Cat runs away every July, comes home in a week

I've been told that female cats feel they need more space than males, due to the biological imperative to need a big hunting range in order to feed kittens.  (Even if they have been spayed.)  My favorite cat is the daughter and granddaughter of two other cats we have, and every July, she disappears for between seven and ten days.  It has happened for three years out of the last four, and just happened again.  She comes home again looking fine, not like she has been shut in the neighbor's barn by accident or out there in the wilderness.  She does seem to have slightly sharper mousing skills when she comes back.  Do you think it's that kitten-imperative thing (she feels in her brain that it's time to support the mythical litter), or her mom and grandma have kicked her out due to their own kitten-imperative things, or maybe it's just a good mousing time and she knows some special barn she hangs out at until she gets all of them?  I've never seen a cat be so consistent about disappearance.

[Savas]

Cats tend to lead fairly structured lives. It is possible that she's tied into some sort of hunting bonanza that takes place for a short period everytime the same time of year.

although i wouldn't be surprised if she's checking on the spot regularly, to see if she'll get lucky out of season. :-)

I don't think it has anything to do with a kitten-mother hunting imperative. It's more likely your cat just has something of a wandering spirit.

[Jade59]

Maybe this is a weird thought, but are fireworks allowed in your state during July?  If so, maybe kitty gets frightened and takes off?  

[AnnieBrooke]

Hey, all, thanks for taking me seriously.  Not fireworks, our state is pretty conservative about what it allows, and nobody has been shooting them off lately in the neighborhood either.  She left this time on July 17th and came back on the 24th.  It would be funny, except coyotes sing at our fence line every night, so I get pretty worried.   Savas, I think you're right that she is probably checking wherever-it-is on a regular basis and then goes to it when conditions are right.  Just don't know if it's hunting, or sitting on the neighbor's sofa watching TV for a week. (Why that would be a July thing I do not know.)  Whether she has a kitten-imperative thing going on or not, I think she feels crowded by her mom and grandma, who are not friendly to her.  (To make up for that, I let her sleep in my bed.)

[AnnieBrooke]

Kitty came home on the 24th, left again on the 28th and hasn't come back as of now.  I think there MUST be some hunting spot that has good pickings.