I Let My Cat Out For the First Time and He Hasn't Come Back, Help!
Key takeaways
We know that cats have a mind of their own. However, this can cause us to panic when they don't return home after exploring the great outdoors.
This is made worse if it's your kitty's first time outside. But don't worry. It's completely normal for them to get distracted and lose track of time!
In this guide, we'll explore the most common reasons why your cat hasn't come back, how to find a missing cat, and how to prevent this from happening again in the future.
Quick Navigation
Key takeaways
Reasons why your cat hasn't come back
3 Steps to take to find a missing cat
How to train a cat to go outside and come back
FAQs
Final thoughts
Reasons why your cat hasn't come back
It can be terrifying when you've trusted your cat for the first time and let them explore the great outdoors, and then they don't return home. This can cause us to overthink, panic, and stress—all of which are not good for thinking clearly and practically.
First, it's important you understand some of the reasons why your cat may not have returned.
They are exploring
The most likely explanation for your furry friend not coming home is that they are busy exploring! If its their first time outside, they are probably pretty excited about their new environment.
New smells, new cats, and new spaces to explore can distract them for hours. They may simply be enjoying themselves and unwilling to cut their adventure short.
Keep doing the following to encourage them back home:
Shaking a food bag
Tapping a can of open wet cat food
Calling their name in a gentle and happy tone
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Expert Insight: Remember, cats have a fantastic sense of smell and impressive hearing, so even if they are far away they'll be able to recognize familiar sounds and smells.
They are lost
If it's their first time outside, their navigation skills may not be quite as effective as they should be. To find their way around, cats use a mix of:
Smell
Sight
Sound
Magnetic field
However, they wouldn't have had the chance to build up these location markers in their territory if they hadn't explored it before. This can make it easy for them to get disoriented and lost, especially if they've been following the scents of other cats, hunting, or playing.
If they have wandered far away, they may not be able to hear you shaking their cat biscuits or calling them back home for dinner. Instead, go out searching for them while calling their name gently and shaking/opening food for them.
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Fun Fact: Unneutered male cats are likely to roam further than a neutered cat because they will be in search of a mate.
They are injured or trapped
While it's a more unlikely option, it is possible that your furry friend is injured or trapped. We know how curious our kitties can be, and this can find them in some tricky situations and tight spots!
High trees, the underside of cars, thick hedges, and outbuildings all make perfect hiding places for cats. Unfortunately, once they are in, they can be tricky to escape from. This can lead to them becoming trapped or becoming injured in their attempt to get out.
As a pet owner, this can be a scary thought. But as long as you're proactive, you're likely to find your cat and get them the help they need as soon as possible. Go and start a thorough search and ask your neighbors to check their gardens and houses.
3 Steps to take to find a missing cat
If there is still no sign of your missing cat, it's time to ramp up the search. Time is of the essence, because even though over 70% of lost cats are found, the majority are found within the first 24-48 hours and the likelihood of finding them decreases significantly after 7 days.
1. Report them missing
Sometimes, pet owners may feel like they are overreacting by reporting their furry friend missing. But actually, this should be your first step.
Notifying as many people as possible will increase the chances of receiving a sighting; they'll also be able to contact you if they receive any reports of a cat or if a cat matching your description has been handed in.
Call the following:
Local vets
Local animal shelters
Animal Control
Make sure you provide them with:
Your contact details: A phone number, email address, and even postal address will ensure that local organizations will be able to contact you as soon as they have any news about your kitty.
A description of your cat: A detailed physical description of your cat will help shelters and vets identify your cat, and a description of their personality (timid, confident, or aggressive) will help them know how to act around your kitty.
Photos: If possible, email over photos of your cat that show memorable physical traits, like markings.
2. Start a PetRadar search
At PetRadar, we have plenty of resources to help you find your lost pet. In fact, over 10,000 pet owners have been reunited with their pets using our service.
Our free resources include:
A printable, personalized poster: When you start a PetRadar search, we'll send you a starter pack that includes a downloadable and printable missing poster for your pet cat. This includes a unique QR code that passers-by can scan to report a sighting instead of publishing your personal contact details.
Listing your lost cat on our website: We'll add your cat to your area's page on our website, so people can check if they see your cat and report a sighting.
Constant personal support and guidance: We know how distressing this situation can be, which is why we're there for you throughout the whole process. We'll offer advice, guidance, and support for as long as you need it.
While these resources can be a great place to start your search, the majority of pet parents that find their furry friends with us opt for our paid service.
With a small one-time payment, we start a digital campaign on social media to get your cat back. We do this by creating a digital missing cat poster and distributing it as a sponsored ad on Facebook and Instagram. This will target over 4000 people in your area.
This means when your neighbors are simply scrolling through their social media feeds, an alert showing your missing cat will pop up as a sponsored post. From this post, they can:
Report a sighting
Send it to a friend
Save it for later
We'll notify you instantly when any sightings are reported and we'll set up a personal dashboard for you to monitor the progress of your search. It's a fantastic way to spread the message and get your kitty back as soon as possible.
3. Physically search
It's been proven that a thorough physical search is the most effective way to find a lost cat. However, for your search to be effective, you need to follow these steps:
Take strong-smelling items with you: As we mentioned, cats have a fantastic sense of smell and use it to understand their environment and judge their situation. As well as cat food, take items like blankets, clothes, and toys that your cat regularly sleeps on or plays with. This will smell like their territory which will attract them to you.
Call their name gently: While it is important to make as little noise as possible so you don't scare your kitty away, calling their name softly in a happy and relaxed tone will help them recognize that it's you and that they are safe.
Search at night: It may sound counter-intuitive, but searching at night can be a great option. It's usually quieter, meaning your cat is more likely to be actively trying to find their way home. Further to this, using a flashlight can help illuminate your cat's reflective eyes even in the sneakiest of hiding places!
Ask neighbors to help: The more people searching, the better. Covering a wider search radius will increase your chances of finding your furry friend, so be sure to enlist the help of your neighbors, friends, and family.
How to train a cat to go outside and come back
Keeping your cat safe outside is an important aspect of being a responsible pet owner. If your cat hasn't had previous experience exploring and are more of an indoor cat, you'll need to train them to come back home.
Supervise them
When you're introducing your cat to the outside world, keep them company. Stay within a secure area, like a garden or courtyard, and sit with your cat, observing their behavior. This will help them feel safe and will mean you can make sure they aren't wandering too far away.
Every now and then, call them back to you. If they return, reward them with a treat. Let them stay outside for a maximum of 15 minutes, and then return back to the house. Call their name and prepare their dinner, they should follow you in. They will then associate returning home with a tasty treat!
If they don't follow you, be patient and continue calling their name. You can go to them and lead them inside with a treat, but try not to pick them up or force them to move. This will create negative associations with returning home.
Use positive reinforcement
Repeat the previous method for longer periods of time until you feel comfortable to leave them alone. For their first time unsupervised, call them back home after 30 minutes to an hour and coincide it with dinner time.
Positive reinforcement has been proven to be very effective in training cat behavior. If they don't return home or they refuse to come inside, it can be frustrating. However, it's important you don't use punishment techniques as this can cause further behavior issues and aggression. Be patient and consistent, and you'll see results!
Use a cat flap
Now your cat knows how to safely be an indoor-outdoor cat, it's a good idea to install a cat flap and teach them how to use it. This will help prevent them from getting trapped outside and allow them to come and go as they please.
To begin with, tape your cat flap open all of the time to get your cat comfortable with going through it. When they are used to that process, close the cat flap and encourage your cat through with treats. It may take a bit of time and patience, but it'll be worth it when you don't have to open the door every half an hour!
FAQs
Will my cat come back if I let her out?
If you've recently moved house, your cat may not come back if you let her outside. Leave it at least two weeks before you let them out. If they have experience of the outdoors, they will most likely return to you.
Do cats come back after running away for the first time?
Many cats will be able to return home after running away. However, if they don't have experience outdoors, they may struggle to find their way around. If your cat doesn't return home, immediately report them missing and go out searching for them.
How long do cats stay out for the first time?
The length of time your cat stays out completely depends on the area you live in and your cat's personality. However, when they are exploring for the first time, they'll probably be out for quite a while! There will be plenty of new smells, prey, and friends to explore with, meaning they'll likely be distracted for a long time.
What if my cat went out and didn't come back?
If your cat went out and didn't come back, you need to act quickly. Report them missing to local vets and shelters, and then start physically searching for them.
How likely is it for a cat to come back home?
Cats have excellent homing abilities, meaning they are often able to find their way home. However, if your cat has gone missing, don't wait for them to turn up. Start searching for them immediately and report them missing. When you take the right steps, over 70% of lost cats are found!
What happens when you let your cat out for the first time?
When you let your cat out for the first time, you should supervise it. This will help keep it safe and make them feel more confident about exploring
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How do you train a cat to go outside and not run away?
To train a cat to go outside and not run away, you need to supervise them for the first couple of times they explore the great outdoors. Call them back inside after 15 minutes and give them a treat for following you and then follow it up with dinner time.
Final thoughts
While it is common for cats to go exploring for hours on end, it can be nerve-wracking if they still haven't shown up after a full day. This is why it's important to act quickly.
If you still haven't found your furry friend, start a PetRadar search. We'll be there for you every step of the way and ensure everything is done to get your kitty back home. Don't panic. Over 70% of lost cats are found, so the odds are in your favor!
Written by
Lauren Jeffries
In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.
