Cat won't go outside

[ISaySteadyOn]

You were all so helpful and knowledgeable the last time when DCat didn't like the fans so I thought I would ask your help again.

She's previously been a very outdoorsy cat in all weathers so it isn't that it is November but now she seems worried about it and won't go outside except onto windowsills. She stands at the door and twitches her tail with interest or apprehension or both and then turns and runs away into the house.

I don't want her to feel she can't go outdoors as I don't think that's good for her. Anyone experienced this? Why was it and what did you do?

Will she go out if you go outside and encourage her to follow you?

Sometimes. I was thinking of trying the same technique as with the fans. Taking her outside while giving her a cuddle.

Does she have a flap?

Can you leave a window open that gives her a good vantage point so she can have a good look before going out?

Yes, we're doing that. Ironically, this whole thing has taught her to use the catflap to get in.

She's 5 if that makes a difference. Also, there were some territory disputes in the summer, I think. So I wonder if that is affecting her too.

It wouldn't bother me so much if she didn't love outside so much.

Our dcat is rather reluctant to explore the great outdoors, she does go outside for toileting purposes but meows for the door (using the cat flap is definitely beneath her!) otherwise she only really goes into the garden if we are in it

Poor baby. I would imagine she’s had a bad encounter whilst being outside, Maybe a fight with another cat, possibly even a fox or dog.

We don’t have cats currently but one of our old boys became reluctant to go out after he had a bad fight with another cat resulting in antibiotics for an abscess.
Another cat stopped going out of our main front door, I’d seen a neighbour cross the road throw a stone at him 😡 when he’d come home to find our cat asleep on his front garden so I thought that may have been the reason as he’d go out the back doors.
A friend of mine a few years ago bought 2 new garden ornaments for either side of her front door and her cat refused to go in or out of her front door until she moved them. 🤣 Have you changed anything in your garden? Or any new neighbours who may have brought a new cat to her territory? Cats are very sensitive creatures.
The other thing may be that she just doesn’t like the cold. When our cats got older, they were like dogs, they’d run and do a wee on the grass whilst I waited with the door open and they’d run back in the house. They only went out for longer periods in the warmer weather as they got older. 🤣

Other than those sorts of things, does your cat seem otherwise well? Maybe get the vet to check her over, as behavioural changes can be a sign of illness. Unlikely if she’s well in herself and eating, wanting fuss but might be worth getting her checked out if it continues.

Hopefully she’ll be back to enjoying the outdoors soon.

That was longer than I intended. 😬

That's really helpful actually. I am grateful for the length as it gives me lots of things to look for. Her appetite is fine and she likes to wake me with a gentle paw to the face in case I forget her breakfast.

She's just been out briefly and come back in the catflap. Obligatory pic attached though that's from the summer.

She beautiful. 😍

My cat has become a house cat by his own choice. Will go out when it’s warm outside. Or we in the garden. He 16 years old so getting on.

My cat is reluctant to go out at the moment as well, due to some territory issues with another cat on the road.

It's happened a few times since we've had him and it can take 3 or 4 weeks for his confidence to rebuild. He has a litter tray and is otherwise perfectly happy and playful at home so I'm not overly concerned, though I do keep an eye out for the other cat and shoo him away if he's near our car port (where the cat flap is).

It's easier in the summer as if we're outside our cat will always join us.

Your cat is beautiful by the way!

That's really helpful as she has had some territory issues. Thanks everyone. Knew it was a good idea to post here. And thanks for the compliments about her. She's as soft and silky as she is beautiful and I love her.

She went out a couple times last night and came out with me a bit this afternoon. She looked speculatively at the fence she would usually climb over and then looked nervous and ran back inside.

Small update, I have been persuading her outside with Dreamies so she has a good association. This morning, I went outside for other reasons and she just came along. No Dreamies required. Then I went back in and she stayed outside on her own voluntarily for about 15 min. Progress!

She’s lovely. No real advice I’m afraid but my rescue cat is similar. I think she’s had a bad experience with a territory dispute, or maybe it is just the cold.

I know for sure now that it was a territory dispute but the cat she had it with is, I think, staying inside because her house is warmer than ours!

Quick update. She has returned to her normal winter behaviour today. Meowing to be let out and then staring at us through the window to come back in despite knowing how to use the catflap. She prefers the servants to open the door.