Adjusting a cat to the outdoors...?

Question

My cat has always been an indoor cat, but has recently taken to the habit of "relieving" itself on random objects around the house. It still uses its litterbox liberally and seems to focus on objects that smell like a person who dislikes the cat.

Anyways, we'll be taking the cat out to a family friend's farm, soon, because we're getting new carpet, and having an argument break out if he ruins it would not be good. He's never been a fan of the outdoors, and on the few times he's ever snuck outside, has vigorously attempted to get back in.

Any tips for helping the cat adjust to outdoors, so that it won't feel so cold-turkey when we take him? Or ideas to stop him from marking objects that smell like his "foe"?

Cat is neutered, btw.

I see a lot of flak about how I should take him to the vet or how getting rid of a cat for carpet is cruel. Protips: I've already taken him to the vet. Test results say the condition is near-impossible to treat. Secondly, I'm not the one who made these decisions. It's not in my power to keep the cat. I love this cat with all my heart, and have from day one. For those of you who haven't jumped the gun and enjoyed talking down to me, thank you for pointing out how poorly indoor cats adapt. The rest of you can go stuff it.

Answer 1

What you need to do is take a quick trip to the vet to make sure that there is not a medical issue going on. If everything is good than this is a behavioral issue that can be corrected. Cats can get stressed quite easily. They are not big fans of change. Has there been any new changes to your house that your kitty may not be used to? Your cat has been used to living indoors and you yourself said that on the few times that he has gotten out that he tries to get back in right away. Do you have any idea how traumatized your cat is going to be should you just dump him outside? You are exposing him to alot of potential dangers because you are getting new carpet. When he does mark in the house, what are you cleaning it with? You do know that if you do not use a good Enzyme cleaner that he is still going to be able to smell the area where he marked, right? Please do not leave him outside. The vet will also be able to give you suggestions to curb the marking issue.

Answer 2

You are better off taking the cat to a no-kill shleter. It will not have a happy life outdoors.

With any litter box problem or behaviorial change, the vet is the first place you should go as there may be an infection. The litter box may be associated with pain. Cats are not vengeful...that is a human emotion. You should also clean up all urine spots with a good enzyme cleaner like Simple Solution or Nature's Miracle that is specially formulated for cats, not dogs. You can use a hand held black light to find the urine.

Take the cat to the vet to see what is up. If you still feel the need to get rid of the cat, please find another safe indoor home. Indoor cats just do not have the skills to live outdoors and your cat will have a hard life due to other animals outdoors.

Answer 3

First you should check if the cat has any reason to be under stress or whether it's ill. Has anything changed in his surroundings at all? Have you changed anything about the litterbox? (E.g. litter, door, detergents you use to clean it with)
When cats stop using the litterbox, that's usually a sign of stress or discomfort.
Please have him checked out by a vet.
The feliway spray is a good tip, that might help if the other suggestions don't.
As for the going outside; I wouldn't want to get a cat (that doesn't even want to go outside) used to such a dangerous environment at all; it's not just traffic that could harm him, but also contagious diseases, other animals, cat-haters etc. On top of that, cats will take some time to adjust to a place and adopt it as their new home, chances are if you let him out on the farm that he'll walk straight back home- even if this is miles away. When moving a cat it should stay indoors at least three weeks for it to feel at home and not trying to return to it's "own territory".

Answer 4

Cats that have lived indoors cannot and will not adjust to living outside. Take the cat to the vet and find out if it might have an infection. If you are determined to let it out take it to a shelter, because it will surely not survive outside. Would you like to be homeless? Neither would your cat. By the way I hate people like you...that's why I love my animals so much..they give unconditional love. I love living things. What I can't understand is why you would think that anyone who loves animals would let you off the hook and say its ok to love carpet instead of the cat that has been a member of your family. Sorry if you let it out ..live with the guilt..

Answer 5

you incredibly can no longer. Sorry. alongside with your cat being a secure cat that has been an indoor cat for 10 years, he would not even understand the thank you to look after himself, much less handle all the perils of the outdoors international. My pal had an indoor cat that have been given out by risk and yet another cat attacked him. properly, he have been given completely freaked out via the journey and went off his rocker and truly went nuts. He finally had to be euthanized. you would be greater appropriate off looking an animal rescue place or touch your community humane society or some comparable place and supply the cat up for adoption. on a similar time as which would be scary too, for him, a minimum of you may no longer be throwing him into the lion's den, as a thank you to communicate. he's not been familiar with being exterior or maybe the rustling of leaves and the loud sounds of crickets and different issues can scare him. Or, worse than that, i understand whilst my cat by risk gets out, she generally in simple terms runs as a techniques with the aid of fact the middle of the line and then freezes. thankfully, i'm getting her every time, in any different case she must be killed via a motor vehicle. it incredibly is a tragic concern, i'm specific. isn't there possibly a pal or relative this is calling for a cat and has continually enjoyed yours?

Answer 6

have you taken the cat to the vet to see if there's a medical reason for the improper elimination issues? as for sticking a strictly indoor cat outside because you're getting new carpet is cruel. it would be far more humane to have him put to sleep. i know it's harsh, but you are basically killing him anyway. but in a longer possibly drawn out fashion. find a rescue that will take the cat. they can get him the veterinary help he probably needs and can use simple ways to help get him back to using the litterbox since you seem uninterested in that. enjoy your carpet i hope it brings you years of love and enjoyment. hope you never have kids that write on the wall and you're planning on painting.

Answer 7

So you are throwing away your cat because of your damm carpet. It shows exactly what is wrong with people. They make a lifelong commitment to an animal that totally depends on them and at the first time of illness or a behavioral problem they don't care and get rid of the problem even though a life is involved. Damm the cat's fear of going outside, Damm loyalty, The carpet is much more important then trying to research and find a way to fix the problem. Please don't get anymore animals

Answer 8

Your cat probably has a urinary tract infection or crystals and he could die from it. Instead of getting rid of him, take him to the vet.

Answer 9

you are HORRIABLE! poor thing probably has a urinary tract infection. If you feel you still don't want the cat, take him to a no kill shelter so a loving family can adopt him.

he is not going to survive outside very long probably less than 6 months if you do what you plan to do.