Can cats find their way home?

Everyone hears stories about lost cats finding their way home from miles away. It's even known that some cats return to their old homes after moving. Cats can find their way home. This is because cats have a strong sense of direction, called the "homing" instinct. Thanks to this instinct, cats can find their way home when they get lost. Homing simply means returning home.

Homecoming Instinct

It is a known fact that cats have a strong sense of direction, but how this develops or occurs is not known in detail. There aren't many scientific studies in this area. What is known for certain is that cats have an instinct to return home. Animals with this instinct can find their way home from an unfamiliar place. This instinct is found in many different animals besides cats, such as birds, bees, or salmon. The instinct to return home is used differently in each animal. Birds and bees find their way home by using the position of the sun, moon, and other stars. Salmon, on the other hand, return to their birthplace thanks to their sense of smell. The instinct to return home is fundamentally very different from the five senses we are accustomed to. This instinct is almost like a sixth sense in cats. Other senses are also used for the instinct to return home.

This instinct is found in many different creatures besides cats, such as birds, bees, or salmon. The instinct to return home is used differently in each creature. Birds and bees find their way home using the positions of the sun, moon, and other stars. Salmon, on the other hand, return to their birthplace thanks to their sense of smell.

The instinct to return home is fundamentally different from the five senses we are accustomed to. In cats, this instinct is almost like a sixth sense.

Sense of Smell

Cats have a much sharper sense of smell than humans. This allows them to detect scents and find their way home. Cats have a sense of smell 40 times stronger than humans. Thanks to the organs in their mouths that help them select scents, they can find their way home by following only certain scents.

Cats also mark their homes with their scent. They do this by rubbing their paws, tails, and faces, where scent glands are located, against surrounding objects. A cat rubbing its face against an object or a person in the house is actually a sign that it has adopted the place. Cats also mark their territory with urine. Territory marking informs other cats about the territorial cat. In addition, it allows the cat to find its way from a distance.

Moreover, cats don't just use their own scent for navigation. They also primarily use the scents of other people in their home, nearby shops, and other cats. This allows them to create a scent map of their home. They can also easily distinguish the territories of other cats from their own.

Path Tracking

Even when just wandering around the house, cats appear to be roaming aimlessly. However, they consistently use the same route to get from one place to another. This gives them excellent navigational habits. This characteristic stems from cats being very attached to their routines. Every day, they take almost the same steps when checking their area.

This is also true for house cats that go outside. Cats can map the street or avenue where their home is located very successfully. This makes it extremely easy for lost cats to return home.

Navigation Signs

Cats can use distinctive things around their homes as navigation signs. Moreover, this method is quite similar to the one used by humans. Cats' highly developed cognitive abilities allow them to navigate even the most complex places without getting lost. A park near the house or a statue at the beginning of a street can be a navigation sign indicating that cats are approaching home.

Magnetic Field

Although this is not a definitively proven method, it is thought that cats use the Earth's magnetic field to help them return home. Cats have a small amount of iron in their inner ear. This iron allows cats to sense the Earth's magnetic field and use it like a natural compass.

Pigeons, whales, turtles, and many other creatures use the Earth's magnetic field to find their way. Experiments today have shown that some people can also unconsciously perceive the Earth's magnetic field.

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Although cats have an excellent sense of direction, it is possible for them to get lost. Cats that are taken far from their homes are known to get lost. Cats are generally accustomed to the smells around their home and its surroundings. However, when they are taken too far, the changing smells can be confusing. In cats that have never left the house, the familiar scent range is more limited. Therefore, cats that don't go outside are more likely to get lost.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Cats from Getting Lost

There are some measures that can be taken to prevent cats living at home from getting lost. However, some steps can also make it easier for a lost cat to return home.

Don't Let Cats Go Outside

It is not recommended for cats living at home to go outside because this is quite risky. Cats can easily become frightened or excited in an unfamiliar street environment and start running aimlessly. This makes it difficult for them to return home. Entering a completely unfamiliar environment makes it easier for a cat to become frightened and distracted. Therefore, it is very important not to let cats living at home go outside.

Even if your cat goes out into the garden or street, it is recommended to stop this after moving. At least until the cat gets used to its new home, the smells of the house and its surroundings, and leaves its own scent there, you shouldn't let it go outside. There is a high probability that a cat that goes outside from a new home may return to its old home. If the cat absolutely wants to go outside, it can be allowed to spend time outside with its owner, wearing a harness. You can review harness models that will ensure the safe walking of cats by clicking here.

Microchipping

Microchipping cats is mandatory in our country. All pet cats must be microchipped. In this way, if a lost cat is left at a veterinarian or shelter, information about the owner can be accessed from the microchip and it can be returned home.

Collar Use

Cat collars are especially important for cats that go outside. They make it possible to distinguish domestic cats from stray cats. For many domestic cats, a collar plays a crucial role. A collar with contact information can ensure that a lost cat is found and returned to its owner.

Scent Dissemination

When a cat runs away from home, it's not enough to just make it easier to find. It's also possible to make it easier for the cat to find its way home on its own. To do this, it's enough to allow the scents the cat is accustomed to to spread around. Because cats have a very strong sense of smell, hanging items like blankets, t-shirts, or jackets that the cat sleeps on on the balcony will help the familiar scents spread around, making it easier to find its way home. Also, opening the doors and windows of the house helps the scent of the house spread around, increasing the likelihood of the cat finding its way home.