Hi. I am new to this site and not sure if this is even the right forum, but I have a dilemma and hopefully I can get some suggestions. A little background first; I adopted a cat a year ago from the Humane Society shelter. This is the first pet I have had in about 20 years, so I am not as knowledgeable as I once was when I had several cats . At the time of the adoption, the cat was believed to be 1 year old, so she is 2 now. The Humane Society did not know anything about her life before she arrived at their shelter- they guessed on her age and knew that she had had a least one liter. She had been sent to them from the County Animal Control service. When I brought Gina home, she was naturally scared and hid for a good while. She was coming out to eat and use the box but it was several weeks before she would really interact with me. Eventually, she began to spend time with me and I feel that we bonded; she would rub her head on me, allow me to scratch her head and under her chin and occasionally her belly. But other than that, she was not terribly affectionate. She would not let me hold her, would not lap-sit or sleep with me. She would lie next to me as I sat on the couch but that was about it. She showed no interest in the toys I got her but did eventually come to use her tower. She was always extremely skittish and never really seemed to “relax”. Every little noise made her run off. When she sat with me on the couch, for example, if I shifted my position or coughed – off she went. The toaster popping up or the AC kicking on would also make her run.
Regardless, I love her very much and took good care of her and talked and sang to her.
She was strictly indoors. She got out a couple of times in the past year, but turned around and came right back in, so I wasn’t too concerned. I was trying to figure a way to get her some access to the outdoors, like a cat lanai, but I am in a rental house so I cannot add pet doors, etc. or do any construction.
Well, now comes my dilemma. This past Sunday, she got out of the house again and will not come back. It was Sunday morning when she did a runner and I tried to get her back and so did my boyfriend but we could not and we were late so I had to leave her out. I worried about her until I got back later in the day. No sign of her and no sign of her all through Monday. On Tuesday, I put out a bowl of kibble and water on my back deck and eventually she showed up – with a couple of friends. There are a few “yard cats” on my street that I see all the time. I tried to go to her, talking to her, etc. and as long as I stayed on the deck and she stayed in the yard she was content to sit and stare at me. The minute I took a step towards the yard, off she went. So, do I just let her be a yard cat now? Is she truly does not want to come back inside, I feel forcing her would be cruel. What is the best option?
My street is a dead end, very little traffic and it is an old neighborhood so the road is narrow (2 cars going opposite cannot be on the road at the same time) so we all drive slowly. I live in Florida so cold weather is not an issue and, as I said, there are about 5 other yard cats on the street who just sort of hang out – not even sure who they belong too although they are all well fed and healthy looking. Gina is spayed but still has her claws and has caught and killed a couple of mice that got into my house, so she can hunt. And I have no problem continuing to provide kibble and water on the back deck – though I am likely to adopt another cat to have inside.
Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to give enough details for an informed opinion. I miss her and miss her company but mainly want her to be happy and if she is happy in the back yard, should I just let her stay there?
Regardless, I love her very much and took good care of her and talked and sang to her.
She was strictly indoors. She got out a couple of times in the past year, but turned around and came right back in, so I wasn’t too concerned. I was trying to figure a way to get her some access to the outdoors, like a cat lanai, but I am in a rental house so I cannot add pet doors, etc. or do any construction.
Well, now comes my dilemma. This past Sunday, she got out of the house again and will not come back. It was Sunday morning when she did a runner and I tried to get her back and so did my boyfriend but we could not and we were late so I had to leave her out. I worried about her until I got back later in the day. No sign of her and no sign of her all through Monday. On Tuesday, I put out a bowl of kibble and water on my back deck and eventually she showed up – with a couple of friends. There are a few “yard cats” on my street that I see all the time. I tried to go to her, talking to her, etc. and as long as I stayed on the deck and she stayed in the yard she was content to sit and stare at me. The minute I took a step towards the yard, off she went. So, do I just let her be a yard cat now? Is she truly does not want to come back inside, I feel forcing her would be cruel. What is the best option?
My street is a dead end, very little traffic and it is an old neighborhood so the road is narrow (2 cars going opposite cannot be on the road at the same time) so we all drive slowly. I live in Florida so cold weather is not an issue and, as I said, there are about 5 other yard cats on the street who just sort of hang out – not even sure who they belong too although they are all well fed and healthy looking. Gina is spayed but still has her claws and has caught and killed a couple of mice that got into my house, so she can hunt. And I have no problem continuing to provide kibble and water on the back deck – though I am likely to adopt another cat to have inside.
Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to give enough details for an informed opinion. I miss her and miss her company but mainly want her to be happy and if she is happy in the back yard, should I just let her stay there?
