Cat got locked in lobby, should I still let them out?

*If this is in the wrong forum feel free to report so the mods can move it*

Since Minka, our older cat is an outdoor cat, we have decided that Lightning McQueen, our kitten can be one too. They never stray far from home and will always come when called.

This morning, before I went to school, I made sure both cats were inside. I found Minka sleeping, but Lightning was nowhere to be found. I went on my deck and called him, but he didn't come. I was about to be late so I just went ahead to the car. To go outside I have to go through the lobby, and that's where I found Lightning, meowing. I brought him inside, and went to school, wondering how he got in. He couldn't have let himself in because there is no way a cat can open that door. He wouldn't have followed anyone in, because he doesn't follow people unless they call him. Someone must have locked him in the lobby.

Both of our cats have been raised as outdoors, and they love having the freedom. But McQueen is young and a transition may be not as hard, and Minka being 8 isn't very active.
I'm starting to consider keeping them as indoor-only cats. When Minka was 3-4 years old she got ran over and paralyzed. Then when she was 6 or 7 her collar was caught in a tire and she was dragged. My friend used to have a cat named MammaCat, since it had kittens, and she got ran over, fatally. Her owner then got 2 females, Lexi and Perry. They both had a litter of their own. Lexi and her babies have been rehomed, but Perry and her son Micheal were killed by coyotes after being brought to live at their Grandma's farm. My other friend, who lives in BC, got 3 cats named Chief, Max and Vinnie. Vinnie had the same fate as Perry and Micheal, and Chief often fights with neighborhood cats. There used to be 10+ cats living a few blocks away, and now only 1 or 2 remain, many dissapeared for unknown reasons.

And now there's this. Is sacrificing my cat's happiness for their safety worth it?

(Also, they are both trained to potty outside, since the litterbox odor was too smelly to handle.)

Let me see if I have this right.  Your cat was found locked in the lobby??  You must live in and apartment building.  You know, allowing cats to roam outside is dangerous for their safety.  Anything bad can happen to them.  As far as going in the litter box and the box is smelly.  If you keep the boxes clean, scoop out at least once daily and throw out the litter and wash the box out with soap and water at least once weekly will keep the box from becoming smelly.  Also you might want to sprinkle baking soda in the box to help keep it fresh.  Making sure your kitties are safe living indoors I would think is worth much more than worrying about their safety when they are roaming the out of doors.  I can read that you have lost several cats who were out door cats, need I say more.  In regards to collars, I always make sure my cats wear the "break away" collars.  That way if they get caught on something, the collar will "break away" instead of strangulating your cat.  The fact you have multiple cats who will keep each other company while the family is away is a plus.  If you have a cat tree, big enough for 2 cats, balls and other toys, they can amuse themselves. 

I completely agree. I would think after the first incident, causing such trauma, that would have been enough right there, let alone the other things too.

Yes, as far as litter box odor, as long as you are scooping at least once a day, there should be no problem. I scoop after each use if I am home. First thing in the morning,etc..  If you scoop what's been left overnight, first thing in the morning, then again at night, that's twice a day, & should keep it fresh.

I also used to completely dump it, & wash it out about every two weeks, (& in between any messes left on the sides can be wiped clean w/ a disinfectant wipe), but that was w/ only one cat. Your cats will appreciate the box being as clean as possible, & you should have no litter box issues w/ them. If you have two cats, you may want two boxes, or at least one extra large one. When I had Angel, he was a big long boy, & a large litter box just wasn't big enough for him. (he ended up "hiney hanging" when pooping) LOL!  So, I got one of those under the bed storage boxes as a litter box. It worked great, & I think would be a good size for two cats. I have also sprinkled some baking soda in the bottom after cleaning it out, before filling w/ litter again. Just enough to cover the bottom. 

I know there are a lot of die hard indoor only people out there that will jump on the indoor-only regardless of situation. My cats are indoor/outdoor but I live in a house on a street that loops onto itself and my parents are at home all day most days. The cats also have free access in and out without a person needing to let them in and nothing can follow them in (unless its right on their tail the door auto locks after 2 seconds and work off implanted microchips). Despite recent problems they will continue to be indoor/outdoor with a curfew added in because of those problems. While I know there is a safety risk with outdoors access my cats love playing out there and I closely monitor and handle any problems they have from it. I also do annual check ups, vaccines and they are fixed and chipped. We have plenty of trees, hiding spots and fountains in our yard to keep them from going too far in search of play, water or sleeping spots. So I have taken every precaution to make it as safe as possible for them to be outside. 

 All that said, I'd go indoor only with yours. My biggest factor is that they don't have access to the home unless you allow them in. That can be very scary if they are in a bad situation and don't have a safe haven to get to. I agree with the other poster about the breakaway collars. I think in this case, the safety aspect outweighs them having outdoor access and a cat can have a very happy life inside only as long as they have toys and loving humans to make sure they aren't bored out of their little kitty minds. 

As to the litter box, it shouldn't be a major issue if it is properly handled. Mine have had times of house confinement and because of how I train they had them up to 6 months old too. You will probably want to have at least 2 litter boxes to make sure each cat has their spot and clean them at least once a day. I like using the little doggy poop bags when I clean because they seem to block the smell pretty good when I can't take them to the outside trash right away. You can look into the self cleaning boxes but they are pretty expensive and getting into a habit of checking morning and night isn't bad. But I am obsessive about keeping a clean box to the point that Link will come and yell at me to clean it after he goes (seriously, I have to keep two boxes for him because he won't pee and poop in the same box and won't use a dirty box). 

You'd also want to get a cat tree or two for them to climb/scratch. There are window suction cup shelves that would be worth looking into so that they can look out windows. I think if I had to go indoor only I would probably put a tree on either side of the window with a bridge made of the suction cup ledges going across so the cats could climb and look out. But considering the cats are used to climbing and scratching trees you will need a substitute indoors unless you want them to destroy your furniture. 

Thank you for your advice. However, I know the transistion won't be easy. If the balcony door is not open, they will wake us up and meow until we let them out. How do I transiton them if they've been raised as outdoors?

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago when I socialized and brought in from the out of doors a female feral cat.  Feral cats, as you know are used to doing their business in dirt and you want them to start using a litter box filled with litter.  Here are a couple of options for you.  You can combine some potting soil into the litter poured into a litter box, and as time goes on, use less potting soil, until you are exclusively using litter in their boxes.  Living in an apartment building, the next suggestion may not be possible, but if you are able to round up a piece of their business, bring it upstairs and deposit it into their litter box, they will get the idea what that box is for because they will smell their business in the litter box.  Now, you may not have to do either of these suggestions, it was just that I had a terrible problem getting Suzie to use the litter box as opposed to going outside to do her business.  Your cats may go for the boxes right off the bat.  One more thing, you do know the old antage, have 1 more litter box than the number of cats you have.  In other words, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes.  (Some cats like to do one bodily function in 1 box and the other in another box. 

I don't know if I should start a new thread for this, but I have discovered a lump near Lightning's thigh. It is not attached to anything and is moveable. He hasn't had his shots or anything and didn't have it before. It is about an inch wide and round. What could this mean? I'm taking him to the vet soon.

First guess is a newly forming abcess. But the vet will be able to confirm or deny.

Lightning MUST be vaccinated and neutured before he is allowed outside anymore. That is INCREDIBLY dangerous. How old is he? It is not recommended to let a cat younger than nine months out. They are too immature.

That said, I would move both cats in. The risks you've described are a death sentence.

talkingpeanut said:

Lightning MUST be vaccinated and neutured before he is allowed outside anymore. That is INCREDIBLY dangerous. How old is he? It is not recommended to let a cat younger than nine months out. They are too immature.

That said, I would move both cats in. The risks you've described are a death sentence.

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He's 5 months. And I want to keep them indoors so badly, but my stupid parents are still letting them out even after I explain the risks. Heck I've even wrote a note and taped it to the door saying don't let the cats out. Yet they continue to let them out.

Novathekittycat said:

He's 5 months. And I want to keep them indoors so badly, but my stupid parents are still letting them out even after I explain the risks. Heck I've even wrote a note and taped it to the door saying don't let the cats out. Yet they continue to let them out.

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You need to talk to your parents again. I understand that you are trying and in a difficult situation. Do they plan to get Lightning neutered and vaccinated? He at least needs to stay in until then.

talkingpeanut said:

You need to talk to your parents again. I understand that you are trying and in a difficult situation. Do they plan to get Lightning neutered and vaccinated? He at least needs to stay in until then.

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Yes we do plan on getting him neutered/vaccinated. Also I did talk again last night but I found both the glass door and screen door open. I mean if you need air open the screen door! It's like they are purposely waiting for something to get my cats. And they think I TORTURE my cats by trying to keep them inside! I mean I love my parents and all, but sometimes they can be complete Idiots.