Cat Doesn't Want To Go Outside Anymore

My cat Semper is 6 years old. He has always been outside during the day and inside at night. If it is raining, sometimes he would come in during the day.

About 4 - 5 weeks ago, he just didn't want to go outside. He isn't acting any different in any other way, he just doesn't want to go out. Should I be concerned?

If you think that health wise nothing has changed with him.hes eating  normally. Maybe something really scared him so he doesn't want to go out. I would be glad a inside cats is a safe cat
 

He seems to be eating and drinking fine. There hve always been 'scary things' out there! At least to me! In the summer, he won't come in until late, sometimes 10 pm or so. The weather isn't bad so i can't blame that. It just realy makes me wonder... 

Yes, something surely scared him into having no interest in being outside. It will last for awhile too, they seem to remember when something frightened them, maybe was chased by a dog or something else, etc.

I agree as well, inside is def. safer anyways!

That's a good thing. Trust his instincts and keep him in!

Whenever you have a major behavior change, I always tell people to err on the side of caution. A vet visit may be in order, just to ensure it was simply that he got 'spooked' by something outdoors, rather than some sort of health problem.

It's just so odd. He looks great, eating and drinking fine and acting normal. Can't even begin to imagine what could have scared him so badly! He is still fairly young and so I didn't think that he is just 'getting old' and wanting to hang around.

He used to go out in the morning and we wouldn't see him again until night time, then it got to be  that he would go out and wander for awhile then come back and sleep on a patio chair for a good part of the day. Then he just stopped wanting to go outside at all. He has the opportunity because the back door is open most of the time for the dogs & kids to go in and out.

white cat lover said:

Whenever you have a major behavior change, I always tell people to err on the side of caution. A vet visit may be in order, just to ensure it was simply that he got 'spooked' by something outdoors, rather than some sort of health problem.

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He definitely should be checked out.

Could a new cat have moved into the neighborhood, or a wild animal be hanging around? We get foxes around here, and most of the neighbors say they know when they're outside because the cats won't go out.

Exactly, or an unfixed bully male, hard to know but if his behavior indoors is the same, and he is peeing fine, etc I would assume he knows what he's doing, probably a near miss with another animal.

Hopefully when he is ready to go back out, whatever scared him has moved on, etc.

We always have wild creatures around, but they come out at night. He would always come in at night. We have lived here for 5 years and he knows better then to stay out at night!! Well, I am going to give him another week or so before I take him to get checked. Unless of course he starts acting sick. He stays in m y room for the most part, and he has always slept with me and that hasn't changed. Still looking for affection and rubbing his head against me!

It's likely something scared him, could of been something as little as a noise (rather, a loud noise) or an animal he's never seen before.

My cats had never seen a dog until the nieghbors dog started coming around, neither of them would go outside for a few weeks after that, eventually they got bored and started wanting to go out again, if he's got a territory set up, it won't be long until he wants to get out and defend it again.
 

Keep your cat inside , all the time. Something unpleasant is out there that he encountered, luckily he got back home. Now is the opportunity to keep him safe inside with you. No cats should be outdoors when it gets dark out, if they are outside make sure to round them up just around dusk to come inside.
Also take him to the vet before he shows symptoms , cats hide their discomfort very well. Has he had his vaccinations? Hope he is ok. Keep us posted.

Well I had to put him out yesterday, I was getting my carpet cleaned and I figured it was the best time to move my bedroom furniture around.

He 'disappeared' (like he always does) fo most of the morning and then he was back sleeping on the patio chair in the afternoon. He was gone again and then back in in the evening. He stays in my room 99% of the time he is inside. He didn't act any different after being out. And he didn't freak when I put him outside. I think he is at the point, for some reason, that he doesn't want to go out anymore.

I will update when/if anything changes!

Did your cat eventually go back out because I am having the same problem. I have had Frankie for 6 months and she is 2 years old. Was always out and stays out a couple of hours then comes back and then back out again. I found a sore on the back of her head/neck which has now scanned over but she doesn't seem to want to go out. It's winter now so could it be the fact it's too cold and windy at the moment? She doesn't seem to be playing as much either,spends a lot of her time sat on the window sills watching out the window. Goes out in the morning but for the last couple of days,as soon as she comes back for her breakfast,she doesn't want to go out again. I am getting a little bit worried now. It's only been a couple of days but it's not like her. Do you tbi k she could of had a fight hence the sore on the back of her head/neck. I hope your cat is ok. Thanks.

I think your little one has been badly frightened and sounds like  physically injured as wel.The cut on her neck says it all but remember if a cat gets bitten by another cat infection often sets in so its vital you take your little one to the vet immediately.  Cats will go very quiet and don't go out much when they have an infection so please take her/him immediately.

If there is no infection then In terms of not wanting to go out, cats remember very good but also very bad things so my guess is that she/he has been traumatised

One of my cats went missing just before Christmas . She only use to gout for an hour or so I knew something was wrong immediately.

After 8 hours of calling her I finally found her unharmed just scared stiff.  She refused to leave my side for 4 days and was constantly on alert

But its now 3 months on and she still will only go out with me and even if I am outside she will suddenly run into the house as if the devil himself is chasing her. I had her checked immediately by the vet (after she calmed down of course) and there was nothing physically wrong so without a doubt she hast been traumatised and suffering from a PTS type issue.  The therapy I am trying for her is to let her do what she feels is right and not push it.  If she wants to go out then I accompany her and ensure she can hear my voice every so often.  Slowly if she goes out of my eye line I don't call her and ty to extend the time I don't call her each time  ( well until I panic) but I am hoping she will get some of her mojo back by doing this.  But I am also playing with her in the house so she doesn't get bored..

Yes I miss her frantically climbing the trees , yes I get upset seeing her so scared at times but she is getting a bit better and she is safe.

Bye the way my other 2 cats are also showing signs of not wanting to go out and I think its the new cat next door so again its a case of watch, support and let them do what comes natural to a cat and that is protect itself.

One thing...in my opinion,  on no account force her to go out as this will traumatise her/him more.

Hope this helps

Hi I'm new and finding this forum really helpful. Me and my cat have recently moved and wherever we have lived she has always gone out and explored but not since we moved into the new place so I am finding all your replies really helpful.

charlemarsh said:

Hi I'm new and finding this forum really helpful. Me and my cat have recently moved and wherever we have lived she has always gone out and explored but not since we moved into the new place so I am finding all your replies really helpful.

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i have a cat 13 years old who up until we got a new puppy a year ago lived to go out. now a year later she hardly ever goes out. i had to get her a little box because she won't venture out. she use to use the back door and window to go out and that was fine because she loved our previous dog and they would often play together. this new pup i think is more than she can handle.

I'd say you hit it right on the head.......
At 13 yrs old, she is calmer and is likely overwhelmed with the energy and spunk of the puppy.
Pup has taken over the peacefulness of the backyard so she prefers to avoid dealing with him and stays in.

Glad you all think a healthy indoor cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat that now, after 3 months of not getting off her box I had to put on the top of the microwave on a kitchen countertop is safer! If she doesn't get over this idiocy soon, one of us is going die!