Analyzing The Secret Wanderings of 900 House Cats

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Someone said that even cat owners know that nobody owns a cat. Therefore it is not a surprise to have your cat disappear for hours or days and come back feeling like the gods they claim to be, expecting as always to be groomed and fed. With the arrogance that cats show, some people even saying that if the felines would talk, they would not, then it has aroused curiosity as to where these felines go when they keep wandering off. Fortunately, the answers have been found, and we have laid them out for you to keep your cat safe.

The secret wanderings of 900 cats

The Cat Tracker team compiled a report whose findings are that most cats prefer staying within 100 meters of their home. They used GPS trackers placed in the 900 cats from four continents to monitor their movements. The conclusion was that more than 50% of the cats stay within 2 acres of their home compounds except for unique cases like Katniss, who wandered off to 4 acres within her home. The other two are Penny, who covered over 3 square miles, and Max, who walked more than 2 miles every day for six days. As for those who preferred not to go far from home, the reasoning was that they feared dangerous animals like coyotes; hence they could only move out to mate or in search of food. As per one of the researchers, cats are universally lazy, but that does not mean that they do not affect the environment with their minimal movement. In light of the research, the total impact of all housecats within urban settings can negatively impact the wildlife since the felines can hunt reptiles, birds, and endangered species. All the same, most cat owners seemed less concerned about the endangered species becoming extinct and more about the safety of their furry friends when crossing roads.

So, should you let your cat outside?

Of course, once you learn that cats cross the road during their secret trips, your first concern is their safety. The thought of losing your pet due to careless driving is tormenting enough to lock him in the house, but according to Perfect Fit, your cat might be better off outside than inside. Unless you do not mind having scratches on your doors and furniture, then you should consider letting him out to scratch whatever surfaces interest him without you scolding him. Additionally, you do not want to have another “Garfield” in your house, so fat that he cannot walk a few steps without panting. A little time outside to chase butterflies and birds, climb trees or run around with his friends is good to burn the calories and avoid obesity. Besides, cats are naturally introverted and need some time to themselves, and what better way than to let him sit at his favorite spot in the garden soaking in the sun.

Why your cat has not come home for days

You should start worrying if your feline friend has been away from home for days because the chances of him coming back go down with each sunset. One of the top reasons he has not returned is if he has found a better place to eat and drink. Cats are naturally clean animals, and if they find a clean source of water, milk, and food compared to what they are used to, they will stick around it. Also, if he is trapped somewhere, then there is no way for him to come back even if he was willing.

As introverts, cats need time to recharge, and if your home is too noisy or overstimulated, your cat will prefer looking for a quiet spot and will only come back once she feels ready for interaction. In some cases, your cat may have wandered off into a neighborhood filled with hostile animals that chase him off so far that he loses his bearing; thus, he cannot find his way home. Finally, a cat that is in heat will go out to look for a mate, and she will continually wail until you let her go outside. Once out, she will seek a mate and will not come back until mating is done.

How to ensure your cat does not roam so far

Now that you know a cat will go for miles looking for a mate, you might as well have yours spayed or neutered. Still, you cannot keep your feline friend indoors all day, so the best way to guarantee that he can return home even when lost is through microchipping. You can also ensure that the collar on his neck is not so tight that when he gets caught up, he can strangle himself, trying to release himself. Of course, having a name tag is the easiest way to have him returned to you, and you can also guarantee his health in his whereabouts by vaccinating him; sick cats are at risk of being attacked by predators so he will most likely hide when he falls ill making your reunion impossible. Pet Plan advises that you train your cat to respond to your calls when it is time to come back home. That means that you will have peace of mind when you let him out the door for his daily explorations. Simple methods, such as calling his name will work.

How far will your cat wander off safely?

As much as you cannot keep your cat locked up in the house, you must be curious how far he will go without losing their way home. Well, it all depends on the cat’s personality, availability of food, sex, among many other factors. Most cats usually walk between 70 to 850 meters, but some cats have been known to travel for hundreds of miles in search of their owners, especially if they were left behind when the owners relocated. Female cats average a distance of 230 meters away from home while male cats walk up to 500 meters away from the familiar compound. If all the measures to ensure he does not wander off too far away still are not enough, you can always keep your cat in a fenced backyard; that way, he will have his time outdoors, and you can rest assured he is safe.