How to Get Cat Back OSRS

Losing your pet cat in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) can feel like a punch to the gut, especially if you’ve spent hours raising that kitten into a loyal companion. Whether it wandered off during a quest or vanished due to neglect, don’t worry—this guide will walk you through every step to get your cat back or replace it. Cats in OSRS are more than just cute followers; they’re key for quests and can even net you some death runes for profit. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of retrieving your feline friend!

Before you can get your cat back, it’s crucial to figure out why it went missing. Cats in OSRS, particularly kittens, are high-maintenance and can vanish for several reasons. Knowing the cause helps you act fast and prevent future losses.

Kitten Neglect: Hunger and Attention

Kittens need regular feeding and interaction. If you ignore their hunger or fail to pet them, they’ll run away after about 30 minutes of neglect. You’ll get two chatbox warnings—one when they’re hungry or lonely, and another when they’re very hungry or lonely. Miss these, and your kitten bolts.

Quest Mishaps and Teleportation Glitches

Quests like “Wanted!” or “Shadow of the Storm” involve a lot of teleporting, which can sometimes cause your cat to lag behind or disappear. Players have reported kittens vanishing after instant teleports, even if they were well-fed. This is likely a game mechanic issue where the follower system struggles to keep up.

Bank or Inventory Oversights

Sometimes, your cat hasn’t actually run away—it’s just tucked away in your bank or inventory. This is a common mistake for players juggling multiple items during chaotic gameplay moments.

Steps to Retrieve Your Lost Cat

If your cat is gone, don’t panic. There are several ways to try and get it back, depending on the situation. Follow these steps in order to maximize your chances.

Check Your Bank and Inventory

First things first: head to a bank and open your interface. Look in the pet tab or your main inventory for your kitten or cat. Sometimes, you might’ve accidentally stored it during a quest or while managing items.

Use the Follower Whistle

If your cat isn’t in the bank, try calling it back. Go to your worn equipment tab and click the “Call Follower” button (it looks like a whistle). This can summon your cat if it’s lost due to a teleport or quest glitch. Players on Reddit have reported success with this method after losing kittens during quests like “Recipe for Disaster.”

Log Out and Log Back In

A simple relog can fix many follower issues. Log out of the game, wait a few seconds, and log back in. Your cat might reappear at your location. This trick has worked for players who lost kittens during “A Soul’s Bane” or similar quests.

Revisit the Last Location

If the whistle doesn’t work, backtrack to where you last saw your cat. Cats sometimes linger in areas you’ve recently visited, like quest locations or training spots. Check places like Varrock Square, Lumbridge, or specific dungeons you were exploring.

What to Do If Your Cat Is Gone for Good

Sadly, if your kitten ran away due to neglect, it’s likely gone forever. The good news? You can get a new one from Gertrude in Varrock. Here’s how to start over and what to expect.

Visit Gertrude for a New Kitten

Gertrude, located southwest of Varrock’s west bank, sells kittens for 100 coins each (your first one is free after completing “Gertrude’s Cat”). If she says you still have a kitten, but you can’t find it, try the whistle or relog again. Once cleared, you can buy a new kitten.

Pro Tip: If you have an activated Ring of Charos from “Creature of Fenkenstrain” and “Garden of Tranquillity,” you can charm Gertrude to pick your kitten’s color. Otherwise, it’s random.

Raising a New Kitten: Key Tips

Raising a kitten takes about three hours of active following to grow into an adult cat. Here’s a quick checklist to avoid losing another one:

• Feed Regularly: Use raw or cooked fish (sardines, tuna) or a bucket of milk. Stackable raw karambwanji are ideal for convenience.
• Interact Often: Stroke your kitten or use a ball of wool to play. Right-click and select “Interact” to access these options.
• Monitor Chatbox: Watch for red-text warnings about hunger or loneliness.
• Avoid F2P Worlds: Logging into a free-to-play world with a kitten out can cause it to disappear permanently.

Turning Your Cat Into a Profit Machine

Once you’ve got your cat back or raised a new one, you can use it to earn some decent rewards, especially for Ironmen or low-level players. Adult cats (not kittens) can be traded for death runes, making them a valuable asset.

Trading Cats for Death Runes

In West Ardougne, civilians will trade 100 death runes (worth about 20,300 gp) for a regular, overgrown, wily, or lazy cat. If you’ve completed the easy Ardougne Achievement Diary, this jumps to 200 death runes (40,600 gp). Hellcats work too, no need to revert them to normal. Use the West Ardougne teleport or Ardougne cloak for quick access.

Cat Growth Stages and Trading Value

Your cat’s growth stage doesn’t affect its trade value, but it’s good to know the timeline for planning. Here’s a breakdown:

Stage	Time to Reach	Can Trade?	Notes
Kitten	0 hours	No	Needs food and attention.
Adult Cat	3 hours	Yes	No more maintenance.
Overgrown Cat	5-6 hours	Yes	Can’t catch rats.
Wily/Lazy Cat	After Ratcatchers	Yes	Trained via Felkrash.

Preventing Future Cat Losses

Losing a cat once is a lesson, but losing it again is just bad luck. Here are some strategies to keep your feline friend by your side for good.

Use the Menagerie in Your Player-Owned House

If you have a player-owned house (POH), store your cat in the menagerie when you’re not using it. This prevents it from running away during quests or long AFK sessions. You can retrieve it anytime, and it won’t reset growth progress.

Equip a Catspeak Amulet

After “Icthlarin’s Little Helper,” you can get a Catspeak Amulet, which lets you talk to your cat. This is handy for checking its mood or growth status (ask “How old are you?”). It also adds fun dialogue, especially for hellcats!

Plan Quest Routes Carefully

For quests requiring a cat (like “Ratcatchers” or “A Tail of Two Cats”), avoid rapid teleporting. Walk or use slower travel methods like spirit trees to keep your cat tethered. Also, ensure it’s an adult cat for quests like “Ratcatchers,” as overgrown cats can’t catch rats.

By following these steps, you’ll not only get your cat back in OSRS but also become a pro at keeping it safe. Whether you’re chasing death runes or just want a furry buddy for your adventures, your cat is worth the effort. Got a new kitten? Feed it, pet it, and maybe take it rat-hunting—it’ll be a full-grown feline in no time!