Indoor cat desperate to go out

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As a kitten she had lots of problems with her eyes, they’re a little better but permanently dry. The vets have advised us she shouldn’t be let out out because a) she might not come back on time for her drops and b) if she has any damage to her eye (eg by fighting) it might not heal and she could lose an eye.

We aren’t able to cat proof,atleast for now, as the fence panels are old and not likely to be strong enough.We can’t afford to replace yet as garden is big so it would cost a lot (looking at around 30 panels)

She doesn’t meow, but she CRIES. She’s cries so loudly and depressingly you can hear her from outside. Its so heartbreaking. She’s nearly 3 and been indoor almost from the start.

I must admit I have caved a few times and carried her around the garden recently. Shes happy to sit in my lap and pick at the grass for a while, but obviously that’s not enough and she wants to go and explore.

Is there anything I can do? She has plenty of toys, and company. But when she wants to go out, theres no distracting her.

I’m hanging the washing outside now and all I can hear is ‘wowoooow’ and then a little whimper every so often in between

Could you get a cat harness and lead so she can go into the garden with you? My cat was indoor for the first 3 years and he was ok initially, but then started to get very depressed and was always looking out the window and would try and escape out the front door whenever I opened it. He’s now outdoor and seems a million times happier.

I’ve tried but she hated it. She hates having her eye drops or being handled generally, even after so long so I avoid picking her up as much as possible.

However, when she’s at the back door she lifts her back and her little tail and waits for me to pick her up to take her out. That’s the only time she lets us pick her up without fighting.

I suppose I could give the harness a few more tries and she might get used to it.

Does your cat go out with a harness or just freely?

We’ve also tried letting her out to wander and being ‘on guard’ around the fence so she can’t jump over. But she’s very sneaky! She etches towards it ever so slghtly while not looking at us, and then makes a run for it.

My parents adopted an indoor cat who quickly decided he was not going to be indoors only. So they had to let him out as he turned aggressive. He's fine though. I'd get a harness for your cat if she's got health issues.

Could you cat proof a small part of the garden?

Mine doesn’t have a harness as he also doesn’t like to be handled too much. Could you get a lead that just clips onto a collar?

If your garden has some clear space can you rig up her harness and extending lead on a washing line? My friends cat went out on that basis because there was a train line at the end of their garden.
It meant he could get to most points across the garden and roll in dirt etc, get under a bush for shade and play with some toys. Also an outdoor cat tree is good for an anchor point for a lead. We have one which wasn't too expensive and His Catness does spend a fair bit of time on and in it.
Or even can you put netting across a window/door so she can at least sit with it open for smells, sounds etc?
You can also get modular tunnels and crates that might be a solution?

Thats what I’m thinking wolfie but I’ve no idea how. The patio bit is quite large, in my head I see a net sheet across it from one fence to the other but no idea how it would work to get out to the rest of the garden.

I’m looking at cat run ideas too but the only place to put one would block off access to the alley at the side.

Maybe she’ll get used to a harness. I’m happy to keep carrying her around tbh, but she gets agitated after a while (as I don’t want to chase flies and like with her in my arms!)

toddler she’s not aggressive thankfully, just very good at emotional guilt!

Caption the garden. No brained.

Google Securacat or protectapet for ideas

You only need fence toppers and there are solutions for hedges etc

Sounds like she is queening, is she neutered?

She's miserable-let her out.

When ours was a kitten we acclimatised him to outside and he hated his harness too. But he got used to it - we just left him lying on the floor wearing it and he got bored, got up and started wandering. Strangely just like a toddler of my acquaintance...

thanks norma i think some sort of tunnels will work and I’ll have to figure out a way for it to not affect the alley access.

Windows are always slightly open. She’s actually quite good she doesnt try to get out of windows, as she knows I’ll take her for a trip around so she waits at the back door.

Make your own run with chicken panels off Ebay, she can have plenty of room to run around then and wont be able to run off.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aviary-enclosure-run-Kennel-Panels-Chicken-Rabbits-Guinea-Puppy-Dogs-Cats-Birds/282089587457?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

BertrandRussell shes indoor at vets instructions due to health.

It’s more of the wandering free thats the issue rather than actually being outside, so that’s why I take her out myself.

She is neutered pudding

If she is that miserable, I think I'd risk it.
You can have strategies in place to minimise how long she is out for. Only let her out for a while before bringing her in to feed her for example (I.e. Letting her out when hungry so food will tempt her back)
My cats have free run of outside (cat flap) but spend most of their time indoors. It's warmer and more comfortable. Cats aren't daft.

Is your garden near any roads? Do you get other cats in your garden? I have found that female cats don't tend to wander very far, and only if they are harassed by tom cats, do they seem to stay away longer than usual.

I might be inclined to test giving her access to the outside with a cat flap which will only let her in and out, and see how she responds. Mine are always kept inside at night, and if we are home or in the garden, they stay with us. They also really do not venture far and a quick rattle of the treats always brings them inside in minutes.

greentea its all wood panels and posts, some of them are split at the top in places/loose after strong winds. That’s what we’ll do when we replace, but for now I don’t think fixtures would be 100% secure.

Just incase though, one side is my neighbours. Can we attach anything to the fence on our side/to the top anyway, if we do this before we replace completely.

I’m thinking if some of the panels look ok, we could put those net panels on a couple and somehow block off part of the garden for her.

"BertrandRussell shes indoor at vets instructions due to health"

You need to make the decision yourself. It is cruel to keep her in if she is miserable about it.

Just google 'cat run' there are loads of ideas, different types, construction etc. Some you can buy ready done or get a handy man to build one.

Sorry just to be clear, she’s not crying all day and not everyday. It’s normally just once or twice (still sad to hear). I take her out and if I can’t for whatever reason she goes into the back porch for a bit. Not the proper outside but there are times she’s happy with this too.

It may be a case of replacing the fence panels sooner than expected though. Thanks all.

I saw a nice thing on a TV programme whereby the cat had access to a porch/patio area that was enclosed with mesh panels. With lots of cat tree/perching/climbing provided. So cat was safe, but felt outdoors, had fresh air and places to play.

Have you ever seen a cats missed page? Cats are not daft, but these pages are FULL of missing or run over cats.

It would be as cruel just to let her free.

Cat proofing takes away the risk. Stops your cat going into other people's gardens to poo, and means she will be protected from getting lost/ dogs/ predators and cars.

"It would be as cruel just to let her free."

No it wouldn't. Because cats a) can't read and b) have no sense of anything but the immediate moment. We keep them in for our own selfish motives because we can't bear the thought of losing them. But we are denying them their instinctive behaviour and making them miserable. It's awful when they go missing and sad if their lives are shorter. But even more awful to know that they are leading a longer but unhappy life. And I know there are cats that lead happy indoor lives. But many don't- and it sounds as if the OP's car is one of those.

Beamur thank you! that’s going to be most suitable option atleast short term. I think I’ll see if it’s possible to just replace the glass im the back porch with mesh, or we’ll just knock it down and put a new one up (it’s an old one done by previous owners anyway).

I just couldn’t think of it myself.