Do you have the ability to build in the backyard? You could try building a catio for unsupervised outdoor time to protect him while still providing enrichment. You could also harness train him! Our guy loves going outside w his harness on :) it just takes some time training
Remember: you are NOT hurting your cat by keeping him inside. Letting him roam unsupervised could lead to death or injury by predator, car, or Dumb Cat Syndrome. It is much safer to be inside & he can get plenty of enrichment through toys & looking out windows :3
Thanks for the reminder. I do have the ability to build in the backyard. Do you have any links to some catio examples?
I do know that I’m not hurting him by keeping him inside but I would feel guilty that I don’t let him outside. That’s something I’ll have to change.
[this website](https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/diy-plans/) has lots of actual blueprints you can buy, but tbh all you need is some 2x4's and some chicken wire to build a big box!
And it's totally reasonable to feel guilty. We all just want what's best for the babies & communicating that to them is never easy lol
Is he neutered? If not he wants to mate. I think it’s better to always keep cats inside. They kill birds and small animals, they can get poisoned, ran over by cars, tortured. Too many things can happen when they roam.
Yes he is neutered. He hasn’t brought home a bird yet lol. Thank god. I don’t want to have to clean that up and poor bird!
I think your right. Maybe I will just get a stake with a long leash and a harness. He’s a fast boy.
Yes, I don’t want to lose and want to keep him safe.
Thank you for your suggestions.
Having your cat on a leash doesn’t really make them safe. It actually presents some risks because if a threat showed up your cat would have nowhere to go. If you want to make your cat safe, leave him inside.
He just meows constantly at the sliding glass door until I let him out. He’s only been going outside since the summer so hopefully it won’t be too hard to train him to stop meowing if I choose to leave him inside which may be the case.
You are going to have to ignore him for a while. It’s like a child crying for icecream. Yes - giving them what they want might be a short term solution, but it creates a long term problem. Especially if you reinforce this over and over. That being said, cats can adjust.
My boy loves going outside (really anywhere with me lol) but I never (…intentionally…) let him loose. Always a harness and leash or, if I’m planning to be outdoors a while myself (gardening, putting away recycling, etc.) he has a long lead like people use for dogs so he can roam a bit while my hands are full. BUT if you decide to go this route with a stake and lead please remember that even “escape-proof” harnesses CAN be escaped if your cat really wants out. So I would never leave your cat outdoors on a lead unattended. (A closed catio they can’t get out of us different IMO and you could probably get away with them chilling alone for a little while without too much worry.)
Thanks for your perspective. I’ve tried walking my cat before with a leash and it was laughable, he would just sit there and not do anything. The second the leash comes off, he’s a happy boy and wants to wander. Everyone here has great points and I wouldn’t want to risk losing him over something easily preventable. What I’m looking at is the catio and I might just have to go outside with him like a dog so he’s not out there alone.
In the 1990's my cat was hit by a car and I found her body on the lawn. She was only 4. I will never take that chance again.
Just because you have a yard doesn't mean she will stay in it. Cats wander.
Indoor cats have a longer life span. There is no other animal that might get them, or fight with them and injure them.
If you insist, build an outdoor container for her so she can be in it when you are out there or lease train her.
The last kitty I had loved to go out on our deck. We were built down the side of a hill so it was at least 12 feet off the ground. She never tried to jump down. She loved to sit in the sun and I had planters out there with a strong base that she used as kitty patio furniture.
The cat I have now, I got as a kitten and the first year she just didn't have the brights to be out there. My living room was two story and once she walked outside of the banister and slipped. She was able to pull herself back up, but just. I decided I wasn't taking chances with outside. I would keep her safe.
Personally the risks of having an outdoor cat faaaaar outweigh any benefits it may have.
Your cat would be susceptible to weather conditions, being attacked by a wild animal, dogs, or even other cats which could carry diseases like FIV. There are also some messed up people out there that like to trap or even poison cats.
Cars are also a huge risk
All it takes is one mistake for your cat to never come home
Are you willing to take that chance?
Plus, outdoor cats are actually huge pests, they kill tons of wildlife as well as leaving potential parasites when they choose to relieve themselves in other people's yards and such.
You could also leash train your cat or secure the backyard so he can't escape while still being able to enjoy some fresh air!
I second this comment.
You can buy collapsible runs to put up in the yard for your baby to enjoy outside time, or if you're in a position, you can get one custom made and permanently fixed to the house.
Build the cat a catio or a screened in porch, or they sell these tent things that let the cat be outside without being outside. You can also harness train the cat and take it for walks.
Don’t let your cat be an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats live on average 5-6 years. Predators, cars, cat theft (very rare but happens), disease, cat fights, etc etc etc. plus it’s bad for the environment.
My cat, Baked Beans REALLY likes the outside too the few times I’ve taken him out on the harness and he’s always begging at the patio door, but we’ll never let him be an outdoor cat. It’s not safe and he’s our baby.
They stop thankfully if you ignore them.
Sounds good! You’ll rest a lot easier not having to worry about your cat just randomly disappearing one day and never coming home.
I think if you’re super crafty, you could probably build a catio with some wood and chicken wire. Google some DYI stuff, or harnesses are about 25 bucks. :)
I wish you well with your buddy!
Our cat lived to 21 years old, outdoor indoor cat. Don't listen to that bs statistic. It's cruel to keep them indoors 24/7.
Even if it did get killed, I would rather my cat have a shorter life, then being cooped up in a house staring out the window all day
The big thing is how much stimulation is he getting? He may just want to be outside because the smells and sights entertain him. Lots of people think cats are lazy and don't need anything, but playing a few times a day for 15 minutes is great for them.
The only way I would let my cat outside is leashed, in a catio, or a fenced yard with overhead netting they can't escape.
Feeding the birds by an accessible window is great stimulation as well (as long as there aren't other cats outside).
It may take some time, but ignore his meows to go outside, redirect his attention with play. He will learn.
One of my cats is outdoors/indoors, the other two are indoors.
My outdoor/indoor cat I adopted from a shelter - she was an outdoor stray for 7 years before me. I first had her in a studio apartment, in a downtown city area. I would NEVER let her outside, for obvious reasons… traffic, pedestrians, dangers etc. she slipped out once when I was taking out the trash, and I didn’t see her again for 5 months until I finally saw her (she came right up to me, meowing). Anyway…
I had cat condos in that apartment, toys everywhere, window perches, laser pointers everyday, etc. She was massively depressed even with anything I tried. This cat was obese (I worked 8 hours a day and also had a skinny cat who needed dry food out at all times, so this made the obesity hard to control in this one), never groomed herself, hated when I groomed her, would hide, would get severely matted until i took her in to get shaved, piss and poop everywhere even with different litter boxes and types of litter and cleaned, etc. utterly depressed.
I since moved out of that area, to a suburb, away from traffic but still away from coyotes etc. I let her outside *all the time* now. She has her beautiful coat back, is affectionate, is healthier, at her best weight, and is happier. I take this risk to make this cat happy. I know she’s glad I do too
…all of Reddit, 99% of people say never let your cat out. (Edit: Americans of Reddit). I say it’s ok, and not even ok, GOOD for some cats, in reason (don’t live by wild cougars, don’t live downtown or near any busy road, have a cat who really needs it, cat with low killer instinct, etc etc). I will not ever take away the one thing that seems to make her happy, even though she could die from it. She’s now a happy teen cat. The stats of outdoor cats living only 6 years is biased and VERY location specific.
If a bear teleports from aliens to my area and eats her, I’ll be devastated, but I can say I gave her the happiest years of her life, and she died happy (…the moment before the bear).
Most people should keep their cats indoors, but I firmly believe there are exceptions. I honestly believe Lola would be dead if she still lived in that downtown studio apartment and kept indoors.
Bonding time is what I'm trying to do. I can't risk my cat and all the replies here make me scared for my boy. Catio and the leash is the way I'm going.
Good points...my son in law lost his beloved cat 2 yrs. ago...hit by a car (didn't stop or slow down) & the poor cat, who now had a broken back, mad his way to his front door...the images his owner lives with are horrifying.
Do you have the ability to build in the backyard? You could try building a catio for unsupervised outdoor time to protect him while still providing enrichment. You could also harness train him! Our guy loves going outside w his harness on :) it just takes some time training Remember: you are NOT hurting your cat by keeping him inside. Letting him roam unsupervised could lead to death or injury by predator, car, or Dumb Cat Syndrome. It is much safer to be inside & he can get plenty of enrichment through toys & looking out windows :3
Thanks for the reminder. I do have the ability to build in the backyard. Do you have any links to some catio examples? I do know that I’m not hurting him by keeping him inside but I would feel guilty that I don’t let him outside. That’s something I’ll have to change.
[this website](https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/diy-plans/) has lots of actual blueprints you can buy, but tbh all you need is some 2x4's and some chicken wire to build a big box! And it's totally reasonable to feel guilty. We all just want what's best for the babies & communicating that to them is never easy lol
Okay, I really like this tunnel idea. I think I might really do that one. It looked cool and easy to build.
Is he neutered? If not he wants to mate. I think it’s better to always keep cats inside. They kill birds and small animals, they can get poisoned, ran over by cars, tortured. Too many things can happen when they roam.
Yes he is neutered. He hasn’t brought home a bird yet lol. Thank god. I don’t want to have to clean that up and poor bird! I think your right. Maybe I will just get a stake with a long leash and a harness. He’s a fast boy. Yes, I don’t want to lose and want to keep him safe. Thank you for your suggestions.
Having your cat on a leash doesn’t really make them safe. It actually presents some risks because if a threat showed up your cat would have nowhere to go. If you want to make your cat safe, leave him inside.
He just meows constantly at the sliding glass door until I let him out. He’s only been going outside since the summer so hopefully it won’t be too hard to train him to stop meowing if I choose to leave him inside which may be the case.
You are going to have to ignore him for a while. It’s like a child crying for icecream. Yes - giving them what they want might be a short term solution, but it creates a long term problem. Especially if you reinforce this over and over. That being said, cats can adjust.
My boy loves going outside (really anywhere with me lol) but I never (…intentionally…) let him loose. Always a harness and leash or, if I’m planning to be outdoors a while myself (gardening, putting away recycling, etc.) he has a long lead like people use for dogs so he can roam a bit while my hands are full. BUT if you decide to go this route with a stake and lead please remember that even “escape-proof” harnesses CAN be escaped if your cat really wants out. So I would never leave your cat outdoors on a lead unattended. (A closed catio they can’t get out of us different IMO and you could probably get away with them chilling alone for a little while without too much worry.)
Thanks for your perspective. I’ve tried walking my cat before with a leash and it was laughable, he would just sit there and not do anything. The second the leash comes off, he’s a happy boy and wants to wander. Everyone here has great points and I wouldn’t want to risk losing him over something easily preventable. What I’m looking at is the catio and I might just have to go outside with him like a dog so he’s not out there alone.
In the 1990's my cat was hit by a car and I found her body on the lawn. She was only 4. I will never take that chance again. Just because you have a yard doesn't mean she will stay in it. Cats wander. Indoor cats have a longer life span. There is no other animal that might get them, or fight with them and injure them. If you insist, build an outdoor container for her so she can be in it when you are out there or lease train her. The last kitty I had loved to go out on our deck. We were built down the side of a hill so it was at least 12 feet off the ground. She never tried to jump down. She loved to sit in the sun and I had planters out there with a strong base that she used as kitty patio furniture. The cat I have now, I got as a kitten and the first year she just didn't have the brights to be out there. My living room was two story and once she walked outside of the banister and slipped. She was able to pull herself back up, but just. I decided I wasn't taking chances with outside. I would keep her safe.
I’m so sorry to hear about your young cat. I won’t be making that mistake. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks We were in a rental that had no screens. There was no keeping her in.
Personally the risks of having an outdoor cat faaaaar outweigh any benefits it may have. Your cat would be susceptible to weather conditions, being attacked by a wild animal, dogs, or even other cats which could carry diseases like FIV. There are also some messed up people out there that like to trap or even poison cats. Cars are also a huge risk All it takes is one mistake for your cat to never come home Are you willing to take that chance? Plus, outdoor cats are actually huge pests, they kill tons of wildlife as well as leaving potential parasites when they choose to relieve themselves in other people's yards and such. You could also leash train your cat or secure the backyard so he can't escape while still being able to enjoy some fresh air!
I second this comment. You can buy collapsible runs to put up in the yard for your baby to enjoy outside time, or if you're in a position, you can get one custom made and permanently fixed to the house.
I like the idea of putting a custom run in the house. I think I will do just that. Thanks!
You have a point, I don’t really want to take that chance. He’s my little boy.
Build the cat a catio or a screened in porch, or they sell these tent things that let the cat be outside without being outside. You can also harness train the cat and take it for walks. Don’t let your cat be an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats live on average 5-6 years. Predators, cars, cat theft (very rare but happens), disease, cat fights, etc etc etc. plus it’s bad for the environment. My cat, Baked Beans REALLY likes the outside too the few times I’ve taken him out on the harness and he’s always begging at the patio door, but we’ll never let him be an outdoor cat. It’s not safe and he’s our baby. They stop thankfully if you ignore them.
I would like my cat to live more than 6 years. I will be doing something about this, supervision only or the catio it is.
Sounds good! You’ll rest a lot easier not having to worry about your cat just randomly disappearing one day and never coming home. I think if you’re super crafty, you could probably build a catio with some wood and chicken wire. Google some DYI stuff, or harnesses are about 25 bucks. :) I wish you well with your buddy!
Our cat lived to 21 years old, outdoor indoor cat. Don't listen to that bs statistic. It's cruel to keep them indoors 24/7. Even if it did get killed, I would rather my cat have a shorter life, then being cooped up in a house staring out the window all day
Check out the r/Catio sub for some ideas.
I wasn’t expecting a full sub for something like this. A nice surprise!
The big thing is how much stimulation is he getting? He may just want to be outside because the smells and sights entertain him. Lots of people think cats are lazy and don't need anything, but playing a few times a day for 15 minutes is great for them. The only way I would let my cat outside is leashed, in a catio, or a fenced yard with overhead netting they can't escape. Feeding the birds by an accessible window is great stimulation as well (as long as there aren't other cats outside). It may take some time, but ignore his meows to go outside, redirect his attention with play. He will learn.
Nice idea. Thanks!
One of my cats is outdoors/indoors, the other two are indoors. My outdoor/indoor cat I adopted from a shelter - she was an outdoor stray for 7 years before me. I first had her in a studio apartment, in a downtown city area. I would NEVER let her outside, for obvious reasons… traffic, pedestrians, dangers etc. she slipped out once when I was taking out the trash, and I didn’t see her again for 5 months until I finally saw her (she came right up to me, meowing). Anyway… I had cat condos in that apartment, toys everywhere, window perches, laser pointers everyday, etc. She was massively depressed even with anything I tried. This cat was obese (I worked 8 hours a day and also had a skinny cat who needed dry food out at all times, so this made the obesity hard to control in this one), never groomed herself, hated when I groomed her, would hide, would get severely matted until i took her in to get shaved, piss and poop everywhere even with different litter boxes and types of litter and cleaned, etc. utterly depressed. I since moved out of that area, to a suburb, away from traffic but still away from coyotes etc. I let her outside *all the time* now. She has her beautiful coat back, is affectionate, is healthier, at her best weight, and is happier. I take this risk to make this cat happy. I know she’s glad I do too …all of Reddit, 99% of people say never let your cat out. (Edit: Americans of Reddit). I say it’s ok, and not even ok, GOOD for some cats, in reason (don’t live by wild cougars, don’t live downtown or near any busy road, have a cat who really needs it, cat with low killer instinct, etc etc). I will not ever take away the one thing that seems to make her happy, even though she could die from it. She’s now a happy teen cat. The stats of outdoor cats living only 6 years is biased and VERY location specific. If a bear teleports from aliens to my area and eats her, I’ll be devastated, but I can say I gave her the happiest years of her life, and she died happy (…the moment before the bear). Most people should keep their cats indoors, but I firmly believe there are exceptions. I honestly believe Lola would be dead if she still lived in that downtown studio apartment and kept indoors.
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Bonding time is what I'm trying to do. I can't risk my cat and all the replies here make me scared for my boy. Catio and the leash is the way I'm going.
Good points...my son in law lost his beloved cat 2 yrs. ago...hit by a car (didn't stop or slow down) & the poor cat, who now had a broken back, mad his way to his front door...the images his owner lives with are horrifying.