Cat people: help!

[Carolyn 1]

A friend brought her wild kids over to my house to visit and they (accidentally?) let one of my indoor cats out in the backyard. We didn't notice that the cat was out and left the house for a while. He was probably out for about 4 hours! When we discovered him, he looked a bit scared and ran into the house.

NOw here's the problem: ever since then (for 9 days!) he has been wandering around the house insistantly meowing like he wants to go out! It's really annoying!

Is there any hope for my howling kitty? Will he grow out of it? Can he be retrained? My husband and I are losing our patience with him...

[Kathryn41 3,207]

Invest in a Feliway diffuser and try using that. It is a plug in device much like an air freshener that emits a pheromone that only cats can smell that provides reassurance and 'good feelings'. It will take a while to retrain you cat - he has tasted the outdoors and now wants to go outdoors again. It is a bit pricey but you can order it onlline - the best price I have found is from http://www.EntirelyPets.com.

Another option you can try is to leash train him and take him outdoors on a schedule. Get a harness - not a collar - and let him get used to it a bit indoors. Then, with a leash attached take him outdoors and let him sort of explore. You might want to get about a 10 length of leash so he can explore around you. You won't be able to walk him like a dog but you can follow him around your property with him on the harness and leash. He will get used to going outdoors with you at specific times and will be less likely to wander around meowing at all times.

I trust that your cat is neutered. If not, neuter him and it will help remove some of those urgings to go outside. Be very careful around him at doors - I have one that slips out on me every now and then and I have to grab him back. I live in daily worry that he will slip out on us sometime - especially when we have company - and I will lose him outdoors.

You could try some other types of diversions - put up a bird feeder in sight of a window where he can sit and watch the birds. It will still excite him but then he probably won't be yowling around the house. You will need to try and make inside as exciting as outside with activity and toys. Try to play with him a lot when he starts to prowl like that - use action toys like feather wands or laser lights. It may take a few weeks of active playing with him for 30 minutes at a time several times a day to get him less interested in the outdoors.

I have signs up on our doors as well reminding everyone that the cats are inside cats and they have to watch carefully whenever they enter/exit that the cats are not nearby - and to make sure the door is securely closed until it clicks.

Good luck. I am sure others might have some suggestions as well.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Ban Hammer 14,635]

A friend brought her wild kids over to my house to visit and they (accidentally?) let one of my indoor cats out in the backyard. We didn't notice that the cat was out and left the house for a while. He was probably out for about 4 hours! When we discovered him, he looked a bit scared and ran into the house.

NOw here's the problem: ever since then (for 9 days!) he has been wandering around the house insistantly meowing like he wants to go out! It's really annoying!

Is there any hope for my howling kitty? Will he grow out of it? Can he be retrained? My husband and I are losing our patience with him...

i think he'll grow out of it. especially if you can park a large dog just outside the windows.

[Tunisia216 2]

I don't have a lot of advice, but our new kitten (10 weeks) is starting to try to get out of the door and sitting at the window crying.. He was bought at a pet store and he's NEVER been outside.. He's not fixed yet.. so I'm not sure what is going on with him.... I'm just nervous he's about to make a run for it...

[Hannah+Vito 0]

A friend brought her wild kids over to my house to visit and they (accidentally?) let one of my indoor cats out in the backyard. We didn't notice that the cat was out and left the house for a while. He was probably out for about 4 hours! When we discovered him, he looked a bit scared and ran into the house.

NOw here's the problem: ever since then (for 9 days!) he has been wandering around the house insistantly meowing like he wants to go out! It's really annoying!

Is there any hope for my howling kitty? Will he grow out of it? Can he be retrained? My husband and I are losing our patience with him...

i think he'll grow out of it. especially if you can park a large dog just outside the windows.

or buy one of those leads and take it for walkies like a dog! they actually do that in France.

it should give in after a while if it realses that the howling wont work, my cat usually learns what works and what doesnt and doesn't do it again. for instance he doesn't bother jumping on my head at four in the morning anymore but if hes gets near mum... bam, i want food i want dinner...

[Tunisia216 2]

I've never seen anyone take their cat for a walk? ... The cats I've owned it would be more like taking the cat for a drag

[Hannah+Vito 0]

I've never seen anyone take their cat for a walk? ... The cats I've owned it would be more like taking the cat for a drag

i actually saw a trampish guy with his on a lead in lille it was so funny. the leads are like the harness ones you get for a puppy or a rabbit. and i did have a friend that took her rabbit out for a walk once. i guess it you train them out right they will walk like a dog, but we let ours out here, (kent uk) they need too much space to wander around to be kept in our house.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_car...ravel/harnesses

Edited September 1, 2008 by Hannah+Vito

[Kathryn41 3,207]

I have 3 cats currently who are leash trained and used to walk them when I still lived in Canada - along with other cats I had then. Here it is too dangerous a neighbourhood even to have them out on a leash with lots of dogs running around loose, plus it takes a lot of time to walk more than one cat! You sort of go where the cat goes - you can walk a little bit for a distance but they are constantly exploring - thus the longer rope so they have room to wander a bit. You don't get anywhere by pulling a cat on a leash - in fact the cat can slip out of the harness if you do that - so you walk beside the cat and go where he goes. The first time he wears a harness he will probably slink along really close to the floor -especially indoors. Once he gets outdoors he forgets the harness in the excitement of the outdoors. You need to be alert and aware when walking a cat outdoors until you know the area and neighbourhood because he is at risk of attack by dogs without the option of getting away - and if he does the leash can get entangled in bushes, and again, the cat can be attacked without any avenue of escape.

[Mags 112]

I'm tempted to say he'll grow out of it. Cats have short memories regarding certain things. I'd get him microchipped just in case though.

[JULIAFERNO 0]

I'm tempted to say he'll grow out of it. Cats have short memories regarding certain things. I'd get him microchipped just in case though.

My cat was an indoor/outdoor cat for several years but has been strictly an indoor cat for 3 years now. He adjusted. It takes time, but I think your cat will adjust. Just don't give in and let him out again!

[Tunisia216 2]

Speaking of this... the new kitten we got as I said is only indoors and never been outside - I want to keep it that way -- but my hubby (new here and from a country where cats roam around, and even those that are pets do their own inside/outside thing) things I'm cruel to make him stay inside and keeps making comments like... "So he's never going to see what it's like outside??? "

I guess for me (personal thing only ) I just can't have a cat in my bed sleeping with me that spends time running around out side (and we live in busy area that I don't think he'd be safe outside anyway ) I know there are medications for the fleas/ticks etc but still it just creeps me out and therefore I'd rather have him inside than out doors... Is it cruel to make him stay inside all his life?

Hubby is also freaking that I've bought him toys, special foods, I'm bathing him every week, bought him a bed, and that I spent $200 at the doctor for his first rounds of everything (shots, ears, yadda) He said.. Honey some people in my country don't even get this much spent on them in their lives for a doctor visit and he couldn't wait to call home and tell them how much I spent on the doctor for the cat

I'm tempted to say he'll grow out of it. Cats have short memories regarding certain things. I'd get him microchipped just in case though.

My cat was an indoor/outdoor cat for several years but has been strictly an indoor cat for 3 years now. He adjusted. It takes time, but I think your cat will adjust. Just don't give in and let him out again!

[Kathryn41 3,207]

Speaking of this... the new kitten we got as I said is only indoors and never been outside - I want to keep it that way -- but my hubby (new here and from a country where cats roam around, and even those that are pets do their own inside/outside thing) things I'm cruel to make him stay inside and keeps making comments like... "So he's never going to see what it's like outside??? "

I guess for me (personal thing only ) I just can't have a cat in my bed sleeping with me that spends time running around out side (and we live in busy area that I don't think he'd be safe outside anyway ) I know there are medications for the fleas/ticks etc but still it just creeps me out and therefore I'd rather have him inside than out doors... Is it cruel to make him stay inside all his life?

Hubby is also freaking that I've bought him toys, special foods, I'm bathing him every week, bought him a bed, and that I spent $200 at the doctor for his first rounds of everything (shots, ears, yadda) He said.. Honey some people in my country don't even get this much spent on them in their lives for a doctor visit and he couldn't wait to call home and tell them how much I spent on the doctor for the cat

I'm tempted to say he'll grow out of it. Cats have short memories regarding certain things. I'd get him microchipped just in case though.

My cat was an indoor/outdoor cat for several years but has been strictly an indoor cat for 3 years now. He adjusted. It takes time, but I think your cat will adjust. Just don't give in and let him out again!

You might want to quote the statistics that show cats that live indoors live about twice to three times as long as cats who live outdoors. It used to be safe for cats to be indoors/outdoors but it isn't any more. It is not cruel and cats adapt very well to being only indoors. Remind him how horrible you would feel if something like a traffic accident or a dog happened to your beloved pet - and then remind him of how much money you have invested in the cat as well.

I used to have indoor/outdoor cats too when growing up - but it was a different world then. Remind your husband it is a different world than the one he grew up in. Cats are much, much safer and healther indoors. The toys are necessary for him to be happy and healthy indoors - as is neutering when he is old enough:-). You might even want to get him another kitten as a playmate as cats are indeed social animals. You will notice that many pet rescue organizations now require you to keep your cat as an indoor only animal because of the dangers that lurk outside in our modern world.

btw - you do not need to wash cats - they are indeed self-cleaning! You could actually be causing a risk of illness by washing cats especially as much as every week. They are not like dogs. Brush him every day, yes, but bathe him only when absolutely necessary - to remove contaminants from his coat, etc. None of my 5 cats have ever been bathed nor have they ever needed it.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Mags 112]

btw - you do not need to wash cats - they are indeed self-cleaning! You could actually be causing a risk of illness by washing cats especially as much as every week. They are not like dogs. Brush him every day, yes, but bathe him only when absolutely necessary - to remove contaminants from his coat, etc. None of my 5 cats have ever been bathed nor have they ever needed it.

Absolutely agree with Kathryn. Stop washing your cat! Poor thing!

[merijan 0]

If we ever have a cat again it will be kept indoors. Last time we had two cats. Both went outside. One was found in a pumkin patch and given to us , so he loved outside especially he was a great hunter, mostly squirrells and he would bring them to us to show us his great skills. ( i cried but he loved it) and he got hit by a car down the street , my daughter loved him. She and the other two were walking to school and they came home screaming.. I had to walk down the street and wrap him in a sheet and carry him home to bury him.

Other cat was good at staying around the house but she loved to cross to the other side and she always looked both ways , was very carefull. But a jerk in playing his music loud came raceing down the street and well that was it.

No more cats for now. Maybe someday..