I recently moved to an urban area in the UK from a rural location in the US, bringing my two-year-old cat with me. He was accustomed to roaming the countryside on my 10 acres back home, but here I've had to keep him in the house all day because I'm concerned that the area is not suitable to let a cat roam. As a consequence he's gained a considerable amount of weight and seems quite bored (less frisky, anyway), and I'm considering allowing him to go outside if he wants. The trouble is I'm quite nervouse about this because the area where I live is busy. It's near the university so there is a lot of student traffic, noise, cars, and people. This is all very foreign to him. On the upside there is a large public park very close to my house. But he tends to be very person-friendly so I'm concerned that he will gravitate toward people, some of whom may not be as friendly as he thinks--a lot of drunk college students around. Anyway, this is the situation. Advice?
2007-02-10 23:09:35 · 21 answers · asked by pat800 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
LET HIM OUT WHEN HE IS ALREADY ACCUSTOMED TO THE PLACE. AND TRY TO CHECK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IF CATS ARE ALLOWED TO ROAM AROUND. CATS COULD FIND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE INSIDE YOUR HOME OR IN A CAGE.
2007-02-10 23:23:14 · answer #1 · answered by john 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Hey
there are certain things you can buy that is like a cage for a cat almost like a closed in screen porch that you put together outside that backdoor or something there was a show that is filmed in the UK that is on the Animal Planet the name of the show is called Barking Mad and they had an episode that was similar to what you are going through try looking into something like that, the cat loved the new playground lost weight and didn't risk getting hit or stolen by drunk college students. Keep me updated as to what happens after you get all the answers yiou need
2007-02-11 07:26:07 · answer #2 · answered by miseryluvscompany 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Is your back garden big enough for a play area? If it is build him an enclosure. Make it as big as space permits and fill it with loads of homely things and toys. This way you give him the pleasure of the outdoor with the safety that you want for him. You could make it so that it's attached to your house in some way that he can come in and out as he wants. Another option would be to take him out on a harness and lead but most cats don't like this.
The car park would worry me and not be an upside. Car parks can be very busy and if your cat should run from under a parked car, he wouldn't be that easy to see by another driver trying to park their car.
It's lovely that you've brought your cat over with you, a lot of peope would have given it away or abandoned it. Well done you.
2007-02-11 09:36:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Don't let the cat outside. He is not used to a urban setting and while he may with time and exposure...Do you really want to risk his safety until he does?
Do you had a porch? How about you open the blinds and cracking a window. This way he can watch the going ons. Cats love windows. He can be just a happy inside as outside. He just needs time to acclimate himself.
Also pick up some inside cat food. Nutro make a stellar kind.
Here are some links to help you decide. The second is the better.
2007-02-11 08:46:49 · answer #4 · answered by lorrieface 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO NO NO!! PLEASE don't let him outside! He is used to the country and has no idea of the dangers of the urban area. YOU, as the 'person' are the one who has to make wise decisions for your cat. Here are some OPTIONS you might want to consider:
1. Purchase a harness and leash and consider taking him outside for walks - yes, they usually take YOU where they want to go, but it would get it out of the house for a short while everyday and SAFELY.
2. Make a completely enclosed "cat run" outside with wire fencing - and make it strong enough that he can run around inside but cannot get outside.
3. BUY HIM A KITTEN - kittens are full of energy and will keep him running and playing all day - he will completely forget about wanting to go outside :-) Most animals who are alone in the house need a companion to play with - in this case, he DEFINITELY needs one - check with a local shelter and give a kitten or energetic cat a home. Both cats will be forever grateful!
Hope one of those works for you! Best of luck and PLEASE don't let him outside..............for his own good. A very nice (well, we *thought* he was anyway) man in our neighborhood some years ago kept a barrel of water in his garage and every time he could catch a cat, he would tie a cord around it's neck, then tie the cord to a huge brick and drop the cat and brick into the water and the cat would drown!! He did this to probably 50 -60 cats before someone found out and ratted on him!! There are SICKOS out there - please don't let them have your beloved cat!
2007-02-11 08:38:52 · answer #5 · answered by ferretexpert01 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
NO, NO ,NO.DO NOT LET HIM OUTSIDE. Get some Cat Food STRICTLY for INDOOR CATS. Not only will he end up being killed by a car, or some idiot, he MAY try to go back to where he lived before. I know that is impossible as to where you have moved to, BUT HE does not know that. AFTER you have lived there for a few months, gradually introduce him to the outside. Get some NEW TOYS and PLAY WITH HIM a great deal for the exercise he needs. Also watch how you feed him if he is not as *frisky* as you put it. When he gets comfortable with his new home, he will improve. DO NOT reinforce his behavior by changing every aspect of his life. There is so much more I could tell you but time will not allow it.
2007-02-11 07:23:01 · answer #6 · answered by Ex Head 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No it is proven cats live a longer life if kept inside. I have a stray that now wants nothing to do with outside, I had another that was poisoned the vet thinks she drank antifreeze she died, also they are in touch with all kinds of hazards pets that are sick passing it along, cars, people who don't like cats I am sure you have heard of those horror stories in the paper, the list goes on. I think maybe get your pet abuddy a kitten or one grown unwanted stray from a shelter. He will have something else to occupy his time and he will live longer than my 3 year old amber who got poisoned with something.
2007-02-14 05:38:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a kitten and i live near a main road he got his tail ran over but fortunatly suvivedtake him out on a little bit of string around the area for a while and then soon he will get the idea of where he lives. For the drunken kids problem ask them if when they see your cat to ignore them or you could let your cat roam from like 10 am to 5:30 ? then that will get him a bit aware of them. However seeing as he is 2 years old he is a fully grown adult so will be a lot more mature then a small kitten
2007-02-11 09:37:55 · answer #8 · answered by PaIgE c 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I presume that the cat went through the normal quarentine coming into this country. If the area is as busy as you say then do NOT let the cat out as it will not understand the difference in environments. If you must let it out then take it out on a cat harness and leash. The exercise and fresh air will do both of you good.
2007-02-11 07:32:22 · answer #9 · answered by artemis_of_the_woods 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is another answere on the, we need to make a cat fence question, one of the ladies who answered it put loads of links in which may help you find a good retailer to help keep your cat in a yard or garden. Take a look. I'm having the same problems so I'm reading over the sites carefully. I'm scared of the things you are. So good luck to you.
2007-02-12 23:33:59 · answer #10 · answered by Rumpleteaser 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seem to live in an area which is not suitable for pet cats.They tend to be unhappy as indoor pets.
The best you can do is play with him a lot and hope he is happy for a while,then when he settles let him out.
2007-02-11 14:32:28 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋