IN THIS LESSON

Enticing kitty back home

There’s a very real possibility that your cat is returning home without you knowing, especially if you don’t have cameras in place. Fortunately, we can increase the chances of your cat returning—and staying—by creating an environment that feels safe, familiar, and resource-rich.

Cats are creatures of habit. If they know where to find food, water, and the scent of their person, they’re much more likely to return consistently.

🏡 Set Up a “Home Station”

Your home station should include:

  • Dry food (available 24/7)

  • Wet food (refreshed frequently—more on this below)

  • Clean water

  • Worn clothing or items with your scent (but not your cat’s)

🎥 If you have an outdoor camera, place everything within view. This will give you a 24/7 view of any activity—especially your cat returning home.
Don't worry if you don’t have a camera yet. We’ll cover camera recommendations in the next section. But for now, know that not having one limits your ability to know when your cat returns.

🍃 What to Put Outside (and What to Avoid)

✅ DO Place:

  • Camera

  • Fresh water and food

  • Worn socks, used clothing, shoes, or a blanket you sleep with

❌ DO NOT Place:

  • Litter boxes

  • Cat beds or blankets your cat regularly used

Why? Your scent is unique and calming to your cat, while their own scent can attract other cats or predators, pushing them further away.

🔁 Refresh scent items daily, rotating in clean ones as needed to maintain a strong familiar scent presence.

⛲ Food & Water Guidelines

Dry Food:
Leave dry food out at all times, especially in the early days. Yes, raccoons may eat it—but that’s okay. In nearly every colony I’ve seen, raccoons and cats coexist peacefully.

Wet Food:
Wet food is ideal if your budget and schedule allow. It spoils in the heat and freezes in the cold, so it should be replaced every 2–4 hours, depending on your climate.

  • In rainy weather, sardines or other tinned fish in oil work well—the oil helps carry the scent further and lingers longer.

  • Many trappers use sardine oil to create scent trails leading back to the home station.

Water:
Never underestimate the importance of water. A lost cat may go days or even weeks without a clean source, returning dehydrated and exhausted.

💧 Hydration is key to recovery. Cats who come home after several days typically do three things first: drink, eat, and sleep.

🔊 Use the Power of Your Voice

Cats recognize their owner’s voice—even in stressful situations. Studies have shown that cats respond more positively to their name when spoken by a familiar person.

🌅 Each day at dusk and/or dawn (when cats are naturally more active), go outside near the escape point and:

  • Speak in a calm, normal tone

  • Use your cat’s name frequently

  • Read a book or talk as if you’re having a conversation with your cat

🐾 One owner read to her missing cat, Yara, every morning and evening. On the 16th day, Yara finally responded—and was rescued after being found trapped under a deck.

✨ Bonus Tips

  • Open windows or doors to let the scent of your home travel—only if it's safe to do so and other pets are secured.

  • Never leave cats unattended with open screen windows. Screens are easy to break through, and cats have fallen from second stories this way.

🔁 Stay Consistent

This process can be physically and emotionally draining, especially in the first month. But consistency is key—many cats return home within 30 days thanks to these simple routines.

Keep going. Your efforts could make all the difference.