Know What to Do If You See Your Cat

• You will have a MUCH better chance of catching your cat if you lure them to you rather than attempt to approach them.
• If your cat runs off or disappears, don't panic and don't chase them!  You still have a very good chance of finding and catching them.

If you see your cat, do not immediately attempt to approach them and do NOT chase them if they run.  An escaped indoor cat is often in “survival mode” and may not recognize you even if they see you and you call to them.  If you approach, they will most likely run or walk away.  Even a slow, quiet approach may be seen as a threat.  If your cat is meowing at you, then they probably recognize you, but you may still scare them away if you are not careful.

If You See Your Cat on Camera

If you see your cat on a security camera outside your home, try to resist the urge to go outside and search for them.  Most people do this at least once and usually their cat runs away into the dark.  

There are a few good options if you see your cat outside the house:

• If you have a trap set outside, you could just stay in the house and give your cat the chance to enter the trap.
• Slowly open the door where you saw your cat and leave the door open.  Don't go outside.  Move further into the house and wait for at least 15-30 minutes.  See the "House Trap" for more instructions.  
• Slowly open the door and go outside.  Sit down immediately.  Talk quietly to your cat whether you see them or not.  See "Simply Sitting" for more instructions.  If your cat does not appear or approach you, then you may want to go back inside and leave the door open for at least 30-60 minutes.

Use Calming Signals to Attract Your Cat to You

You are much more likely to catch your cat if you allow them to approach you.  If possible, sit down on the ground and don’t directly face your cat.  If you can’t sit, then stand calmly and turn to the side.  Talk to them in your “indoor voice” using any pet names and familiar phrases that might help your cat recognize you.  Try to remain calm and remember to breathe. 

Staring directly at your cat may be perceived as a threat, so only glance occasionally and otherwise look off to the side but keep them within sight.  Slow eye blinks and yawning are calming signals for cats.  You can try these too.  Continue to talk quietly or even sing.  It may take a while for your cat to approach you, so try to be patient.  Sometimes sitting or even lying down on the ground can make you appear less threatening and your cat may approach you sooner.

If you cat is meowing at you, this means that they recognize you, but they may still run if scared.  In this case, you could try slowly moving closer, but either scooch along the ground or sit down again after a few steps.

If you have food or cat treats on you, then you may be able to lure your cat closer by crinkling the treat bag or tossing a few treats farther away.  Feeding your cat by hand can also help calm them down. 

How to Catch Your Cat by Hand

If your cat does approach you, don’t try to grab them.  Cats have incredibly fast reflexes and you will most likely just scare them away.  If you do manage to grab your cat, they will probably panic, and a panicked cat can do a lot of damage to you.  If you decide to commit to this course (not recommended), then realize that your cat will probably bite and scratch.  Do not let go! 

If you want to try and pick up your cat, wait for them to come close to you and be relatively calm.  Let them smell you first because this will help them recognize who you are.  If they start meowing and rubbing on you, then they recognize you.  Try touching and petting them before slowly going to pick them up.  If your cat starts to panic, either put them back down or commit to holding them in which case they may bite or scratch. 

If you have one on hand, you could wrap your cat in a towel or small blanket.  This will help you secure them and lower your chances of getting scratched or bitten.  If your cat starts to panic, then hold them securely.  Covering their eyes or head with the blanket may calm them down.  Some people try to place their cat into a carrier or trap, but if you aren’t skilled at doing this and/or your cat doesn’t like the carrier, this can carry a high risk of escape.

Rather than picking their cat up, some people are able to successfully lure their cat back into the house.  This might be done with treats or just talking to them and moving toward your house.  If your cat is being very skittish, you might combine this method with the “House Trap” method.  In one case, I placed food about 10 feet inside the house and hid behind the door.  The cat probably knew that I was there, but was hungry enough to go after the food, and I quickly shut the door behind them.

If Your Cat Won't Approach You or Runs Away

If your cat won’t approach you within 30-60 minutes, then trying a humane trap is probably your best option.  You can even set up the trap nearby and watch it from your house or car (depending on where your cat is located).  Some cats have been caught rather quickly using this method.  

If your cat walks or runs off, don’t follow them.  You will just risk scaring them farther away.  If you can’t resist, then stay far back and don’t walk directly toward them.  Keep your distance and you may see where they are hiding out.  This is not recommended if your cat runs into dense woods as you may accidentally scare them farther away without seeing them. 

If your cat disappears on you, you still have a very good chance of catching them.  You just need to be patient and use the right techniques.

If You Find Your Cat Hiding Somewhere Outside

• If you find your cat hiding somewhere such as under a shed or deck, do NOT attempt to scare them out.

If you find your cat hiding somewhere such as under a shed or deck, do NOT attempt to scare them out.  First try sitting nearby and using calming signals as described above.  

If your cat won’t come out, you could try and get them out, but this carries a higher risk that they might escape and run off in the process.  If you want to try this method, first make sure that all ways out are blocked except one.  Then attempt to remove your cat through the remaining opening.  If available, I would recommend using a net and heavy gloves to catch and secure your cat.   Scooping your cat into a pillowcase can also work as a makeshift net. 

If you are unable to go in after your cat or don’t want to take the risk, try these alternative methods:

• Spend more time sitting and using calming signals.  Some cats may take up to an hour to come out.
• Block all the exits from their hiding spot except one.  Place a humane cat trap at that entrance.  You could try to scare your cat into the trap, but this carries more risks.  They may just hunker down and refuse to move for even longer.  Or they may enter the trap so quickly that they knock it over and escape.
•  If you can’t block the exits, you could still place a humane trap nearby.  Try monitoring the trap from a distance or in a car.