Indoor to Outdoor Cat

[KiewiStyles]

My husband and I adopted a female two year old cat about 3 weeks ago. I'm not hear to debate indoor/outdoor cats. I figured if she wants to go outside, I'm going to let her. She's still clawed so that's not a problem. She's been sitting in windows and looking out the front door. I'm wondering what the best way is to go about letting her outside before she sneaks out. I don't think she's been out before, but I'm not sure because when I call the shelter and leave messages, they never return my calls. I never had a problem letting a kitten outside because they were young and still learning. She's not too old, but I'm not sure how I should go about it. Any ideas?

[Asha]

has she had all her vaccines and spayed? if not, i would wait until those things are done. my cat always looks out the windows, but really has shown no interest in getting outside yet. looking out windows is just something cats like to do.

no real advice on how to introduce her to the outdoors bc i am too afraid to let our cat outside for various reasons.

[KiewiStyles]

she's been spayed. she has her vaccines for being an indoor cat. she needs to get a couple more (leukemia and rabbies) if she goes outdoors. she wanted to sneak out today, so it's definitely more than looking out the window.

[Sue]

Gee, my cats all look out the windows, doesn't mean I let them out. That's waht cats do. I've cleaned up too many cats that have been hit by a car and attacked by other animals to even consider it. I would be very surprised if the shelter you adopted from will be too happy to know your intentions.

I don't understand what there is too learn? You open the door and hopes she comes back - alive.

[fuzzy]

You open the door and hopes she comes back - alive.

Yup. That's basically it. Whether it's day one or day 300, it's a crap shoot.

You know, my animals want to do a lot of stuff that would be dangerous to them if I let them. Their desire for <insert prohibited behavior or thing here> does not trump my responsibility to keep them safe.

If you are lucky, she'll be alive for about another year or two...maybe three.

[Asha]

this may be a long shot, but maybe you can try leash training your cat. its hard to train a cat, but i have heard of some cats being leash trained.

[Hello Kitty]

My cat is a little sneak when it comes to the front door. He's really curious, and you've got to watch the door when you go out to get the paper in the morning. He also likes looking out the window - heck, I do too!

But the thing is, I just don't let him out, sorry. I like him way too much, and just because he wants to go outside doesn't mean he belongs outside. There are too many dangers and considering he's lived in a house for 3 years, he has no clue how to handle it. He's not meant to be an outdoor cat, and in fact I signed a contract stating I would relinquish ownership if he were to be as such.

I do take him under leash and my supervision to sniff in our fenced in yard, and we play with toys inside that make him feel like he's catching prey. But beyond that, nope - I'm his mom, and I decide what's best, and that is for him to be home alive.

[KiewiStyles]

My intentions were not to debate the fact about indoor/outdoor cats. That's not why I posted. I also didn't post to be lectured about the dangers that lurk outside. I know what dangers are around. Heck, there are even dangers indoor cats can get into. I never signed a paper from the adoption center about keeping the cat indoors. I feel badly about keeping her cooped inside. And just because someone lets a cat outside does not mean the cat will never come back. I've had two other cats who were outdoor cats and both lived over the age of 16. I've also spoken to more than one vet about the issue and they haven't told me to keep her indoors or just boot her outside and hope she comes back.

[KGif]

Honestly I don't think I've ever met a cat that didn't enjoy looking out the window! And it's totally natural for them to try to sneak out from time to time. That doesn't mean you have to let them out. Yes he/she is an animal - but he/she is a domesticated animal. I don't understand why you would risk it. If you think the cat is bored maybe get osme new interesting cat toys for inside? Perhaps one of those carpet covered cat tree things?

[Asha]

kiewi - perhaps, if you live in a pretty rural area with no natural predators for a cat the risk would be less. another thing to consider is that you haven't had your cat very long. if she isn't that attached to you yet, i think there is a greater likelihood of your cat running away and not coming back. when i was a child, we had to make our cats outdoor cats when we found out my brother was very allergic. all four of them ended up disappearing in a matter of a few years. the younger ones disappeared much more quickly than the older one.

[KiewiStyles]

Asha~ Oh, I wasn't talking about letting her out any time soon. I may not even let her out at all. I'm still weighing my options as well. But thank you for your advice, and for helping me weigh both sides.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Your intent may not be to debate it, but that's what you're going to get. It's a controversial topic here- it'd be like starting a thread titled "How do I announce that I'm having a cash bar at my wedding?"

[rileyandfredsmom]

kiewiStyles - no one is trying to debate indoor/outdoor with you, just noting why they don't let theirs out.

Personally, I have 2 cats that are always trying to sneak out on me and occasionally make it and 2 cats that have absolutely no interest in going anywhere near a door but they all love to sit and look out the windows. I don't let mine out, even the one with claws because there are too many stray cats in our neighborhood that fight over territory all the time and I couldn't stomach my guy coming home torn up from a fight with one of them. As tough as he thinks he is, he would be no match for those guys.

Growing up, we had indoor/outdoor cats that lived very long lives, but they were hard lives full of fights, trips to the vet to fix them up from the fights. There were also more that lived short lives due to the fights, traffic and sometimes mean neighbors. Neighbors are another reason not to let your cat out...I love cats but get FURIOUS when I have just washed my car and our neighbors cat walks all over it leaving kitty prints...I get furious with the neighbors though, not the cat. Being a good neighbor means not letting your cat destroy or mess in your neighbors flower beds, not walk on their cars or goodness forbid, one of your neighbors back out of their driveway, not see your cat and run over it....how awful that person would feel.

One other thing to check, is there a leash law in your community? Even though 'everyone' lets their cat out, many communities have rules against it and if you have a neighbor that doesn't like cats, they could very easily call animal control on you.

Just some things to think about.

[KiewiStyles]

I really do appreciate those of you who are answering my question and giving me advice. Thank you. The only leash law in our town is for dogs.

[KiewiStyles]

Your intent may not be to debate it, but that's what you're going to get. It's a controversial topic here- it'd be like starting a thread titled "How do I announce that I'm having a cash bar at my wedding?"


It's funny because I searched and didn't find one topic related to an indoor/outdoor debate. I came here to simply get advice about my cat, not to get an update of heated topics that occur here.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

It's funny because I searched and didn't find one topic related to an indoor/outdoor debate. I came here to simply get advice about my cat, not to get an update of heated topics that occur here.
You might want to work on your searching skills, because apparently you didn't try "outdoor cat." :rolleyes:

[tlew12778]

All my parents cats are outdoor cats. They sleep inside most of the time though. All of MILs cats do the same. Both my mom and MIL are really bad about getting their cats shots and taking them to the vet. I don't condone that, but they are also not my cats so I can't really do much about it. Anyway, all of MILs cats were found in her yard. So they didn't need to be introduced outdoors. All of my mom's cats were born in her house.

For the first few times, my mom would stay outside with the cat... let it get to know the porch area, bring in back inside. When it got to know the porch area, she did the same for the patio, and all the surrounding areas of the yard. They don't live on a very busy road so there was no issue of bolting if they heard a car. She also had my dad build the cats a mini replica of the house as a cat house (complete with number and all). They have pillows and rugs in there. The girl cats actually don't roam the neighborhood but stick to the property (my parents live on an acre of land). The boy cats roam but are always within calling distance. All of them are spayed/neutered.

I don't let my own cats out but if I did, I would collar them (you will need the anti-rabies shot tag anyway) and microchip them. I would also probably harness them the first few times.

What about one of those cat walk things?

[Sue]

I have also seen cat enclosures like this (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=11881&s_kwcid=cat%20enclosure|914611461&cm_mmc=PPC-_-Google-_-Cat-_-cat%20enclosure&ref=3930&subref=AA&N=2002+113873) that you can get.

[KiewiStyles]

tlew and Sue~ thanks for the replies. i appreciate the advice!!

[Sophia]

I don't think letting your cats outdoors automatically makes you a bad pet owner, and I think there are lot more than just the two extremes of opening the door and hoping the cat comes back, and never, ever letting the cat out. Letting your cats outdoors is not an automatic death sentence, and it doesn't mean you don't care about your pets. My mom has always had cats that stayed both indoors and outdoors, and they've been happy and healthy. She had one that lived to 18. As in the OP's case, the shelter here doesn't require or expect that the cats they adopt out will be indoor only (except in a few cases where it's an adult cat who has always been indoors, but those are special cases), nor is it against my city's ordinances to have loose cats outdoors.

Since the OP says the cat has already shown interest in sneaking out, I think trying to introduce the cat to the outdoors so she doesn't get scared and bolt is a really smart thing. How many posts have we had about cats who accidentally got outside and got lost and the owner is worried because the cat had never been outside before?

What you want to do is let her get used to the sounds and smells of the outdoors so she won't freak out and run off, never to be seen again.

Things I would try:
-leash and harness
-a large pet crate, or a pet enclosure like the one posted above
-increasing time loose but supervised, like tlew described

As her time outdoors increases and you see she's calm, you can gauge if/when you can let her out loose and unsupervised, and for how long.

[Sophia]

Another idea: building a large cat enclosure (check local building codes to see if you need a permit). This is one DH & I built at our old house for some feral kittens we were trying to socialize. This was before it was finished--the roofing wasn't up yet and we later added more ramps and shelves.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1008/1029240779_fd13e1e8d1.jpg?v=0

[alisong]

We have two indoor/outdoor cats. Our first was adopted when she was slightly older (~6 months), and was just never happy indoors. Letting her go outdoors made her a much calmer cat. We started off slowly, letting her out for 10 minutes at a time while were were out in the yard with her. We then progressed to letting her out whenever she wanted during the day, but calling her in at night (and closing the cat door). We adopted our second as a younger kitten, and kept him inside for many months, then gradually introduced him to the outdoors.

It's worked well for us, but I think it's important to take your cat's personality into account. Our first cat was so used to being outdoors when we adopted her, she just wasn't going to be happy inside. Our second is such a social creature, and really likes to go find people to hang out with when we're out during the day (one neighbor has toys and a bed for him!). They're both up to date on their shots and have been microchipped, but they get rid of collars so quickly we don't bother to replace them anymore (we'd be going through a collar a week). They both sleep on our beds at night.

[KiewiStyles]

sophia & ali~ thanks for the great tips and for weighing both sides of the coin. i appreciate it very much!!!

[jajacobsen]

We have indoor only cats. However, I was raised with indoor/outdoor cats, so I can see the benefits of both, for both the cat and the owner.

In general, I would advise:

Current or in process on all shots and vaccinations.

Use Frontline because outdoor cats will be exposed to ticks and fleas. Flea collars are useless.

Collar the cat with an ID tag. Yu can make one of those for less than $5 at Walmart. Such a simple thing and so rarely done. Seriously thsi has helped reunite us with our dog TWICE (he went through an escaping phase).

Microchip the cat.

Allow your cat to have some sort of "safe haven." That may be leaving the garage door open six inches so the cat can seek safety in the garage. Safety is not always in terms of predators but also from storms, cld, or intense heat.

I am a huge fan of cat flap doors, especially those with a locking mechanism whereby the cat has a device on its collar which allows the flap to unlock. You can get these at Petsmart.

At frst, I would just take your cat out for a while and stay with it outside. See if it is comfortable or scared. I woud not let it roam too far. Gradually, as it learns your yard I would let it stay out for longer periods.

Always feed your cat inside, at the same time and place. This will provide a specific "check in" time which wil alert you to if there is a problem.

HTH!

ETA - if you go the indoor/outdoor route - DON'T DECLAW! Claws are your cat's protection. Use "softpaws" instead. Available at Petsmart as well. We use them on our indoor only cats with huge success.

[diam124]

Honestly, I think the whole indoor/outdoor thing depends on your cat's personality and your neighborhood.

Our cat would LOVE to be outside more, but we live near a very busy road (that often has dead cats on it), train tracks and a wildlife refuge. It is just not a safe environment. We do take her out occassionally, but always on a harness and leash.

My sister on the other hand lives in a pretty quiet neighborhood and has a very large yard with plenty of hiding places for the cat. He rarely leaves their yard. He is also quite a bit older and more mellow.

She also has a Sheltie that prefers to be outside (they have an invisible fence), so any predator (fox, etc.) would have a very difficult time sneaking up on the cat because the dog will bark at anything even remotely near their yard.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

ETA - if you go the indoor/outdoor route - DON'T DECLAW! Claws are your cat's protection. Use "softpaws" instead. Available at Petsmart as well. We use them on our indoor only cats with huge success.
Wouldn't softpaws take away any protective element to the cats claws though?


BTW- my parents have indoor/outdoor cats. I actually understand that people who have outdoor cats are not the devil. I just think it's naive to start a thread about this and be upset about getting criticism.

[jajacobsen]

Wouldn't softpaws take away any protective element to the cats claws though?
.

Good point - I hadn't really thought about that. But - Softpaws will come off pretty easily - so if, in battle, I am pretty sure a few on them would be off in order to give the cat some fighting tools.

Also - softpaws fall off in about two weeks of their own accord (and must be replaced). If the cat was somehow lost for an extended period of time, it woud soon have a full set of claws to aid in climbing, fighting, and catching food.

[KiewiStyles]

I'm not upset at all about getting criticism. I just don't think there is a say all end all for this topic. What is good for one cat, isn't necessarily good for another. In the end, I started this to talk about how to gently allow a cat outdoors, not to talk about "open bar."

[MLA]

If you can keep your cat inside, I'd do that. I'm very pro-indoor cat. But I do believe in letting them go outside supervised. Your neighbors aren't going to be too thrilled if your cat uses their flowerbeds as a litterbox. You definitely also need to take into account the type of area you live in -- are there lots of cars? Are there natural predators? I've found that with my two cats (one of which was an indoor/outdoor cat for the first couple years of his life), they do fine if I let them outside with me on the patio or deck. They get to experience new smells and such and come back in the house unscathed. Keeping your cat indoors is also a good way to keep your vet costs down. You need fewer vaccinations and don't run the risk of your cat being injured.

[PinkMartini]

DH & I have an indoor/outdoor cat. She is indoors probably 90% of the time and spends about an hour outside daily with our dogs. We don't have a litterbox inside - she goes potty outside through the cat door we have. We have a fenced in backyard and I've NEVER, in the 4 years we've had her, seen her outside of it. I've never seen her in the front yard, ect. And we live fairly far away from the road as well.

She's spayed/utd on shots and has her claws. She's never gotten into a fight (that I know of anyways - never heard anything or seen any bites on her, ect) and I don't see any other cats around...

But I would definitely take into account where you live, ect. If you live near a road I wouldn't advise it. Also, cats are hunters so you might end up with dead birds/rodents on your doorstep. Thankfully our cat couldn't catch a fly if she wanted to, because finding dead animals would be enough for me to keep her inside...

[KrissyCat7]

How about taking the cat out on a leash? I used to take my cat out in the yard on a long leash when she was younger. She was originally a stray so she was used to being outside and I really do think she enjoyed the time we spent outdoors. Id try the leash out.....that way she can get some fresh air and play in the grass without you having to worry about losing her.:)

[tlew12778]

I'm pretty sure the softpaws would be a big waste of money on an outdoor cat. You can still clip their nails if they go out. And just teach them not to claw up your house. My parents cats don't claw inside bc they claw on trees outside. Same with MILs cats.

I just remembered that my sister also lets her cats out in their backyard. She stays with them (or maybe it's more that they stay with her as she gardens). They never leave the yard and her yard if very small. I think they feel like it's safe there and are afraid to wander.

[pocket]

I have an indoor-outdoor cat. I give her a spoonful of wet food every morning to make sure that she is trained to come home every day. She never gets wet food at any other time. Before you let your cat outside, I would start working on some sort of routine where she comes to find you for something every single day. We have a dog who goes in and out through a doggie door, and Mazzy was already used to going in and out when I moved to California.