Abstract
Domestic cats are among the most popular companion animals. Due to their free-roaming nature, they can become lost and separated from their owners. That this is a real problem is supported by the observation that around 15% of cat owners reported losing their pet in the last five years. Being separated from their pet can have a strong emotional impact on owners, but can also burden animal shelters where these animals can end up. Apart from their free-roaming nature, several factors can contribute to cats becoming lost or not coming home. A common cause are traffic accidents. Other kinds of trauma can originate from falls and dog attacks. Profound changes in their living environment (such as introduction of a dog) are also sometimes mentioned as risk factors for cats not coming home.

Key words: Research, Domestic cats, Mitigating strategies