Cats are naturally casual and independent. For various reasons, even a “senior cat” you have raised for ten years may still be prone to running away. However, nowadays most households properly train and feed cats, so they rarely run away under normal circumstances. Do you know what signs a cat shows before leaving home? And why does it happen?

⒈ Feeling that their time is short

One situation is that they feel they won’t live long and don’t want to stay where people are. They want to find a quiet place to die alone.

⒉ Marking territory for food

Cats are naturally independent and have cleanliness habits. Before being domesticated, to get enough food, they actively divide and occupy territories and always stay alert.

⒊ Entering mating season

During mating season, cats will actively run outside looking for suitable mates, running anytime and anywhere if given the chance. Especially male cats, they will escape from the door at all costs to find a partner. Generally, after mating season, you will find them returning energetically to rest at home (female cats may have a big belly). To avoid this issue, you can choose to neuter them or keep a cat of the opposite sex at home.

⒋ Being beaten

If the owner beats or scolds too severely, the cat will think this is a signal to be expelled from the territory. Independent cats will choose to quietly leave.

⒌ Always hungry/not properly fed

Cats in this situation are forced to run away. Who wants to stay where they are hungry and poorly cared for?

⒍ Feeling confined or captured

This makes them feel very unsafe in their environment and want to escape quickly.

⒎ Curious/playful nature

Cats have little awareness of height, so cats in high-floor homes are best kept enclosed. They are always curious about the outside world, which strongly attracts them. They love to go out exploring but easily get lost. Maybe they leave home just to play for a while but then can’t find their way back, eventually becoming stray cats on the street.

⒏ Newly adopted kittens

Cats have very low security feelings. Many adopted cats who are not given timely care feel scared of the unfamiliar environment and will run away as soon as they find an opportunity.