Will a Lost Cat Find Its Way Home? A Heartwarming Journ

Watch a cat in motion, and you'll be amazed at its agility and the remarkable flexibility of its body. For cat owners, the reflexes to lock the door and close the windows to prevent their feline companions from accidentally wandering off have become second nature, almost like muscle memory.

But be wary of the possibility of an inside job.

However, we've also heard tales of cats that are nocturnal, venturing out at night to roam freely and then returning home with a grandiose air in the daytime. It's hard to imagine such cats getting lost or disoriented.

It's widely known that cats have a sense of smell and hearing far superior to humans. But how good is their sense of direction? That seems to be a mystery that has evaded us for years.

Owners are undoubtedly curious: Can cats find their way home after going out? How strong is their sense of direction?

Can cats find their way back home?

As early as 1922, Professor Francis H. Herrick conducted an experiment to determine whether cats could navigate back to their homes.

The Cat's Homing Ability

In this experiment, Professor Herrick chose a healthy, robust mother cat who was caring for her nearly weaned kittens. The choice was made to ensure the cat had a strong belief in her ability to return home.

The experimenters placed the cat in a sack inside a wooden box and transported it by car to seven different locations, each about 1 to 3 miles (approximately 1.6 to 4.8 kilometers) from home. The cat managed to return home within 4 to 78 hours each time.

From this experiment, we can conclude that cats are indeed capable of returning to a place they are not familiar with, demonstrating a certain homing instinct.

Unfortunately, the experiment ultimately failed on the eighth attempt.

On the eighth trial, the experimenters placed the cat 16.5 miles (about 26.5 kilometers) away. However, this time, the cat never returned. Given the primitive technology of the time, the experimenters were unable to track the cat's whereabouts.

This experiment has been criticized for ethical reasons, but it raises a question: Could it be that the cat lost its way because the distance was too great?

Does distance affect a cat's sense of direction?

In 1954, Precht and Lindenlaub tested cats' ability to navigate home from various distances.

The Cat Maze Experiment

The experimenters placed the cats in sacks to ensure they couldn't see and transported them to the center of a maze with six equally spaced exits.

Most cats quickly chose the exit upon release, but a few wandered aimlessly in the maze's center. Researchers found that at a distance of 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) from home, 60% of the cats chose the exit facing the direction of their home, but their judgment became less accurate at greater distances.

The experiment shows that not all cats have similar homing abilities, and these abilities are directly related to the distance from home.

So, does it follow that if a cat travels far enough, it will never return?

It seems that's not the case.

Lost and Found Cats

We often read incredible stories in the news:

For instance, in "The不可思议的猫," a 8yearold cat named Pilsbury was reported to have crossed roads, streams, and forests eight times to return to its old home after its owners moved 40 miles (about 64 kilometers) away.

Another cat named Ninja was reported to have traveled 850 miles (about 1,370 kilometers) from Utah to Washington to a new home with its owners, only to return to Utah a year later.

There are many similar stories, and while they are not as scientifically rigorous as doubleblind experiments, we cannot deny the fact that these cats have returned from great distances to their former homes.

Why can cats instinctively choose the correct direction home when they first find themselves in a strange place?

Scientific Theories on Cats' Sense of Direction

Sharp hearing, a keen sense of smell, and a wider field of vision may all contribute to a cat's excellent sense of direction.

Some theories suggest that the presence of iron in the inner ear and skin of mammals may act like a natural compass, and cats may be among the animals capable of sensing the Earth's magnetic field.

Dr. Alice MoonFanelli, an animal behaviorist at the Center for Avian and Animal Behavior (CAAB), believes that all cats may have some degree of "homing instinct," but some may genetically have a better sense of direction than others. Whether a cat uses this skill may also be influenced by experience.

Stray or feral cats may regularly exercise this skill to return to a safe area. However, if an indoor cat is lost outdoors, it may become disoriented and stressed.

The motivation for a cat to return home is also related to its desires, such as caring for offspring, a secure home, and an abundant food supply.

The most common cause of a cat going missing is due to a move.

Cats are highly creatures of security and may feel the urge to escape and return to their former home if they don't consider the new place their territory. This could lead to tragic events such as getting lost or even falling from a height.

Therefore, if you're moving with your cat, it's essential to take precautions in advance!