Re: OT Cat Advice Needed
Hi Daryl-
What you are describing is just normal cat behavior and likely has
nothing to do with the fact that he was outside when you found him. All
of my cats have always done what you describe and I think it's just
curiousity (you know- that inherent cat quality that often results in
their untimely demise). Anyway, don't assume you need and
indoor-outdoor cat. He still can be just an indoor cat (just like
mine). I take mine out on a harness to hang out with me sometimes- they
seem OK with this. I always have to shoo them back from the doors with
I come in and out (unless it is pouring down rain). I too have replaced
screen on the slider after an overly excited cat climbed it.
And generally speaking, cats do not come when called, they don't know to
avoid roads, they will climb over your fence (and other things will come
into your yard that route too), and the average life-span of a cat
outside is only 2 years. Are you sure you want to let your cat be outside?
Theresa
Daryl wrote:
Diesel really loves being outside, and spends hours either on the screened
porch or perched in an open window. I thought he'd be a happy inside cat, but
I guess he spent too long outside before we brought him in.
Anyway, a year later, and he still wants out. A couple of times he's dodged
out with the dogs. Once, he cruised out while I was slaving over the drawing
board and didn't realize that the dogs had opened the door a bit. Another
time, he apparently pounced at a bird or chipmunk, and pulled the screen right
off the porch pillar.
Anyway. He's let me pick him up and bring him in each time. I've been careful
not to pick him up the first time he approaches me in the garden, so that he
doesn't associate me with a quick trip inside, and when we're inside I've been
trying to teach him to come when called (yeah, laugh at me- I've only had dogs
before), but I'm sure there will come a time when I can't pick him up and
he'll out-stubborn me.
So. For those of you with indoor-outdoor cat experience - do they just wander
in when they get tired of being outside? Do they come when you call? Have you
been able to teach them to avoid roads? We've got a fenced yard, but a 4'
chain link fence is no match for an athletic cat, I"m sure.
d
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