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Please Help! I don't know what to do. I have two cats and my older cat is constantly scratching on the door to go outside, I have only let him outside a couple of time with my supervision and he usually sits in the grass, however this week he ran into the woods behind our house. I had to follow him and he surrendered. However is is putting holes in our screen door and is cries and cries when we are outside and he is inside. He is microchiped and not declawed, but I am afraid he is not going to come home. What should I do......

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject:

We just bought a new screen door for the back door so I can feel your pain. The cats scratch on it when they want to go out and also when they want back in. I keep a squirt bottle next to the door so I can hit them with it as they are scratching or if they look like they're about to. They learn very quick with the water technique. Smile

as far as indoor or outdoor, that's entirely a personal decision. Lots of people believe that cats should be indoors only. I respect and understand their reasoning. I let my 2 outside in our back yard. They are the laziest things going and all they want to do is just sit out in the sunshine. Occasionally, SoCo will chase a leaf blowing across the yard. That's about the extent of it. The yard is fenced in and neither one of them have much motivation to climb it. I'm usually outside with them too so I can keep an eye on them. And, of course, our street is very quiet without much traffic other than residents.

I've lived on main roads before and wouldn't let them outside. But I don't worry about them here because they stay in the back and nap in the sun.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:03 pm Post subject: A little about the cat

The cats name is Arthur and he is a big orange maine coon cat. He is four years old and loves any kind of action. He never misses a beat, he follows me around worse then a dog. He sleeps with me every night and is very needy. However, if I let him outside I think he will take off, not lounge in the backyard. My other cat, i totally trust, he is a lounger. But Arthur is a hunter... Maybe this will help your decision... i do think he will come back.. but I have never had an outdoor cat. Doyou have any suggestions on how to test out the waters.

Thanks for the feedback.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject:

Cats that are often let outdoors tend to kill songbirds, which is becoming a huge problem! Sad

What about a leash, or a harness for your kitty so he can be outside, but always in your back yard? Or, what about caging in - INCLUDING a top, so he can't climb out! - a little section of land for him to play in outdoors, off the side of your house?

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

Please keep them both "in", they will live a lot longer. My cat, too, clamors to go out, sits and scratches at the sliding glass doors and very sneakily sneaks out whenever she can. I am, forever, going out and chasing her down and bringing her back. She wants to get out to eat grass. My elderly parents live with me so sometimes she is just to quick for them. It is a bummer but just something I know I have to live with because, no way, am I going to let her be an "outside" cat. Good luck

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject:

My old cat Sweetie Pie loved being outdoors. We had a clothesline that ran the entire length of the yard. My husband put a tether on it which gave Sweetie access to a large portion of the yard.

(If you do this, be sure your cat is wearing a collar with a safety catch.)

She spent hours outside this way, spending much of her time underneath the lilac bush. She never killed any birds on her tether but spent many happy hours watching the squirrels and birds.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:42 pm Post subject:

All though I trust my cats outside and doubt they would run away, I never let them out without supervision, it's just way too risky. If you're cat wants to go out that badly, I'd suggest getting an outdoor pen for him, or a leash and harness (cats can slip out of collars)

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:46 pm Post subject:

Please don't let your cat outside. There are so many, many dangers awaiting him. Stray dogs, roaming cats, unkind humans, wild animals, cars, large birds of prey, disease, poison....there are so many things that could happen. And yes, it is common for indoor/outdoor cats to just one day never return....and you, the heartbroken owner, will never know if your cat was stolen, trapped, killed, injured...still alive somewhere, or lying dead in the woods.

Have you considered building a cat enclosure? That way your cat could get fresh air and sunshine.

If you want him stay inside (I would hope so) then you must never give in to him on the issue. Never let him out, or he will expect it, and misbehave.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:

Keep them inside, after a while he will loose interest. Though of course, birds and such outside are always tempting for cats, now that winter is over.

With that said, have you thought about taking your cat for walks?
They make special harness's and leashes just for cats. They have the H harness and the figure 8 harness.

Make sure you get the right size, and fit it properly too him, not to loose and not to tight. 2 fingers should be able to slip under the harness, but not too easily.

Put the harness on the cat, let him hang out inside with it on once in a while, for a few days. Then attach the leash. Let him drag it around the house, while you supervise of course.

After he gets used to the harness and leash, you can bring him outside.

Basically you'll hold onto the end of a leash with a cat who doesn't do much walking, until he gets used to the outdoors, hee hee.

But even sitting in the yard with you, while on leash make curve his distructive need to be outside.

Good luck!

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

Hi,

My opinion is to NOT let him, or your other cat, outdoors. There are FAR too many dangers outside -- him wandering off and not coming back is just one of many. Disease, parasites, cars, people, other animals..... Why expose him to this?

Letting him out for those few times you've mentioned is kind of going to make his begging to go out worse for a while, but you are the human and you control the door. Be viligant and don't allow him to escape outside at all and this time next year (most likely sooner) he'll be past this stage.

I have six cats inside, and while they all love the windows, the have no interest in stepping out the door. It IS necessary to make an indoor cat's life interesting and varied. Give him things to climb on - I have a floor-to-ceiling scatching post and shelves installed near the ceiling for climbing and perching -- you can do these yourself easily!

Also, vary his toys. Use some to play with him for a couple of weeks, and then rotate them with others for two weeks so it stays interesting. Have you tried playing "chase the laser bug" with a laser pointer with him? He will LOVE it!

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:27 pm Post subject:

I find nothing wrong with letting a cat outside so long as they are being supervised. I let Buffy and Willow go outside, but only if they're wearing leashes and I'm watching them. I let them go freely (I don't hold the leashes) because the leashes are pretty much a backup for me. If they don't want to go inside yet, I can say good-bye to catching them unless they've got the leash. I just step on the leash and prevent them from bolting when I'm just inches away from them. They also like that arrangement since they look kinda ticked off if I'm holding the leash and following them everywhere. They're also free to roll on the sidewalk and in the dirt. I just have to position myself to keep them from running into the neighbour's yards or around to the back alley (Willow wanted to go down their yesterday). I know I could trust Willow by herself, but only for a short period of time. Buffy's the one that's raring to go from the start. In horse-racing terms, Buffy's the sprinter and Willow's the stayer. Buffy goes crazy for the outdoors for about an hour, and then she'll tire and wait by the front door to be let back inside. Willow, when just let outside, will go roll in the sun and then graze for a bit. She may then sit under a tree or on a pile of dirt in the shade and watch Buffy's shenanigans for a bit. Right when Buffy tires, Willow begins to get a case of the zoomies and she'll be streaking around the yard. As soon as that happens, she'll have the stamina to be crazy up until nightfall.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:38 pm Post subject:

Yes AND No.

I have a cat like that. He screams to go outside just so he can roll around in the grass. I have a fenced in yard, no holes he can get out of and he's not a jumper so I'll even leave him out there for a few minutes without watching him.

But other times.. it's very rare though.. He sometimes gets in these hunting and exploring moods and starts to wander towards the side where the trees and bushes are. I know my cat though..so depending on whatever mood he's in and whether I feel like babysitting him.. I'll let him out or not.

So I say, let him out as you're doing, but don't let him become a completely outside cat or one day he will wander too far. It doesn't mean he'll run away, most cats do know how to find their way home... but he still could get killed by a car, a dog, a fight with another cat, poisioned, ran over or shot since there are a lot of --I have a Potty Mouth-- that don't like cats.

Tieing a cat up also works. I used to do that with him before I moved here where the yard is fenced in better. Just use a harness and get a light tie out chain or you could try a rope if you're sure he won't chew it.

When mine screams to go out, I just yell at him and he gets the hint. Cool

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:47 pm Post subject:

My cousin and I walk our cats (I use the word walk loosly) and they've never been happier. My cat and one of her cats used to have issues with trying to get out of the house, but now that they get daily walks, they're much less interested in escaping outside then they were before. You really need to supervise them because if they get bit by a squirrel or something...

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject:

What is wrong with having outdoor cats? I have always had outdoor cats since I was a kid our cats have always been outside cats we have 4 now and they all go out, they are between the ages of 10 and 13 years old and have never run away, always come home every night, our house is set back from the road which isnt very busy anyway they always stay around the yard and come back within a few minutes of calling them. I never knew people felt so strongly that this was a bad idea, just the way I have always known and I personally have never encountered any problems.

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:05 pm Post subject:

Rach03, it's really a matter of the cat, the people, AND the location, I guess...you live somewhere fairly secluded, so you don't have to worry. However, for people who live on busy streets or in the city or in an area that's known to have stray animals/wildlife, it's probably not the best idea to let a kitty roam around - just in case.

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