And I can’t leave my door open 24/7, especially b/c of flies & bees. “I don’t advocate cats going outside, but sometimes you have to make a choice—allow [him] outside supervised for a while to get the mental stimulation they crave, knowing and owning the dangers—or keep them inside and try your best to keep them stimulated enough to be content indoors.”. Most of the time I was living in London, I kept her inside as my flat had nowhere to put a cat flap. “Cats may have nine lives, but they aren’t indestructible,” says Dr. Levy. How can anyone know this? “Annual exams, vaccinations, deworming, spaying and neutering are always important,” says Dr. Mosoriak. Cats that spend unsupervised time out of doors are exposed to a variety of potential dangers, not just the weather. There are no dumb questions, but check the rules and the FAQ first. As your cat continues to scratch and itch, it can lead to more serious skin infections. Why has her … I acquired my from a cat 6 months ago from a cat shelter. My cat is getting older (probably 13-14 years old) and he used to stay inside almost all day, going outside for a bit at night and then he would come back in now he stays outside virtually ALL day, except maybe 15 minutes, where he comes back in to have some food, then wants out. Can an Indoor Cat Be a Part-Time Outdoor Cat. An indoor cat generally has a simpler life than its free-range feline counterpart. After all, that’s their natural habitat. They train them to do that and can make sure they stay safe. Our 18 year old cat has become very vocal over the past few months, she does make some very loud strange sounding meowing. It's possible she simply does feel safe outside any more, and since she is becoming infirm it's a good idea to encourage her to stay inside so you can keep an eye on her. By asking these questions, a veterinarian simply wants to understand what a cat may encounter to ensure the cat’s health and well-being.” That’s true whether you allow your cat … She used to beg to go out. To help you make an informed decision that is first and foremost best for your cat’s wellbeing, and incidentally a decision you can really live with, we suggest taking a look at some of the most common issues associated with indoor vs outdoor cats. “If a cat spends any amount of time outdoors, no matter how limited or infrequent, the cat owner should mention it to their veterinarian so they can adequately discuss health risks to ensure the cat is properly protected from diseases, parasites and more,” says Nora Grant, DVM, veterinary services manager, Ceva Animal Health, Red Oaks, Texas. While this can be an emotional decision, it's often the most loving thing to do for your companion, particularly if she's in pain or has a significantly diminished quality of life. Why does my old cat keep crying to go outside. by susan (chicago, il) My cat is 16 years old and has been an inside cat all her life. “Administering monthly internal and external parasite control is especially important for outdoor cats.”. Dr. Chris Miller, AtlasVet DC: First things first, letting your cat outside at all is a big decision. This deterioration can cause disturbances in sl… My cat started doing this when she had a thyroid problem - would sleep outside even when it was cold and raining (foreverygoing out with cardboard boxes and blankets). This causes her to want to stay outside where she feels she can best manage the situation. He also cries as he does this, making it very annoying, especially in the middle of the night. I live in a basement flat with a garden, and there is a catflap in the back door so he can come and go when I am at work etc (I live alone). When they’re forced to stay indoors, they may start to eliminate outside the box due to anxiety, become irritable or overgroom themselves,” says Dr. Laura Emge Mosoriak, DVM, owner of Kingstowne Cat Clinic, Alexandria, Virginia. That’s why feline experts usually urge owners to keep their cats indoors. Inside she will feel trapped. It is best for me if they stay outside… “Cats that go outside do face greater risks,” she says. Sure, no one can deny that it will always be safer to “stay home and never going outside”. Weight loss, an unpleasant odor, and other symptoms of aging can indicate your cat may be approaching the end stage of its life, but the severity of the symptoms can help you determine how much time is left. Normally, he will stay indoors most of the time, and only go out occasionally, to do his toilet etc. They are designed to fit cats and prevent them from wriggling loose, but they do require training to get your cat comfortable and willing to walk. Sometimes an indoor cat gets bored and may get anxious being cooped up inside all of the time if it isn’t given enough stimulation,” says Dr. Mosoriak. Watch Queue Queue. In fact, deciding to let your cat outside or to keep her in the house does not have to be stressful for you or your cat. Please note that tying a cat outside on a leash is not a substitute for personal interaction and supervision. our 14 year old cat suddenly wants to be alone and is no longer a la p cat. “Like dogs, cats should be allowed outdoors for walks on leashes that are attached to harnesses, not to collars,” she said. By asking these questions, a veterinarian simply wants to understand what a cat may encounter to ensure the cat’s health and well-being.”. She no longer goes outside because she wanders and hides in brush or under tall plants. He still stays around the house when he's outside but my question is: Should I just let him stay outside? An indoor cat doesn’t face the increasing number of cars, toxins, parasites and instances of animal cruelty that a roaming outdoor cat does. Recognizing the signs a cat is dying of old age can help you make the best choice for your pet. It’s normal for a cat to want to go outside. It’s kind of obvious what my personal take is on whether I should let my cat outside given the website name… But I’ve done my research and if you live in an urban area, the short answer is no, it is not recommended by experts such as cat behaviorists and animal advocates to let your cat outside… “That’s why it’s important for owners to be especially attuned to their health.”. But one thing is letting your cat become wild, and another, is giving it access outdoors. And once fleas infest your home, the eggs get into couches, rugs, etc., making it not only difficult to remove them but also expensive. However, in the past month or so she keeps crying to go outside. For pet parents who do want to provide their indoor cats with some outdoor time, there are harnesses specifically made for cats, like the Red Dingo cat harness and leash. **Edit: he is fixed and I still set out food and water but there is no way of knowing if he or the other outside cats are eating it. Any time you see the cat lounging near the doorway, use an interruption such as a … Encourage your cat to stay away from danger zones with a few basic training techniques. “I encourage cat owners to be as frank as possible about how the pet spends its time. They also knew that he “was not a cat to approach people.” Webbie was also “very food-driven,” they said. She'd been abandoned by (or run away from) an owner who had taken the trouble to have her neutered. Its estimated that cognitive declinereferred to as feline cognitive dysfunction, or FCDaffects more than 55% of cats aged 11 to 15 years and more than 80% of cats aged 16 to 20 years. “Let the cat get used to the harness for short periods indoors, and then pick a safe outdoor area to explore.”. Cooling a Cat Down When It’s Hot Outside Switching on a fan may seem like the easiest way to cool off a hot cat. If Cleo’s problem does relate to another cat (or … Reviewed and updated for accuracy on June 27, 2018 by Katie Grzyb, DVM. Of course, an indoor cat (or a restrained outdoor cat) will not be doing much hunting, but you can simulate that activity with a variety of cat toys, like the Pet Fit For Life feather wand cat toy or the Cat Dancer wand cat toy. Depending on your cat's medical prognosis, there may come a time when you and your vet decide it's in your cat's best interest to make the compassionate and loving choice to euthanize her. And I don't want to let him in after he's been out there for a day or more unless I bathe him in flea treatment first. This is new behavior that has started in the past week. And, of course, cats should be spayed, neutered and microchipped. Fact: A study of 10 house cats and seven farm cats published in the European ecology journal Ecography found that on average, the house cats covered more ground than the farm cats — at night, the house cats moved within an average area of nearly 20 acres, compared to just over 6 acres for the farm cats. I suspect she has ‘pet dementia’. Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Animal Behavior Clinic Director at Tufts University offers some ideas that may help. Outdoor cats get that natural stimulation they need.”. My 6 year old indoor cat has recently become insistent upon going outside. She doesn’t want stay inside & she’s it sure if she wants to stay outside (or so it seems). I have gotten mixed advice about whether to bring them inside during cold weather. It’s no secret that the mean streets—or even fields—hold many dangers for an outdoor cat on its own. It kinda makes me sad to not have him inside around the house but if he's happier out there, should I just leave him be? And just bathe and bring him in when it's bad weather? I didn't know her age but the vet thought she was about 15 yrs when she died. My three cats stay outdoors because I am allergic. This video is unavailable. When you're letting cats outside for the first time, it's important that they be supervised and that they feel safe.How you do this depends on whether the cat is a kitten or an adult that has already been outside before. Cats should never be left alone outdoors on a leash or a rope extension. It may also involve testing out different types of cat litter to find the one that most closely mirrors what the cat was relieving himself on outside. Some say they are better left outside always so their winter coat stays thick; others say to bring them in. “Certain pet owners in New York walk their cats on leashes [with a cat harness, not a collar]. Dr. Mosoriak recalls one new cat owner who allowed her cat outside and didn’t realize that fleas infested her cat until she brought her cat to the clinic for an exam. “There are some cats that have lived outside. Outside, the garden was shared by a number of other cats. She has gotten out twice and been lost. As an example of assessing a cat’s personality, let’s take Webbie, a Burmese cat who escaped: Webbie “was not a cat who had previously seemed inclined to go outside,” according to the cat’s humans, Donna and Bill. Providing indoor cats with cat scratchers and cat trees is also a great idea. It's normal to notice that your aging cat's behavior has changed from when he was in his prime. I need advice guys. Normal Aging Process. I love my cat to death and I've had him since he was 2 weeks old but since moving to my new place, he constantly wants to go outside now. And the cats seem to enjoy it.”, One reason cats generally enjoy the outdoors is that it takes them back to their natural roots. Dr. Mosoriak and Dr. Levy have a host of favorite products that take care of fleas on cats and other parasites. If you do plan on taking your cat outside, it is best to do so in a controlled environment or with precautions put in place to ensure they cannot escape or run away. Watch Queue Queue Myth 5: My cat is safe when he goes outside because he stays close to my home. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Luckily, we found her. I love my cat to death and I've had him since he was 2 weeks old but since moving to my new place, he constantly wants to go outside now. Favorites for flea and tick prevention include Advantage Multi flea treatment, Revolution (also protects against heartworm and ear mites) and Seresto flea and tick collars for cats. An indoor cat may live 15-17 years, while the life expectancy for outdoor cats is only 2-5 years, according to researchers at University of California-Davis. If she goes to the toilet outside, I'm wondering whether she has a problem peeing or pooing and wants to stay out there because she feels as if she constantly wants to go. For helping your indoor cat feel at home, or for help transitioning your outdoor cat into an indoor cat, they recommend trying cat calming products, such as the Comfort Zone with Feliway cat diffuser and Solliquin supplements for cats. It may well be that there is a change in cat activity in the neighbourhood and she is anxious about this. Sometimes I’m hesitant to talk about my cats, in the same way that many of us are careful to steer clear of politics at family gatherings. If this is a new behavior that has started out of the blue, you may have to put on your investigative heat and start evaluating what changes may have occurred in your dog's … If your dog wants outside all the time, you may be wondering what is going on in his head. “I encourage cat owners to be as frank as possible about how the pet spends its time. A sick and dying cat probably "wants" the pain and misery to be gone. He adds that the extreme climates of the outdoors can be very hard on a cat. There is too much danger of their becoming tangled up, with the possibility of choking. And I don't want to let him in after he's been out there for a day or more unless I bathe him in flea treatment first. I question whether the cat "wants" to die at all. Adding levels with cat trees or a cat window perch gives cats a higher point to view their territory and their own place to explore, climb, knead and take cat naps on. It’s like our poor old cat doesn’t know what she wants. Cat behavior can be puzzling sometimes, especially when an indoor cat that seems content suddenly starts pleading to go outside. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. It is well worth a visit to the vet. Press J to jump to the feed. As they age, cats often suffer a decline in functioning, including their cognitive functioning. But when he goes inside he usually is right back at the door after a few hours. Fleas on cats, including the one Dr. Mosoriak treated, can severely irritate the skin and cause itchiness. Memory, ability to learn, awareness, and sight and hearing perception can all deteriorate in cats affected with FCD. DEAR JOAN: Our 7-year-old indoor/outdoor cat — she’s never out at night — all of a sudden doesn’t want to go out. The cat should then stay home until early evening, when the sun’s heat is less intense. “Keeping your indoor cat stimulated is important to [his] mental health. That’s because my cats live outdoors, which runs counter to the advice of many pet-care experts — including, strangely enough, me.. That’s right: I tell people to keep their cats indoors, but I don’t do so with my own. Caring for Stray Cats Who Prefer to Stay … She’ll meow to go out then seconds later want to come straight back in. That’s true whether you allow your cat to roam free, walk on a leash or even use a catio. He sits at the back patio door and scratches impatiently on the door like a dog wanting to go outside. The more comfortable life of an indoor cat significantly increases his lifespan. She is eating and drinking normally and urinating and detracting as usual. “It's important for owners to remember that cats are nocturnal, and in the wild, they'd be hunting all night and sleeping all day. Although Christine Capaldo, DVM, The PETA Foundation, Norfolk, Virginia, noted that “PETA's position is unequivocal: All cats should be indoor cats,” she agreed that supervised outdoor activity can be healthy if done the correct way. But that’s not always easy. Dr. Jeff Levy, DVM, CVA, owner of House Call Vet NYC, also discourages owners from keeping cats outdoors. We have noticed how she needs constant company. She went on thyroid tablets and eventually had it removed and lasted a few years after that. In the last month my cat seems to have developed some strange habits. Even if your cat has kidney disease, in some cases there are still things that can be done to slow down the progress of the disease and make your pet more comfortable. That takes training, but it’s important. For further information, see our advice on h ealth issues with older cat s. My 13-year-old cat seems to have perpetual diarrhoea. I need advice guys. ... 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