Ever since moving from an apartment to a home, my cat loves to be outdoors. This however is not the problem. It appears my cat loves to sleep all day and play all night outside (since it is much cooler at night here in Florida).
The problem is that he paws (runs) on the sliding glass door when he wants to go out...and does the same when he wants to come in. It is never a problem when he wants to go out which is usually around 9-10 p.m. at night...but during the night, he wants to come in and its usually anywhere from 3 a.m. - 6 a.m. Sometimes he just wants to come in around 2 and then go back out after an hour.
He will paw the doors with his nails until someone lets him in. I have tried to curb this with double sided sticky tape on the door but he paws right over it. I am just trying to avoid having to buy an expesive sliding door panel with a cat door given I am afraid of letting bugs in at the same time.
Anyone have any suggestions? I am exhausted due to lack of sleep every night and need help THANK YOU!!!!
All my cats have been indoor cats except this one. He seems to just love being able to roam in the evenings and is so happy and content when he comes back in the mornings. I just need him to stop pawing on the doors until we get up, which is usually no later than 7:30 a.m.
I know it is better to have them indoors, but I didn't want to confine him since he's been outside the last 6 months. He is indoors all day though.
He would be able to adapt to being Indoor Only...all of my cats are former ferals that were born, and some raised, outside...they have all adapted fine and have no inclination to go outside now...
but for a while, he will probably drive you nuts wanting to go out...give him toys and diversions and he will adjust...
better to be safe inside and how would you feel if one day he does NOT come pawing even by 7:30 am...then what?!.....and what if he NEVER comes home to paw again...or finds his way home sick or injured a few days later and has suffered out there all that time...
you just do not know what goes on when he is outside and you are sleeping...you cannot keep him safe then...and he cannot always do so either....
Tambrey posts more eloquently than I, but there's not a chance in hades that you can protect your kitty by allowing him outdoors, and if you think he's safe, then you're sadly mistaken and you're putting his life at risk, yep, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for his life, for his safety, for his longevity, for his health. How fair would it be to him to be hit by a car, seriously hurt or killed, picked up by animal control, attacked by a dog, or abused by kids or angry neighbors, etc etc etc. Responsible cat ownership begins by keeping him INDOORS, period. HE IS DEPENDING SOLEY ON YOU so do right by HIM!
THANK YOU!!!!
