is a garage a prison??

Well, we're facing a dilemma now... Rocket is doing better, though he's not entirely up to 100%. However, he's healthy enough to start asking to be let outside again. Well, for now he can't go until we're done giving him all his medicines. However, ultimately we have to choose.

We can't give him the run of the house *all* the time, because the other cats (especially our Siamese [Yoda]) will harry him. For now, we've been locking him in the garage most of the time, then giving him the run of the house while we're home (this means mostly on weekends).

Most of my life I felt that it was unfair to a cat to lock them up indoors, it was rather like locking them in prison, they *so* enjoy wandering around outside (especially in our large, feral yard). However, with more recent cats in the past decade, we've been keeping them inside except when *we* go out back, and we don't allow them to leave the yard - if they jump on the fence, they go inside for the rest of the day. Believe it or not, that actually works, though it requires regular monitoring on our part.

I'm not sure how Rocket will fit into all this, though. For now, he's reasonably happy (or accepting of) living in the garage most of the time. When he comes into the rest of the house, he usually sleeps on milady's bed, but we can't let him stay in there at night because he's too active, we don't get any sleep. So ultimately, he'd spend most of his time in the garage, with house access on weekends. We put my wife's blanket under a shelf in there, and he *loves* to hang out there (he used to sleep in her lap, I think it reminds him of comfort, though he *doesn't* climb into her lap anymore).

So, is that unfair, given that he's lived all his 13+ years outdoors? Should we just leave things like this and see if he gets upset about it? I think, at this point, we'd like to keep him in for the rest of his life, given his marginal health, so we can monitor him and be near him. One of the things we *didn't* like about outdoor cats is that they don't bond to us nearly as much as indoor cats do, and we don't feel as connected to them. We'd like to be closer to him for the rest of his life, especially my wife, who has a powerful bond with him (we call him "my competition" !!).

... and yet, I can't easily shake the feeling that I'm locking him up in a prison, and depriving him of that beautiful yard that he loves so much. One thing is for sure - if we let him out, he will go straight to the back fence, jump over it, and be gone until he feels like coming back, which might be tonite for dinner, or several days from now, or never...

One thing I realize is that this question is exceedingly close and inter-twined with the indoor/outdoor thread that has been active both recently and for all history, but when I was reading through that thread yesterday, it seems like there's no clear consensus there either... ???

Any thoughts or insights would be grateful welcomed here!

Here is my insight on this subject. Better safe and a bit bored, than sorry and a bit gone. . I have heard so many stories, especially this time of year with cats missing and disappearing and never returning. Believe me, you dont want to go through that kind of misery and wonder. it will stay with you a lifetime, the not knowing. At his age and with some health issues, he is better off kept indoors and he sounds like he enjoys the comforts of home. I would try to make the garage fun for him. Add tall cat trees and scratching posts. If there is a window, make it special for him and easy access to look outside. I even know of one rescuer who brings in large tree branches for their rescued cats to climb on, claw and chew. Play some music when you are gone. Leave special food or treat balls for him to knock around. Is there a friend who can join him? It sounds like you and your wife really love Rocket and I would not risk the dangers of the outdoors, especially since you say he could scale the fence and be gone. What about an outdoor enclosure? Safe, secure and he could be outside for a bit. I do not think the garage or any other small room is a prison for a cat. Plus he is allowed in the house on the weekends, and eventually he might get so well adjusted to be allowed inside on a more permanent basis.

Even small spaces are fine if there is enough mental stimulation. Most garages have no windows though, and if there is no one else to interact with... yeah, kinda sucky.

He is a senior cat getting up there in years. Plus with his health, I think it would be best to keep him in the garage and let him have his in the house visits as often as you can..This way you will be sure nothing will happen to him if he is let outside again.
Give him plenty of attention and he should be fine with his new living arrangements. A inside cat is a safe cat

Don't feel guilty. As long as he has things to do and occupy his little head, I'm sure he doesn't feel sad.
Perhaps get him a low-effort toy to play with when you're not there (low effort on his part, if he's feeling his age), like a fling-ama-string or a puzzle box.

And btw, to clarify, I am 100% for indoor only feline environments, as I just find that its better for the environment, respectful of property rights, safer and more sanitary for the caretaker, and definitely much safer for the cats.

My own garage has no proper insulation or air-conditioning, no windows, next to no light, and is barren save for some dangerous automotive chemicals, pesticides, and so forth. In the rest of the home, I have windows for watching and pouncing on birds and bugs at night bouncing on the glass, to trees and perches and shelves, with lots of toys, and playmates, and hunting for greenies I hide, and interaction with myself, guests, and playtime for mental stimulation. So for myself, I wouldn't feel good about the garage specifically compared an inside room or better the whole house, but its a judgment call on your own place and how its setup (or not) to work for your circumstances.

Recently I've been trying to remind myself that cats aren't human.

I tend to think they're reacting to something the way I feel, rather than the way a cat ?thinks?

We now have 8 cats - all inside.

One of the strays - Buddy (pic below) is now confined to a room by himself. He is well cared for - maybe even better than if he'd stayed with his original caregiver. His original caregiver hadn't gotten him neutered - I think that's how he made it to our house.

When he arrived I placed ads on the internet, in our local newspaper, and asked around while looking at "LOST" posters at our vet's office, and in Pet stores. Got a few inquiries, but Buddy wasn't the cat they lost.

I often am very sad about his original caregiver and how he/she must be at a loss - wondering what happened to their beloved cat. He could have just escaped from his home ?? no chip, though. They wonder, and cry (I'm just sure of that) if he's still alive, or if another human mistreated him, or if he ended up in the animal shelter with a expiration date - I'm sure they will always wonder and try to live with the worst of thoughts.

When the first stray (Gray) came to us, I worried each night, when he came to be fed, if he would make it back - or - if he'd been in some sort of fight.

I don't have that worry any longer. Yep, it is a challenge having 8 cats living inside with us - but, then - we're managing - just like it seems that you are - his living quarters may not be what you'd prefer - but, he is alive and safe.

Otis stayed in the garage the first 5 months I had him. We had dogs and Otis was so tiny, I didn't feel safe giving him the unsupervised run of the house. After much dog and cat training they all now tolerate each other and Otis comes and goes as he pleases.

The new issue is him going outside. Now he meows angrily at me if I don't let him out. The last time he escaped he ended up 50 ft up in a pine tree and couldn't get down. He spent 6 hours up there before I finally climbed up after him. I'm scared to death of heights mind you. By the way, firemen don't do that kind of thing anymore just to let you know.

Anyway long story short Otis goes out under very supervised conditions. Once he grows up a bit more and gets bigger then maybe I'll let him go outside by himself. So to answer your question. No garages aren't bad as long as you give him plenty of food water and toys. And play with him too. They love hide and seek. Or at least Otis does.

Wait... cats aren't human?? \t

Anyway, thanks for all the comments, it sounds like y'all agree on keeping him inside. That's pretty much what we'd like to do, too, so I think we'll plan on that.

The one problem that we have to solve is that, as some of you noted, the garage doesn't have any windows... I wish there was some way I could partially-open the garage and then string a fence across the front so he could "read the paper", which he enjoys doing. I'll have to do some thinking about that. OTOH, when he *does* have the run of the house, he mostly tends to sleep on milady's bed, right by the big window with lots of light. Maybe that will be sufficient for him.

Thanks for your comments and insights! Hopefully we'll have many more years with our sweet Rocket.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

, and hunting for greenies I hide

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GREAT idea Ducman, hadn't thought of that one .

Originally Posted by derelict

The one problem that we have to solve is that, as some of you noted, the garage doesn't have any windows... I wish there was some way I could partially-open the garage and then string a fence across the front so he could "read the paper", which he enjoys doing. I'll have to do some thinking about that.

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The only other suggestion I would have for being able to open up the garage about one foot. would be to get one of those exercise pens that are about three feet high. You might have to get two to make it the length of the garage and they can be hooked together with double ended snaps (those come with the pen). I would run that along the inside of the garage and keep it in place with some very heavy objects. Although, thinking about this, I wonder if Rocket would somehow wiggle it loose and get out. Just thinking outloud . Ya know, you could have a window installed, maybe . Unless you live in a condo/apt. complex then that wouldn't be allowed. It does sound like Rocket loves his time in the house on your milady's bed . Maybe some other's have some ideas about how you can open the garage door and safely keep Rocket in