Wanted an outdoor cat? Then you’ll need to have nerves of steel, create optimal conditions for acclimatisation and take the animal’s needs into consideration. Even so, outdoor cats sometimes get lost. Here’s what you can do if that happens.
First off, every cat is different – whether they’re from a breeder, shelter home or one of the dozens of litters on a farm; no matter how old they are, or if they’re female or male. Cats’ characters come in all colours, too – cuddly, aloof, wild, clumsy, clever.
«The outdoor lifestyle is more species-appropriate than indoor living, provided certain conditions are met,» Kasper says. The two of us talked about how to enjoy as long a time as possible with an outdoor cat; time and again, I’m confronted with «lost cat» posters on social media and in real life, accompanied by the suffering of the owners and animals alike.
The basics: chip and neuter your cat
How and when to let out your cat
«The ideal scenario? A house with a large, natural garden that offers many hiding places – fenced in, for those who want to rest easy. Or, at the very least, a location with ample greenery that’s not very frequented by cars,» says Kasper. Of course, even then, the cat may suffer an accident, be kidnapped or fed by someone else, or even wander off on its own.
GPS tracking and collars
Prior to my conversation with animal psychologist Kasper, I was sceptical. My mind’s eye always pictured strangled cats dangling from branches. Kasper calmed my fears; there are collars that open in case of strong tension or contain an elastic snippet as a safety feature. You can add your contact info to the collar or, even better, get a GPS tracking chip.
Did my cat wander off?
The ideal search method: posters and walking around
In addition, ask your neighbours to check their basement, attic and shed to see if your kitty isn’t hiding or stuck in there. If possible, ask them to let you check those places yourself; your cat is much more likely to listen to your voice than to that of strangers.
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Of course, you may notice certain patterns if you’re involved enough with the animals, for example, if you have the privilege of being their personal can opener and your circle of friends is made of cat lovers. Males tend to be more affectionate, females more freedom-loving. Indoor cats tend to place more importance on being close with their pack than outdoor cats. Now, you can never guarantee you’ll get everything right as your feline’s human, but you should still strive to. Cats aren’t pieces of decor; they have needs.
But there’s a heated debate about what’s appropriate or inappropriate for the species. House cat or free spirit? Fifteen years ago, I made the gut decision to go with the latter, putting the nature of the animal above my own worries. Outdoors, there lurk many dangers: cars, dogs and other hostile creatures, dead-end cellars and, unfortunately, cruel people, too. Would I make the same decision today? After speaking with Claudia Kasper, an experienced animal psychologist and author from Wetzikon, the answer is very likely «yes». She gave me valuable tips for outdoor cats, including how to find them should they ever fail to show up.
Outdoor cats should be chipped at the vet’s and said chip registered. That way, your floof can be identified if found. To be on the safe side, double-check with your vet if they’ve taken care of registration or if you have to take care of it yourself. A chip that’s not registered is useless. I, personally, am also in favour of mandatory neutering. So is Claudia Kasper. Why’s that? If cats reproduce excessively, large populations can quickly form in a limited space (purely mathematically, it takes just a single pair of cats to create a population of 80 million kittens over the span of ten years!). As a result, many die agonising deaths, as they don’t receive medical care and can’t find sufficient food. Yes, kittens are adorable. But animal shelters are overflowing.
Anyone who makes the outdoor-lifestyle choice can never be absolutely sure that it won’t end in tragedy. That’s why Kasper strongly suggests the following: «The cat should stay inside for three months. During this time, they can use their sense of hearing to perform a scan of their surroundings and can also observe the conditions through the window.» What could happen if the owner loses patience and opens the door too soon? A sudden, unfamiliar noise can be enough to send your cat running. «I’m well aware not everyone will be pleased to hear this advice. After all, the animals feel a pull towards the open air and express this desire with the appropriate drama. But my primary concern is animal welfare, not human convenience.»
So, what’s the protocol once the three months are up? Flat as a flounder, the cat will slowly and carefully explore their new outdoor territory. You should call them back in after half an hour or so. This works all the better if the beastie is hungry. All this to say: don’t feed your cat before you let them out the first few times. Another important thing to have is a cat flap. Your kitty should be able to come and go as they please. Opening the front door sometimes but leaving it closed other times borders on animal cruelty. You cat should be able to get to safety whenever they want to.» The only exception is New Year’s Eve. «With loud blasts galore, my bunch become strictly indoor cats for a night. All it takes is one scare, and they’d be gone.»
Outdoor cats have varying degrees of attachment to their home. Some stay close by, others venture miles out – there are many studies on this topic, like this one from Austria (link in German). An implanted chip or chipped collar is a wonderful tool should your cat go missing; it allows you to track them down. You can systematically narrow down the area, so the chances of finding your kitty quickly enough are very good – especially if they’ve been injured and can’t make it back home on their own. It also helps you keep your cool, as you can always check if your cat’s currently nearby.
Still, there’s no one hundred per cent guarantee. «One time, my cat probably lost the collar during a scuffle,» says Kasper. «I finally managed to fish it out of an underground fox hole in the forest with a long stick – I thought that was quite spectacular. Even so, I swear by tracking devices and would never again let one of my cats out of the house without a tracking collar. My current cat loves their freedom to explore, so I often have to remind them it’s time to come home.»
There are numerous reasons why a cat may stop showing up out of the blue. Maybe they’re hiding in a nearby shed, or maybe they broke into an unoccupied house and can’t find their way out. Perhaps they’re injured or ill and have gone into hiding. It’s also possible that – sad as the prospect is, it’s better to be open about it – they were killed in an accident or run over. But they could simply be enjoying their freedom to the fullest and expanding their territory. Or they were fed by someone.
Some outdoor cats simply choose to wander away. «Undesired changes – such as a baby or a new dog – are the most common causes. Territory problems with neighbouring cats can also lead to your cat having no choice but to wander off,» Kasper says. «A home that’s attractively furnished from the cat’s point of view and a good relationship with their human lower the likelihood of them wandering off. If you don’t want to lose your pet, you’ll need to be committed and willing to change. Temporary, consistent house arrest and responding to your cat’s needs are the most important measures to make your home feel like home again to them.»
Your kitty hasn’t come home. It’s time to take action. Depending on their personality, this might be two or three days of not seeing them. But before you get active in local groups on social media and hang up posters in your neighbourhood, register your lost cat with the «Schweizerische Tiermeldezentrale» (Swiss animal reporting centre). You can create missing and found reports there and receive valuable tips for your search.
What should the ideal lost poster include? Colour photos (frontal, body) are helpful, and the accompanying text is especially important. It should state when and where your (hopefully chipped) cat ran off and how to reach you. In addition, you should provide the following data about the cat itself: sex, age, build, breed, coat pattern, special characteristics and health needs. Whether you want to offer a finder’s reward or not is up to you. Hanging up posters is kind of semi-legal, by the way, but oh well.
Searches on foot are also worthwhile. Go at night, when the ambient noise is not too loud, call the cat’s name loudly and clearly, and rustle the treat bags. Walk in concentric circles around your home. My cat Wagner once disappeared for an entire week in the most bitter cold. I cried my heart out. One day, he reappeared on the sofa as if nothing had happened.
