How cats find their way home? They rely on their special instinct

If your cat has ever gone missing, you know exactly how horrible it is to live with the burning question that it will ever find its way home. Here are some answers to whether cats can instinctively find their way home, and if so, how do they find their way around?

Cats have a special ability, and it is none other than being able to find their way home from almost anywhere. Although it is not known exactly how they are able to do this, several studies support the idea that cats are able to use the Earth’s geomagnetic fields – possibly in combination with scent signals – to find their home.

They can also find their way home from a labyrinth

In an experiment conducted in 1954, cats were placed in a huge maze to see if they could get out of it and then find their way back home. During the experiment, most cats exited the maze in the area closest to their home. What’s even more surprising is that when the researchers attached magnets to the cats, they were unable to find their way home or even get out of the maze. This pretty much supports the idea that they can find their way based on magnetic geolocation. Although all cats have this ability, some may have a stronger instinct and find home easier.

Can cats find their way back to their new homes?

If your cat got lost during or shortly after moving, it probably hasn’t assessed the area enough to consider it home. While some cats realize that the given place is their new home after only a few days, it may take much longer for others. If your cat thinks of the new place as home, it has probably already “memorized” the magnetic map. So, with the help of this, you will be able to return to the new home. However, there is a high chance that the cat will return to the old house. Especially if you lived there for a long time.

According to some reports, 30% of cats try to return to their previous homes; even if that is quite far away. In this case, it may be worth asking the new residents or the old neighbors to be observant and check the area often to see if the kitten appears. Another solution is if you simply don’t let your pet wander the street.

Will the cats find their way home years later?

Shockingly, cats can return home days, weeks, months, and even years after being lost. According to research by Lost Pet Research, cats have already been reported to have traveled 80-130 kilometers in 2.5 years, 60 kilometers in 6 months, and 48 kilometers in 10 days. So, if your kitty is lost and hasn’t returned home yet, there is hope that it will find its way back one day. In addition, it is important to regularly check animal shelters and visit your old neighbors.

Causes of migration of cats

Cats leave their homes for many reasons, but rarely do they “run away” on purpose. Often they are simply distracted by external factors and wander off or run away from something. We have collected the most common reasons that can trigger this reaction.

• Looking for a companion if they have not been neutered
• Protecting their territory from a neighbouring cat
• Hunting instinct
• Illness or injury
• Looking for food
• If they feel unsafe in their environment

Do cats run away to die?

There may also be the option of going to die, as this final retreat is relatively common in the animal world. The reality is that they don’t go far because they “know they’re going to die.” When a cat is not feeling well, it usually seeks a quiet, safe place. The sicker they are, the more they feel the need for safety, so sick cats do not go far from home. Instead, they look for the quietest, safest place nearby. Because if they are too weak to get food or go home again, they are in danger of dying because of it. This way, this reason can be ruled out, since if it exists, it is definitely somewhere nearby.