Do your cats get to go outside? How do you keep them safe from harm, especially if they door dash and escape? How would you go about transitioning an exclusively INDOOR ONLY cat to life on the outside? What can you do to make certain your kitties are always safe? If you’re concerned about indoor vs outdoor cats, read on to learn options for how to keep outside cats safe!
Can you see the fine-webbed fencing that keeps these kitties safe? There CAN be options–if you make the effort! Image Copr. Sanskrittlady/Flickr
Indoor vs Outdoor Cats? & How to Keep Inside Cats Happy
Seren used to stand at the door or window, meow, and dig against the glass with her paws as if she couldn’t wait to escape the plush indoor lifestyle. Karma-Kat watches Bravo-Dawg when he takes a break outside and has started stalking the door to dash outside–but then acts terrified once he finds his paws on the patio. Folks who live in the UK think we Americans are cruel for not allowing kitties the joy of grass between their toes–many cat lovers in the UK have back gardens and the whole neighborhood of cats comes and goes.
Here in North Texas, coyotes come and go from my back patio and turn into land sharks patrolling for kitty treats. Although in her younger days Seren went out on a leash to sniff roses, I’d never feel comfortable letting her out without that safety net. Karma once escaped his harness while outside, and only returned when Magical-Dawg brought him back. We don’t have kitty outings these days on a regular basis. I’ve made the choice to keep them inside and keep my cats safe. Instead, I offer lots of indoor enrichment like multiple cat trees and condos–and a best friend dawg for playing chase.
How to Keep Outside Cats Safe
I do offer some options for creating safer outdoor environments in my Cat Competability book:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not invest in an “electric fence” type of product that purports to protect cats (or dogs) using shock collars. Such things are not the plug-and-forget-it answers you want–it requires training to use correctly and even then can result in the pet “breaking through” the invisible barrier and then being prevented from returning home. You simply create lost cats that way.
Such products also don’t keep strange dogs or cats (or other critters) from invading your pet’s home turf. You gotta hope that your kitty has proper identification (is your cat microchipped?) to help the pet get home.
I do agree, in the best of all possible worlds where cats could be safe, the best thing in the world would be for them to chase butterflies and sleep in the sun-puddle on the back patio. When you can’t provide a safe outdoor environment, maybe you’d want to take Kitty for a safe outing in a cat stroller. The next best thing is to bring the outdoors inside with lots of hidy-holes, climbing ops, kitty grass for munching, and fun toys that float your cat’s boat.
When Inside Cats Want Out
Today’s Ask Amy video is a heart breaker. It’s a composite of some of the consults that I’ve dealt with over the past several years. Every home and person’s circumstance is different and I’m not in the other’s shoes so can’t judge–and only seek to offer some insight and help. I hope you’ll share some of your suggestions (positive ones, please!) for any lurkers out there who have ever found themselves in such a dilemma.
How would you transition an indoor-only cat to the outside? And then, how would you transition an outdoor cat BACK into an inside cat? I know this is a controversial subject–but we all want the best for our cats so let’s see what creative ideas we can develop!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
Um, well, it’s really dangerous for outdoor cats where I live. The local shelter has heart wrenching stories of frost bitten cats every spring. We gets stretches of winter where the temperature is below -40 for weeks at a time (yes, I live that far north).
Then there’s foxes, coyotes, wolves, and bears. I’m a five minute walk from the deep woods, and bears in town aren’t unusual. Wolves far less so, but we see foxes nearly every day.
So our feline fur friends aren’t allowed outdoors.
Amy I know that subject and video was difficult for you to do. It brought me to tears. Under no circumstances could I ever take one of my three indoor cats and put them outside. It just seems cruel to me. I kinda think the problem with that young ladies cat was something fixable of why her cat was peeing outside the litter box. I feel certain the issue was one of the things you mentioned.
I have a barn cat who was adopted from the shelter as a feral cat. I didn’t know when I adopted her, but I am pretty sure that she must have been an indoor only cat before I got her. She was an owner surrender. I guess the cat gave her to me with their feral barn cat program because she was going to be euthanized and not adoptable. For a few weeks, she stayed only in the barn. Then we had to get her used to the outdoors so we let her out. For at least a month, she hid in a shed. Now she is very social and comes in and out of the barn as she pleases and has different napping places. I think providing safe places to hide is a good idea.
It’s NATIONAL ADOPT A DOG MONTH! How will you spend your celebration? Wait, your dog didn’t tell you? Well, for Shadow, it’s “dog week” every week of the year, but the “official” celebration takes place the 4th week of September every year — and has been celebrated since the first event in 1928. But October celebrates dog adoptions all month long. Check out my most popular dog-centric blogs in this post.
Have you thought about dog bite Halloween safety? and I’m not talking about vampires, either. Many dogs enjoy the howl-idays. But dogs biting kids happens more often at this time of year than any other.
This is a timely subject so I try to revisit the information every year. I write about this every year because it’s so darned important. With Halloween in the offing, this is the perfect time to brush up on dog safety issues and protect your kids, too.
To give equal time, there are many kitty-centric Halloween myth-teries you’ll find fascinating, especially about black cats.
While nonstop doorbell rings and visitors showering attention may be doggy bliss for your pet, even friendly laid back pooches get their tails in a twist over the disruption to routine. That can be dangerous for the pet—and for the human. Learn more about dog bites and kid safety here…
August 17 is Black Cat Appreciation Day to counter the Halloween black cat negative myths. Of course, those folks who share their lives (and pillows!) with a special black cat know better. Sadly, too many black cats remain in shelters rather than being adopted.
In fact, some evidence supports the notion that black cats (one of the first “mutations” of wild coat color), enhanced what I call the feline friendly factor. Black cats often seem to be much more agreeable and love spending time with their chosen human. Maybe that’s why so many of the so-called witches were associated with black kitties.
People have more difficulty picking cats because they assume all felines are the same. And because usually, cats pick us.
Halloween pet safety is needed every year. Halloween at its best is a night of mystery, fun, and thrills for human children and many adults. It’s important to keep your human kiddoes safe with these tips, but no less important for the pets. I write about Halloween pets safety every year because it can be a nightmare for your furry kids.
Do you enjoy dressing up the house—and yourself—for the holidays? If you want to include Halloween pet costumes, start now to get them used to the notion. Most of the costumes don’t fit Bravo-Dawg, and I’ve not yet tried Shadow-Pup. I’ll share pictures if/when that happens.
Meanwhile, be sure to keep pets safe over Halloween, though. Dogs and cats aren’t always fans of wearing Halloween costumes, but with these tips, you can help pets accept the notion.
Halloween Pet Costumes
Some pets enjoy dressing up, particularly the small dogs already used to wearing coats and sweaters in cool weather. There are many pet costumes available from pet products stores, from fancy to plain. If your outgoing, confident pet is willing, you can have great fun with costumes. But if your pets don’t care for dress up, don’t press it. Many pets may bite over Halloween out of fear of change.
Even reluctant pets may be persuaded to wear a fancy collar or bandana or painted toenails.
Every year, I write about our old cat needs. While Karma-Kat has just reached middle age, cats age at different rates. When do you consider your cat old? Is your old cat a senior kitty by age 8, or 13, or…when? For cats, what is old? Here’s how the experts define ‘old age’ in cats…
Can we take a minute to talk about something almost every pet parent deals with?
Although pet hair and odors are a small price to pay to have our furry ones at home with us, the fuzz and funky smells can sometimes seem overwhelming!
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Um, well, it’s really dangerous for outdoor cats where I live. The local shelter has heart wrenching stories of frost bitten cats every spring. We gets stretches of winter where the temperature is below -40 for weeks at a time (yes, I live that far north).
Then there’s foxes, coyotes, wolves, and bears. I’m a five minute walk from the deep woods, and bears in town aren’t unusual. Wolves far less so, but we see foxes nearly every day.
So our feline fur friends aren’t allowed outdoors.
Wayne
That does NOT sound like a good safe kitty habitat, I agree! Do you ever let them out on leash, Wayne?
Vicky takes Princess (the Siamese) out on a leash sometimes. The others aren’t leash trained.
Mind you, we have an enormous bay window, that the cats and dogs share. To them it’s just like TV!
Wayne
Seren does the same thing with our windows. *s*
Amy I know that subject and video was difficult for you to do. It brought me to tears. Under no circumstances could I ever take one of my three indoor cats and put them outside. It just seems cruel to me. I kinda think the problem with that young ladies cat was something fixable of why her cat was peeing outside the litter box. I feel certain the issue was one of the things you mentioned.
Thank you Patricia. I know that many families try their best and ultimately throw up their hands. At least some of them do reach out for help.
I have a barn cat who was adopted from the shelter as a feral cat. I didn’t know when I adopted her, but I am pretty sure that she must have been an indoor only cat before I got her. She was an owner surrender. I guess the cat gave her to me with their feral barn cat program because she was going to be euthanized and not adoptable. For a few weeks, she stayed only in the barn. Then we had to get her used to the outdoors so we let her out. For at least a month, she hid in a shed. Now she is very social and comes in and out of the barn as she pleases and has different napping places. I think providing safe places to hide is a good idea.
Safe places are ideal! Thanks Ann. So glad this kitty now feels comfortable in her new place.