Expert: Jessica - 10/7/2010

Question
My cat only comes home once a week and hes becoming feral
and withdrawn he knows who we are but he hardly ever comes
home. How can i bring him back?

Answer
Hi Rebecca,

Is your cat neutered?  Cats are most likely to roam away from home for long periods when they aren't neutered, so if he has not yet been neutered, have this done right away.  Cats who don't get neutered often disappear forever, as they can travel for miles in search of females.

If he is neutered, I recommend having him seen by a vet.  Social withdrawal often indicates a physical illness.  A physical exam should be performed to ensure he doesn't have any signs of disease.

And if he is deemed healthy, I would strongly encourage you to try to keep him interested in the home with food treats and play time.  Play was the most compelling reasons for cats to return home in a recent study.  Use interactive toys like feather wands and fishing pole type toys to encourage him to play.  Adding some catnip to the mix a few times a week can give play time a boost.  Also, feed extra special meals at a set time at least once a day to give him something to look forward to.  Fancy Feast isn't the most premium food, but cats sure seem to think it's delicious.

If you can think of anything in the home that he is avoiding, try to eliminate his contact with it.  This may be a rowdy dog, a loud person or power tools, for instance.  Try to resolve things like this by keeping boisterous dogs behind a baby gate and asking people to keep their voices down while inside the house, or allowing the cat to go inside a room with the door closed when people or noises get too loud.

Good luck!

Jessica