Hi there,
I need some help regarding my cat Louie, he recently went missing for 10 days, i put up posters everywhere, even put him in the local paper and luckily he was found and returned to me, i vowed he would now be an indoor cat but with 2 other cats that go out its proving quite difficult to keep him in, ive had him back 2 weeks today, yesterday i let him in the back garden while i was hanging my washing out, he sniffed aroud every where had a look about and they layed down in the sun for about 10 mins, but then he decided to go in my neighbours garden (where he always used to go) but i panicked and made my son go over and get him in just incase he wandered off again, i was distraught when he was lost, i couldnt bare to lose him again, so am i better off keeping him as an indoor cat or is there anything you can suggest i try if i am to let him out again.

Thanks

Wendy.

Its difficult to get a cat who is used to going out all the time, to convert him into being indoors all the time. He might be unhappy being kept in. Can you perhaps put fencing around your garden so he can only stay in that area? If not then you may have to accept that he wants to go out, and let him.

I dont know if an outdoor cat will ever stop wanting to go out. Whereas a cat that's always indoor shouldnt miss what they've never seen.

Obviously you'll need to keep an eye on him to make sure he' s happy. Cat tree(s) at the window(s) is a good idea. You need to play with him for at least 15 mins a day.

Can you make the garden secure? If you can then that might be ideal. Or contain him somewhere while you put out your washing- like a fenced area in the garden. And hope he gets used to this.

But my guess is you might have to settle for keeping him in more of the time than before. Get him chipped if he's not already.

And try not to worry. Perhaps if he goes missing again you'll know he's fine and is just a cat that likes a good wander.

Edit: oops didn't see celts post!

[quote=husted;58458045]I dont know if an outdoor cat will ever stop wanting to go out. Whereas a cat that's always indoor shouldnt miss what they've never seen.

Obviously you'll need to keep an eye on him to make sure he' s happy. Cat tree(s) at the window(s) is a good idea. You need to play with him for at least 15 mins a day.

Can you make the garden secure? If you can then that might be ideal. Or contain him somewhere while you put out your washing- like a fenced area in the garden. And hope he gets used to this.

But my guess is you might have to settle for keeping him in more of the time than before. Get him chipped if he's not already.

And try not to worry. Perhaps if he goes missing again you'll know he's fine and is just a cat that likes a good wander.



Thank you both for your posts, Louis is chipped , neutered and wears a collar with his little identichip thing, hes a Main Coone cat and hes and not quite as switched on as my 2 moggies who are quite clever lol, ive looked in to cat proofing the garden but its quite expensive and i cant afford that just yet, i might see if he will wear a harness and attatch that to the washing line or something, when i let him out yesterday i made sure he hadnt been fed before he went out as i thought he might not go far if hes hungry, he may way hell came back from my neighbours garden as he always used too but i panicked, hes my baby x

i used to put a harness on one of my cats and attach it to a long rope and to the washing line so he could wander the whole garden but not escape, he was fine with it so thats definitely worth a try x

Is that really true? my parents' cat was always kept in but she tried to get out until she quite old. She had been a farm kitten, admittedly, but came to them at 6 -8 weeks

Louie was 1 when i got him and had been an indoor cat until then, he was always desperate to go out even tho i was told by his previous owner he was too nervous and was to afraid,
he really does love the outdoors and as much as i fele bad for keeping him in now, i felt far worse when he was missing x

Yes, my house cat is on a harness when he goes out. Sometimes I walk him round the garden, but when I can't I tie his lead to the lamp post in the garden and he wanders around on his own (I do keep checking on him though). If you can get them used to a harness its probably the best way to let them out safely.

Is it a large enough garden for him to be happy with access to just that ? if so you could always cat proof it

http://www.beestonfencingcompany.co....ooffencing.htm

But having been an outdoor cat , unless its old and slowing down then it would be very hard to keep him indoors with no outside access at all.