Cats are territorial, so outdoor-only and indoor/outdoor cats generally do not run away from home just to explore, like a dog might. When they don’t come home, it’s typically because something has interrupted their normal behavioral patterns and they either can’t make it back home or they are too frightened to try.

Perhaps a dog, a new cat or some other threat chased the cat out of her normal territory – she may end up a quarter of a mile to a mile away from home (unlike indoor-only cats who tend to hide no more than 2-3 houses away). 

Once she stops and finds herself in an unfamiliar place she will generally find a safe, dark, quiet place to hide and wait for the threat to pass. For some cats, particularly those who are more timid, this hiding stage could take days or even weeks. 

Alternatively, she may have been unintentionally removed from her normal territory by a Good Samaritan who thought she was abandoned, or by a vehicle she was resting in. Until you know for sure which it was, it’s important to conduct thorough and frequent physical searches under porches, in garages and sheds, under bushes throughout your entire neighborhood, (bearing in mind that cats are likely to feel safest coming out of hiding or announcing their locations at night and in the early morning, when it’s quiet), use posters and social media to spread the word and ensure as many people are looking for her as possible.  Don’t give up!

Important Note: You may get advice to put your cat’s litterbox, food or similar items outside to lure your cat back home. Unfortunately, doing this may actually attract other cats and wildlife to the area, making your cat feel even more threatened.  A better option is to put out articles of clothing, blankets, etc. that carry your scent and will smell familiar only to her.

If your cat has been chased out of her territory and is hiding, it may take several days or longer before she feels hungry and thirsty enough to risk leaving her hiding spot. If you suspect you know where she is hiding but can’t coax her to come out, setting up a humane trap to catch her when she does can be an effective way of capturing her – please call us at (423) 305-6500 x3 for information on renting a trap.