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What to do when a cat runs away from home: reasons for such behavior
09.04.2024 19:10
Cat owners worry that their pet often runs away from home.
This behavior is not strange, but a common occurrence. The feline returns home after a short time.
Cats run away from home for many reasons. This is quite a common occurrence, especially for those living on lower floors.
Depends on his desire to escape from the character of the animal. But there are other reasons. We will tell you about them.
Reasons why cats run away from home
Expand your territory
Cats go out to explore familiar areas and also seek to expand their range of activities. Such a territory can be arranged at home. If there is more than one cat in the house, this should be taken into account.
Hunting instinct
Felids are hunting animals. They can run away while chasing their prey. Cats will catch small vertebrates, such as birds and mice, if they have access to a garden or field.
External stimuli
Cats are naturally curious creatures. If the animal is scared or chasing something that attracts its attention, then the escape will be obvious.
The problem of hormonal influence
Autumn and spring are the main seasons for this. The first heat in a cat occurs between 6 and 12 months. Females during this period are more affectionate and restless, rubbing against objects, marking territory and meowing to attract males.
It is during the heat that cats most often run away from home. Males, in turn, want to leave the house, as they are attracted by the pheromones of females from neighboring houses or stray cats.
Dangers that Cats Face Outside the Home
Many felines are accustomed to going in and out of the house, but the outdoors presents many dangers for a pet.
Here are some examples:
1. A cat may be hit by a vehicle: the possibility of being hit in the city or on the highway is a real danger for animals that run away from home.
2. Fights with stray cats: Domestic cats when going outside are exposed to clashes with other cats. In this case, they get serious injuries or certain infections.
3. Diseases: Contact with other cats may pose a risk of infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, ringworm, feline leukemia, and others.
4. Other dangers: the cat can swallow toxic substances, it can be attacked by a dog or wild animals. And there is a chance that it will not find its way home. And these are just some of the possible troubles that can await the pet outside the home.
Should cats leave the house?
Dogs need to go outside to relieve themselves. For domestic cats, a litter box is used for this. It must be kept clean, cleaned every day, so that the cat is not tempted to relieve itself outside. Training a cat to go outside is a process that not all animals will accept.
Steps You Can Take to Avoid Putting a Runaway Cat in Danger
There are some steps you can take to keep your pet safe from danger.
Placed microchip: This will help you find your lost pet. Each microchip has a unique number that corresponds to a specific animal and its legal representative. If you find an animal on the street, take it to the nearest vet to check if it has a chip, and this way the owner will be found.
Enrich your pet's environment: To ensure the well-being of any pet, you must enrich the environment at home and spend time with them daily. Scratching posts of varying heights, toys that stimulate their hunting instinct, and even the company of another cat are good stimuli for felines.
Protect doors and windows: To prevent animals from escaping, mosquito nets and screens should be used to protect doors and windows. People surround their terraces with a strong net, so that the animal does not go outside. Then there is no need to worry about falling or escaping.
Neuter your pet: Neutering eliminates heat-related behaviors such as mate-seeking, marking, or aggression. The cat is less likely to want to escape from the house.
A wild cat, for example, looks for different reasons to run away from home, but will always find its way home. It should be remembered that there are many dangers that can lurk outside.
Earlier we talked about why a cat licks its owner’s face.
