Ragdolls desperate to go outside

[raggeddolls]

I posted in chat about my 2 Ragdoll kittens and was basically accused of being a horrible owner for not letting them go outside, apparently I am selfish and should never have bought them if I subject them to the life of an indoors cat.

I researched the breed thoroughly and it’s been made pretty clear that ragdolls should be indoor cats. The breeder recommended this too.

Problem is both my neutered male kittens who are around 7 months yowl at the back door desperate to go outside. My garden is not cat proof and it’s a design which makes it very hard to car proof - we are not one level and have hedges/bushes rather than fences. I did ask one neighbour who owns the hedge if we could replace with a fence at our own expense but he said no.

So I can’t see how we could keep them in the garden even if we went outside and supervised them. I have been looking at specialist cat tents for outside but they would just be exchanging one prison (our house!) for another confined space.

Just wondering if anyone can relate?

I think we will have to move houses and get a garden where we can build a catio - not possible in current garden due to us being on a hill and having different levels in the garden.

It’s so stressful. I just want to keep them safe. They have a large house to run around in, lots of toys and we spend a lot of time playing with them ( they love chasing a ball up and down the stairs) but they are desperate to go outside.

OP if you don't feel comfortable letting them out then don't let them out, don't worry about what people think.

I had two purebred cats, I let them out and got stick from people for doing that. They both wore trackers at all times and only went out in the day and despite us not living particularly close to any busy roads one of them managed to get hit by a car and killed before he even turned 2.

I now keep my other cat, and my new cat bought since, inside, and have got stick from people for doing that too. You know your cats and whether you think it's safe for them, not all these strangers online.

Personally I would never let my cats outside unsupervised again, people love to wheel out the 'oh better for them to have a short life outside of 10 years than a long life inside unhappy' but seeing what happened to my cat at the age of 1, id much rather them live a long life inside. They're well looked after, played with all the time, happy and most importantly they're safe. Sometimes they'll wait at the door as if they want to go out but for the most part they're perfectly happy inside running about playing together.

I'm a cat owner and I didn't see your other thread but I would also let them out. If they want to go out it does seem quite cruel not to allow it unless it's impossible.

And also to add I'm aware that more than one household local to us were feeding my cats regularly and trying to coax them into their house, had bought food and water bowls for them etc. despite the fact they were clearly very well looked after and had collars on. They're a desirable breed, as are ragdolls, you never think someone would actually try to steal your pet but the risk of it is higher than you'd think!

Hi op. What is your concern about them being outdoors? I get it was recommended but what's the rationale?
We had a ragdoll who was a house cat for years and years with previous owners, and was fine this way. Then my MIL took him in when owner died and he was allowed outside - he always came back.
DH and I took him on a few years later when MIL could no longer look after him, he was about 14 at the time and once he'd settled in (miles away from previous home) we let him out too. He loved going out. He was a very friendly cat and got lots of attention from the neighbours and I think regularly ended up getting fed by the old lady down the road! He always came home.
I think the main concerns with ragdolls is maybe do you think they'd get stolen because they're pedigrees? If they're clearly desperate to go out, then I couldn't keep them inside, it wouldn't feel right. He never went out if it was raining or snowing or even a bit windy so he definitely was picky about when he went out 😂.
Otherwise apart from the breed possibly making them attractive to theives or other neighbours that want to feed them to enjoy their company, I don't see how letting them out is any different to letting other cats out?

Problem is the risk of your pet being stolen is not really justification for making them live inside if they want to be outside. It's miserable. It's like saying humans shouldn't go outside because of the risk of a car accident.

Mine only seems to want to nosey. Every time she makes a break for it she falls down on the gravel, freaks out if she gets a soggy foot or can't bear her feet touching grass.

She doesn't like being on a lead or in a harness, doesn't like the large outdoor cage I got her (cries constantly) and actually seems happier staying inside.

@wherethewildtbingsgo I mean not at all comparable really? And if you read my first post you'll see that's not the only reason I don't let them out, and you'll also see that I don't care about the opinions of others and I'm going to do what I think is best for my cats regardless what people think

@midnighthiraeth yes it is comparable. It's cruel to keep an animal inside when it wants to be outside. Sorry if that's difficult to hear but it's also true.

I didn't read your other post because this isn't a thread about you or your cats- I was responding to your suggestion to the OP that it's justifiable to keep cats inside so that there is no risk of them being stolen.

You can’t allow ragdolls to roam, the breeder is right. That could very well end in tragedy and you’ll be back here posting how heartbroken you are. If you cant give them a safe enclosed space then keep them in. They are not desperate to go outside if they’ve never been outside.

Ragdolls should not go outside except into a cat protected garden or catio, any breeder will tell you this and most breeders have it written into their contracts that you agree to keeping a kitten bought from them inside. What does your breeder say? There are good reasons for this. Ragdolls are gentle and naive, they don't have the best sense of danger and will run up to dogs, other cats and human beings regardless of whether they are friendly. They also have very little road sense.

I know of a few Ragdolls whose owners thought it would be 'cruel' to keep them indoors - TBH it always seemed to me they let them out because they couldn't be arsed with dealing with a litter tray. All of those Ragdolls are dead or have disappeared. All cats are in danger from dogs, foxes, traffic, hostile human beings and other cats. If streetwise moggies find it difficult then most Ragdolls have got no chance.

I think you need to learn how to be the dominant force in their life. They have each other to play with, which is the main thing as Ragdolls can get lonely if left alone. You need to be firm with them when they are yowling at the door. Tell them no and distract them, they'll soon learn. They are kittens and they will test boundaries but they soon forget about it if there is plenty for them to do and they get lots of attention and fun. I currently have a Ragdoll kitten that has been desperate to get into my electricity meter cabinet, he was quite obsessed. Have I given in to this because it makes him sad that he's not allowed to play with electricity? No I haven't! He's forgotten about it now. Just make sure they have plenty of toys to play with and that you play with them a lot, in time they'll sleep most of the day anyway, like most cats.

My Ragdolls do actually have the option to go out into a protected garden. They spend very little time out there.

My neighbour has a male ragdoll and he keeps escaping. He’s a good few years old now, and they just can’t keep him in. They try really hard, but as soon as a door opens he’s gone. He’s been fine though and does come back. When he’s in our garden I usually send one of the kids round to knock on and let them know. I think if they’re determined to go outside, you’ll struggle to keep them in long-term.

Could you gradually train them to wear a harness ant take them outside on the harness? I was all for outdoor cats until mine came home with two dead Pygmy shrews 😞 several birds, and once regurgitated an entire animal onto the carpet ( I still don’t know what it was) She has also had ticks, ringworm and fleas (and yes we do apply parasite stuff - Bravecto as instructed by the vet) The list goes on. Oh and I am convinced one of my neighbours deliberately sprayed her with some very strong smelling perfume to keep her away. I would never have an outdoor cat again.

I have ragdolls and my boy is obsessed with getting outside but he would be dead in an hour. He has no sense of danger and the few times he's escaped has just flopped down in the road! We've bought some of those mesh cat tunnels for outside and he enjoys being out in them (plus they're safe).

This again?

Let the poor things out. They are literally begging you. Do you honestly want to make their entire lives miserable?

My ‘ ragamuffin’ goes out - loves hunting in the small London garden , nips into the neighbours I believe but so far always comes home . We live in a corner property and I’ve seen her on the high wall looking at the goings on in the street ( not a main road ) with what appears to be a recognition that cars are best avoided .

Late to the party and haven't RTFT but I have a Ragdoll who was rehomed to me from a friend of a friend mainly because he was desperate to get outside and it wasn't possible where she lived ( flat on busy road)... anyway he's fine coming and going via cat flap BUT we live in a very quiet no-through road so very little traffic... and he is a very trusting soul and often goes straight up to visitors and even attempts to get in the Tesco delivery van on occasion... I think it depend slightly on where you live/ volume of traffic... but in general I'm in favour of cats being able to access outside if feasible... my Ragdoll is out a lot, my Oriental less so as she feels the cold more, moggy almost never leaves the house... but they all have the choice...

Should add said Ragdoll is now 9 years old and has been going outside for over six of those years... as I said, little traffic, but plenty wildlife around...

i wouldn’t let them out. As long as they have plenty of space and stimulation indoors they will be fine. I’ve got 2 bengals who are happy indoor cats - they have places to get up high to hide and to chase. They do go in the garden but only when supervised. We live near a main road and every week there are posts in my local FB about cats being lost/killed/stolen so I’m not risking it.

I don't have ragdolls but mine don't go off our property - I'd really recommend a catio or some kind of cat-proofing to give them the best of both worlds.

Let them out, I suspect that they will calm down as they get older so you might find they lose interest after a while. Our Ragdoll is quite happy in the house, although he likes to sit by an open door and could go out if he wanted.
it is quite difficult to control their weight if they are purely indoor cats though.

They’re animals not prisoners.

Haven't read the whole thread. Our 2 neutered male Ragdolls have mainly been indoor their whole lives. Sometimes we've felt guilty (from what people who don't have ragdolls say!) so we've tried them outside. We let them in the garden (not cat proof). One doesn't leave the garden. The other jumps into the neighbours garden then non-stop meows until we go round to get him (my neighbour has no garden gate so he could wonder anywhere, if he wanted). Neither cat is bothered about going outside now they've tried it. Typical ragdolls🙂

Nobody told my brothers rag dolls they were supposed to be inside cats. One is more typical rag doll and doesn't really go further than the banking behind their garden but the other 3 are proper exploring, mousing cats. The only cat they have sadly lost from being an outdoor cat is their regular moggy

Sounds like a cat isn't the right pet for you 😅

Have you thought about harness training?