Cat stopped going outside

[IceFall]

Hello

My cat has stopped going outside!

He used to LOVE being out in the garden, climbing a tree, chasing leaves, mooching around in the bushes, sitting up high on the wall checking his 'territory' or just sitting on my patio table watching things birds.

He was spending hours and hours outside.

Now he won't go outside at all except for 5 or 10 mins to go to the toilet, and sometimes he isn't even doing that and using his litter tray (I don't mind that - in fact would prefer he used litter tray) but I DO mind that he isn't getting much exercise and is getting board.

I am playing with him in the evenings but he was much happier when he was exploring outside.

Does anyone know why a cat (he is just over a year old) might stop going outside? Do you think something bad could have happened to him in the garden? Do you think someone could be using one of those high pitched noise emitters?

He also seems slightly more flighty than he used to, like now he reacts if you drop something where as he didn't really before.

He also matches my decor...

I'm making my pintrest mood board RIGHT NOW

Our 18 month old Cat is totally a fair weather Cat! He goes out, looks really miserable then legs it in and finds somewhere warm! His Mum is much braver, and enjoys being outside but eventually Boy Cat goes out to fetch her so he can have the door shut!

To be fair this is the first time he's experienced cold outdoors as we kept him in last year (rescue centre advised it) but he's really not impressed!

@NC4now he is a total beaut too! And he matches your wallpaper! Love it. Maybe BSH are just total fair-weather softies?

@TheSpottedZebra do it do it do it! Your cat will be so happy with you.

@DollyParsnip he does look very content all curled up like that, lovely.

IceFall Your cat sounds very pampered with all those toys. He's a lucky boy. I love to hear people really loving their cats, there are so many owners who just don't seem bothered with them. There is a beautiful cat in our road who gets put out in the day, let in for a few hours in the evening and then put out all night, poor thing. The owners are just not bothered with her at all.

TheSpottedZebra I think you could start a trend with those colours, do it !

NC4now and DollyParsnip Both beautiful cats, both enjoying their comforts.

My boys are out 10+ hours in the summer and maybe 20 mins a day max in the winter

He does sound woefully underprivileged in the toy department

Our Bengal doesn't do wind. Rain is ok & snow is the best thing ever but wind freaks him out.

I hardly see him in the summer.

Ha ha on this chat board we are all in love with our cats!

He is pretty pampered, but he is such a lovely cat its hard not to spoil him! Want him to be happy and occupied whilst I am at work. Not much of a lap cat (likes to sit just out of arms reach at all times) but follows me from room to room.

Our oriental loved sitting in the wind, cold and rain. The windier the better, many a longf disturbed nights sleep for us opening and closing windows.😇

That is exactly what Ozzy does! Just follows me from room to room. It must be a BSH boy thing.
He does sleep on my bed at night though. We love him very much 💕

DollyParsnip is yours a BSH too? His coat looks lovely and thick.

So today the door was opened, both ran out - and came in after 20 mins and sat on the radiator shelf!

I don't think he's a BSH, just a very spoiled DSH . He is from a rescue though, along with his Mum, so maybe there is a bit mixed in somewhere!

NC4now I'm amazed I noticed the wallpaper in the background after the beauty of your DC, but wheres your wallpaper from? i saw some like that a couple of years ago in a cafe but didnt know who made it.

My BSH rarely goes out either, he lazes in our little paved courtyard in the sun a bit in the summer but in the winter he can't be arsed. They adapt well to being house cats so I think it could just be breed related.

What gamer said further up. Mine wants me to turn the wind down and the sun up please oh and if I could stop the wet stuff too
He keeps moaning at the open window, sticking a paw out and running back in

OP have you tried taking him into the garden on a lead?

OP have you tried taking him into the garden on a lead

@overnightangel noooooo I think he would hate that! :-)

I did a bit of gardening at the weekend and seemed happy enough to come out while it was sunny so I think he might just be lazy and not like the cold/rain. He seems to be back to his usual chilled out self as well so I might have just been over-worrying about the change.

They adapt well to being house cats so I think it could just be breed related.

@DontMentionTheWar he was 'meant' to be a house cat so I guess I've got my house cat back again, for winter anyway :-)

Monkeypuzzle it’s made by Sanderson and it’s called Swallow. I love it. That’s the silver but the other colours are lovely too.
Not as lovely as DCat though 😃

Ours was supposed to be a house cat too, but he kept escaping to chase butterflies in the summer.
He’s back to being a hearth cat now.
I’ll have to mind he doesn’t get too chunky.

NC4now sorry its a late thank you-im not getting the emails

UPDATE

The fat cat has spent the entire winter inside.

On Saturday he deemed the weather to have reached an acceptable temperature and I've basically not seen him since. Out out out all day.

So it was totally just the cold weather and I shouldn't have worried!

This is the current situation with my cats after a right little bruiser of a male cat moved in next door! Could you have a new cat in the vicinity too?

I've bought a Feliway plug in on vets advice and they're happier and not pooing in the bath anymore! I'm hoping warmer weather and doors and windows open so they can get indoors quicker, will help.

It's so sad. They loved being outside too.

Ours hated the snow this year, as soon as it went he was out catching birds.

It got away which pissed him off even more.