Cat problems solved

Hello! I'm a very silent member of this forum. I read several posts when time permits and I've only posted on a couple occasions.

We have a couple of cats, one of them has been a "problem" cat. Always very vocal, always destructive, etc, etc. Some of the suggestions that were posted in reply to my threads helped somewhat, but not all.

Well, this past Christmas we purchased our first home (exciting!) so we are no longer stuck in a small apartment.

We have a nice big fenced in yard. And so one day we decided to see how they'd behave if we let them go outside for a few minutes. They seemed to enjoy it so we would do it more and more often for longer amounts of time.

Now when I get home, they come running to me, I let them out to the yard and they spend a few hours outside every afternoon/evening.

When it gets dark, I call their names, and they (usually) come right in and they go to sleep. We've been doing this for about 3 or 4 months now and it's part of their routine and are used to it.

The best part of this is that our "problem" cat is no longer a problem cat! She seems so much more relaxed and happy. She now loves to be petted, sleeps next to me every night, does not destroy anything, she is not vocal, etc.

I realize that the whole indoor/outdoor debate can be a bit controversial, but I just wanted to share how all our problems have gone away since we let them play in the yard for a few hours a day. What a difference!

I think the debate part comes in when it is not safe for the cats to be outside. I know if I had a cat-safe place, I would allow my two some outside time every day. That is my dream

Its wonderful that your cat has settled down and is enjoying life. Good to hear your voice as well Congrats on your new home!

oh that is good news for all concerned

I am glad you have found a solution and it would be great for you to stick around and maybe post some photos of your kits enjoying the outdoors
you know how we love photos

Behavioural problems are much rarer in cats that get to be indoor/outdoor cats. When we confine the cats to indoor only, they are safer but we can pay the price in mental their mental health (that is an exception if you keep the cats properly but can happen nevertheless)

Where I grew up all cats are indoor/outdoor cats. (It was in iceland where we have first of all no dangerous predators that could get at cats, fleas are barely heard of and most houses have fenced in gardens and the car traffic is usually not much. The country is isolated enough so that the entire island is free of most (but not all unfortunately) cat diseases).

Anyway behavioural problems are practically unheard of in cats back home. Litterbox problems, scratching, excessive vocalisation, overgrooming etc. pretty much doesn't happen so I'm not surprised to hear of your experience.

Here's a really good article on indoor/outdoor pet keeping http://www.messybeast.com/indooroutdoor.htm

It's really interesting to read this thread because I'm debating that issue right now with one of my cats. Rocket just seems very restless and unhappy indoors. I do take him out on a leash once a day, but I have to wonder if he would be less restless and happier if I just let him go out. I understand the dangers and drawbacks and that's why I still haven't done it.

I have 1 cat who is miserable and makes every other cat in the house miserable when she can't go out. We have another cat who just drives us crazy when she can't go out; one that likes it, but doesn't get desperate, and one who probably wouldn't notice if she couldn't ever go out again , so I know what you mean! I'm glad it's working out for both of you.

When my SO was growing up, he had a bunny which had a harness. They attatched to harness with a long leash to several 15 lb weights that he could not drag around and put it in various places in the fenced yard where he could not get it caught on things. I wonder if something like this would work for cats. I tried a runner with the clotheline for Scooter and Fluffy, but they hated it. I would like to have mine out, but we live in a cul-de-sac off a very busy road and it is much too dangerous.
I am very glad to hear that being outside for a few hours has made your "problem cat" much happier.

Cats can get out of a harness. I'd be concerned leaving a cat outside unsupervised. I might come out later and find an empty harness lying on the ground.

Originally Posted by coaster

It's really interesting to read this thread because I'm debating that issue right now with one of my cats. Rocket just seems very restless and unhappy indoors. I do take him out on a leash once a day, but I have to wonder if he would be less restless and happier if I just let him go out. I understand the dangers and drawbacks and that's why I still haven't done it.

Click to expand...

I think cats are like people in this way, some of them need more adventure to be happy.
and being adventurous is a little risky

Oh my gosh, no, you can't restrain a cat outside unless you're right there with him -- something could attack him, and he wouldn't be able to get away!

Please don't leave a cat leashed up unsupervised... It's a very bad idea. I do however bring PHX outside on a leash sometimes. I live in a condo, so sometimes I let him come out without a leash and play on the patio or roll around on the ground. He will walk freely from my place to my neighbors- his door is like 3 feet from me... And so far he hasn't wandered away- as long as someone is always outside watching him!

Now, I am going to explain to everyone why I do NOT want anyone leashing their cat and leaving them unsupervised.... years ago my brother had our cat on a leash and he had to run to the bathroom really quick so he left the cat tied to a chair By the time he got back the cat had obviously jumped up onto the chair then jumped down on the other side- tangling the leash all up- and strangling himself..... To this day my brother is scared to touch cats because he's afraid he'll kill them. **PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU**