Extremely cuddly cat who won't go outside

[Orangelover]

I absolutely love my cat, he is the cuddliest loveliest little boy tabby who I genuinely feel we have the cutest bond.

However... he is sooooo needy! He's been like this ever since we got him back in the summer and at first I just thought he was nervous and we made him feel safe. We got him from RSPCA and they told me he was found abandoned and was about 2 years old. He was a skinny, shabby little fella when we got him, with colitis and it took me a while to find good food that suited him but after a few weeks his coat was shiny and his bowels much better

Every day he has his breakfast then loves at least a good hours snuggling on me if he can. I work lots of nights/weekends and this means between me and OH there's often someone around in the house. If we're sat down he's on us, follows us from one room to the next, if we leave the room when he's eating and distracted he runs round meowing like a mad cat until he's found us again. If we let him he'd spend his whole life cuddled up in my arms like an actual baby, getting up just to eat because he loves his food.

I open the door for him a few times a day to see if he wants to go out but he very rarely does. He did a little bit in the summer in nice weather but now he sniffs the cold air and looks at me as if to say erm no not going out there thanks. On the rare occasion he does venture into the garden for a wander he generally is meowing at the door 5 mins later to come straight back in.

Anyone else got a very cuddly cat who seems scared of the outside? I don't mind him being an indoor cat but just worry he might get bored! He has lots of toys and we make a conscious effort to play with him. We make him run around after his mouse on a string so he at least gets some exercise because he's a lazy lump

I do love him so much and love his cute little cuddles and kisses but also want him to have a fulfilling life I'm mad aren't I?

Silky kitten was like this. She drove us mad with her neediness still does

Initially we thought she would just be an indoor cat. Then we realised she was bored and taking it out on us so Things Would Have To Change.

We tried taking her out in the garden, carrying her - she was trembling. Did this a few times. Eventually progressed to her being out with me AND DH standing with her while she stood at our feet. Our neighbour came by and asked us what we were doing, we felt like right lemons, but according to silky cat it was too scary to try with just one of us

And eventually she went out by herself while we were in the garden and discovered it was interesting instead of just fussing around us.

Now she goes out most of the day and can be a complete madam about coming in if she doesn't want to.

Still v needy when she is inside but the obsessiveness has gone as she gets out and does cat things.

BTW all the while this was going on, her sister was bounding about outside cheerfully with not a care in the world.

Our dboycat is like that. dgirlcat is a bit more outgoing. Dboycat seems to have some kind of ibs/food allergies but colitis might also fit. He's on steroids and b12 injections.

He vomits quite a bit if he gets in the neighbours cats food.

What brand do you feed yours if you don't mind me asking? We have precisely 2 types of food that don't make him sick and i'd love to give him a bit of variety.
VIP fussy cat grain free chicken and turkey and Dine beef and liver wet food is ours.

My Bengal likes to be held like that. He sounds a very happy cat who doesn’t want to be abandoned again so he’s making sure he knows where you are at all times

I've changed my mind. Please do mail asbo to me after all.

OP - clearly you don't appreciate your cat. Please mail him to me immediately.

ooh I love your cushions where are from?

If you think he might be stressed, then try a Feliway plug-in and see if that helps.

On the going outside thing, some cats just prefer not to. Ours always used to be like that, but last summer we spent so much time outside with the door open, she got used to it and asks to go out now. And then asks to come back in again 3 minutes later

ooh I love your cushions where are from

Piccies of beautiful furry overlords and you notice cushions?

In my defence I did notice the kitty first and he's gorgeous. But I really love the cushions!

Ollie agrees inside and cuddling hooman is much better than outside. If I ask him to move off my lap/shoulder and does a little "oooooowwww noooooo" noise
He loves nothing better than sitting gazing and blinking at me, or holding my hand with his paw

Oh and Ollie spends a few minutes outside before whining it's too cold/hot/he misses mama

Mine was exactly like this when we first got her from the rescue for a good 6 months or so. She was also food obsessed and would wolf down her food. 2 years on she’s still a lovely, cuddly cat (she’s actually laid out on my lap on her back getting belly rubs right now) but not as needy as she once was. She also became more and more picky about food and I now often worry that she doesn’t eat enough.
She doesn’t go outside, she’s never shown any interest and if I’m honest I’m happier with her being an indoor cat if she’s happy that way. We don’t guard doors or windows or anything but I don’t actively encourage her to go out.

Eponymous we feed him Wellness Core grain free dry with Royal Canin digest sensitive wet. Any other wet seems to give him diarrhoea! And if the dry isn't grain free he vomits. He'll eat anything though but a lot just doesn't seem to agree with him.

My cushions are Fox and Ivy from Tesco

Some lush cats on here who love cuddles too I just worry he'll get bored. I think he's more of a summer cat because he did sit in the garden with us when it was warm. Not about this winter lark I'm not either actually....

Volunteering for holiday cover - just let me know when you’re heading off!

We rescued a farm cat when it was probably about 6 months old. He'd lived outside as a farm cat for that time, but was very friendly. After we rescued him (owner selling up and moving away and couldn't take him with them), he didn't go outside for 6 months. I regularly offered him the chance to go out, but no, one sniff of the great outdoors and he'd turn round and stay in, (as if he couldn't believe his luck, of a warm bed to sleep on each night, and most of the day). Then one day, he went out and stayed out nearly a week. Now, (years later) he seemed to have found a balance, although he'll still stay in for days and out for days, he hasn't really got a routine at all. Strange cat, but we love him.

I'm trying to get ready to go out today and he keeps pinning me down for cuddles

mine won't eat breakfast until he's had cuddles

Do you have/could you install a cat flap? I'm just wondering whether he might be more secure going out if he knows he can get in immediately if he wants to...

Gorgeous cat!

Our cat doesn’t go out and she’s similar- she follows us around, knows the noise of our cars pulling up so greets us at the door and sleeps on our beds rotating round the household- she’s just like that and what you describe with your cat not wanting to go out in the cold sums her up perfectly!

She’s honestly not bored, because there’s usually someone around. She loves sitting on the lawn when we’re hanging the washing out/having lunch in the garden over the summer but otherwise she doesn’t really have any inclination to do much exploring.

Your cat is gorgeous and I’m so happy he’s doing well after a rocky start in life. We do keep scratching posts and toys around the house (and watch her weight when she’s being extra lazy!) but otherwise just enjoy having such a wonderfully cuddly mog!

I keep coming back to this thread just to see his little face. He’s got such a sweet look.

@Poppins2016 we could get a flap yes but I didn't want to spend the money if he never went out to use it But it does make me wonder if he's worried about being locked out. Especially as I don't know his history, something similar could have happened to him.

My boyfriend send me this when I was at work today

Mine is happily letting me dress him up while he purrs at me. He could go out but would rather stay and be adored