Cat owners have likely either experienced or heard heart-wrenching stories of cats getting lost and never being found again. To prevent this, locking the door when entering and closing windows without thinking has become second nature for every cat owner. But, as with anything, there’s always a chance of things going wrong… If a cat does get lost, owners often feel a mix of panic and a faint hope—that their cat will be able to find its way back home. Is this possible? How good is a cat’s sense of direction, and how strong is its memory? Can a lost cat really find its way home on its own?
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Can Cats Find Their Way Home?
As early as 1922, a professor conducted an experiment to investigate whether cats could find their way back home. In this study, the professor chose a healthy, strong female cat that was nursing several kittens. The reason for selecting this particular cat was to ensure that the cat had a strong instinct to return home. The researchers placed the cat in a sack and put her in a wooden box, then transported the box to seven different locations 1-3 miles (about 1.6–4.8 km) away from her home. In every case, the cat successfully returned home within 4 to 78 hours. This experiment showed that cats do have a certain ability to navigate back home from unfamiliar places. However, unfortunately, the experiment failed on the eighth trial. In this instance, the researchers placed the cat 16.5 miles (about 26.5 km) away, but this time, the cat didn’t return. Due to the lack of advanced technology at the time to track the cat’s movements, the researchers were unable to determine where the cat went. The experiment faced ethical criticism, but the result raised a question: Did the distance make it too far for the cat to find its way home?
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Does Distance Affect a Cat’s Sense of Direction?
In 1954, Precht and Lindenlaub tested a cat’s ability to find its way home at various distances. The researchers placed cats in sacks so they couldn’t see, then transported them to the center of a maze with six equally spaced exits. After being released, most cats quickly chose an exit, but a few cats wandered around in the center of the maze. The researchers discovered that at a distance of 3.1 miles (5 km) from home, 60% of the cats chose the exit facing home. However, at greater distances, the cats’ ability to judge their direction significantly declined. The experiment showed that not all cats have the same level of homing ability, and this ability is directly related to the distance from home. So, does that mean that if a cat is far enough away, it will never find its way back? It seems the answer isn’t so straightforward.
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Cats That Have Found Their Way Home
We often come across fascinating stories in the news, such as the one in The Incredible Cat, which tells the story of an 8-year-old cat named Pilsbury. After its owners moved 40 miles (about 64 km) away, Pilsbury crossed roads, creeks, and forests eight times to return to their old house. There’s also the story of a cat named Ninja, who, after its owners moved from Farmington, Utah, to a new home 850 miles away in Washington, left the new house and reappeared in Utah a year later. These stories, though not as scientifically rigorous as a double-blind experiment, still show undeniable instances of cats traveling great distances to return to their former homes. So why can cats instinctively choose the right direction to return home, even when they are in unfamiliar places?
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Scientific Theories Behind a Cat’s Sense of Direction
Sharp hearing, highly developed sense of smell, and a wider field of vision might all contribute to a cat’s exceptional sense of direction. One theory suggests that the presence of iron in the inner ear and skin of mammals may act as a natural compass, and cats could be among the animals able to sense the Earth’s magnetic field. Dr. David, an animal behaviorist, believes that perhaps all cats have some degree of a “homing instinct,” but some cats may be genetically predisposed to have a better sense of direction than others. Whether a cat uses this ability may also depend on experience. Outdoor or stray cats are likely to regularly exercise this skill in order to return to safe areas, while indoor cats who are lost outside may panic and become stressed. A cat’s motivation to return home also depends on factors like their desire to care for kittens, a stable home, and access to food.
In incidents where cats go missing, the most common cause is moving to a new home. Cats are creatures that crave a strong sense of security, and if they don’t perceive the new place as their territory, they may feel the urge to escape and try to return to their old home. This can lead to a series of unfortunate events, such as getting lost or even falling from a height. Therefore, if you’re planning to move with your cat, make sure to take preventive measures well in advance!
