Cat Question: My cat is afraid to go outside.?

Question

Ok, I got my cat at a shelter when she was eight weeks old. We got her spayded because they wouldn't let us have her unless she was. Anyway when she was little we took her outside a few times, but all she did was meow at the door. A year later I had to grab and keep her from clawing me to pieces and put her outside and she tore up the screens on the windows to try to get inside. She is now three years old and hides whenever door opens. But she sits on the window sill and stares out the door when no one is watching. How can I get her to be a outside cat? Oh, yeah she also started breathing with her mouth open when we put her outside, kinda like hypervenilating.

My dad is threatening to get rid of her because the house stinks, and she sheds, and kittyloves on furniture. She will wonder outside if we leave the door or window open for like an hour, but pests might get in. She also likes it better at night, and there are dogs next door, but she doesn't mind them. She doesn't even look in their direction when they bark. Also my cat I last had lived to be 16 years old before he died of old age.

Answer 1

I, personally, think it is far better to keep your cat in the house. She won't get run over, be attacked by other animals, eat poison, be stolen or a million other things that can bring heartbreak and or pain or death to you or your cat. She obviously feels danger when she's outside. Leave her alone or give her to someone that will appreciate her.

Answer 2

WE adopted our cat from the shelter a few years ago.. We were told that she had been abandoned outdoors for 5 months, before she was picked up by the shelter... She was very thin....Now she is an indoor only cat and weighs a happy 15 pounds.....She will sit by the windows and sliding doors for hours on end watching the happenings of outside...birds, squirrels, deer, dogs, other cats, etc. and she has absolutely no desire to go out... Why would she want to be on the other side of the glass and have to search for food and shelter again when she lives like a princess inside.. That being said, we still NEVER leave the doors or windows open. (WE WOULD MISS HER WAY TOO MUCH). Enjoy your kitty

Answer 3

Lol. Sounds like your cat has agoraphobia.
But anyway, there is plenty of info on making an outdoor cat an in one but not vice versa. As a matter of fact, the pet world doesn't seem content with letting cats outside and neither seems your cat. But if you want the best of both worlds, You can creat a cat enclosure around your home. It can be really cheap. I know this is kinda disappointing answer but its better for your cat's health.(The average Life span of an out door cat is 5 years vs. 15.)

Answer 4

Don't worry--I have a cat the same way. What happened to mine was that when he was a kitten the other cats would beat him up. He was always so afraid of getting jumped on by the other cats. So maybe something like this happened to yours. Something scared it and/or hurt it when it went outside. Let your cat just stay inside---It's not going to be happy alone outside---it likes being inside looking out because it feels protected by the windows and by you!!!!

Answer 5

LOL it seems like you have the peanut gallery for the most part telling you to keep your cat in. But you don't have to. The cat may be afraid at first, but I think with a little time and patience, your cat will slowly adapt to going outside. Also, maybe you can butter your dad up to get a kitty door if you clean the house. If the cat knows it can get to safety at anytime it may be more happy to go outside. I've had several cats that went outside from time to time and I see other people's cats outside. I don't see anything particularly wrong with that, I don't let my cats out without supervision because they are not fixed. (One may get fixed but only because she's more my fiance's cat than mine) I personally feel it's best to treat my cats the way I'd want to be treated, and I definitely would prefer someone to keep me indoors if I was in heat rather than to put me through major surgery...plus kittens are so fun even if the cat does accidentally get pregnant. I haven't had any pregnancies with my current cats however, because I've been really good at making sure they don't get out at all while they are in heat. I wouldn't take a cat from a shelter that would force me to fix the cat. I personally think it's cruel despite all the propaganda spouted on TV and here. To each their own I say, as long as you aren't abusing the cat!

Answer 6

Something scares the cat early on. You can either help the cat overcome their fear or have them indoors. I'd helpthe animal with the fear, no animal should live in fear of ANYTHING.
Take it a little at a time, when she gets funny, back inside, but each time, with her in your arms, she'll learn that with you there there is nothing to fear. One step at a time. No trauma at all, just empowerment.
So many people would just say leave the cat indoors, I'd rather help the cat with that fear since that can only mean a happier cat.
Most people also confuse the lifespan of a indoor/outdoor cat with that of a feral cat, it's feral cats that don't live long, my indoor/outdoor cats have always lived full and happy lives, over 15, as most of ours do since we've taught them about outdoors not just let them run around.
And for goodness sakes do not declaw the poor thing.

Answer 7

Hmm, I would consider myself lucky. For many people the problem is that once their cats get a taste of outside they cant keep them in. It is VERY true that statistics strongly show that indoor cats have a much longer life span compared to outdoor cats that can fall victim to cars, other animals, diseases, cruel people etc etc. Get your kitty some toys, a good scratching post and perhaps a window perch and be happy she has a much better chance of living a long life with you.

Answer 8

Sounds exactly like my male cat. He's terrified of the outside and will practically claw thru me to get back in. He also get's figgity if you hold him close to a door or window. I have no idea, but I assume because he, like your cat, was a shelter cat. He went into the shelter at a very young age and was probably never exposed to the outside. I tried a few times, to see if he'd like going out on a leash with my other cat, but he just wasn't interested. No big deal, when she goes out on her leash, he just stays inside and watches.

There is absolutely no point in making her go outside if she's afraid. All you will do is traumitize your cat.

Was her lip curled back when she started breathing thru her mouth? She may not have been hyperventilating, then. It's called 'flehmen reaction' or 'flehming.' She is drawing in air, capturing the scent, and transferring it to a small specialized sac called the 'vomeronasal organ' or 'Jacobson's organ.' It can give them a better idea of the scent of something, more than just their nose can. The outside is filled with all sorts of new smells, so it wouldn't be unusual for her to exhibit this behavior. Of course, she could very well have been hyperventilating, though.

Regarding the outside in general - it is a better idea to keep them inside. No, you won't protect them totally from fleas or other parasites, but it will protect them from other dangers - cars, other cats and dogs, wild animals, cruel people, and the elements. If you still want to let them out, try to only do so during the day time and try to supervise. Allowing them to free roam day and night is risky, but having them outside on a leash, or in a cat enclosure, is ok.

Somebody else said to declaw. Please do not. It serves absolutely no benefit to the cat, is only for human convenience, and is not worth the risk of anesthesia. It's also illegial in about 25 countries, so hopefully the USA will catch on soon and this common practice will disapear.

*edit*

Theresa - telling people to spay and neuter is NOT propaganda. I really have no idea how you can say that. Each unwanted and unhomed kitten born is contributing to the MASSIVE pet overpopulation problem. Do you know how many "adorable" kittens and puppies are euthanized each year because they couldn't find homes? The HSUS estimates 3-4 MILLION.

Spay/neuter also dramitically cuts down on the instances of testicular, ovarian, uterine, and mammary cancers. Unneutered male cats will also roam far and wide for mates - and are often involved in fights, which result in injury, disease, and sometimes death. Unspayed females are subject to a deadly uterine infection called Pyometra. Not to mention, the enormous stress placed upon her body while she is in heat, pregnant, and nursing.

News for you - the shelter where the OP got their cat is very much in the norm. You'd be hard pressed to find a shelter or humane society that didn't spay/neuter before an animal is adopted out. One of their biggest aims is to stop pet overpopulation, and spay/neuter is the only way to do it.

Do you think your cat would rather go thru heat cycle after heat cycle, or have a simple surgery to stop it all together? Going thru heat is not easy on their bodies, so why a person would continue to let it happen is beyond me.

Simply put - if you care about the health and longevity of your own animals, than you will spay/neuter. If you want to decrease the pet population, and help those in shelters have a better shot at a home, than you will spay/neuter.

Answer 9

I'm wondering whether when you took your cat outside, when she was smaller, if you stayed with her. As a kitten, they will be afraid to be there alone, so they will not stay unless you are there. We took our kitten out when she was younger, but stayed with her on very short visits, until she was older and braver. She loves to run around outside and climb trees, but we never make her go outside, unless she goes to the door and "asks" to be let out. We will never make her stay outside, even though she is used to it, as the animal should be happy with the situation, and comfortable with the idea of being outside or inside. Now that your cat, for whatever reason, is not too comfortable with the out-of-doors, you could try a couple of things: You could try what one of the other responders said, connecting your cat to a long lead, and let her be close to the house. I suspect she may become scared and hide underneath something, or get tangled in bushes or something else. You could also try just feeding her outside the door, and then letting her back inside when she is ready. If you force her to stay outside when she becomes frightened, that will simply reinforce her fear of the outside and she will become more afraid. If you just cannot keep the cat because your dad says she cannot stay inside, then you may need to contact a rescue league. They would be able to assist you in finding a home where she would be allowed to stay inside if she is more comfortable with that situation. Rescue leagues often operate out of local Petcos and Petsmarts, holding adoption days on weekends. Contact the store manager to see if there is a league connected with a store in your area. If that is the case, then go on a weekend they are having an adoption day and speak to them about your kitty. You can also look on the site called Petfinder.org. On this site you will find leagues advertising the pets they are trying to adopt out. You can type in your zip code and do a search as if you are trying to find a pet for yourself. Then you will find the contact information for the leagues in your area. If you contact these people and need to leave a message, you may be wise not to specifically say you want them to take a cat from you, as you may not get a return call. Just leave a message for a return call about cat adoptions, and give the info. when they call you back. But the Petco or Petsmart may be the best option if you decide to find a new home for your kitty. Please do not force your cat to stay outside for any period of time, as she may run away, or run into the street if frightened by a noise or other activity outside, that she may be unfamiliar with. Maybe you could get some toys for your cat, especially with catnip in them, and spend some time playing with her. Additionally, you may try using a climbing structure inside your house to amuse the cat. Any time a cat pants with its mouth open, this indicates extreme fright, and causes excessive stress to the animal.

Answer 10

Well for Heaven's sake, why force her to go outside? She clearly doesn't want to, so just let her be an indoor kitty!

I'm a big advocate of allowing cats to go outside if they want - unlike most people on here - but no point forcing her if she doesn't want to, and she clearly doesn't!

By the way, you got her 'spayed' not spayded :-)

Kagome is a typical example of people who keep their cats inside based on misinformation - cats are not safe from fleas if kept inside, and what diseases can humans catch off cats may I ask? Rabies and toxoplasmosis - and keeping a cat indoors does not make you safe from toxo. And indoor cats do not have longer life expectancies.

Chalice