Indoor cat desperate to go out all of a sudden.

[QueenStromba]

We've had Rice for just over a year now. She's 16 and DP reckons that Battersea said she'd always been an indoor cat (I don't remember this but I was way too excited about getting a cat). She's shown no interest in going out other than complaining when there are pigeons outside. Today she's been crying all day and spent ages crying, pawing and sniffing by the front door.

Any ideas what's gotten into her all of a sudden and how to get her to shut up?

Could you let her out?

Maybe I could take her down to the courtyard bit? We're near two big roads but I don't think she could get out.

I took her out for a minute and she quite confidently went down all the stairs (we're third floor) and had a bit of a sniff before I got worried and brought her back up.

Has anyone heard of anyone having any luck with a dog lead on a cat?

She might have heard the stirrings of Spring/Summer (baby birds) outside - or maybe someone else in the building has acquired a cat without you knowing it and there are smells drifting?

I'd be very wary about making her an outside-going cat after all these years. I'd treat it as a temporary aberration and keep her in.

You can buy harness's for cats. eBay has a selection.

I got her a harness and took her for a little walk. She's actually pretty good on the lead. We're only just back and she's crying to get out again though.

She definitely won't be going out on her own Cozie - too many main roads nearby.

Cats need the freedom to make the decsion to be in or out themselves. It's what cats do.

There's nothing for it, you'll have to move house.

I think I'm just going to have to accept that Rice has decided that I'm now the sort of person who takes their cat for a walk.