Indoor cat desperate to go outside

Hi, my cat is an indoor cat, but we’re away camping at the moment. He’s been meowing to go out, so I let him out yesterday and he was gone the whole day. We were searching everywhere for him until we finally found him. Since then, he hasn't stopped meowing all night wanting to go back out again.

Evening all, Mine will be two in August and I made the choice not to let him out; it’s just too stressful for us worrying that he might never come back. In my opinion, the outdoors has become too dangerous for cats nowadays (what with the sickos who hurt them on purpose, the reckless drivers, and so on). Until about six months ago, he lived in a flat and his only experience of the outside world was through a window with a fly screen. Now we have a house and a garden, and we take him out on a harness and lead (it’s a 10-metre lead, but the little guy never actually wanders that far). Since I’m a smoker, he knows he gets to go out when I pop out for a cigarette, and we stay there for 10 or 15 minutes, or longer when possible. He’s happy and when I say "right, come on", he understands it’s time to head back to the door... he has plenty of toys at home and gets heaps of attention. I don't think he's unhappy; I reckon animals can sense when we have their best interests at heart. My vet told me that if a cat has only ever known this lifestyle, they won't be miserable and won't necessarily crave anything else. Sometimes, when I head back inside too soon for his liking, he meows at the window for a bit, but when he sees he’s not getting his way, he stops after just a couple of minutes. People walking cats on leads—even when the owners don’t have gardens—is becoming more and more common, and the more people do it, the more normal and cool it’ll become :) We also have a special backpack for cats or small dogs, and when he was a tiny kitten we used to go to the woods; he was fascinated and not at all scared because he felt safe in his backpack, and it let him get some fresh air. It’s not an easy decision and you really have to think it through—you need to be able to go to sleep peacefully even if the cat hasn’t come home, for example... (I definitely couldn't do that, I'm far too anxious 😂). Anyway, I think the decision is ultimately yours and you should just do what feels right for you!

Hi everyone, Bimbo’s story is a bit unusual. She’s nearly 10 now and we’ve had her since she was only a month old. She hadn’t been weaned yet, so we had to bottle-feed her. We’ve moved house several times, but since the last move, she’s constantly wanting to go outside, even though she never had any interest in it before. It’s also true that she’s lost some weight over the last few months and has some bald patches in her fur. According to the vet, it’s just old age and there’s nothing specifically wrong with her, but she’s also stopped using her litter tray. On another forum, someone told me that if she’s that desperate to get out, it’s because she wants to find a quiet spot to go off and die. What do you all think? Thanks.

Hi everyone, I’ve literally just joined. My Maine Coon kitten is 7 months old; he hasn't been neutered yet, but he will be soon. He bolts out the second we open the front door and heads straight for the road. We try to be so careful, but he’s like a rocket. I’m at a loss—should I be telling him off? He spends hours gazing out of the window. We play with him loads, and the lounge is well-equipped for him with high spots, a cat tree, and all sorts of toys like balls, foil balls, and hair bobbles. I’m wondering if he’s bored, even though my 3-year-old granddaughter interacts with him quite a lot. I’ve been reading through your advice on here and found it really interesting. Also... at night, he loves pouncing on us and digging his claws into our legs... and he nibbles quite a bit. I’ve never had a cat before—is this normal? Best regards and thanks for reading.

My cat, Byquette, has been hanging around and miaowing at the door for the last few days, and only during the day. As soon as my mum leaves for work, she starts wanting to go out again! The thing is, she’s 8 years old. We’ve already tried a lead, but she nearly strangled herself jumping on and off a chair because we’d tied her to it... plus, she really doesn’t like leads anyway. I just don’t know what to do when she goes downstairs and miaows at the door. Sometimes she comes back up to eat, drink, play, or just flop on the floor. I give her plenty of attention, but she just carries on... What should I do? PS: She’s always been an indoor cat.

Hi everyone, My girl has never been outside. I told the family where she was born that she wouldn't be an outdoor cat, so they made a point of keeping her indoors from the start. I brought her home when she was about ten weeks old. She loves sitting on the chest of drawers by the window to watch the birds and doesn't actually try to get out. However, when she starts scratching at the door, it's usually around 3 or 4 in the morning. Thanks for your help.

Hi there, I’m going through the exact same thing with my cat, Brooklyn, who’s 8 months old. The second I open a window or a door, he’s off. You’re right to avoid taking her out on a lead, as that would probably just make her even more frustrated. I can’t give you a perfect solution, but I do have a few suggestions: - Play with her whenever she starts scratching at the door; it’ll cheer her up and keep her occupied with something fun. - In time, our kittens will get used to being indoor cats. - Fit a mesh screen to your window so she can watch the birds and, more importantly, take in all the outdoor smells. She’ll learn to find what she needs inside with you. - Mention it to your vet the next time you’re there. Just a quick question: was your cat living outdoors before you adopted her? If so, how long was she out there for? It can really make a difference. Brooklyn was a feral kitten born at my uncle's place. We adopted him at 2 months old, following the vet's advice. If we’d waited any longer, he might never have taken to indoor life. I hope that helps. Happy holidays to you!

Hi everyone, I’m really interested in this post because my cat is nine months old now and has never been outside. She was spayed just over two months ago, and for about a month now, she’s been scratching at the front door of my flat constantly. I’ve tried everything – vinegar, tin foil, double-sided tape, pepper, citronella... but nothing works; she just won’t stop. The thing is, she’s never even been out, and even when I take her to stay with family at the weekend, she doesn't go out. She just lies in front of the patio doors. Every time I open the front door, she darts between my legs and wanders into the hallway. By the time I catch her, she’s often already headed for the stairs. Does anyone have any advice? What can I do? I’m renting, so I’m really desperate for her to stop scratching the door. I’ve bought a harness and lead, but I’m worried that actually taking her out might make the situation worse. Thanks, best wishes

Hi, has your little girl been spayed yet? Because at that age, she might already be "calling" for a mate! I'd also suggest cat-proofing your kitchen window so she doesn't jump out and risk getting run over... Do you have a garden or does your house open right onto the street? If you'd like to let her out since she'll enjoy being outdoors, put her in a harness and take her for walks yourself. Do it as a bit of a "ritual"—not just when she wants, but always on the same day and at roughly the same time. I got my cat used to it when he was a tiny kitten and he goes out into the countryside with us no problem (we live in a flat, so he understands that the carrier + lead = an hour's walk at the weekend). It's lovely to do and he doesn't get frustrated; he gets some fresh air, looks around, and has fun "hunting" nearby—always with the harness which lets us keep him close and safe!! See if you fancy giving it a go and if it’s possible in your situation... Best wishes.