We have two cats (Missy 13yrs and Kitone 19yrs) and live in the city. My Fiance is allergic to cats. She got them for her kids when they were young and has had them since kittens. There is no litter box in the house. Both of the cats are basically indoor/outdoor. They’re out during the day and in at night. They both, especially Missy, always let you know when they wanted out to take care of business. Missy liked to patrol the property. Kitone, from what I understand, has retired as "King" of the neighborhood and just likes to sleep.
Anyway Missy was attacked outside last November. She had a large abscess at her tail. The vet said by the look of the wound it was probably from a possum or coon, not a cat fight. She was in the hospital for a few days and sent home with the cone of shame for about ten days. After she healed she was nervous at first but started going back outside. All was normal. Within the last month she has become scared to death to go out and will hide in the house. She will struggle to get away from you if you try to take her outside. I've looked her over and she doesn't look like she has any wounds.
Anyone have any ideas on what might have caused this behavior? Or have any suggestions on how to coax her into going out again without just tossing her out? Thank you!
Cat afraid of going outside
Re: Cat afraid of going outside
Please read this, in it's entirety: INDOORS ONLY!
In addition, since the cats are older, they face even more risk being allowed outdoors. Namely, eyesight and hearing diminishes with age, if they are ill, may wander off and get lost, unable to find their way back home. Ultimately, no cat, kitten or older adult, should be allowed outdoors without full, constant supervision from their human. Fences are not appropriate (cats can jump any fence). A collar and attached leash are inappropriate (cats can and do strangle when left unattended). Any diversion such as a bug, another cat, a human, anything at all can cause a cat to startle, run and run until they are lost, or, hit by a car, or, attacked by a dog, or,....the link above is self-explanatory.
Since the GF has obviously had these cats since they were kittens, then she has obviously taken steps to reduce the allergy component. If not, then there are numerous other steps she can take. The point is, these are older cats and should never be allowed outdoors unsupervised, they deserve to be safe and healthy, indoors.
Try to put yourself in the cats' place. An absess is a serious, excruciatingly painful wound. No matter what the animal who attacked the cat, the entire experience was a bad one for the cat (being attacked, requiring veterinary care and hospitalization, pain, fear, recovery etc). This is not the only risk to these cats when allowed outdoors. Why would you FORCE these cats outdoors when THEY obviously feel safer, and ARE safer indoors?
Tips: Brushing the cats on a weekly basis.
Vacumming on a regular basis.
Keeping the human's bed free of cat hair.
Seek a physician for allergy treatment for the human.
A hepa filter for the air/furnace.
In addition, since the cats are older, they face even more risk being allowed outdoors. Namely, eyesight and hearing diminishes with age, if they are ill, may wander off and get lost, unable to find their way back home. Ultimately, no cat, kitten or older adult, should be allowed outdoors without full, constant supervision from their human. Fences are not appropriate (cats can jump any fence). A collar and attached leash are inappropriate (cats can and do strangle when left unattended). Any diversion such as a bug, another cat, a human, anything at all can cause a cat to startle, run and run until they are lost, or, hit by a car, or, attacked by a dog, or,....the link above is self-explanatory.
Since the GF has obviously had these cats since they were kittens, then she has obviously taken steps to reduce the allergy component. If not, then there are numerous other steps she can take. The point is, these are older cats and should never be allowed outdoors unsupervised, they deserve to be safe and healthy, indoors.
Try to put yourself in the cats' place. An absess is a serious, excruciatingly painful wound. No matter what the animal who attacked the cat, the entire experience was a bad one for the cat (being attacked, requiring veterinary care and hospitalization, pain, fear, recovery etc). This is not the only risk to these cats when allowed outdoors. Why would you FORCE these cats outdoors when THEY obviously feel safer, and ARE safer indoors?
Tips: Brushing the cats on a weekly basis.
Vacumming on a regular basis.
Keeping the human's bed free of cat hair.
Seek a physician for allergy treatment for the human.
A hepa filter for the air/furnace.
..........Traci
Re: Cat afraid of going outside
I thank you for your response but not the tone of it. I'm just trying to find some answers, not be lectured on the care of older cats. I do put myself in Missy and Toner's place everyday. I know Missy was tramatized by the incident. Any animal or person, for that matter, would be. It still bothers me! But lets understand something, those cats have never been forced outside. They willingly want too. They're catered to more than you can imagine.
Toner was found on the street as a kitten and Missy came from a pound. Because they are old I try to keep them in. But my Fiance has started having som bad allergy attacks and a litter box creates even more. So unfortunately they need to go out to take care of business. As often as possible I will go with them or leave the door open so they can get back in.
I'm trying to balance the health and needs of the cats and that of my Fiance. So if you have some helpful anwers to my questions great. If not, well...
Toner was found on the street as a kitten and Missy came from a pound. Because they are old I try to keep them in. But my Fiance has started having som bad allergy attacks and a litter box creates even more. So unfortunately they need to go out to take care of business. As often as possible I will go with them or leave the door open so they can get back in.
I'm trying to balance the health and needs of the cats and that of my Fiance. So if you have some helpful anwers to my questions great. If not, well...
Re: Cat afraid of going outside
Barring the perceived "tone", I gave tips.
Did you read the link?
This forum does not advocate cats allowed outdoors. UNLESS they are strictly supervised. Leaving the door open so they can get back in, is not supervision. Letting them out all day long then expecting them to come in at will, is not supervision.
GF has had these cats for 13 and 19 years, respectively. So, my question to you is, in 13-19 years, what steps has SHE taken for herself, to minimize the allergens? Not having a litterbox and putting the cats out does not, to me, indicate a suitable solution. Does she even know what she's allergic to, specifically? Has she even been tested for specific allergens? Is she aware that 9 out of ten physicians don't bother to inform pet owners that the pets are rarely the allergen, and don't bother to explore other potential allergens?
You say they are not "forced" outside, yet, you ask for "tips" on how to get the cat to go outside AGAINST HER WILL.
I work with owners, just like you every single day. I cannot count the number of times cat owners have said they let their cats out, they ALWAYS just come back, and then, one day, they never did come back, and they just don't understand why. They know exactly why. They were irresponsible and their poor cats depended solely upon THEM to keep them safe and protected.
Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts. I don't sugar coat my responses. This forum is about education and to PREVENT these very situations. There are hundreds of posts just like this on this forum. Each post has the same answer, so forgive the repetition, it gets old for us sometimes.
Again, you need to understand that these cats are senior cats, they deserve to be kept indoors only, safe from harm, and protected in their senior years. The same love and devotion they gave your GF and now you, requires they are given the same in kind. I would think the absess and veterinary hospitalization, veterinary costs would have been enough to take additional steps to reduce the allergens in the home, as well as the cats kept safe indoors. You can't control their outdoor environment, so control their indoor environment.
Did you read the link?
This forum does not advocate cats allowed outdoors. UNLESS they are strictly supervised. Leaving the door open so they can get back in, is not supervision. Letting them out all day long then expecting them to come in at will, is not supervision.
GF has had these cats for 13 and 19 years, respectively. So, my question to you is, in 13-19 years, what steps has SHE taken for herself, to minimize the allergens? Not having a litterbox and putting the cats out does not, to me, indicate a suitable solution. Does she even know what she's allergic to, specifically? Has she even been tested for specific allergens? Is she aware that 9 out of ten physicians don't bother to inform pet owners that the pets are rarely the allergen, and don't bother to explore other potential allergens?
You say they are not "forced" outside, yet, you ask for "tips" on how to get the cat to go outside AGAINST HER WILL.
I work with owners, just like you every single day. I cannot count the number of times cat owners have said they let their cats out, they ALWAYS just come back, and then, one day, they never did come back, and they just don't understand why. They know exactly why. They were irresponsible and their poor cats depended solely upon THEM to keep them safe and protected.
Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts. I don't sugar coat my responses. This forum is about education and to PREVENT these very situations. There are hundreds of posts just like this on this forum. Each post has the same answer, so forgive the repetition, it gets old for us sometimes.
Again, you need to understand that these cats are senior cats, they deserve to be kept indoors only, safe from harm, and protected in their senior years. The same love and devotion they gave your GF and now you, requires they are given the same in kind. I would think the absess and veterinary hospitalization, veterinary costs would have been enough to take additional steps to reduce the allergens in the home, as well as the cats kept safe indoors. You can't control their outdoor environment, so control their indoor environment.
..........Traci