
Pregnant cats find hiding spots before giving birth. These hiding spots can be any enclosed location inside your house that makes them feel safe. Many cats choose under the bed, or they may even escape outside and go under the house.
Mama cats hide their kittens as a protection measure. Hiding her kittens is a perfect example of your cats primal instincts taking over. Do not take anything personally if your mama cat hides her kittens or continues moving them to new locations.
Call Local Vets And Animal Shelters
The next step is to call around local vets and cat shelters to inform them that your cat is missing. So, if someone finds him/her and s/he ends up being brought in, then theyll know this cat has an owner. You should give an accurate description and send them a photo if you can. It helps if you cat is microchipped as all vets and shelters will be able to scan animals who are brought in.
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There Are New People Nearby
If you have guests, visitors or even new people living with you, your kitty might take some time to get used to them. Hiding is a common reaction to a change in circumstance, even if that change is only small.
If your cat does hide when new people are present, never force them to come out – even if youd love to show them to your guests! Its important to give your kitty time to feel safe; theyll come out when theyre ready.
;3. Something has changed in their environment
Its not just guests who may cause your furry friend to hide. Even if a change is minimal, it can still have an impact on your pet. Changes to your cats environment – big and small – can make them stressed and instigate hiding
Common changes that might make your kitty scurry under the bed include:
- Unfamiliar or loud noises in the house or nearby. Remember that your cat has incredible hearing, so may react to sounds that arent loud to you!
- New people in the house, such a new baby or guests.
- Bigger changes to the environment. Have you redecorated, or moved house recently? If so, give your pets time to settle in, explore and adjust. It can help if you give your cats their own accessible space to feel safe in, with blankets, toys and hiding spots – at least while you unpack or decorate.
- Other new pets or animals in the house. If this is the case, be sure to introduce new furry friends carefully and gradually to encourage a happy household!
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Think About Hiding Triggers And Remove Them
If youve given your pet lots of time to come out but they remain reluctant to leave their hiding spot, consider other triggers that might be upsetting your cat.
Think about what could be triggering their hiding and try to eliminate it. What might they be uncertain about in their new situation? Do you have lots of people in the house, loud guests, or young children who may be making your kitty nervous? Even loud appliances, or unusual smells and sounds could be enough to worry your pet.
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Distances To Where Cat Found
Of the 602 cats found alive, the distance from where the cat went missing to where it was found was recorded for 479 cats. Of these cats, 2 had implausibly high distances for cats to travel unassisted and these were disregarded. For the remaining 477 cats found alive, the median distance was 50 m with the maximum distance being 25 km. For the 17 cats found dead where distance was recorded, the median distance was 200 m , with the maximum distance being 5 km . Of cats found alive, distances varied by outside experience in the 6 months before going missing . Those cats that were indoor-outdoor and allowed outside unsupervised had longer distances compared with indoor cats that were never allowed outside . The median distance for indoor-outdoor cats was 300 m , respectively; n = 150 cats) and indoor-only cats was 39 m . Median distance for outdoor-only cats was 183 m . These did not differ significantly from indoor-only cats .
Median distances at which missing cats were found from where they went missing by outdoor experience in the 6 months prior to the cat going missing ; error bars indicate 25th and 75th percentiles.
Make An Appointment With Your Vet
If your cat is suddenly hiding, and seems more antisocial than normal, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended to rule out any medical issues. After all, its better to be safe than sorry.
Sometimes, the first indication to the guardian that their cat is sick is hiding behavior, Parry says. I have seen this in cases of urinary blockage, which can quickly turn fatal if untreated, so I definitely urge guardians to take hiding behavior seriously, especially if it is not par for the course for that particular cat.
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Start At The House Work Outward
OK, assuming you didnt see your cat jet out the door, Albrechts first tip is to make absolutely sure your lost cat isnt still in the house. Once, a family contacted her, convinced a bobcat had killed their missing cat. After a few days, the family opted to adopt a new kitten. The homecoming of the mewing kitten triggered a noise from the houses chimneywhere the first cat was stuck.
Once youve searched inside, start searching around the outside of your house, under decks and porches, and in other smaller places where a cat could hide. If you own an indoor cat, its very likely they will be somewhere near your house, Albrecht says. If that search doesnt yield results, head over to your neighbors. But, she says, dont just ask whether theyve seen the cat, ask to search around their house like you did at your home. It might mean getting a bit dirty on your hands and knees, using flashlights to peer into dark places. Its up to you, not your neighbor.;
They’re just not going to care that much to do that, so you need to do that, Albrecht says.;
A 2017 study on missing cats measured how far away from home 477 cats were found. The median distance was about 50 meters from home. For indoor cats, the median distance was 39 meters128 feetaway.;
Cats with access to the outdoorsones who might roam around the neighborhood freelywere often found farther away. Their median distance was measured at 300 meters, more than three football fields away, according to the study.
Make Fliers Social Media Posts
Its good to get the word out about your lost cat, but a post on Facebook or Instagram might not do much if you arent connected to the people who live near you. Albrecht suggests posing on Nextdoor, where your neighbors are more likely to see the information. You might also check to see if theres another social media-based lost pet organization in your area that can spread the word.
Craigslist is a good place to post, too, along with looking on the site for posts about found cats in your area.;
Fliers are good, but youll want to hand them directly to neighbors. Just stapling them to a telephone pole isnt as effective.;
For signs, go big. Go neon. On her website, Albrecht tells pet owners to make signs giant and fluorescent, with a large photo of their cat or dog. Place the signs at major intersections near where the pet was lost so drivers dont miss it. Keep the message brief so drivers can read it as they move past. with advice for getting your poster noticed.;
You should also make calls to area animal shelters to see if anyone has found your feline. If your cat was wearing a collar and ID tagsor even better yet, microchippedand ends up being turned into a shelter, you have an excellent chance of being reunited. If your cat didnt have any ID and wasnt chipped, calling shelters or even scouring them in person may increase your odds of success.
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