Ok DU cat lovers...

[onlyadream]

Why do my cats ALWAYS want to go outside so badly? I gave into my six year old kitty, who comes and goes, but is always home for dinner and bed time. Now we have a two month little boy, and he's sneaking out in a big way (damn slider door). Is his normal and what's to be done?

[arcane1]

1. Because they are cats, and operate on a level beyond our mere monkey ways :) n/t

[A Simple Game]

2. It's a large and interesting world. You are not the only creature that wants to enjoy it. n/t

[LisaL]

3. Are they neutered?

It's impossible to keep them inside if they are not.

[onlyadream]

6. Too early

For the little one, big one was spaded, but she was a stray and was about six months old when we picked her up. I just thought she got a good taste of the great outdoors and liked it. The little one seems to like it too, even tho he was never out since we adopted him as a 4 week old. Little one gets neutered in two more months.

[applegrove]

4. 8 weeks old is awfully young to be going outside unattended.

[onlyadream]

9. Oh noooo.....

He sneaks out and then we spend a lot of time trying to catch him. Poor thing got stung by a bee yesterday. I was hoping that would make him want to stay in the house. I even bought a giant six foot tall kitty condo.
I just don't know what to do about the sliding door. When you go out, you can't lock it and the older cat just slides it open. The younger one is learning that now too.

[Duer 157099]

5. Because the litter box outside is cleaner

and BIGGER

[Curmudgeoness]

7. If you ever give in once,

you are doomed. Ask me, I'm an expert on being an idiot about this.

And what can be done???? All I know is that I have a big, fast foot to block the door when it is opened.

[DainBramaged]

8. The life of an outside cat is estimated to be two years

My colony of 8 ferals who live by our dumpster are approaching 10 years old and older.


We feed them and get them vaccinated every three years. Most come up to me each morning for their 'rubs'.

[onlyadream]

10. I think as long as there's no cars to run them over

And you feed and take good care of them, they'll have nice long lives. I live on a straight, long road and have seen many animals killed on it. That's my biggest worry. The older cat seems to be smart about to and stays in the woods.

[avebury]

11. I have one cat who is an indoor cat and two dogs.

There are a lot of outdoor cats in my neighborhood, most of whom don't seem to actually belong to anyone. My concern with allowing an indoor cat is the possibility of the cat being exposed to various types of communicable feline diseases. Indoor/outdoor cats really need to have more shots then a strictly indoor cat. My cat doesn't do well when she is given a lot of shots and so I had the Vet reduce the shots to the minimum required. She is not exposed to any other cats and she is now 18 years old and doing pretty well.

[Archae]

12. There are far more interesting scents, outside.

My cats sit at the window, when air can get in through the screen I can see them looking intently outside, their noses twitching.

[begin_within]

13. They are hunters and they have a territory. He has to make his rounds.