What to Do If Your Cat Escapes

Even the most careful cat parents can experience that heart-stopping moment: the door opens, and suddenly your cat darts outside! Even though they have the most luxurious of lifestyles indoors, their curiosity can sometimes get the best of them. At The Right Fluff, we recognize ‘flight risk’ pets and take measures to ensure their safety while in our care. Although we rarely encounter escape attempts, we know it’s something cat parents worry about. Do you know what to do if your cat slips out?

Stay Calm and Act Quickly

First, take a deep breath. Cats are naturally cautious animals, and many won’t venture far from home. Panicking can make it harder to think clearly and may even scare your cat further away.

Search Close to Home

Most cats that escape don’t go far. Check around porches, under decks, in bushes, garages, and sheds. Use your phone’s flashlight to spot the reflection of your cat’s eyes. Call their name in a calm, reassuring voice.

Set Up a Safe Return Spot

Place something outside that smells like home, such as their bedding, favorite blanket, or even a recently worn t-shirt. Shaking a treat bag, tapping their food dish, or opening a can of food can also lure a cat back, especially if it’s around their regular mealtime.

If your cat isn’t back right away, leave water, favorite blankets or clothes, and a shelter near the door they escaped from. Sometimes cats return on their own once things are quiet. Motion-activated cameras can also help you track if your cat is nearby.

Alert Neighbors and the Community

Let neighbors know your cat is missing and ask them to check their yards and sheds. Many cats wander into garages or under porches and get stuck. Posting on local community groups or lost pet pages can also spread the word quickly. Reach out to local animal shelters, veterinarians, and rescue organizations. Provide them with your cat’s description, photo, and microchip information if applicable.

Final Thoughts

As professional pet sitters, we know how much trust goes into letting someone care for your cat. During cat sitting visits, we take precautions to prevent escapes, like squeezing through barely-open doors and making sure curious kitties are distracted with snacks when it’s time for us to go. While escapes aren’t common in our care, we want pet parents to feel confident knowing we’re prepared and attentive.

A cat escaping can be stressful, but most cats stay close to home and can be coaxed back with patience and a calm approach. Knowing what to do if it happens can help you feel more prepared.

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The Right Fluff Pet Sitting offers professional, loving, and reliable dog walking and cat sitting services in Montgomery County, MD. We serve dog and cat owners across Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg/Germantown and surrounding communities.

New clients can get started and book dog walking or pet sitting services using this form. Existing clients can log into their account to request services using this link.

More information on our pet care services can be found on our website or by contacting us by email at info@rightfluff.com or by calling us at 240-447-9523 to learn more.