Cat Trouble

17 years ago

A male, intact, 1 year old stray cat adopted us last year. He was in pretty bad shape, but we had him neutered, treated for ear mites, and fattened him up. Our cats have to be indoors because we are 2 houses down from a very busy 65 MPH road, and we also have a cat-hating neighbor with a BB Gun right behind us.

This little guy managed to open the backdoor for himself a week ago, and let himself out in the yard. When we noticed, we went searching for him and found him. He willingly let himself be picked up and put back in the house, but he has since decided he wants to go back outside, and that's all he wants to do. He whines and complains at the door, he is aggressive toward the other cats, probably because he is frustrated, and he is being an all-around pain.

I am starting to feel like a prison warden, but we just cannot let him out, he could end up as roadkill, or shot by the neighbor. We can't build a large cat enclosure as we have lots of mature trees on the property which would allow him to climb on the roof and run off. A big, enclosed kennel would not work either, he wants to run and climb, not be confined. We do have a large screened porch the cats have access to, but that's not what he wants. He wants OUTSIDE! I was almost tempted to give in today because he has whined all day, but it's just too dangerous.

What do you kitty people in the same situation do to help your cats adjust to being indoors?

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Comments (7)

oregpsnow
17 years ago
I adopted a cat that I think was an indoor cat but wanted to go outside very much - and very loudly. (She is a Burmese and they can talk). I got a harness and leash and took her out every day for a while. Sometimes she would just sniff around and look at things, but other times she took off and walked down the sidewalk for blocks. After about 2 months she started to lose interest in going out - she seemed happy to be inside. I make sure I play vigorously with her during the day to be sure she gets exercise. I will try again in the spring to see if she has changed her mind but for now she is happy.

I don't know if this would work for your cat but it is a way to get them outside. NEVER leave them unattended or staked out on a leash. A screened area is fine, of course, if other animals can't get in.
sylviatexas1
17 years ago
My friend Chris built a "cat habitat" for her formerly feral pets.

It's a sort of small screened-in porch with wire mesh across the top, like an aviary.

They love it, & they're safe.
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
Oreg, that's a great idea, he is sort of dog-like anyway, so he might love walking on a leash. :o)
Sylvia, we have a large screened in porch, but that's not what he wants, he wants to be outside. He loves climbing trees and exploring everything. He just whines and complains when he is on the screened in porch. He was perfectly content to stay inside when we first rescued him, but now he's gotten another taste of "outside" and wants that again, I think.
Elly_NJ
17 years ago
Get a cat condo and put it by the window.
User
Original Author
17 years ago
We have several cat condos, one of them on the screened porch. He doesn't only want to look outside, he wants to GO outside.
sue36
17 years ago
My male cat gets like that sometimes. Do you have a basement? DH set up some ladders in the basement and he (the cat, not DH) loves climbing up them and walking along the floor joists. I've found if you stay firm, don't give in, they get over it. There are lots of coyotes here (and "missing" cats), so I would never let mine out.
Meghane
17 years ago
Cats who walk on leashes are the COOLEST cats ever, period. A harness is definitely a must because cats are so agile they can wiggle out of any leash. I know several cats who go on walks with their owners and it 1) keeps both cat and owner active 2) satisfies cat's desire to go outside SAFELY and 3) reinforces human-animal bond (quite literally LOL). Cats that can experience the outdoors seem more able to adjust to change, since the outdoors is changing all the time.