Will Kittens Come Back Home – Factors To Consider

Having a pet go missing is always stressful. It’s even harder when the pet that runs away is a young animal, like a kitten. For some this is beyond stressful, and when this happens it leaves many wondering; will kittens come back home?

Generally, kittens do come back home. Kittens can come back home on their own, sometimes even after they’ve been missing for days or weeks before. The older a kitten is, the more likely it is to be able to make it safely home, however, some will need encouragement to do so.

If your kitten is missing right now, try to stay calm. We’ll give you some tips on what you can do and hopefully answer some critical questions to help you find your kitten safely.

How Far Will A Kitten Wander From Home

Kittens can wander pretty far from home when they get out, but how far they go depends a lot on their age and experience.

For instance, a kitten that’s been raised indoors and never been outside before is likely to be more cautious and will stay closer to home. They might still wander a couple of miles away, but they’re just as likely to stay in your backyard.

Kittens that encounter unfamiliar sounds for the first time, like the sounds of cars, foot traffic, or even other animals, are also more likely to stay close to home.

But, if your kitten has been outside before, they’re likely a lot more confident outside and will wander further. A 6-month-old kitten can potentially walk miles away from home before they stop. However, most of the time, kittens will be more interested in exploring an area well instead of moving very far.

You may be able to find signs of where your kitten has been in the form of dead birds and other small animals. Kittens and indoor cats, in general, don’t have a lot of hunting experience, so they’ll often hunt and kill animals without being hungry or eating them much.

Don’t worry; your kitten will eat their catch once they’re hungry. But, in the meantime, they’ll probably leave their prey behind, which can give you an idea of what direction your kitten might be headed and how long they’ve been outside.

Keeping an eye out for new dead prey can also be an excellent way to see if your kitten is still in the same area.

Most kittens will eventually settle into an area they like or feel safe if they stay outside for more than a day or two. This new territory will give them some of the comforts of home, but most kittens will eventually leave it to try and go back to their owners.

Do Kittens Remember Where They Live

It’s hard to know how much a kitten remembers vs. how much they can find their way home using scent clues and other indicators. Chances are, the younger your cat is, the less likely they are to remember where home is.

But, an older kitten, or an adult cat, will probably be able to find their way home pretty well.

Can Kittens Find Their Way Home

Kittens can find their way home, especially with a little help from you. It’s essential to make sure you have food and water set out for your cat, but there are a few other tricks you can use to help make sure your kitten gets home safely.

None of these tricks are foolproof, but all of them can improve the chances of your kitten coming home.

How Do I Get My Kitten To Come Back Home

The first thing you should do is bring some treats or food outside for your kitten. Food is a powerful motivator, and your kitten can smell food from a long way away. They may be more likely to come home when they get hungry if they can smell their favorite dinner waiting for them outside.

You should also put an object that smells like you and your kitten outside to help coax them home. A t-shirt you were wearing earlier, a blanket, or even some bedding from your home can all smell enough like you to help your kitten come home.

For objects that smell like your kitten, their litterbox or bed are both excellent choices.

If the weather is likely to get very cold or wet, you should also give your kitten an enclosed box with pillows or blankets to hide in. That way, they’ll be able to stay warm for longer and may stay near home longer when they come back.

Having a hide for your kitten makes it a lot easier to find them when they come home and can help remind your kitten why they want to stay near home instead of exploring if they get out again.

You should also refresh the food you leave outside about once a day. Other animals might eat cat food that’s available, but the more tempting you can make your home, the more likely your kitten will come back on their own.

It’s also important to contact your local shelter and report that your kitten is missing. Ideally, you should have your kitten microchipped or have some other record of them to be able to identify your kitten compared to just any similar-looking stray.

Lastly, you should post Lost signs with a recent photo of your kitten for reference and a phone number to call you if they’re found. Kittens are a little more likely than adult cats to approach a stranger, which means they’re more likely to get picked up and rescued by someone in your neighborhood.

How Far Away Can A Kitten Hear You Calling

Kittens have a strong sense of hearing, which means they can probably hear you from a lot farther away than you’d expect.

On average, most cats can hear you from 3-4 times further away than a human could hear you. So, if you’re calling for your cat outside and they’re within a mile, chances are they can hear you.

How Can I Find My Lost Kitten Outside

A lot of the time, you won’t be able to follow your kitten’s trail right to them. Instead, it’s a good idea to try and tempt your kitten out with their favorite treats, calling for them and leaving some food and other scented items outside for them to find.

Trying to chase your kitten if they aren’t approaching you on their own can drive them further away from your home and make it harder for them to come back.

So, tempting as it is to stage a big search for your kitten, you should probably stick to the areas closest to your home and give your kitten plenty of time to return on your own.

Things To Consider

Kittens usually can’t get outside on their own unless you have an unlocked cat or dog door. If your kitten got out, it might be time to check the locks on your doors and make sure your window screens are in good condition.

Remember that kittens are much more likely to come back to a home that’s comfortable and loving. Try to make your home as comfortable for your cat as possible, and minimize their stress when you can. That will help motivate your kitten to come back if they ever get out.

Most importantly, don’t give up hope. Cats get rescued off the streets all the time, and your kitten might show up at your home or even the local shelter weeks after they first get out.