If you’ve ever wondered “why does my cat run away from me”? we have the answers. See if any of these explanations apply to your cat’s sporadic behavior. We can only fathom what our cats think when our towering, awkward bodies approach them. Some may be accustomed to it by now, while others may be unfamiliar with it entirely, yet others may want to run. We wouldn’t take it personally if it were a stray cat, but if it’s our pet feline, we may interpret it as a rejection.
Before we allow our pride to take over, we should think:
Why does my cat run away from me? If your cat runs away as you approach to pick up or pet them, they may be feeling frightened or uneasy.
Even though your cat adores you, they may not yet trust you. Mutual trust and acceptance of your cat’s boundaries might bring you closer together—but it may take time. Read ahead to understand more about this.
Table of Contents
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me?
Most of us are undoubtedly aware that our cats can be wicked little animals with their minds. They may love extended periods of stroking one minute and then be found hiding in some dark corner, which they most likely refer to as “alone time” the next.
While most of us love our cats, especially their eccentricities, it’s impossible not to feel a little wounded when they shun us.
Remember that just because your cat runs away from you doesn’t imply they don’t love you. Understand that plenty can be done to influence this transient emotion, but first, we need to investigate the various causes.
Poor Socialization
They say that everything starts in infancy, and for cats, it is kittenhood. Cats go through a socialization stage, with the first nine weeks of their lives being the most crucial in their social development.
During this time, kittens explore their surroundings and acquire a variety of cues such as odors, sights, and noises that, if not handled properly, can cause fear and anxiety.
This implies that if your kitten or cat was not appropriately addressed by humans or had little to no interaction with them, they may have acquired fear of them.
Feral cats, for example, are likely to have had negative or no exposure to humans throughout that period, making them wary of humans.
The Fear Instinct
Cats may be considered pets nowadays, but according to a study published in the research journal Science, domestication of felines began up to 12,000 years ago. So, while modern cats have gone a long way, they still maintain their feline ancestors’ instincts.
While domestication forced cats to create a language to communicate with us, such as meowing, they still act in many ways like their predecessors. One of them is to remain concealed during the day and hunt at night.
Traumatic Past
Trauma is frequently associated with the human experience, yet this couldn’t be further from reality. If you find your kitten fleeing from you and displaying hostility or continual fear symptoms, they may have had a traumatic background.
According to studies, the psychological and emotional repercussions of abuse and neglect can have immediate and long-term consequences. As a result, a traumatized cat might be of any age.
Some cat parents use punishment to prevent their cats from engaging in particular habits, such as clawing furniture or leaping up on kitchen counters.
While some may employ cat-friendly treatments such as aromatic scents to keep cats away from specific locations, others may shower them with water bottles as punishment. Punishment can only cause tension, and stress causes trauma.
They Found A New Home
New and experienced cat owners should remember that each cat is unique, and no two personalities are identical. Cats are no different in this regard than people who can be classified as introverts, extroverts, or ambiverts.
Perhaps you’re not paying enough attention to your cat and approach them at inopportune times. If they’re busy or enjoying some alone time, rather than closing them and frightening them away, give your furry friend some space and allow them to come to you.
They’re In Heat
When cats age and become sexually active, they might react in a variety of ways. Whether your cat is permitted outdoors or not, they may be fleeing you because they have detected another cat outside and want to find it.
A cat in heat may be less pleasant since their thoughts are focused on their instinctual drive to reproduce rather than on you. Even if your male cat has been neutered, he may still exhibit sexually aggressive feline characteristics, but this is uncommon.
How Do You Get A Cat To Stop Running Away From You?
You may gradually change your cat’s behavior by altering your interactions with it and providing prizes to emphasize calm conduct. Take the following steps:
- Begin by lightly caressing your cat and then softly talking to it while petting it. This should ideally be the first course of action in the morning before any other activities take place.
- Encourage your cat to follow you about the home as you stroll, and reward it with treats.
- Begin strolling, approach your cat, then turn around when it’s close enough for you to reach out and softly stroke its side or back.
- Once your cat is used to being softly caressed, add more excellent physical contact—pet its head, ears, and back before providing a tummy rub followed by a treat for a reward.
What to do if your cat keeps on running away from you?
Don’t anticipate a simple solution to your problem since it will take some time and attention before your flighty cat becomes accustomed to your presence and can acclimate herself to her new home.
Increase her self-esteem and bring out her inner predator.
Try to boost her self-esteem by giving her engaging toys, inspiring her to play and socialize with you. Install a cat perch where she may easily climb and leap, as well as scratching posts in strategic locations.
Provide toys that challenge her, such as the fishing rod and wand toys, to bring forth her inner predator. Activity feeders may provide a challenge to a cat and help her gain confidence.
Allow her to be, and don’t press the matter.
If she runs away every time you try to hold and pet her, let her be alone and not force things since it may result in aggressiveness. Cats will usually become adjusted to their surroundings, so be patient and let her be.
Make a safe location or environment for your pet cat.
If she tries to flee or outsiders in your home, provide her with a secure spot or room where she may be alone.
This may be a beloved bed, a quiet nook, an old cardboard box, or even a different room. Put her favorite toys, food and water bowls, and a Feliway diffuser in that area to calm her down.
Why Is My Cat Suddenly Running Away from Me?
Cats are notorious for being very protective. They join together to build a structure. This trait, associated with territoriality, may add another reason for the cat to flee from you as the owner.
Your cat might be running because it is looking for a home that you took away from it when you moved.
Why Do Cats Run Away When You Try to Pet Them?
Many pet parents like caressing and affectionately petting their cats. Not all animals appreciate the process. Some cats despise being touched at all. The following are the most prevalent reasons:
Discomfort or Pain
Your cat may be in pain or discomfort and does not want you to touch the sensitive area. That’s why it’ll flee when you approach your cat to pat it. Your furry friend will express its unhappiness through a variety of behavioral indicators, including:
- Ears turned back
- Tail or skin twitch
- Pupils dilated
- Growling
- Claws that aren’t sheathed
- Body stiffening
This is a caution to either not touch your cat or to quit. Similarly, if you feel your cat too forcefully, your cat will remember and flee to avoid the circumstance.
The electricity that remains static
When particular cats are stroked, they develop static electricity. This is because lengthy durations of repeated stroking cause tiny shocks to travel down the skin, aggravating it. As a result, cats develop an aversion to being touched and flee to escape it.
Similarly, if you live in a humid climate, your cat’s fur will accumulate an electric charge. Petting it causes friction, resulting in a jolt for both you and your cat.
This could result in pain or, at the very least, unpleasant. Long-haired felines, such as ragdolls and Persians, are particularly vulnerable.
Abuse or Trauma in the Past
It is not always feasible to learn the history of a cat if you adopted it from a shelter or inherited it from another family.
The cat may have been physically abused by the previous owner, making it fearful of being handled. Less seriously, it may not have been raised to be touched and patted, so it is unaware of what it means.
How To Stop My Cat Running Away from Me?
Every cat is unique; what some like, others despise. You’ll need to find tactics that suit your cat’s nature in order to train it to stop running away. With time, patience, and persistence, you can persuade your cat to stop fleeing.
Patience is the key.
Every cat is unique, and some are always a little apprehensive. Not everyone becomes friendly and cuddly, and not everyone runs away from time to time. Don’t impose anything on your cat, or you’ll drive it away.
Allow your cat to go outside whenever it needs to, and allow it to return when it is ready. You might try using goodies to get your cat to come out; however, keep in mind that patience is vital.
Boost Your Cat’s Self-Esteem
If your cat is shy or frightened, attempt to increase its confidence. Play interactive games with your pet, but be careful not to overburden it.
You don’t even have to play; simply sit next to your cat as it sleeps and speak to it in soft, high-pitched tones, so it becomes accustomed to your voice and presence.
Make a Safe Zone
Cats want a secure, pleasant environment in which to feel at ease. Provide a comfy bed, scratching posts, toys, games, and delectable treats to make your cat feel at home and deter it from fleeing.
Providing a variety of hiding places can also provide your cat with a haven if it becomes overwhelmed or afraid. You can’t stop your cat from fleeing, but providing safe havens for it to escape can enhance your relationship in the long term.
Reinforcement Learning
Cats don’t like being yelled at or punished, especially if they’ve had a horrible or abusive history. Use your cat’s favorite goodies whenever you approach, play, or pet it.
Your pet will eventually form a favorable relationship with you and cease fleeing. Crouch down to your cat’s level when feeding it, so you don’t wind up hovering over it.
When attempting to pet your cat, use the same procedure. Allow your cat to sniff your hand before contacting it so that it develops accustomed to your scent.
Build Trust
Focus on developing your trust to enable you and your cat to form a solid friendship. Consider your actions in the last several days, weeks, and months.
If you force your cat to give you cuddles or make too much noise in its presence, it will lose confidence in you and become jumpy and terrified. Similarly, refrain from approaching your cat while drinking or eating or if it does not appear to be in the mood for social engagement.
Take note of your cat’s demeanor and leave it alone if it appears distressed. You’ll be able to tell when your cat wants to be left alone once you comprehend what it’s trying to convey.
Why Do Male Cats Run Away?
Male cats have a strong territorial instinct. Unneutered male cats flee during mating season in search of females to procreate with.
They often travel long miles to find a female cat in the heat. Male cats are capable of staying away from home for up to 4-5 days. Spaying your cat as soon as possible is the only way to avoid this.
Neutered tomcats may still rove around. However, they are less prone to flee than unspayed cats. Furthermore, to prevent your tomcat from being lost, stolen, or harmed when exploring the outdoors, have it microchipped or wear a collar so that a good samaritan may find it.
Why Do Female Cats Run Away?
Unneutered female cats in heat are more prone to flee in pursuit of a mate. Female cats’ hormones spike during the reproductive period, and locating a male cat to mate with becomes their main priority.
Mating is the most likely cause if you detect any of the heat signals before your cat flees. Paying close attention to your cat’s mood and demeanor can help you determine if it’s escaping you because something’s wrong.
If your cat appears healthy and content, let it alone until it is ready to interact with you again.
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me When I Try To Pick Her Up?
We’ve all seen a wriggling cat at some point in our lives. When you lift it, you have an armful of furry swirling anger as it tries to get four on the floor.
What exactly is the issue? Picking up a cat is not a natural habit for them. Cats do not pick up other cats to demonstrate affection and will flee if you attempt to pick them up.
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me All Of A Sudden?
If your cat is sick or injured, it will flee. It is so because cats prefer to conceal themselves away from potential danger.
Stressed or fearful cats and cats who haven’t been taught to be near humans flee. Cats require their own space from time to time.
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me At Night?
For a variety of reasons, evening zoomies or mad capering are widespread norms in cats. One reason is that cats are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk when their natural prey [rodents] are active.
Cats are not genuinely nocturnal [this is a popular misconception]. So their internal rhythm informs them that it is time to be active and flee away at night.
Why Does My Cat Randomly Run Away From Me
Your cat is most likely randomly fleeing because it dislikes being touched, picked up, or anything else it believes you might do to it once you get close.
If you make a move toward a cat, it will almost certainly flee if it considers what is about to come out of you is not something it will love.
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me When Playing?
Zoomies are natural cat activity and a terrific method for them to burn off surplus energy, especially while they’re playing.
However, if you notice your cat speeding about the house excitedly, it may suggest that she needs more exercise. Spend more time with your cat playing. Enrichment items, in particular, may be beneficial.
Why Does My Cat Run Away From Me When Outside
Your cat might be too eager to run away when outside because it is looking to explore; however, that can be dangerous if they do not come back home. The notion of your cat not returning home is terrifying, and it may make let your cat outside a scary experience.
Because of this, some owners choose to keep house cats, yet even indoor cats frequently want to go outside. Fortunately, if you follow the proper procedures, your cat will return home.
Conclusion
If you’re a novice pet parent and your cat runs away every time you attempt to hold and pet her, don’t be discouraged. It might take some time and care to win your cat over. She may simply want some space and alone time, which might be related to her instincts as both a victim and a predator. Whatever the cause, make sure your pet cat is well-cared for, and she will eventually respond to your love actions as well.
FAQs
Why is my cat hiding and staring at me?
If your cat is looking at you while in hiding, it is usually an indication that they are scared. You could also discover them hidden elsewhere, like as behind a coffee table or bed, and when they gaze at you like this, it’s because they’re keeping an eye out for any potential ‘threat.’
Do cats usually come back when they run away?
Cats usually return often. Some depart for a few hours throughout the day and return in the evening, while others come and go as they choose. Others would rather stay home during the day and go hunting at night. They like to stick to a schedule, yet they always return.
Why do cats run away for no reason?
Cats typically flee during the reproductive season or to hunt in a different region. A stressful atmosphere, territorial impulses, or another person’s attention may also cause them to flee for a few days or go missing totally.
If a cat runs away, can it find its way back home?
Cats appear to have a type of homing sense, which has guided cats hundreds of kilometers back to their home in certain situations. Most indoor-only cats do not venture far. While an adventurous, indoor/outdoor cat is more inclined to roam, a terrified cat is more prone to become confused and lost.
