How do I keep my cat indoors?

[Historychanger]

I have a 15 year old cat that has refused to stay in the house overnight since the nice weather began this year. She sleeps in the garden where I can see her clearly. Now the weather is colder and wet I’m getting concerned about her refusal to come into the house. She prefers to hide under a bush at the back of the garden when it rains otherwise she’s happy staying there. She doesn’t venture out of the garden.she’s spayed and microchipped. Her health is good, the vet has no concerns and she is up to date with her worming, flea treatment and jabs.
my children are upset that she doesn’t want to come inside anymore, if we close the door she meows and scratches the door until we open it. She still comes in for food 3/4 times a day and eats as well as she always has. My worry is now she getting old she may not be able to handle the cold weather outside, it also seems cruel to trap her and keep her inside when she doesn’t want to. She’d never let me cage her. Nothing in the household has changed to cause this, I just think she enjoys her freedom now she has had a taste of it.
So are there any tricks I can try to keep her inside or do I let her stay outside? My worse fear would be her passing away outside, alone and cold so I want to try everything I can to make her a house cat again.

When I changed from letting my cats out to keeping them in about fifteen years ago, it was really a matter of putting up with their complaints until they got used to it. It's so much safer for them indoors, for all the reasons you mentioned (and here in Oz, for the sake of the wildlife, plus the dangers to the cats from humans).

They do adjust, and I think it will be easier for your girl at her age, despite her still being active. Good luck!

I'd let her stay out. She's not been bothered by the rain as she's got shelter, and the weather is still mild. As it gets colder she'll probably come in of her own volition. They're not daft.

She'll come in if she wants to. Cats aren't daft! You could set up a cosy box for her to ignore-but otherwise let her get on with it.

We have one like this. She’ll pop in for a couple of minutes from time to time, is wonderfully affectionate, but otherwise her domain is the back garden. It bothers me as I want her to be warm and have an easy life. She is as happy as anything.

We have set her up with an insulated shelter within a larger shelter, under the garden table, which is covered with tarp. We notice her fur gets more dense too.

Put up with the howling, I do with my 17 year old. She used to be a night owl but she disappeared for two days and limped home very unwell, vet said she’d had a stroke, so now she can cry all she wants, it’s a no from me.

also we have nightly visits from numerous foxes, she’s too vulnerable now if a young, strong one decided to take his chances. Previously she would have seen a fox off no problem.

I still let her out during the day, she doesn’t go far and the foxes aren’t about. I’ve found around this age a number of cats display some senility characteristics, so I would be keeping her in at night whatever she says.

Leave her be.

She may decide to come in herself with all this rain. It is also still quite mild out. Just keep a close eye on her, but she probably has a year before you notice that she is old.

I now seen 3 cats suddenly turn around 16/17 into very old cats.

They remind you of very old people with their behaviour. This means they stop roaming and visiting people, and mostly stay inside and only go into their own garden if it is dry.

Thank you everyone

Cats are meant to go outdoors, do you have a cat flap where she can come in and out as she pleases? I'd just be affectionate when she's indoors, lay out a box (cats love boxes) and some cosy blankets around the house. When the weather is colder she may find a new spot.

Generally, as long as she has a flap and can come in when she wants to I wouldn't worry too much. But, at her age, and if it's new behaviour (has she done this in previous years?) then it might be a sign of dementia if she's 'choosing' to be uncomfortable.

She's showing you like all other cats she much prefers the outdoors environment.
It's more natural for her. Don't imprison her due to your own anxieties, l have had multi cat households since a young girl, none of my cats have ever got run over or lost in almost 50 years.
The best cat tracker " Tractive" is now allowing nervous cat owners the chance to give their previously indoor cats freedom. So many cat owners saying how happier their cats are in reviews.

She can make up her own mind either way, surely?

If she has a cat flap and access to the house whenever she likes, I'd just let her get on with it.

I'd put a little cat house in the garden for her.

If she’s happy to be out there it’s fine, I’m just concerned as she gets older she’ll get sick from being outside in the cold and we’d be distraught if we lost her due to poor health caused by this.
Many times I open the door and try to get her inside when it’s raining or storming and she’ll just look at me then wander off. We don’t have a flap as we private rent and the landlord won’t allow any amendments, but the back door is always open when we are home and the shed door overnight although she never shelters in there.
She is a cat that has never slept in a pet bed or played with toys, when she did stay home overnight she’d sleep on the landing next her bed. No behaviour like this before, she’d always stay home overnight prior to this year and would stay out for most of the day.