Feeling Guilty Not Letting Cat Out

I feel terrible because my 8 mo spayed girl wants to go out so badly. She's running from window to window where I have a cat tree and perches so she can watch the birds in the shrubs but it's just making her frustrated.
I realize this is common so I guess I'm just wanting confirmation that I'm doing the right thing for my cat because I feel guilty!!

I play with her all the time and have an auto Laser hunt and feather grabs for her. Will she get use to being inside?

I have 2 small older dogs that I take in and out and she sits in the window and cries at us.

fidola said:

I feel terrible because my 8 mo spayed girl wants to go out so badly. She's running from window to window where I have a cat tree and perches so she can watch the birds in the shrubs but it's just making her frustrated.
I realize this is common so I guess I'm just wanting confirmation that I'm doing the right thing for my cat because I feel guilty!!

I play with her all the time and have an auto Laser hunt and feather grabs for her. Will she get use to being inside?

I have 2 small older dogs that I take in and out and she sits in the window and cries at us.

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If you have a fenced yard or it's safe from stray dogs you can get a high quality cat harness and teach your cat to walk on a leash.  Letting her roam to make her happy might also make her dead very quickly.

If you let her out unsupervised she will be torn apart by wild animals or hit by a car. She could also be poisoned, shot, strangled or trapped and killed by angry neighbors.

If I were you, I would draw the drapes so she can't see outside. Don't feel guilty. You are saving her life.

fidola said:

I feel terrible because my 8 mo spayed girl wants to go out so badly. She's running from window to window where I have a cat tree and perches so she can watch the birds in the shrubs but it's just making her frustrated.
I realize this is common so I guess I'm just wanting confirmation that I'm doing the right thing for my cat because I feel guilty!!

I play with her all the time and have an auto Laser hunt and feather grabs for her. Will she get use to being inside?

I have 2 small older dogs that I take in and out and she sits in the window and cries at us.

Click to expand...

I think everyone who has an indoor only cat(s) feel this way at some point. The running from window to window hunting birds is normal. You can release some of that stress with a wand toy with feathers for some interactive playtime. For every person who has a 15 year old indoor outdoor cat there is one that lost theirs at a very young age to predation, stray dogs, cars or humans. Everyone has to make this choice for themselves and their cat. We have coyotes and stray dogs so the choice is easy.

Let me tell you of a personal experience. My neighbors when I still lived in the city had a gorgeous kitty they let out. One day a man knocked on their door holding a Rubbermaid container lined with a towel. When they answered he said "I'm sorry for your loss Your cat ran in front of me and I couldn't stop in time." When they uncovered the towel there was the lifeless body of their beloved pet. They felt so guilty for ever letting her outdoors in the first place they never got another pet.

I have the same issue...can someone recommend a really good harness I can get so she can be outside with us this summer?? We tried a regular cat leash but she backed out of it so easy & was starting to walk away (thank goodness my husband caught her quickly)...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I agree with IndyJones. Letting a cat out is way too dangerous. They're at risk for being infected with FIV, FeLV, heartworm, getting hit by cars, getting into fights with other free roaming cats, (or dogs, foxes, coyotes, etc.,)

The average life expectancy for an indoor cat is 15-20 years... only 4 years for free roaming cats. You're saving her life by keeping her indoors. There are plenty of ways to keep an indoor cat stimulated and entertainined.

rocket1212 said:

I have the same issue...can someone recommend a really good harness I can get so she can be outside with us this summer?? We tried a regular cat leash but she backed out of it so easy & was starting to walk away (thank goodness my husband caught her quickly)...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

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You could do a search here or start a thread about harnesses . I don't think for any pet, cat or dog I would buy one over the internet. Go to a pet store and look at the harness especially how they close and how sturdy the hardware is.  You would want something that if everything went wrong your cat could not break it or pull out.

Kittens Mom said:

You could do a search here or start a thread about harnesses . I don't think for any pet, cat or dog I would buy one over the internet. Go to a pet store and look at the harness especially how they close and how sturdy the hardware is.  You would want something that if everything went wrong your cat could not break it or pull out.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042AMNYU/?tag=&tag=thecatsite

My Kabby has a harness like this he wares in the car. He can't get out of it and there are two rings above the buckle where the leash attaches so even if the buckle snaps the harness stays on

make sure your kitty is used to being touched on her belly. my honeybee HATES it. I tried to harness her-it was a complete failure. for now run your hands on her belly and sides because most of those harnesses touch the sides/belly and if you can get her used to it then you will have an easier time. Is she short hair or long hair? my Honeybee is a fuzz butt long long hair. my other cat Pumpkin Face is short hair and she took to the harness like she was meant for it. She didn't walk too well in it but she put up with it. She was around 4 to 5 months old when I trained her on the harness. Honeybee is now 6?7? years old and that could be why she isn't liking it. I don't know how old honeybee is..had her since jan 2013 and she is still as frisky and energetic as she was in 2013..4 years I have had her!! Where did the darn time go?!

Some harnesses have Velcro=that may work for dogs but cats=the noise of it coming off may spook them....kittens mom is correct...you are better to look at them in person. Some online ones have it like a sleeveless jacket. It's definitely worth a shot. They also make kat strollers now too if you want to walk around the neighborhood..I want to get honeybee one..she usually rides my shoulder but in the summer it gets hot pretty fast.

I wouldn't let her roam. Too many nut jobs out there unless you can start with a harness and train her the boundaries of the yard. the best bet is build fencing around a few trees and grass for her so she can still lay in the grass but not escape.

The leash attachment with flexi attached as modeled by Kabby.

IndyJones said:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042AMNYU/?tag=&tag=thecatsite

My Kabby has a harness like this he wares in the car. He can't get out of it and there are two rings above the buckle where the leash attaches so even if the buckle snaps the harness stays on

Click to expand...

I have several like that. I take a harness with me when we have take the cats anywhere even though they're in their crates. I had a really nice one for Kitten when she flew with me. Because of the continuing coyote problem largely caused by my neighbors who will not secure their trash we don't walk out cats. The see the doors going outside as a scary and we make sure they are scared. It's about the only rule cats in the house have to follow. Get Back.

Because of a cats anatomy you need a harness made just for them. As the old joke goes a cat can turn around in it's own skin.

Unfortunately a lot of the cat harnesses are too small or choke my cat I have had no issues with the step in harness plus it has a backup if the buckle snaps or breaks