Indoor cat...help pls so he can go out and enjoy the sun...

[Corygal]

Mr Cory, the ex-gentleman of the road rescue cat, and I have lived in harmony in my flat with balcony for 4 years. He has FIV and is meant to be indoor cat. But he is getting frisky. When we go for walks inside the block he gazes longingly at the enclosed garden downstairs.

I have bought him a harness and lead. He loathes it, and is terrified when I put it on. I am building him up with an hour every day on it. But if I could get him to tolerate it I could get him downstairs and into the little garden, which I think he would really like.

Any help please? I hate to see him frightened - I'm worried he thinks I might be getting rid of him, oh never never. Could anyone help as to how he could be gently helped outside? Or should I give up.

Corygal

Why do you want him to go outside? he may be pretty happy living in the flat.

I think he is happy but he looks longingly at the birds and the grass sometimes.

I've had indoor cats for many many years. (They've been Siamese - which makes a difference because they're fixated on me.) Occasionally, they have a 'moment'. I just ignore it.

Hi Cory. It sounds like you really care for your cat. Not thinking about whether he would be happy to stay as an indoor cat, as the other posters have asked this, have you tried an extendable lead? Some friends of mine have a cat that now has to live indoors. He doesn't like being walked on a lead (like a dog), but they carry him down to the garden and sit there while the cat very happily sniffs and plays around attached to the extendable lead.

I also live in a flat with a balcony and have a four year old cat, I gave him the opportunity to live at my mums house so he could have the garden. He stayed there a year and refused to go out further then the door.
He came back to me and couldn't be happier with the life we have together. He sometimes goes out the front door into the stairwell sniffs about then comes back in. He watches out the balcony for hours and this sometimes looks like he is longing to be out on the green but I let him stare and that's it. I personally wouldn't encourage it.

I have indoor cats.
I built an enclosure of mesh and wood that is joined to a cat flap. Ive seen others where people have meshed in a balcony.

I tried a harness. Didn't work. I have a cat tree in the house, various boxes to explore and chew, various treats and games. They seem happy enough.

I would point out its mating season and the days are longer, birds are being noisier etc so more enticing to go outside. He'll get over it.