Catios

[Nevercloser]

Hi
I’ve recently inherited a cat, I know nothing about cats.

He is 14 and was a happy indoor cat previously, he slept most of the time. I think that this was because there was no option to go out. I happily agreed to have him when my friend died, thinking that I knew what he needed. Since coming to my house, about 2 months ago he has settled in nicely with my dog and the family. He is a lovely cat.

However, we have a lot of glass on the back of our house and he sees the dog in the garden. He has decided, evidently, that he now wants to be an outdoor cat. He yowls a lot and will make a bid for freedom at any opportunity. I’ve bought all the catnip products and a plug-in Feliway thing but he still yowls a lot. He seems happy in the house but just wants to go out, not to escape from the dog as he’s put her in her place and has several high up places to go where she can’t reach. He’s also very affectionate and is used to being picked up and cuddled.
My house backs onto fields and he would need to go a long way to get to a road. I have tried to catproof my garden but my cat owning friends say I’m kidding myself if I think he won’t escape. I’m worried that , as he has never roamed, he may get out another know his way home.

My question is what should I do ?
My thoughts are ;

At 14 and desperate to go out I should let him take his chances, obviously whilst trying to do everything I can to minimise any risk.

I should get a catio, but I don’t know if that would be any good. Are cations good for cats ? I’ve got a harness but when he reaches its limits he knows how to escape. 🤣

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thank you

I just want to do the best for him as it’s the only thing my friend asked of me. Also I love him and want him to be happy. ❤️

I just asked my mate at work who built a catio for his two and he says they’re brilliant. But expensive to build! Cats being cats, you’ll prob spend a fortune building it then he won’t want to go out!

Mine love theirs but it's huge and I saved a bomb by using reclaimed material.
I'm not looking forward to painting it.

Mine have always loved their catios and spent a lot of time out there but it was a massive project. We kitted it out with climbing frames, scratching posts, toys, fountain and (cat safe) herb garden. We also put a little table and chairs out there so we can have cuddles outside.

Our two indoor cats have a tiny catio - actually it's more an outdoor loo, where their litter tray is - but it also has space for a sleeping shelf, and a stone floor. They have a catflap from it into the house. When it's sunny they both bask for hours. It's improved everyone's quality of life, especially with the litter tray now being outside!! We built it ourselves, you can buy the wood, mesh and roofing materials quite cheaply.

I'd let him out. He sounds very settled, and is unlikely to go far at his age.

He's been there over two months, let him out to explore and get a microchip cat flap so he can come and go without being followed home by a hundred other cats.

He will be so excited to feel sunshine heat his fur and a breeze ruffle it and rain and wind, to get to chase leaves and insects, to climb and sharpen claws on fences.

There is always a risk of harm, but it sounds ideal with woods. Really healthy to be so active and good for his brain too. Start with letting him out just before he normally eats.

Quality of life over quantity for animals that live in the moment.

Thanks everyone, sorry don’t know how to tag people.
There seems to be some very positive experiences with catios so I’ll have to seriously consider that idea.
Also, the comment about an animals quality of life over quantity is spot on. My peace of mind (that he is safe) comes at the cost of his restricted and limited life, which is not the right thing to do.

Thanks again, it’s so helpful to speak to people who know about cats. 👍

OP for fulfilling your friend's wish, I can imagine the peace of mind it gave them. Lovely that you are so keen to give the old boy the best life possible 😻

Catios really don't have to be expensive, it depends how you make them or if you buy a kit. They are brilliant for keeping cats safe whilst allowing them outside. It's not just roads that are a risk to cats, other animals can do them harm as well.
It's not right for all cats but I'm a big fan of them.

My two house cats have an Omlet Catio. One absolutely loves it and I can't keep her out, the other hates it with a passion and would rather stay indoors.

The smallest size is 2m x 2m, but can be extended to ask long as you like. Mine is currently about 6m long

Sadly I'm on a farm with lots of ferals. Mine wouldn't last two minutes if they were let out to roam.

As you back on to fields and are far from roads I'd not bother with the catio. He clearly wants to go out and has been with you long enough to find his way back to his dinner. You could put a tracker on his collar instead if you're worried.

I was fascinated watching my cat first learn to go out when he was old enough. He'd been desperate to get outside but once we finally opened the door for him he spent a long time testing the route out onto the doorstep and back in. Then back out to the doorstep and onto the garden path. Then back in. Then back onto the path and a little bit further into the garden. And back in. etc etc. He was so clearly imprinting his route home to safety before he went any further out.

Just because he was an inside cat before doesn't mean he doesn't have the basic cat instinct to cope outside. He's an old man. I'd give him his final few years living the cat dream.

Thanks for the new messages everyone. Thanks for the flowers Pud.
I’ve looked at Omlet, they look great. I’m really conflicted. I’m so tempted to let him have what he wants which is freedom but every time I see one of my neighbours cats on the road I’m terrified for them.
I think I’m going to try a catio with the view that if it doesn’t work for him and he’s still not happy then nothing is lost. I can still let him roam knowing I’ve tried it.
Thanks again everyone. All the comments have been extremely helpful.

You do have to bear in mind that having been an indoor cat for all that time, he won't have the "street smarts" that a cat that age normally has so will be at greater risk of accident or injury if allowed to roam.

Yes, Allergic. That’s what I’m worried about, he’s never roamed and doesn’t know the area. He’s never had to deal with other cats either. Ideally he’d stay as an indoor cat, it’s just that he’s yowling all the time and I don’t think he’s happy. They don’t just yowl for no reason do they ? I don’t know about cats, I’ve always just had dogs. He seems to have livened up since coming to our house, probably because there’s a lot more going on than his previous home where he slept all the time.

I’d do a catio too.

I used to subscribe to short happy life etc but I lost my Bengal lad on the road and feel horribly guilty he died on his own so young.