When it comes to training cats, especially those who spend most of their time outside, there’s a reputation for difficulty. It’s hard to keep an outdoor cat from escaping, but How to Keep an Outdoor Cat From Running Away?
In addition to being excellent hunters, cats often prefer to spend their entire lives outside, where they are free to roam and discover their environment.
Outdoor cats are at risk if they venture too far from their house. The greatest approach to keeping a cat safe is keeping them near home.
Many things can be done to keep outdoor cats from escaping and possibly getting captured, harmed, or simply seeking a new home.
As a result, these are some tried-and-tested strategies for keeping your cat in the house.
Why Do Cats Try to Escape?
They creep, kill, eat, then return to the pride as natural predators in the wild. In addition to being nocturnal, they have a strong instinct to procreate. Lions, in particular, are extremely territorial and will do all in their power to protect their territory, and they’re young from any intruders.
Despite having their meals supplied, House cats nevertheless need to hunt and may try to get outside to find prey. In addition, house cats still have the innate need to defend their territory and find a mate when the opportunity arises. As a result, they’ll sometimes use pee to “mark” an area of their home.
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Even if you live in an area where there are no other cats, your cat’s sense of territory may extend beyond the confines of your home. Additionally, cats prefer to be aware of their surroundings and the potential risks in and around their homes.
How to Keep an Outdoor Cat From Running Away?
An uncomfortable entrance or window won’t deter your house cat from exploring and seeking out the greatest view of its domain. You can’t alter your innate nature, but you can learn to control some of your more obnoxious habits.
#1: Get Them Acclimated
If you’ve relocated, your outdoor cat may need some time to become used to her new surroundings before she’s let outside. For the first few days, confine her inside the house to adjust to her new surroundings and build self-confidence. The garage, porch, and other confined spaces belong to her.
Getting your cat used to her new surroundings will help keep her from bolting.
#2: Spay or neuter your pets
Spaying or neutering a cat has the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of unwanted litter.
To find a mate, male cats who have not been spayed or neutered will frequently roam the neighbourhood. It’s common for a cat to stray numerous times a year while in heat.
It can be risky since they may not find their way back to their homes in heat.
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Despite the difficulty of catching wildcats, this is the greatest strategy to keep them near your home.
Once a cat has been fixed, it will no longer feel the need to roam the neighbourhood searching for a partner. They will be more welcoming and less inclined to flee in the future.
#3: Put your phone number on a collar.
It’s an old-fashioned method of identifying your cat, but it works. There is a good chance that she will get lost or go back to your previous place and be found by someone immediately and simply.
It is a low-cost, straightforward step that could have a significant impact.
If your cat returns to your former home, it’s a good idea to leave your phone number with the new residents.
#4: Make the Escape Route Unpleasant
Basic training tactics can help you keep your cat away from dangerous areas. Use a loud “SSST!” or clapped hands to shoo away the cat when you see it near the entryway.
Kitty will avoid the entryway region if the area is made undesirable, and You will offer a more rewarding pastime in its place.
The surface can be made more difficult to walk on by using sticky Paws (double-sided tape). Place the Sticky Paws on placemats in the restricted area, where You can readily remove them with a paperclip. Alternatively, you might use clear plastic floor mats with spikes on them to keep the cat away from the area.
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An integrated motion detector is part of the SSSCat cat repellant. When your cat approaches, the device emits a high-pitched hiss of air to frighten it and cause it to flee. You do not need to be in or near the product to work.
You can also use smell deterrents to keep your cat away from doorway areas. Cats dislike citrus fragrances, so spraying citrus scents at the bottom of the door may be an option.
#5: Daily Feeding Schedule
Maintain a regular feeding plan for your outdoor cat. Predictable meal times will keep your cat coming back to your home, even if she enjoys looking for her food. The majority of outdoor cats return home when it’s dinner time. A bell or the sound of your pet’s name can let her know it’s time to eat.
#6: Provide a Safe Shelter
Cats that live outside require sleep at night and a protected place from the elements.
Provide them with a little cat home they may hide in if necessary to keep them from seeking safety elsewhere. To ensure that your pets have access to it at all times, place it close to where you feed them each day.
It is possible to buy a pre-made cat or dog house, or you can build your own.
To keep their cats safe, many individuals cut holes in the side of a large, open-top plastic tote with lids. If you want to keep them happy and comfy, you may even place bedding materials at the bottom!
#7: Offer Alternative Getaway Options
It’s not fair to deny the cat his favourite pastime because of your selfishness. To keep the dog from running out the door, provide it with more appealing outlets than the disallowed ones.
Close the forbidden door by placing the cat tree on a tabletop near the window and away from the cat’s reach. Use the bed as a hiding place for catnip or food treats to turn this into the best cat leisure spot ever.
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The “greatest treat in the world” may only be given to your cat if it’s placed on the cat tree/bed before you leave (a safe distance from the door). Then, escape the building. Ask friends to practise knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell so that visitors will also think, “Hey, it’s treat time!”
It’s possible they won’t return because of:
It’s important to distinguish between fleeing or being unable to return to the house. Reasons why a cat may not return after running away, such as.
- Kittens face several dangers when they venture outside. The most common are toxic chemical additives, on-the-street incidents, and eliminating opponents.
- Sometimes, kittens get carried away attempting to find the source of a smell, and they vanish. The new method of disappearance may be the last time you see it.
- Cats are frequently stolen; therefore, it’s important to keep track of their whereabouts with an ID.
These are the greatest ways to protect your cats from escaping from your home.
Don’t freak out if your cat has been absent for a long time. Panicking would do nothing to alleviate the situation. Find out what’s wrong with your pet first. What may have prompted your cat to flee in the first place?
As previously mentioned, anxiety is a major issue; therefore, you should always look into what was causing the tension in the first place. Before disappearing, the kitten may display more signs of unhappiness.
Take a walk around the neighborhood, or keep an eye out for any places where your cat might have gotten away. Some people may seek refuge in trees, under a car, or in other locations.
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I’d also suggest talking to your neighbors, who may be able to provide you with some useful information. The cat or kitten may have shifted its location to find the companion or feel at home with other cats of the same species.
FAQs – How to Keep an Outdoor Cat From Running Away?
Will my outdoor cat run away?
The risk of an indoor-outdoor cat escaping or becoming lost is far larger for those who own cats who can wander freely outside. On the other hand, some cats traveled 25 acres away from home. Cats have been known to roam as far as three square miles in one night!
How do I get my cat to come back home?
Using canned cat food that your cat can detect from a distance will ensure that your pet knows where to get its next meal. Putting your cat’s litter box and any bedding with your cat’s scent outside will also help bring your cat back inside.
How long will a cat hide if scared outside?
In the event of a frightening encounter, a startled cat may remain hidden for up to 1-5 hours. After a cat is startled, it may stay hidden for a few days. Stray cats may stay hidden for up to seven days, especially if they’re frightened by all the new noise and activity in your yard.
Conclusion
Outdoor cats are excellent at keeping vermin at bay and even protecting homes and farms. However, it is not always the case that a feral cat would always try to escape from its enclosure.
You may keep your outdoor cat close to home if you follow the advice in this article “How to Keep an Outdoor Cat From Running Away?“. Cats that know they have a safe place to eat and sleep will nearly always return home each day if they are happy and healthy.
