by Barbara George
Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist
Cats are known as creatures of comfort, so why would they leave a home where they are loved, fed the best food, groomed, and generally pampered? There are probably as many reasons as there are cats, and each cat would have his own version of the story.
Cats are independent individuals, instinctively solitary by nature and with few socialisation skills. Yet they do condescend to live with us while it suits them. Many of them have the freedom to move on when the environment no longer provides their most important needs. Some cats will time-share between homes in order to gain the best deal.
Cats choose the people they want to be with and the places they want to live in. They may already have looked around to see what else is available. Here is a selection of possible reasons for them to leave your home for somewhere else.
Fear. Something has happened to scare or upset him. This may be another animal, either from the household or an outsider coming in. It can also be triggered by an event such as noisy renovations or conflict in the family.
Sexually activity. Both male and female cats can roam around looking for partners; males have been known to stay away for months at a time.
Territory ownership. This usually happens when a family have moved from one house to another. If the cat is more attached to the territory than the family he will try to return to his previous territory, and may get lost or find another home en route.
Attachment to person. Similarly, cats can be so attached to one person that, when that person moves out of the family, they move out too. Some will try to follow their person while others will look for a new person to live with.
Overcrowding. Cats are naturally solitary although they will live with others as long as they feel safe. Sometimes adding just one more kitten tips the balance for a cat and he will leave to find a less-crowded home, or choose to live outdoors.
Loss of comfort. Comfort will be defined by each individual cat and may include physical space, people, bedding, toilet facilities, and anything else that is important to him. When the level of comfort drops below his threshold he will look elsewhere for a better environment.
Lack of basic needs. Apart from comfort, every cat has needs according to his standards. These may include food, games, grooming, medication, and toilet facilities. When these basics are not provided adequately he will look elsewhere.
Lack of attention. If they are not included in the family or do not feel accepted.
Change. Many cats do not deal with change well. Some may deal with small changes, even these cats will react when there are too many changes, or the changes are too big. A new baby, moving home, divorce, death, people moving out or moving in, addition of new pets, renovations etc. are all big changes. Cats that are not good with change can move out at the smallest modification, moving a chair or their bed, using a new deodorant, laying a new carpet.
Panic. A cat who has a fright will run until he feels it is safe to stop then find somewhere to hide. Depending on how far he has run and the obstacles in his way, he may not be able to get back home.
Taken by mistake. Warm car engines and open doors are irresistible to some cats, who then find themselves driven away to distant places inadvertently.
Boredom. Cats are built to move and hunt as well as to eat and sleep. They are intelligent and need to be stimulated every day.
Lack of socialisation. Cats learn their social behaviour as kittens, from their mother and siblings as well as the people who care for them. These lessons, between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, are most important for their ability to live alongside other cats, pets and people. Sadly, many rescue cats don’t have the opportunity to learn these skills. These cats often feel safer outdoors and may join a feral colony, even if they live on the fringes.
Stress. Living with us creates a level of stress in our cats. We have strange habits and rules that they don’t understand. When the stress levels rise, typically with young children and other active pets, cats can look for a quieter space where they can relax in peace.
Neglect and mistreatment. While cats are quite resilient and resistant to change, sometimes there comes a time when even the toughest cat needs to leave a bad environment and find a new home.
Curiosity. Cats who like to explore can find amazing places filled with exciting things, far more fun than a warm bed and a certain meal.
Hunting. Cats with a high prey-drive or a feral parent may leave on a hunting expedition. Hunting for real live prey is far more fun and challenging that an easy-access bowl of dry food.
Prey. While we think of cats as predators, they are also prey for larger animals such as dogs and caracal; even raptors have been known to take a cat and drop it somewhere else.
Illness or injury. In nature cats that show any form of illness or injury are fair game for other predators and even other cats looking to take over their territory, so cats tend to hide any illness or injury for as long as possible. Hiding can take them away from home, even if they do not find a new home.
Opportunity. When there is a way to get out of a secure environment cats may take it.
Lost. When a cats gets too far away from home, or escapes from a vet or cattery he may not be able to find his way home. There are many stories of cats travelling long distances to get home, and even more of cats that never return but are found a short distance away.
Feline dementia. Old cats may forget where they live and who there families are. They will typically make the nearest home theirs, until they wander off again.
Will he return home? That depends on the reason for leaving, where he is now, what compromises are both of you prepared to make, and a few other clauses between you and him. First find him and assess his circumstances. Identify why he has left and what you can do to make his home acceptable to him again and to gain his trust. Forcing him to stay home when he doesn’t want to be there will generate stress and bad behaviour and possibly lead to illness. Make the best decision for him, in conjunction with his new family.