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Cat Help/Advice
MamaWolf
The wolf pack guides all to safetyRegistered User regular
The wolf pack guides all to safetyRegistered User regular
My husband and I need some advice/help!
We have a cat that used to be an outdoor cat for around 8 months, possibly more, in the fall of 2018. During those 8 months about 6 of them she was an indoor/outdoor cat. We took her indoors when she was attacked in May of 2019. She has been an indoor kitty since then (with the occasional escape once in a while). Recently we have grown a trust with her and started to hold her and carry her while we walk around the house outside. When we return indoors, she meows for about 20 min and then a few hours later will meow at the door. We understand that we may have to train her to understand that only certain times will we go out.
The advice/help we need is to know if we should continue to take her outside like this or if we should stop and just have her remain indoors?
We have a cat that used to be an outdoor cat for around 8 months, possibly more, in the fall of 2018. During those 8 months about 6 of them she was an indoor/outdoor cat. We took her indoors when she was attacked in May of 2019. She has been an indoor kitty since then (with the occasional escape once in a while). Recently we have grown a trust with her and started to hold her and carry her while we walk around the house outside. When we return indoors, she meows for about 20 min and then a few hours later will meow at the door. We understand that we may have to train her to understand that only certain times will we go out.
The advice/help we need is to know if we should continue to take her outside like this or if we should stop and just have her remain indoors?
"May the moon watch over you and keep you safe through the night, 'till the morning comes and MamaWolf can protect you through the day"
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I don't think carrying the cat around outside is really doing much for the cat. She's probably really wanting to roam and explore still.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
Maybe see if she just wants to be held and carried around the house for a bit, and see if that works?
I can has cheezburger, yes?
While it may be very fun for you, cats are interested in almost exclusively in exploration, territory control, breeding and murdering things for fun.
I suggest getting a harness/leash specifically designed for cats if you insist on taking her outside. Let her explore some bushes and stuff near your door for a few minutes and then bring her back inside at first. The harness will take getting used to, but they can work well. She's not meowing for you to come take her out, she wants to be let out to kill some things and check on her territory.
I have three cats, they are indoor only because even well fed cats will kill everything they can for sport. They're genocide on four legs. I've used a harness and walked my cats to the mailbox or sat on the balcony with them while reading or something and it works well. Even should you decide against a harness, don't 'baby cradle' a cat and go outside thinking it will feel protected and not bite and claw you if a dog barks or another cat is noticed. Cats defensively require mobility and height, there's a good chance it will shred your arms and face trying to get on top of your head and freedom to move.
I suggest investing in a ScatMat if she starts clawing at the door or frame and doing damage. They're very safe and effectively set an off-limits boundary the cats will obey without question. I've been shocked by mine many times when I have it on the countertop and I forget about it when I get up in the morning.
Some cats even like being walked like dogs, so you might be surprised how well yours adapts to the concept. A neighbour of ours takes hers up and down the street every day (especially in the rain which the cat really likes??? Weird, weird cat over there.)
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Make sure the harness is designed to place the pull of the leash across their chest (and this goes for any harness for any pet.)
And yeah, letting cats roam unsupervised isn't healthy for them or the environment. It's easier if the cat grew up being an indoor cat, but even outdoor cats can be acculturated. If you have a yard that can be secured, that can help a lot, but just remember that cats can leap surprisingly high.
PA has a long and storied tradition of requiring pics of any pet in accompanying threads.
My apologies, I was unaware here are some now:
Cause if it's recent, that wrapping paper has really held up. I should look for another roll in my post-holidays stocking up.
Last picture of from last December! She loves her boxes