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The litter tray

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Original poster

Got cat back but he’s desperate to go out

11 replies

Notmethistimehonest · 22/09/2018 06:28

Our 3yo cat has always been a wanderer but he disappeared and we haven’t seen him for six weeks. Facebook searches always told us people had seen him alive and well around the village.

We heard which house he was going to a couple of weeks ago so DH and DS went round. They said they saw him regularly and he ate their cats food but they didn’t feed him Hmm. They said they would ring us when they next saw him but no call has come.

Driving down the road yesterday I saw him, stopped the car and called him. He came so I picked him up, put him in the car and drove him home.

He was lovely and affectionate with all of us yesterday and kept climbing on our laps etc

So despite his hate of being kept in, we decided to keep him in for a couple of days to re-establish his home base.

He has miaowed ALL night to get out and kept us all awake! I have been downstairs with him for an hour or two to stop him miaowing at the bedroom doors.

He is constantly trying to find a way to get to the cat flap and remove the obstacles in front of it. He has used the litter tray once but they don’t usually have one so it is a desperate measures only when he will use it.

Now we are worried he will associate here with being trapped.

Should I just let him out now and hope he comes back some day?

Or keep him in during the day and let him out this evening?

Help!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Notmethistimehonest · 22/09/2018 06:32

He has just used the litter tray and has given up scrabbling at the cat flap for a bit so I don’t think it is that he is desperate to get away from here but rather he is desperate to get out for the loo.

I just think this is our last chance to get him back, we genuinely thought we were down to a one cat household over the last few weeks so we’d love to re-establish him here.

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 22/09/2018 06:38

We have 4 cats and one of them just doesn't want to be an indoor cat. No matter the weather. We live in the country though so no one else is nicking them. I think he's made his choice. And hard as it is he's not wanting to stay with you, just visit. And visit others too.

Original poster
Notmethistimehonest · 22/09/2018 06:55

I don’t mind him being an outdoor cat generally, that isn’t the issue.

These people are trying to steal him but won’t take responsibility for him. If I genuinely knew he was happier there I would sign him over.

But as it is, we haven’t seen him for weeks and weeks (he was visiting before we went on holiday for a week but hasn’t since). so am I meant to keep paying his insurance if I have no clue where he is and couldn’t possibly get him to the vets. We have the responsibility by no way of actually looking after him.

Above sounds like it’s about the money, it really is not at all but about the responsibility really.

We love him and would rather he stayed here but fully accept if he he happier elsewhere I would sign him over. But they won’t accept they feed him and keep him in even though their granddaughter apparently loves him.

OP posts:
Rudgie47 · 22/09/2018 09:11

I'd build him a cat proof run in the garden or take him out a few times per day on a harness. Theres no way I'd let those other people have him OP.

Branleuse · 22/09/2018 09:38

I have four cats and one of them is a wanderer. In the summer it is common for me to not see him for weeks and then he strolls in as if nothing happened. Im pretty sure he catches his own food in the summer. I couldnt possibly keep him in the house when he doesnt want to, and before I got the catflap it was worse as he never trusted that he could get out again. Not all cats will be housecats. I would make a point of feeding him up lots of really nice food, so he associates being home with comfort and food, but apart from that, I think you just have to let him live his life. Thats the thing with cats. Not all of them will accept captivity and I think locking him in will ensure that when he does get out, he will be even less likely to come back

Original poster
Notmethistimehonest · 22/09/2018 12:30

Sorry for the late reply, I finally got some sleep!

He has calmed a lot now and is only miaowing to go out just before he uses the litter tray which he doesn’t like.

Will see how he is today but probably let him out again this evening. He would absolutely hate a cat run or going out on a harness unfortunately, I think he does need to be a proper outdoor cat. We just want him to come back here when he’s in instead of someone else’s house. 🤞

OP posts:
Aprilshowersnowastorm · 22/09/2018 12:32

What about a few days of tuna?

Original poster
Notmethistimehonest · 22/09/2018 13:57

He’s a weird cat and doesn’t eat tuna, ham or cheese or anything cats are supposed to like! He has eaten rather a lot of dreamies today though! 😳

He is quite contentedly lying on the landing now and has been for hours.

OP posts:
Aprilshowersnowastorm · 22/09/2018 14:14

Our dcas loves vegetables but am well aware the are very odd!

Original poster
Notmethistimehonest · 23/09/2018 21:15

We let him out last night and he came back in 5 mins later, went out again and was back this morning too. Has been in and out all day SmileSmile

I gave him a big kiss and waved him off the first time not knowing if he’d come back again so am very happy for now Smile

His sister is less than bothered though Grin

OP posts:
Branleuse · 24/09/2018 08:02

ah good news. I think with cats you do have to spoil them a bit if you want to bribe them into staying your cat. They can be pretty fickle.

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