My cat snuck out...

[FushandChups]

when I opened the door to go get my dinner this evening and followed me. It was a walk through residential streets but I couldn't shake her off.

She didn't reappear when I headed back and still hasn't come back. It was probably further than she's strayed before and am now worried that she's got lost.

Can cats find their way back easily? You hear all these stories about pets walking hundreds of miles to get home but it's dark and I'm worried

I am going to re-walk the route I took earlier in a mo but happy stories are most welcome...

Does she go outside normally? Cats can range much further than many people think so she might actually know the territory.

Ok - she's back and you are completely right Cozie, walked right to where I last saw her and walked back, calling her name. And of course, she came to me about 50 yards from the house

She loves being outside so I guess she has properly explored the area. There was a busy road close to where I 'lost' her but she's clearly more streetwise than me and just headed home (then stayed hidden the 20 times I called for her in the 2 hours I was home too!)

Thanks as always - I must become less neurotic about her as she knows what she's doing. Perhaps once she's been mine for longer than 3 months, I'll relax?!

It's always worrying when they don't return, I'm afraid - even when you've had them for years and years, a break in their routine gets you quite edgy. Sorry - I should really be more reassuring and say that you become blase about it. (It's just that in my experience, you don't.)