My indoor cat got outside and has been gone for three hours. How worried should I be? I very very worried.?

Answer 1

If your cat is always indoors, chances are he/she will be very timid. I would definitely begin checking the vicinity right away. He/she might just be lingering around because it is too scary out there for her/him.

Next, I would check with your local animal shelter in the next day or so, and put up flyers!! If the animal shelter picks the kitty up, he or she might be adopted out, and then it will be tough to get it back.

Answer 2

Try not to be too worried yet. Cats are usually very aware of their surroundings. They know how to find their way home. They like to explore, especially if they don't get the opportunity very often. My neighbor's cat is an indoor kitty and he's gotten outside before and then came back hours later.
Just to be on the safe side, if your kitty isn't back in the morning I would put signs up in your neighborhood (make sure they're bold!). He could've chased a mousey off too far and lost his way, then a nice stranger took him in.
You never know.

Chances are he's just exploring though, especially since it's spring!

Answer 3

It all depends on how long you have lived there, has he/she ever been out before...and do you have a can of TUNA by the door. He/she might have scared him/her self and is only waiting for things to "settle". Get a cup of coffee (sodas, water, whatever) and go sit outside where you normally go in and out of the house and DON"T look for him/her for a little while. Look like your doing something else. He/she will not be able to resist if he/she is o.k
My cat was gone for a week and was just hiding in the woods. I cried, I called, I did everything I could think of...and then he came home at 3am and woke the whole house wanting back in.

Answer 4

Is the cat neutered? If not it is likely to have gone wandering, especially if male.

If s/he is not used to being outside, she is likely to have got spooked and be hiding somewhere, start looking around. Phone vets and cat shelters if she's not back within 24 hours, put posters up and everything. Cats who know where their home is usually do come back, but it's not unusual for them to go off enjoying their freedom for a while - if this is the case, s/he'll come back when hungry.

Chalice

Answer 5

My cat got out once and didn't come back for a couple of hours and I was very worried too. He ended up coming back though because cats know their home and territory. Your cat is probably just checking the outdoors out since it's new to him. I'd call his/her name and bring food out in its dish and rattle it so he/she will know it's there. Chances are when your cat is hungry it will be back at the house. Goodluck!

Answer 6

my indoor cat got outside recently...my husband and I went up and down the street several times, calling for him. Finally we found him in the bushes right next to my garage. So check around your house.

Answer 7

If it's never been outside your home be worried.New smells and predators could easily chase it away and make it difficult for it to find it's way back as it has no scent relations to the area.When I get a new pet I go outside with it and let it get familiar with the yard then it knows the smells and can find it's way back if it gets out accidentally

Answer 8

Nope. Cats have a very good sense of direction. It'll be back I'm sure. Just keep your eyes and ears open. It will probably scratch at the door when it comes home.

Answer 9

I think you should go out and try to find your cat. I also had one get out that had never been out before and we haven't seen him in 2 years. We called the shelters and put up flyers with no luck at all. The animal control officer in our area told us the woods behind our house are full of coyote and he was probably a victim of them. The sooner you look for him, the better. Take his food with you and shake the bag or call him like you would if it was feeding time. Good luck!!!

Answer 10

I would be very very worried because it makes no sence but my outdoor cat got outside and dissappeared and I haven't seen him for just about eight months.