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Peter wants to be an outdoor/indoor cat...what to do?

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innerkitten

innerkitten

Ideal_Rock
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My cat Peter is an indoor only cat and has been begging to go outside. We have three and they are all indoor cats. The blind one shows the least desire to go out. Lately there has been a new cat prowling around the back yards and Peter has been hanging out by the back door yowling. Peter has asthma and takes medication. I would hate for him to get lost , have an attack and not be able to give him his meds. Plus indoors he''s so clean and flea free. What would you do?
 
His pic. Look how clean and healthy he is.

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I wouldn''t let him out. I know it sucks to listen to him cry but eventually he will get over it.
 
I would tell Peter "Mommy says No". Our cats like to venture outside at times-but our yard is fenced in and they can''t get out. All they do is slink around real low to the ground and eat grass and throw up. I wouldn''t take the chance with Peter. If that other cat has distemper or something, he could catch it and bring it in the house. Tho..I have seen these tunnel things that allow the kitty to be outside w/out being *outside*. Maybe that would be an option for Peter?
 
I wouldn''t let him out either. My compromise with MY kitties is a few minutes of leash time outside.

I don''t know how people with outdoor cats do it. I would be waiting by the door and so scared the entire time they were gone. I just couldn''t do it.
 
Can you take him out on a leash or in a cat stroller? Or maybe set up a pen (puppy exercise pens are good for this) that he can''t get out of? A lot of people take bunnies outside and they''re similar to cats in that they can escape many fences and won''t come back when called - there are solutions that will allow him to get some out of doors time safely.

Or you could just tell him no and let him get over it. I''m sure he''ll drop it eventually.
 
Our cats are indoor only.

There is just too much that can happen to a cat (even a healthy cat) outside.
 
Date: 4/26/2010 3:50:56 PM
Author: TooPatient
Our cats are indoor only.

There is just too much that can happen to a cat (even a healthy cat) outside.
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He''s gorgeous!

I would keep him inside - my cat is strictly indoor - but he is allowed in the patio, which is completely enclosed.
 
Our cat cries to go out too, but he''s declawed and always been an indoor cat. He also has self-esteem issues, so I know he would not be able to handle himself outside.

We take ours out on the enclosed balcony or out on a leash when he gets antsy.
 
When I went away to graduate school, my mom let my previously indoor-only cat start going outside and he was hit by a car.
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I would keep him inside and distract him with some new fun toys.
 
If he''s yowling (not meowing) because of the other cat, it''s because he wants to scuffle with him. If you don''t want you cat to get in a fight - keep him inside.

If you don''t care if you ever see your cat again after opening the door for him to go out, let him out.
 
My Pete used to be in indoor cat. One day my husband and I were doing things in the yard and he was in the window crying to be outside. I felt bad because that is his natural habitat and I let him out. He is now an indoor/outdoor cat. I always put flea stuff on both my cats and we have not any difference since he started going outside. Granted sometimes he brings in leaves on his tail. He always stays close and comes home everyday. For instance sometimes he will decide that he wants to go out in the morning. We let him out and then when we pull up he runs up to the door ready to come in. Sometimes he goes outside just to lay in the grass or on the porch. He has even been outside in the rain and comes home dry. We dont know how he does it but it will be pouring and then all of a sudden he is at the door ready to come in completely dry. Sometimes he even chooses to stay out all night. The first time I was worried sick, but he is always at the door in the morning. We live in the country and have 2 acres of land that isnt fenced in. We have a few neighbors and they all know him. He doesnt mess in their trash or fight with the other pets in the neighborhood. He likes to watch the squirrels and play with the birds. He is so much happier outside.
 
Date: 4/26/2010 4:26:14 PM
Author: radiantquest
My Pete used to be in indoor cat. One day my husband and I were doing things in the yard and he was in the window crying to be outside. I felt bad because that is his natural habitat and I let him out. He is now an indoor/outdoor cat. I always put flea stuff on both my cats and we have not any difference since he started going outside. Granted sometimes he brings in leaves on his tail. He always stays close and comes home everyday. For instance sometimes he will decide that he wants to go out in the morning. We let him out and then when we pull up he runs up to the door ready to come in. Sometimes he goes outside just to lay in the grass or on the porch. He has even been outside in the rain and comes home dry. We dont know how he does it but it will be pouring and then all of a sudden he is at the door ready to come in completely dry. Sometimes he even chooses to stay out all night. The first time I was worried sick, but he is always at the door in the morning. We live in the country and have 2 acres of land that isnt fenced in. We have a few neighbors and they all know him. He doesnt mess in their trash or fight with the other pets in the neighborhood. He likes to watch the squirrels and play with the birds. He is so much happier outside.
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This sounds very much like my mother''s situation a few years ago. (she had an acre, cat was inside/outside but stuck pretty close to home....)

One night she didn''t come in before bed (she had done this a couple of other times so no big deal) and was never seen again. Our best gues is that the coyotes got her (since they heard them outside that night and there were prints nearby).
 
All of my cats have been indoor/outdoor cats and it''s just now that with my new cat, I''ve decided to make him an indoor only cat. There is too much risk of him getting lost. With your cat having asthma, seems like his health would be at greater risk when around other neighborhood cats.

Is your kitty microchipped just in case he does get lost? Not sure if that makes a difference I would imagine most people wouldn''t bother to take a lost pet to a place to check to see if a cat is chipped, but it''s always worth a try. Mine is micochipped just in case.
 
My cat is the same way. She has learned that she needs to hiss through the glass.

I would not let him out, especially since he wants to go out to fight with the other cat over territory.
 
I would not let him out. at all.
i think your peace of mind is worth it over his persisting yowling. As said, he probably wants to ruffle feathers (teehee) with the other invader outside
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.

He'll build a bridge, and then, get over it.
 
I can''t believe I just came across this thread-it''s just ironic. We let the 3 cats out in Michigan-we''re on Lake Huron in a rural area. In Florida we''re in a sub and they can''t go out. In Michigan they know they''re in after dinner, but there are lapses. Today Winston, the guy in my avatar, had a rabies shot. Apparently he is very upset and isn''t home even though it''s after 9 pm. I''ve been out calling for him in the park and all along the shoreline. He''s done this before on a couple of occasions, but it''s rare.

I have to tell you that during the winter in Florida I had such peace of mind with them only as far away as the lanai. If I lived in the city they''d be indoors only. If you let them out you let yourself in for worry. I''ll be going outside again now and saying the St. Francis prayer.
 
Date: 4/26/2010 4:26:14 PM
Author: radiantquest
My Pete used to be in indoor cat. One day my husband and I were doing things in the yard and he was in the window crying to be outside. I felt bad because that is his natural habitat and I let him out. He is now an indoor/outdoor cat. I always put flea stuff on both my cats and we have not any difference since he started going outside. Granted sometimes he brings in leaves on his tail. He always stays close and comes home everyday. For instance sometimes he will decide that he wants to go out in the morning. We let him out and then when we pull up he runs up to the door ready to come in. Sometimes he goes outside just to lay in the grass or on the porch. He has even been outside in the rain and comes home dry. We dont know how he does it but it will be pouring and then all of a sudden he is at the door ready to come in completely dry. Sometimes he even chooses to stay out all night. The first time I was worried sick, but he is always at the door in the morning. We live in the country and have 2 acres of land that isnt fenced in. We have a few neighbors and they all know him. He doesnt mess in their trash or fight with the other pets in the neighborhood. He likes to watch the squirrels and play with the birds. He is so much happier outside.
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My Pablo is the same way. Soon as it starts warming up outside he''s pawing at the door. We live out in the woods and though we have raccoons and marmots and the like, he never seems to get into any scuffles. He goes out every morning around 5:45 when I get up and when I''m ready to leave the house at 7:30, he''s waiting to come back in. He rarely stays out all night but once in a while, he will.

A couple years ago, I let him out in the evening and he didn''t come back. And he wasn''t there in the morning. After a few days, I freaked out and put an ad in the paper. The day after the ad came out in the paper, he showed up at the back door. No collar, looking as happy as a pig in mud.

I think some cats are happy to be indoors their whole life and I think others just have such a wanderlust that they NEED to be out exploring the world. Our cat came from a farm so I think he''s just got those farm cat genes.
 
Being a dog person myself, I have to say this thread has been quite informational for me. I now know cats can have asthma, go on leashes, and have self esteem issues! Thanks!
 
I'll answer from the point of view of someone who has always had indoor/outdoor cats. Most of the cats I've had as an adult were no problem as outdoor cats. They'd close to home -- usually on my property, and sometimes within one or two houses -- show us when I called them, and come in willingly at night or whenever. They either knew not to get near the street, or my attempts to teach them actually worked... but I'll admit that was mostly due to dumb luck. Two of my cats were strays that started out outdoors anyway... two others were adopted from rescue situations and had probably spent time as outdoor cats somewhere along the line before I got them (one of them was from a litter born on a farm -- outdoors).

I did have one cat who would play mind games with me and not come in until very late. Then he learned that he could get me to open the door if he scratched at my window screen at 3 a.m. or so. Unfortunately he also never developed a fear of crossing the street, even though I tried to instill that in him.

The problem is that if you're thinking about letting your cat out without any sort of restraint, you might be ringing a bell that can't be unrung. Peter is no doubt faster and more agile than you are. If he decides that he really prefers outside, he'll also figure out pretty quickly that he can be the master of his own fate if he's let out without any restraint.

If I were in your shoes I'd try to let him outside in some sort of enclosed area or with a harness and leash, and see how he reacts. Since he has asthma, I do think it's important that he only goes out under supervision so you can make sure he stays away from other cats. Feline respiratory ailments are not that common, but they do seem to be highly contagious and you don't want to risk that with a cat whose respiratory system is already compromised. If you try a harness and leash, keep it in a safe area -- I've seen cats (mine) literally jump out of a harness when they came upon a dog that seemed threatening to them. A pen, if you have room for it, might be the best alternative in your case.

Date: 4/26/2010 4:16:39 PM
Author: waterlilly
If he's yowling (not meowing) because of the other cat, it's because he wants to scuffle with him. If you don't want you cat to get in a fight - keep him inside.
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Not necessarily -- he'd probably be satisfied with a chance to mark his territory. In any event it doesn't matter if his outside visits are supervised.


If you don't care if you ever see your cat again after opening the door for him to go out, let him out.
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I know emotions tend to run high on this subject, but for the record, I love my cats dearly and I do allow them to go outdoors. I weighed the risk and the benefits -- all of my cats have enjoyed being outdoors, some more than others -- and made an informed decision. I even replaced the lawn in my back yard with prairie grass that grows to knee height as a playground for the cats, but I realize that's not something every cat owner can do. Yes, there are dangers out there. No, I can't guarantee that none of them will befall my cats, but I've learned that I can't guarantee my cats good health anyway. If I manage to leash train my older cat I may consider that with other cats in the future. There is a risk associated with letting cats go outdoors, but that doesn't mean it's a death sentence.


 
Winston just came home! I am a very happy cat mom.
 
I would just let him deal with the wanting. It's already dangerous enough out there, and with his asthma.. I'd worry about him every second he was a-wanderin'.


I actually have nothing against letting a cat outside if you live somewhere where it's safe to do so, and you keep him/her inside overnight. My parents are able to let Flea out into their 2acre backyard since there are no other cats or dogs nearby except strays. He's a BIG boy (nearly 17lbs) and he comes indoors every hour or so to use the litterbox so they can keep him inside when it starts getting dark.
 
I would keep your kitty inside, especially given his asthma.

The statistic that always sticks with me, and the reason all of my cats will always be indoor-only - average lifespan of an indoor-only cat is 12-15 years, (depending on the source you consult), while average lifespan of an outdoor cat is only 2-4 years (again, sources vary, but the directionality of the relationship is always the same). I know I can''t control my cats'' health, even if they are 100% indoor-only, but I also know I couldn''t live with myself if something happened to them when they were outside.

FWIW, I grew up with indoor-outdoor cats, lived out in the far suburbs/borderline countryside, and even having seen how much those cats enjoyed the outside, for me, personally, it still doesn''t outweigh the risks.

But of course everyone makes this decision for themselves, based on their own criteria, and you should do the same.
 
Well...our cat is indoor only for all intents and purposes. He''s allowed go out onto the deck and pretend that he''s Mr. Big, hangin'' with the birds and squirrels, but that''s it. He''s 15 and we want to keep him around for a few more years.
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A couple of years ago he escaped and was gone for 3 days. I was heartsick -- we put signs up everywhere. I finally found him huddled under a neighbor''s porch-- damp, scruffy, and hungry.
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I like him how he is right now -- clean, dry, warm, safe, and sitting on FI''s tummy!
 
Well, I'd say tell Peter "No". My cat doesn't go outside. I don't have the risk of her wandering off, getting hit by a car, getting into fight, and getting parasites. That's the way I do it. My cat doesn't have a choice. She's been hand raised by humans since she was seven weeks old and she's almost three years old. I got her at the shelter so I don't know what happened to her before she arrived at the shelter/ in their program with families to help raise them until they're old enough to be adopted. In all of this time she's never been let outside. However, even if I got her as an adult cat I would still keep her inside. In my opinion, this is the more responsible choice for her and for me (I don't want her to take those risks and I don't want to have to be financially responsible if she should become sick or injured). I would definitely keep him inside.
 
The cat I got in 2003 came off a farm. I got her as a tiny kitten, but somehow, it''s in her nature to be outside. At the time, I lived in an apartment and she wasn''t allowed out. She figured out that if the windows were open, if she was persistent enough, she could pop out the screens. She did this while I was at work, more than a dozen times. When I got home, she''d be waiting for me at the steps, happy and content. When I married and moved to a home that didn''t have popout screens, she was strictly indoors. She hated it and tried to "escape" many times. She was not as happy, wouldn''t really come out of hiding much and had a change in her demeanor. When we moved to our house, she stuck around inside and seemed content. For the first week or two. Now she''s out more than she''s in. I wish she was an indoor cat but I also understand where she''s happy. We live on a culdesac, so there are few cars on the road and none going over 20mph. She keeps to our yard and the neighbor''s water dish (although hers is right beside her food dish, she seems to like their pug''s water better). We have another kitty, who is strictly indoors and is content as can be to remain that way. Her big thrill is going into the garage to climb in boxes for a few hours, then back to the couch or the stairs.

Some cats just enjoy outside more than others, and I think some are prone to always long for outside. I worry about Boo''s safety, but she is known by the neighbors, wears a tag, and comes home to the porch every day for love. I didn''t want to let her out, but Paul reminded me that a cat''s nature is outside. (I guess the same could be said for dogs, but mine are pansies and are NOT thrilled with going outside for more than a walk!)
 
Our cats can all go outside. We have a cat flap that scans their microchips, so only they can get inside our house, other alley cats are kept out. The cat flap has a sensor on it so it only allows them outside when it is light. As soon as light levels drop, they can only get back in, not go out. They have a few neighbourhood cat friends that they just chill about with, chatting and having cool cat times with. They love their pals Fake Bella, Hitler, Mussolini, Sadism and Masochism (cats that live nearby that we have given pretend names to as we don''t know their real names!). They natter about the weather, how mean Mummy is for not giving them extra food and who is the best cat in the street.
 
Date: 4/26/2010 3:50:56 PM
Author: TooPatient
Our cats are indoor only.

There is just too much that can happen to a cat (even a healthy cat) outside.
Click to expand...
Ditto. I know it's tough, but I would resist/ignore his cries. By the way, Peter is SO CUTE!
 
Date: 4/26/2010 3:58:13 PM
Author: lucyandroger
When I went away to graduate school, my mom let my previously indoor-only cat start going outside and he was hit by a car.
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I would keep him inside and distract him with some new fun toys.
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Aww, how sad.
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My cat had to be indoors in our last house, because it was near a busy road, but he was not happy. All sorts of odd behaviour.

When we moved, we were able to let him out and he''s thriving now, much happier.

BUT we live in a very, very quiet place, with a big enclosed garden that he never leaves, and no road nearby or wild predators to worry about. He''s as safe in there as he would be in the house (given that he''d taken to chewing the gas taps on our stove when he was indoors, amongst other things...).

If you have any doubts about his safety outdoors, I''d say don''t do it.
 
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