More cats have gone missing in New Jersey than in any other state in the US — study points to humans as the surprising culprit

July was recorded as the most dangerous month for pets, with more than 40% of pet losses occurring during the summer

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(L) A missing cat poster, (R) Crowd of people commuting to work. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | (L)Jeffrey Coolidge, (R) Caroline Purser)

The U.S. is home to a massive population of cats spread across states. Pet owners are especially affectionate toward their feline counterparts, yet they are among the most reported missing pets in the country. A study conducted by Pet911.org, a national database for missing pets, found that New Jersey topped the list for missing cats, leaving high-traffic states such as New York and Illinois trailing well behind. However, it’s not just chance but rather a crisis fueled by human lifestyles and infrastructure.

Banner with the announcement of the missing cat hanging on a tree in the park.(Representative Image Source: Getty Images | StockSeller_ukr) — Banner with the announcement of the missing cat hanging on a tree in the park. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | StockSeller_ukr)

The study reported that 18,580 cats had gone missing in 2024 due to an underlying cause related to New Jersey roads. Andrew Chernyshev, CEO of Pet911.org, speculated that the Garden State has created a recipe for disaster for cats living within the state's infrastructure. He hinted at the complex road networks and intense commuting culture in Jersey that had predisposed both stray and pet cats to a disadvantage. “The key insight is that New Jersey has created the perfect storm for cat loss through a unique combination of factors that no other state matches,” Chernyshev explained to the New York Post. “Extreme density creating territorial confusion; deadliest road network and brutal commuting culture, with 400,000-plus out-of-state commuters daily.”

USA, New Jersey, rush hour traffic at Fort Lee in the morning. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

Trailing behind New Jersey was Utah, with 15,165 missing cats. Massachusetts had reported 13,010 felines, while Illinois had 12,905 missing cat reports. Michigan followed with 12,470 missing cats. A lower record was held by New York, which reported 11,385 missing cats in 2024. The study shed light on patterns related to the breeds of cats most frequently reported missing, while also examining how actively pet owners responded by initiating search efforts to bring them back home. Siamese and tuxedo cats were the breeds of cats that went missing the most. Names like Luna, Milo, Leo, Simba, and Oliver were often reported to disappear.

Upset couple hugs in park focus on poster of missing cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | LENblR)

On the brighter side, New Jersey residents were also among the people who were “more proactive” about finding their missing pets than many Southern states like Alabama and Mississippi, said Carmen Brothers, a professional pet tracker based in the Northeast of the U.S. “The further north you go, the better people are about reporting missing pets, and that’s just a sad reality. I also think people are more in tune with animal welfare in the Northeast, and I find that to be true of cats and dogs,” he added. Nationwide, 1.7 million pets went missing last year. Of these, 72% were dogs that had gone missing, 20% were cats, and the remaining 8% included birds, rabbits, turtles, horses, and ferrets.”

Cute tuxedo stray cat resting next to a parked car. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Lightspruch)

July was recorded as the most dangerous month for pets, with more than 40% of pet losses occurring during the summer. Meanwhile, Fridays were the riskiest day of the week. Not just cats, even missing dog cases set a record in the Pet911 study. Texas alone had 82,515 missing dogs, while Tennessee followed with 58,036 reports. Huskies and chihuahuas were the dog breeds most frequently reported missing.