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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Indoor cat wanting to go out

54 replies

Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 10:25

Hi all

Just wanted a little advice with this
Our female 6 year old cat has always been a house cat. We decided on this as where we used to live was on an extremely busy road.
We have since moved and she stayed as an indoor cat as she seemed quite happy with this setup. Plus it was a building site for the first few months.

Recently, she keeps trying to dart out of the front door when we come in
Always the front door and not the back.
I have stopped her as I'm not sure how she would adjust to going outside after spending 6 years as an indoor cat.
Just wondered if anyone had ever done this?

We are considering cat proofing the garden to see if that satisfies the need to go out.
I'm so unsure what to do as I feel guilty that she wants to go out but at the same time anxious to let her out in case she gets hurt or doesn't come back.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Muma1992 · 02/08/2021 10:32

As someone who has worked at a vets, I can say very wholeheartedly that you don't want to let your cat outside. A catio would be nice though!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 02/08/2021 12:03

Start going outside with her first so she gets the hang if it. Your cat is clearly very keen to get outside - she's likely to become stressed if you keep her in.

Divebar2021 · 02/08/2021 12:05

How would you feel if you wanted to go out but weren’t allowed?

Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 13:02

@Divebar having spent the last 18 months pretty much not allowed to go out I can see that it is frustrating. However, everytime I see a missing cat post on social media or a sorry to inform you but there is a ginger cat been hit by a car etc I'm also fighting with that aspect.

OP posts:
cansu · 02/08/2021 13:09

I think you should take her out into the garden. Cats are meant to hunt outside. I think it is cruel to keep cat indoors especially if they are not content.

CrystalMaisie · 02/08/2021 13:11

How busy is the road where you have moved to?

DecorChange · 02/08/2021 13:14

Our cat was a indoor cat for the 1st 4 years of his life. Then we got him and he slowly wanted to go outside. So we let him. He's done fine was timid to begin with but now will happily have a wee wander around the garden. He never goes far. He's 11 now. He does on occasions bring back presents of birds that was too slow.

Vbree · 02/08/2021 17:02

I didn't know an indoor cat was really a thing unless they had health issues. Seems really cruel.

Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 17:21

I don't think cruel is the right word actually...
I made an informed decision at that time and the cat seemed happy with it.

She isn't now hence me asking for advice on what is best for the cat going forward. She is part maine coon and I think that's part of the reason she was quite happy up until now with being indoors. Not sure what has changed but it has.

My vets are advocates for indoor cats and when I asked them for advice they said they would keep her as an indoor cat as outdoor cats lofe expectancy is dramatically reduced.
I wouldn't want her to be miserable though and equally don't want her dead on the side of a road.

I wondered if anyone had a cat who used to be indoors went on to be outdoors and how they went about it.

It looks as though we are going to cat proof the fencing. We have a very, very (pain in the backside) large garden so she will have loads of space.
We don't live on a busy road. We are in a small road of a few houses but behind is a fast country lane.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 17:25

To me cruel would be allowing her out without any thought to what might happen to her.
My friends cat was recently hit by a car.
He dragged himself home and died on the doorstep.

I don't want to feel like I am responsible an outcome like that as I would never live with myself.

I guess some cat owners just view that part differently. Depends how risk adverse you are I reckon.

OP posts:
randomlyLostInWales · 02/08/2021 17:28

You could try harness and walks - though it takes a while to get them use to the harness- while you wait to build a catio or cat prof the garden.

randomlyLostInWales · 02/08/2021 17:32

Our indoor cats love hunting moths and other night fliers in their catio - I wouldn't let them out roaming at nigher here even if we did let them roam.

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 02/08/2021 17:33

We have happy indoor cats.

We used to have a Maine Coon who had an inquisitive streak, and we walked him on a lead. He used to like to go for a wander, but we had real issues with people trying to steal him (he was a very beautiful cat, from a line of pedigree showcats).

If you have the space to do so I think a catio is a fantastic addition for an indoor cat. They can have the time outside, but safely, and on their terms (or yours).

Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 17:37

Thank you for confirming that cats can in fact be happy in the house.
As I say until recently she never went to the door but lately occasionally tries to make a dash as I'm coming in etc and I'm really not sure why.

She isn't spending all day crying to go out or anything like that.
She has just spent half an hour terrorising the dog and is now having a snooze on her cat tree.

OP posts:
randomlyLostInWales · 02/08/2021 17:45

I wonder if she just wants to check out the new area outside her new house - if so a walk on a harness should help there. Maybe she's seen new cats out there or something.

Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 17:49

We have been here a while now but she has only started trying to get out very recently

I'm wondering if she might be poorly or something. I might take her to the vets for an MOT as it seems out of character.

If it is that she just wants to go and explore, I'll make it so it is as safe as possible for her to do so.

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 02/08/2021 17:53

I have five ‘indoor’ cats. They can go out - attached to longish leads. This seems to satisfy them. They are attached to our back door and have access to grass etc or can sit under a canopy. If we move to a house, they will have a catio. Hope you find a solution that works for you and d cat.

Divebar2021 · 02/08/2021 17:59

I got my cat through a rescue and I requested an outdoor cat and they recommended one. I’ve no idea why she was categorised as outdoor suitable - perhaps they just specify indoor for health reasons and everyone else is ok for outdoor. She wanted to be outdoors from a very early point and it would have been difficult to keep her in. We started out on a harness on in our garden before letting her out on her own. We’ve always kept her in at night though due to foxes in our area. She has had an encounter with something which injured her leg and as a result of that she is much more likely to come in at night without being called - I don’t think she roams as far as she used to. I still wouldn’t keep her in despite her injury. If a cat has no interest in going out then that’s one thing but keeping them in when they don’t want to is another matter. If it’s not safe because of a busy road or other hazard then I’d rather not have a cat.

Kabloom · 02/08/2021 18:03

Mine was rescued at 8 and had previously been an indoor cat. The rescue recommended she went outside. She was timid but curious. I just let her in the back garden. She has a cat flap but only really goes out when we do and it’s like she knows our garden is her territory.
I feel very lucky that she can enjoy the outside but I don’t worry that she’ll roam too far.

AndyMurraysCat · 02/08/2021 18:09

I used to have an indoor cat when I lived in a flat. When I moved to a house with a garden she wanted to go out. We took it easy letting her out when she was hungry and letting her explore her new surroundings with us about. It didn’t take long for her to find her bearings & she always came home for food. It was lovely for her to have a whole new lease of life after her early years being an indoor cat.

Original poster
Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 02/08/2021 18:15

Yeah I'm definitely going to sort something for her.
By which time she probably won't want to anymore Haha.
I'm going on holiday this week so will wait until I am back as I hate leaving the pets anyway
Without worrying if one has gone missing.

I think cats being let out is a British thing.
I have a brother who lives in Canada and my best friend lives in Finland and they both say cats are all indoors there and the locals find it bizarre than the brits let their cats out.

I have a company coming out mid August to have a look at our fencing.

OP posts:
soberfabulous · 02/08/2021 18:17

Always had outdoor cats and our last sweet girl lived until she was 20. She didn't leave the garden though and really only went outside when we were there. Can you accompany yours and just let them out when you are with them?

nordica · 02/08/2021 18:18

The thing is, your cat doesn't know what is outside the front door and can't in any way make an informed decision about going there. So saying she wants to go out is not strictly accurate in that sense. I mean one of my cats always wants to get into the only cupboard he isn't allowed in, too, so its like saying he wants to start spending time in the cupboard.

You shouldn't let a cat out from the front door in any case as it's not safe to go where there are cars and other dangers. Quiet roads can be more dangerous than a constantly busy bigger road anyway.

Catproofing the garden sounds ideal, plenty of outdoor space in complete safety.

headintheproverbial · 03/08/2021 07:28

I agree with PP that it's unfair and, yes, bordering on cruel to keep cats indoors. To the person who said they use a leash - that's completely bonkers.

steppemum · 03/08/2021 07:43

all our cats have always been outdoor cats, and they have always died of old age.
My current cat spends all warm days asleep in the middle of a patch of plants in the garden. He loves being outside.
But I also can't imagine how you live in a house with all the doors and windows shut. All summer our back door is open all day as are our windows.
Neutered cats tend not to roam.

But your garden/road does make a huge difference to their safety.

Really isn't a British thing, I've lived /travelled all over the world, most places cats are outdoor pets. If anything, we are unusual in the way we share our indoor spce with cats and dogs.

But my brother had 2 indoor cats in a London flat. He rehomed them to my mums house in the country with a big garden. They had no road sense though, and despite the big garden would come round to the front, and both eventually got knocked down on the road.

So if you do let her out, I would be cautious, and start with supervised trips into the back garden. Let her build it up gradually.

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