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
~*Connie*~ - 07 Oct 2004 17:37 GMT
no cat ever has enough "experience" to live safely outside. There are too
many outside forces that could harm your cat. Yes.. there are cats that
have gone outside all of their lives and lived till they were 20, but the
average life span of a cat that goes out is dramatically shorter than an
indoor only one.
> 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
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Iain
rinn - 07 Oct 2004 18:42 GMT
You have to start with slow, supervised visits to the outdoors. We only let
our cats out for about 1 hour each day for a couple of weeks or so, when we
were out there with them. Then it got longer and longer. Now, they are out
from 5pm until 9:30 pm. They know when we call them to come in - we also
shake the treat can to get them in. Also, when they are indoors, make sure
they have an open window to sit by to get used to the outside smells.
On the weekends, they are allowed in and out all day during daylight hours.
Make sure she has ALL her shots.
> 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
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Iain
mlbriggs - 07 Oct 2004 19:19 GMT
> 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
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> really clever, neuteren, girl, but she's my first cat and I want to be
> sure. How can I?
If you want to keep the cat , keep her as an indoor cat. If you haven;t
done so as yet, have her spayed and immunized.
Outdoor cats don't usually live as long or stay as healthy. It's a cruel
world out there for kittens and cats. If you love her, keep her safe.
Iain - 11 Oct 2004 16:59 GMT
> > 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
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Outdoor cats don't usually live as long or stay as healthy. It's a cruel
> world out there for kittens and cats. If you love her, keep her safe.
Firstly, see my reply to Wendy. Secondly, because of "-ized", I assume
you're North American. British environments are much more
cat-friendly(no rabies carrying racoons, less cat haters, etc). Also,
I live in a quiet village.
Anyway, I want to keep her indoors, but want to make her an outdoor
cat so she can't stray if she gets out.
~Iain
kaeli - 11 Oct 2004 20:18 GMT
> Anyway, I want to keep her indoors, but want to make her an outdoor
> cat so she can't stray if she gets out.
Having had cats my whole life, all my indoor-only cats wouldn't (won't) go
outside if you pay them.
Just keep her inside. Take her out briefly to show her where the door is. If
she gets out, more than likely she'll plaster herself to the door trying to
get back in.
That's what mine do, anyway. :p
If you get her to like being outside, it will be cruel to keep her in all the
time. Don't let her learn to like it if you don't plan on letting her go
outside, either supervised or not. I have one girl who likes to go out and
she's miserable if we don't go for our daily walks (inclement weather the
usual cause of that). Being in the States in a busy area, she's only allowed
out on harness with me. But it's quite obviously the highlight of her day.
She's been going out on harness since she was 8 weeks old.
The other two, who have never been outside other than on my balcony and to go
to the vet, get VERY upset if I try to take them downstairs. They bee-line
back for the door and cry to go back in.
If you DO bring her out, and she learns to like it, be prepared to be letting
her out to deal with all the dangers of the outdoors (which depending on
where you live might be minor or major). You might find yourself going out
and getting hit in the a.s with snowballs so your cat stays happy, if you're
anything like me. *LOL*
And whatever you do, if she goes out, check your car hood and behind your car
before you start it/leave. I've read about tragedies where the family cat was
killed because it crawled into the car engine to warm up or was sitting in
its own driveway as the car backed up. Actually, if your neighbors let their
cats out, do this as a matter of course.
Anyway, good luck.

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Wendy - 07 Oct 2004 19:49 GMT
> 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
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Iain
You really can't be sure. If you let the cat outside unsupervised you don't
know what she's in to or where she's going.
Not that your reasoning is any of my business, but it isn't making a lot of
sense to me. You said you want to have the cat outside so she doesn't get
out via your many exits? She might "escape" so to avoid that your just going
to let her out there before she can leave by herself? I fail to see much
difference (maybe I'm thick). What's the difference between her escaping out
the patio door and your letting her out? Hey she's still out and your in. If
you let her out do you think that will stop her from leaving on her own if
the opportunity presents itself?
Is there some reason you can't continue to take her out on leash? Had the
cat indicated she even wanted to go out before you took her out there?
W
Iain - 11 Oct 2004 16:55 GMT
> > 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
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> to let her out there before she can leave by herself? I fail to see much
> difference (maybe I'm thick).
If an indoor cat gets out she strays, if an outdoor cat gets out, she
doesn't(generally speaking). Hence whether or not I need to worry
about her escaping.
~Iain
Luvskats00 - 07 Oct 2004 22:18 GMT
iain_inkster@hotmail.com (Iain)
writes
>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).
How bout making her an indoor cat, instead. You keep the doors open to the
outside or something?
Iain - 13 Oct 2004 09:17 GMT
> iain_inkster@hotmail.com (Iain)
> writes
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> How bout making her an indoor cat, instead. You keep the doors open to the
> outside or something?
There are often too many people in the house and too many doors to
keep track of and it's inevitable that she'll sometimes get out.
Besides, we have a great garden and great nieghbourhood.
~Iain