Door Dashers: Helpful Tips For Worried Cat Paw-rents That Have Had A Flighty Feline Escape Through The Backdoor

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 6, 2023 3:00 PM EST

If you've ever owned a cat, you've experienced the anxiety of your cat potentially or actually escaping at some point - either through an open window or a door mistakenly left open. Cats, unlike dogs, can leave for days, even weeks, before returning. This time is full of worried thoughts and helpless feelings because cats often don't respond when you call them. So what can you do to bring your flighty feline home? The answers are here!

This helpful Reddit thread has advice for cat owners who need to bring their lost kitties home. From leaving their litter boxes out to bringing their favorite squeaky toy on a midnight search, these answers give us hope that we can safely help our cats come back home. Nothing is a 100% guarantee when it comes to cats because they have a mind of their own, but it never hurts to try. Good luck!

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  • 01
    My sweet Pattie got let out on accident and now we can't find her): Has anyone had a cat come home after escaping?
    via u/red-headedstranger
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 9833458432
    via u/red-headedstranger

    Oh, Pattie, you look like such a darling angel, why did you have to run away? No doubt there was something very tempting outside, but don't you know how much we're going to worry about you while you're off galavanting and exploring the big bad world?

  • 03
    She's not spayed yet and has never been outside before. We think my grandma accidentally let her out when she came over because she left the door open. She's 7 almost 8 months old and never been outside before. I'm worried she won't be able to find her way back home. We live in a rural area and searched our property to no avail. I already miss her and I'm so worried Ⓡ What can I do to get her home??
    via u/red-headedstranger
  • 04
    O spookymilner 14 hr. ago Put her litter tray and bed outside. This can help them find the scent to get home.
    via u/spookymilner

    We never would have thought to put the litter outside! It makes sense though, they instinctively know to go to the bathroom there, and cat litter, even when it's clean, has a very distinct smell. The nose knows!

  • 05
    suziespends 14 hr. ago One of my cats got out because a contractor doing work left a door open. He was gone 12 days but came home fine. Hoping for the best for you but don't be surprised if she comes home pregnant. Unspayed female cats are on a mission for a male.
    via u/suziespends
  • 06
    theranchmonster - 14 hr. ago Your cat will likely stay very close
    via u/theranchmonster
  • 07
    red-headedstranger OP. 13 hr. ago I didn't think about her litter box outside! I didn't want to put food out and attract dogs and raccoons but the litter box is a great idea!!
    via u/red-headedstranger
  • 08
    . dadoudelidou · 12 hr. ago. edited 12 hr. ago Mine came backbafter 2 nights with the litter box trick. Keep a door or window open at night to let it re-enter. Most probably will come back at dawn or dusk when it's calmer outside. Street noises scares them. Good luck OP
    via u/dadoudelidou
  • 09
    winterwoods - 12 hr. ago . Not only will her food attract other animals, but it also won't drive home the message that she needs to come back inside. So you're right to not put out food. By the way, I've had cats get out accidentally many times and they have always come back. I've been terrified for days before and then here comes Cat, without a care in the world. One cat was gone for two weeks and came home just fine.
    via u/winterwoods
  • 10
    Heliwomper 12 hr. ago Put a pile of your house clothes and blankets outside for the smells
    via u/Heliwomper
  • 11
    Shinygoose 9 hr. ago Someone may have already said something similar, but there's too many comments lol. One of my cats was gone for 3 days. Litter box outside didn't help. We found her when we went out at night when it was quiet. We walked around the neighborhood with a jar of food and shook it while calling her name. After a few minutes we heard her meowing and found her across the street. I hope you find her!
    via u/Shinygoose
  • 12
    RiverSong_777 10 hr. ago Make sure to keep some of the used litter in a bag so you can freshen up the scent! My mom's cat ran off shortly after a move to a new area and when we couldn't find him and he didn't find home after the first two nights either, we were advised to spread some used litter along the streets to guide his way home. He came back that night. Also make sure to ask around and put up posters so others check basements and garages because cats often get stuck in strangers' houses.
    via u/RiverSong_777
  • 13
    After_Ad_8841 - 14 hr. ago Our cat got out 2 years ago. Lost for 3days in 100° heat. My wife looked on the NextDoor app. Someone found him 5 houses down the street. Good luck.
    via u/After_Ad_8841
  • 14
    Jbarlee 13 hr. ago My cat got out at a similar age. A vet tech told me that they tend to stay close to the house. She was right. I called all night and kept thinking I heard a meow now and then but couldn't find her. It wasn't until the next day I found her in the bush right beside our house. It still took an hour to get her to come out because any noise would spook her. I hope it's the same for your cat. Stay hopeful and keep checking close to home. They hide
    via u/Jbarlee
  • 15
    Appropriate Cupcake48- 13 hr. ago She will come home. They usually don't go more than 2 miles from home. As others have said, put her litter box outside and she will follow the smell home.
    via u/AppropriateCupcake48
  • 16
    Bobcat315 12 hr. ago edited 4 hr. ago Tortoiseshell Had this girl get out overnight once. The next morning we went out to find her and she came running back up to us talking. She used to be an outdoor kitty so we weren't too worried. Also, tabby is super effective camouflage. She was on a stump three feet from us talking and we couldn't readily see her FUR
    via u/Bobcat315
  • 17
    drunkblaine 13 hr. ago . If possible, get out at night to look for her. From my experience with door dashers, they're more likely to respond at night (and/or we're more likely to hear them, because it tends to be quieter). Hope you get her back soon!
    via u/drunkblaine
  • 18
    neptune_moons. 13 hr. ago idk if this works with other cats but i have a few videos of my cat meowing and she always come running when i play them. If you have a recording of your cat, try playing it on loop outside your front door. If she's nearby, she might hear it and come too.
    via u/neptune_moons
  • 19
    jameschris10475 - 13 hr. ago . A friend's cat that we helped originally foster got out a couple weeks ago. Was missing for about 4 days. Didn't get far, was hiding in a neighbor's yard. Lured it back with food and his favorite cat toy (a bird that chirps). I recorded the sound the toy maked to my phone and played it through a blue tooth speaker. Came out after hearing it. The food lured him in again.
    via u/jameschris10475
  • 20
    ScaryMJ 12 hr. ago . My Emma went missing; we put flyers up around our neighborhood & after 4-5 days a neighbor found her in his garage. We were so happy to have her home...I was devastated thinking we had lost her. She went on to reach the ripe old age of 20!
    via u/ScaryMJ
  • 21
    Cosmic-curiosity615 11 hr. ago If you have really smelly shoes or socks put them outside! This worked for my brothers cat! He was at the shoes within an hour or so of them being outside! They know our scent/pheromones!! Hope the helps
    via u/Cosmic-curiosity615
  • 22
    sjm294 12 hr. ago . My cat was gone for several weeks. So I accepted that I wasn't going to see her again. Then she came back home! Don't give up
    via u/sjm294

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