Acoming an Outdoor Cat

I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

you can never be sure that a cat is not going to stray, and you can
absolutely never trust that some moron in a car wont deliberatly run her
down even if she's on the side of the road. my advice is to keep her inside
and only outdoors on a leash when you are there. if she is left alone
outdoors there is also always the chance that a roaming dog or animal will
find her and she will have no protection
"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

I would strongly advise that you change your current plans and work on
helping your indoor/outdoor cat to become an indoor cat only (*instead* of
the plan you mentioned of making her an outdoor cat). Outdoor cats are
vulnerable, even in the "safest" of neighborhoods -- all it takes is one car
at the wrong door or an encounter with one unfriendly dog or even coming
upon some people with evil intentions. All of my cats (during my adult
life, that is) have been indoor cats. One had been feral, and he adjusted
to the point where eventually he did not show any interest in the outdoors.
All of my cats have been healthy, happy, truly loving companions. It *is*
essential for you to provide a variety of toys, scratching surfaces, and
climbing areas for your indoor cat. I would strongly recommend some very
sturdy scratching posts and a very good cat tree. I got mine at
www.createacatdondo.com. Please reconsider your options.

MaryL

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

I would strongly advise that you change your current plans and work on
helping your indoor/outdoor cat to become an indoor cat only (*instead* of
the plan you mentioned of making her an outdoor cat). Outdoor cats are
vulnerable, even in the "safest" of neighborhoods -- all it takes is one
car at the wrong door or an encounter with one unfriendly dog or even
coming upon some people with evil intentions. All of my cats (during my
adult life, that is) have been indoor cats. One had been feral, and he
adjusted to the point where eventually he did not show any interest in the
outdoors. All of my cats have been healthy, happy, truly loving
companions. It *is* essential for you to provide a variety of toys,
scratching surfaces, and climbing areas for your indoor cat. I would
strongly recommend some very sturdy scratching posts and a very good cat
tree. I got mine at www.createacatdondo.com. Please reconsider your
options.

MaryL

Just curious MaryL, what happens when it comes to yourself and your family
members?

Do you keep yourself indoors with toys to protect yourself from predators,
or do you venture out and just hope for the best?

**** happens. When it comes to cats - some people do have evil intentions,
but just remember that evil intentions are not restricted to cats.

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message ...
"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

I would strongly advise that you change your current plans and work on
helping your indoor/outdoor cat to become an indoor cat only (*instead* of
the plan you mentioned of making her an outdoor cat). Outdoor cats are
vulnerable, even in the "safest" of neighborhoods -- all it takes is one car
at the wrong door or an encounter with one unfriendly dog or even coming
upon some people with evil intentions. All of my cats (during my adult
life, that is) have been indoor cats. One had been feral, and he adjusted
to the point where eventually he did not show any interest in the outdoors.
All of my cats have been healthy, happy, truly loving companions. It *is*
essential for you to provide a variety of toys, scratching surfaces, and
climbing areas for your indoor cat. I would strongly recommend some very
sturdy scratching posts and a very good cat tree. I got mine at
www.createacatdondo.com. Please reconsider your options.

Ideally she'd be an indoor cat, but I don't want to have to worry
about her escaping each time I open the door(I'd rather she just
loitered outside for an hour without straying so that I can retrieve
her). I have four entrances downstairs(including patio doors) and many
windows. What I want is something that is technically an outdoor cat
but one that is scarcly outdoors(for the reasons you describe).

Yes; I provide toys, attention, a large house and lots of play for
her.

~Iain

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

I would strongly advise that you change your current plans and work on
helping your indoor/outdoor cat to become an indoor cat only (*instead* of
the plan you mentioned of making her an outdoor cat). Outdoor cats are
vulnerable, even in the "safest" of neighborhoods -- all it takes is one
car at the wrong door or an encounter with one unfriendly dog or even
coming upon some people with evil intentions. All of my cats (during my
adult life, that is) have been indoor cats. One had been feral, and he
adjusted to the point where eventually he did not show any interest in the
outdoors. All of my cats have been healthy, happy, truly loving
companions. It *is* essential for you to provide a variety of toys,
scratching surfaces, and climbing areas for your indoor cat. I would
strongly recommend some very sturdy scratching posts and a very good cat
tree. I got mine at www.createacatdondo.com. Please reconsider your
options.

MaryL

Just curious MaryL, what happens when it comes to yourself and your family
members?

Do you keep yourself indoors with toys to protect yourself from predators,
or do you venture out and just hope for the best?

**** happens. When it comes to cats - some people do have evil intentions,
but just remember that evil intentions are not restricted to cats.

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message ...
"Iain" wrote in message
om...
I have a semi-indoor cat. I want to make her an outdoor one so I don't
have to worry about her escaping through any of the many exits(patio
doors, conservatory, etc). I live in a cat-friendly neighbourhood but
my cat six months old has only been out on a liesh thrice a week on
average for about ten minutes each time. She was off the liesh briefly
during that time.

I think she has enough experience of outside to not stray, and is a
really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
sure. How can I?

~Iain

I would strongly advise that you change your current plans and work on
helping your indoor/outdoor cat to become an indoor cat only (*instead* of
the plan you mentioned of making her an outdoor cat). Outdoor cats are
vulnerable, even in the "safest" of neighborhoods -- all it takes is one car
at the wrong door or an encounter with one unfriendly dog or even coming
upon some people with evil intentions. All of my cats (during my adult
life, that is) have been indoor cats. One had been feral, and he adjusted
to the point where eventually he did not show any interest in the outdoors.
All of my cats have been healthy, happy, truly loving companions. It *is*
essential for you to provide a variety of toys, scratching surfaces, and
climbing areas for your indoor cat. I would strongly recommend some very
sturdy scratching posts and a very good cat tree. I got mine at
www.createacatdondo.com. Please reconsider your options.

Ideally she'd be an indoor cat, but I don't want to have to worry
about her escaping each time I open the door(I'd rather she just
loitered outside for an hour without straying so that I can retrieve
her). I have four entrances downstairs(including patio doors) and many
windows. What I want is something that is technically an outdoor cat
but one that is scarcly outdoors(for the reasons you describe).

Yes; I provide toys, attention, a large house and lots of play for
her.

~Iain

Hi Lain. Like all the others are saying, I agree that you should keep
kitty indoors. All my cats were strictly indoors and they still are in
a way I should say.
It is way too dangerous to let your cat to roam Last year there was a
racoon that had rabies in the yard and it approached the cathouse and
continued around the yard. I followed it around or a while and called
animal control. They said it definitely had drabies and had to destroy
it. I am thankful my kitties where not roaming at the time.

All my cats were always indoor cats. I had a situation a few years ago
where I had to move in with a friend who had no room especially for 7
cats! I had to make an outdoor condo for my kitties. I bought an 8X12
shed (aluminum siding, windows, insulation. heating. etc). I attached a
kennel to the shed so the cats stay enclosed at all times unless
supervised.
Things didn't work out so I moved out 3 years later and took the cat
condo with me. I am now working at a garden center on a farm and live
in the back in a schoolhouse that is now a rental for me. The cat condo
is right next to me. I can see it right from the huge window in my
bedroom. My cats never had it better! They have a beautiful view and I
evenn planted a garden for them. I wish I can take them all inside with
me but the place is just way to small. Even just for me.
Please check out my cat webpage:

http://www.geocities.com/mitchumgirl4/OURCATS.html

There are pics of them when they lived in normal houses with myself and
my twin sister and current ones.



:-)
Jane

wrote in message ...
It is way too dangerous to let your cat to roam Last year there was a
racoon that had rabies in the yard and it approached the cathouse and
continued around the yard. I followed it around or a while and called
animal control. They said it definitely had drabies and had to destroy
it. I am thankful my kitties where not roaming at the time.

I want my cat to be indoors nearly all of the time. My concern is that
I have a very "open" house, with lots of doors opening and closing,
and I don't want her to stray just because she's been out the house
for half an hour before I notice. In other words, if she escapes I
want it to be no big deal, even though she'll almost always be inside.
I thought I could do this by taking her on a tour of the neighbourhood
on a leash, but can I?

I'm guessing from what you said about the raccoons that you're North
American. Here in Britain it's thought much more normal for cats to
roam(and some feel guilty about keeping them indoors), and you can't
walk down a village street without being greeted by one.

However, I take the threats of outdoors seriously and want to keep her
indoors.

Things didn't work out so I moved out 3 years later and took the cat
condo with me. I am now working at a garden center


It's funny you should mention that; my local garden centre has a cat
in it and is always sitting on atop the till, with it's tail hanging
down, everytime I go there! It doesn't seem to mind the near queue of
customers carrying potted plants.


Please check out my cat webpage:

http://www.geocities.com/mitchumgirl4/OURCATS.html

There are pics of them when they lived in normal houses with myself and
my twin sister and current ones.

They're nice pics, although the big ones seem to be missing

~Iain

"Iain" wrote in message
om...
wrote in message
...
It is way too dangerous to let your cat to roam Last year there was a
racoon that had rabies in the yard and it approached the cathouse and
continued around the yard. I followed it around or a while and called
animal control. They said it definitely had drabies and had to destroy
it. I am thankful my kitties where not roaming at the time.

I want my cat to be indoors nearly all of the time. My concern is that
I have a very "open" house, with lots of doors opening and closing,
and I don't want her to stray just because she's been out the house
for half an hour before I notice. In other words, if she escapes I
want it to be no big deal, even though she'll almost always be inside.
I thought I could do this by taking her on a tour of the neighbourhood
on a leash, but can I?

Taking my cat out on many tours of the neighbourhood on a leash worked very
well.

We went around the block on the leash many times and when she turned up our
walk "on her own" a few times, then I knew where she lived, so I released
her. Her turning up the walkway ahead of me, on her own told me that she
knew where she lived.

That was three years ago and there have been no problems.