It's natural to wonder how far your cat travels when you let them outdoors. Do they stay in your neighborhood, or go on a full-on adventure around town? Outdoor cats actually stay a lot closer to home than you might think, but several factors can influence just how far they roam, including their age and even the time of day. Find out how far your cat gets from home and things you can do to help keep them safe while they're out.
How Far Do Cats Roam?
On average, outdoor pet cats roam between 164 and 1,154 feet from their home, which translates to about one-half to four city blocks. That's a lot shorter than you expected, huh? Of course, these distances reflect the average, which means some cats might stay even closer to home, whereas others will venture a whole lot further.
Factors that Influence Cat Roaming Distance
Along with the average roaming distance, studies have also identified several factors that impact a cat's desire to roam. This can give you some insight into why your cat roams so much (or so little).
- Age: Younger cats under 8 years old are more active and ultimately wander further than older cats.
- Time of day: Cats are more likely to roam around during twilight hours than during the day, which makes sense because cats are crepuscular.
- Gender: Studies have found that a cat's gender can influence the distance they roam. Male cats (even neutered male cats) can roam two to three times further than females do.
- Reproductive status: Unneutered males and unspayed female cats roam greater distances than those that have been snipped because they're often hormonally driven to find a mate.
- Environment: Understandably, cats with access to nature in rural areas were found to roam further than cats in more urban settings.
- Pet versus feral cats: Cats who live domestically as pets have smaller home ranges than unowned (or feral) cats. Feral cats are also more likely to be active at twilight and emphasize hunting.
Do Outdoor Cats Have Territories?
Yes, outdoor cats absolutely have territories. All cats have a "den" where they eat, sleep, and retreat for safety. They roam the surrounding area, which they claim and defend as their territory when they need to look for food or are ready to mate.
In the case of outdoor pet cats, their den is their house, which means the area around this home base is their territory. Feral cats usually have much larger territories, sometimes comprising up to 1,000 acres!
Cats generally won't leave their territory unless they're forced to. However, cats who are normally confined indoors may display unusual territorial behaviors while outdoors.
How Cats Find Their Way Home
As if cats weren't cool enough, they actually have a special superpower that helps them find their way home. It's called their feline homing instinct. Even though the specifics of how it works are still a bit fuzzy, experts agree that cats may have the ability to use the earth's geomagnetic field to direct them home. Cats also have super acute senses of smell, sight, and hearing, so the combination of these traits may help, as well.
One cat apparently traveled 200 miles back home after getting lost while on a trip with their family!
Tips to Prevent Feline Roaming
Roaming around the neighborhood can put your cat at risk of getting into fights (especially if they wander into another cat's territory), having to flee from predators, or facing other outdoor dangers, so it can be wise to stop your cat from roaming. Use these tips to keep them safe.
- Resist letting them outdoors: We know, it's tough to keep a previously feral or outdoor cat inside, but the best way to prevent roaming is to keep them indoors.
- Implement enrichment: Provide your cat with lots of indoor enrichment so they can express their natural climbing and hunting behaviors inside. With enough activity, they might be too tired to roam.
- Build a catio: Provide your cat with controlled outside playtime with an outdoor catio or enclosed play structure.
- Have them snipped: Spay or neuter your cat to minimize how far they roam and keep the homeless pet population down.
- Get them an ID: Make sure they wear identification with up-to-date contact information. A microchip is important, particularly if your cat is notorious for losing their collar.
- Use a tracking device: Pet tracking devices are becoming more popular, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Place a tracking device on your cat's collar so you know exactly where they are whenever they're out.
If you have feral cats in your area, consider calling your local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. It might not stop your cat from roaming, but it could minimize fights and prevent the spread of disease.
Should You Let Outdoor Cats Roam?
Whether or not you decide to let your cat roam outside is up to you. Cats who are already accustomed to the outdoors may protest being forced to stay inside, but indoor cats generally have much longer lives than those who roam outside. Weigh the pros and cons for your beloved cat, and take as many precautions as you can to keep them safe while they roam.
