Californiablonde
Well-Known Member
Well we have a new cat in the house. She's not really new. We've had her since April. She is seven months old but still a baby in my eyes. Her name is Lily and she is really sweet but the only problem is she won't stay in the house! I want a strictly indoor cat like our last cat Tigger was. Tigger had no problems staying inside. He hated the thought of going outside, so much so that he used to run and hide every time someone would open the door. I liked the fact that he was a totally indoor cat. We didn't have fleas because he never went outside. I didn't have to worry about him getting hit by a car. I've been a cat owner almost all my life, and I've had a cat die by getting hit by a car, so I'm extra cautious when it comes to my cats.
This new cat Lily just isn't happy indoors. Every chance she gets, she sneaks out the door every time it is opened. The kids and I have to chase her down the sidewalk, and most of the time she hides in the bushes. The bushes are very thick and it is almost impossible to get her out of them. We eventually catch her, but I'm getting really tired of having to chase her down. She used to sneak out every time we would leave for school in the morning. A few times I was late to work because I had to try and catch her and bring her back in the house. Finally my son came up with a technique where he picks her up in the morning and walks out the door holding her. Once we all get safely outside, he gently tosses her into the kitchen and shuts the door really fast so she doesn't run out. This technique has worked so far, but we still have a problem when we walk IN the door.
This cat continues to run outside every time we come inside the house. I am getting really sick of chasing her down. Plus, everytime one of the kids and I walk out the door, she sits right by the door and cries nonstop to be let outside. She really isn't happy being indoors, but I don't know what else to do. She is still a kitten and I don't want her to get hit by a car. We live in a very large apartment complex and there is heavy traffic inside the parking lots. Also, I'm afraid she won't be able to find her way back to our apartment once she gets out. We have several hundred apartments. How is she going to know which one is ours? Will she get lost? I don't know what to do with her anymore. Should I just break down and get her a collar and tag and let her be outside? Should I take the risk? We adopted her as a stray from an animal shelter and I really think this cat is just not happy unless she's outside. Should I force her to remain indoors or give in and let her outside, fleas and all?
This new cat Lily just isn't happy indoors. Every chance she gets, she sneaks out the door every time it is opened. The kids and I have to chase her down the sidewalk, and most of the time she hides in the bushes. The bushes are very thick and it is almost impossible to get her out of them. We eventually catch her, but I'm getting really tired of having to chase her down. She used to sneak out every time we would leave for school in the morning. A few times I was late to work because I had to try and catch her and bring her back in the house. Finally my son came up with a technique where he picks her up in the morning and walks out the door holding her. Once we all get safely outside, he gently tosses her into the kitchen and shuts the door really fast so she doesn't run out. This technique has worked so far, but we still have a problem when we walk IN the door.
This cat continues to run outside every time we come inside the house. I am getting really sick of chasing her down. Plus, everytime one of the kids and I walk out the door, she sits right by the door and cries nonstop to be let outside. She really isn't happy being indoors, but I don't know what else to do. She is still a kitten and I don't want her to get hit by a car. We live in a very large apartment complex and there is heavy traffic inside the parking lots. Also, I'm afraid she won't be able to find her way back to our apartment once she gets out. We have several hundred apartments. How is she going to know which one is ours? Will she get lost? I don't know what to do with her anymore. Should I just break down and get her a collar and tag and let her be outside? Should I take the risk? We adopted her as a stray from an animal shelter and I really think this cat is just not happy unless she's outside. Should I force her to remain indoors or give in and let her outside, fleas and all?