loss of indoor/outdoor cat - do you change the "rules" for the others?

[Larissa]

We just lost our sweet orange guy this morning to a car. I’m devastated, traumatized and just so, so sad. He was a kitten I found and took in with the idea of rehoming. He and my 18m son started a love affair at first sight so he stayed. He adored his time inside, mostly following my little dude around, laying on his lap and occasionally lounging on my shoulder purring hysterically. But he never intended himself to be an inside cat and spent 23 hours a day roaming.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/12402080_635044779966935_2670782173724585617_o.jpg
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13012867_681100852027994_3472582133914681553_n.jpg?oh=0f764ebf1041846ad0519a1c061fe02c&oe=57F30DA7

My heart is just breaking all over again looking at those.

After losing one, have you changed your rules for the others? I have three left, one another incorrigible mostly-outdoor guy, the other two use their outdoor privileges more sparingly and stay close. Our property borders hundreds of acres of farmland and horse farms but also a busy road. I have KNOWN the risks of outside life and accepted them as the particular cats were not ever going to be happy inside. But having lost one so traumatically has shaken me so, so badly. Everyone is locked up inside now but I wonder how I’ll balance the happiness/danger for the crew in the future.

[mayhew]

I’m so sorry. I’ve done the outdoor cat to indoor cat transition three times, and they do get over it. I’ve also lost one to a busy road, and one just never came home. It isn’t an easy decision to make.

[Zu_Zu]

I’m so sorry for your loss ~ ((hugs)) and thoughts and prayers for the family he leaves behind ~ [B]

RIP ~ Beloved Boy ~ knowing you will always be loved and remembered ~
[/B]

I have never lost one to an outside danger … barn cats are carefully monitored and never out of their tack rooms without eyes on them. Mine eventually all become house cats …even the ferals. I only have one barn cat now, and she will be a ‘house cat’ as soon as I have an opening … she is 15yrs. old. ( That said I do not have a busy road … barn is set a long way back from a slow country road.)

• I do what I do because … someone once told me …

‘there is nothing good outside for cats’ …so I believe they are better off safe and a little bored than outside at risk.

Again, I’m so sorry about your handsome boy ~ :sadsmile:

[Dewey]

I’m so sorry. He was gorgeous, and it looks as though he and your son shared a special bond.

I have three indoor/outdoor kitties, and I know that any day might be the day that one of them does not return home. I lost one to (I think) a snake a few years ago. Our neighborhood is quiet with not much traffic, but the risks and hazards are there.

I know you are beating up on yourself, but you did provide him with a home, good care, and love. I don’t think there’s one answer that applies to all cats.

[Linda]

All our cats are outside cats. We also have dogs and I know that the dog meeting the cats wont work. So the cats live in the barn, and the dogs live in the backyard and the house at night.

Our cats are all rescues. A friend of ours works at the animal shelter and she occasionally brings us cats that are on their “last day” and she very much wants to give them a second chance at life. Having said that, our cats live in our barn. Some make it and unfortunately some do not. We had a young cat who was attacked by a bobcat a couple of months ago. She had been living in the barn, and somehow the bob cat got in and went after her. (we knew that happened because of the way the cat was attacked. According to our vet, the bobcats try and bite their heads to crush them (ugh) but our kitty was able to escape and made it. She lived at the vet for about a week and then was able to come home. Yes it is horrible when that happens. At least our cats have a second chance at life with us…and that’s something they would not have at the shelter…

[cayuse]

I am sorry about your kitty. All my cats are of the indoor only variety and they seem adjusted and are happy. One loves his windows and chases the sun from window to window as the day progresses, but he has shown no inclination of wanting to venture out into the world.

[vxf111]

So sorry. My pet cats stay inside. I really feel strongly that pet cats are better off indoor only.

I also have a barn cat who is a failed pet (not mine, she failed 2 homes before me) and I know her life will be shorter because of it. I intentionally took her because she could not make it as an indoor pet, and so I wasn’t taking away that chance for her in another home.

It’s so dangerous out there for cats. When she doesn’t show up exactly on time for dinner, I worry terribly

I could not stand worrying like that about my pets. They are happy and healthier inside.

[ASBJumper]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8726266]
So sorry. My pet cats stay inside. I really feel strongly that pet cats are better off indoor only.

I could not stand worrying like that about my pets. They are happy and healthier inside.[/QUOTE]

Ditto this.

Very sorry this happened to you, OP. It’s my worst nightmare.

My cats don’t go outside unless they’re wearing a leash/harness and are supervised. And that’s really only my male cat, my female is terrified of the Great Outdoors, in fact if I leave the door wide open she will actually HIDE, like she’s afraid something will come IN and eat her. lol

I have made sure I provide my cats with an adequate, species-appropriate diet (raw/canned only), I play with them, teach them tricks, provide a very tall, sturdy cat tree with scratching surfaces, and they are extremely happy indoors. My male cat is only interested in going out when we’re out in the backyard - he feels left out otherwise.

Making the indoor environment interesting, stimulating them and especially ensuring they are happy/healthy (if your cat is overweight and lazy, chances are he/she is not comfortable and content) goes a LOOOONG way to ensuring they stay happy indoors.

I say give it a shot - transition your others to indoor-only. Watch some episodes of “Cat Whisperer” to get inspirations on how to make your house more cat-friendly.

[JoZ]

My first cat was killed by a car. That was 31 years ago. All of my pet cats have been indoor-only ever since. I have had barn cats, and went through a particularly bad year where they were disappearing for unknown reasons. I had pretty much reached the point where I thought I could not continue to replace them, it was too hard. But then we got a group that was content to stay right around the barn. That was seven years ago and that crew is still at the barn even though I am not! If all of the original barn folks end up leaving I’m not sure what will happen to those kitties, but I still check in on them and will take action if necessary.

[Larissa]

Thank you all for the kindness. We will miss him so very much. I am dreading my son calling him in for dinner tonight especially - every photo I have of Screech is with my son, they were extremely close. If you are a fan of cat/kid videos this one is adorable:

https://www.facebook.com/larissa.lefebure/videos/608595412611872/

My cats, too, are rescues and reformed street or feral cats. All but Screech (my orange guy) have been strictly indoor cats in the past due to living arrangements and the difference in their happiness is immense since getting outdoor time. It really seems like impinging on their enjoyment of life to keep them in (for this/these particular cats) - looking back, they were so, so bland and bored being inside cats. I do/did all of the recommended indoor activities. They eat grain-free foods in appropriate amounts, have people- and independent- playtime, cat trees, cat-only parts of the house for relaxation, lots of windows and doors for outdoor watching, compatible cat friends. I have no idea what I will do or what my heart can handle but I appreciate everyone’s input!

[frisky]

M best friend got two bengals cats a few years ago. They let them go outside and they enjoyed hunting in suburbia. Then, my friend’s wife watched one of the cats get hit by a car. The remaining cat became an indoor cat. They also go another young cat, so they have friends. They live a wonderful and charmed life for indoor cats. They younger cat now looks wistfully out the windows.

My neighbor has an indoor cat who constantly escapes. They have called the fire dept to get the cat out of a tree. Yesterday, they started building a catio for their cats!

[js]

I’m sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat, it’s a heartbreaking loss. Yes, I have changed the rules for my cats for the same reason you are asking. We did however, fence the backyard with a 6’ fence with an overhang which prevents the cats from climbing out, so they still have a good size outdoor area. Backyard looks like a prison yard but at least they are safely contained. They have two entrances to the house and a screened in porch.

[Linda]

In addition to our barn kitties, we have 3 dog rescues. (actually all our animals except the horses) are rescues. The dogs are in the house at night after we feed the horses. I have no doubt that they too would become a bob cat’s meal if the dogs remained outside at night.

We also keep the dogs and cats away from each other at night - the dogs are in the house and the cats are locked in the barn. Actually, the cats hang out in the barn most of the time anyway so “generally” they are safe. However, no matter what you do, at some point “someone” will get out and that’s when we have a problem.

We also live out in the countryside in an area that is way way off the main road. So I’m not too concerned about them being hit by a car. Its being caught by a bob cat or mountain lion that I’m the most concerned about…sigh Over the years, we have had a couple of cats “disappear”. And I have no doubt that they got caught by another critter. so sad!

With the cats, we close them in the barn at night such that they cant get out and wander about the area. We don’t have issues with critter attacks during the day, just at night.

[GraceLikeRain]

I am so sorry. Mine are inside only for this reason. Currently, with the exception of one 18 year old pet store purchase, everyone spread across four homes is an indoor-only formerly feral or found roaming cat. All have adjusted well to indoors but a few needed a water bottle by the doors for a bit to enforce respecting that space and not darting. Currently, I’m looking at one passed out on the couch. It is hard to think about taking away their freedom, but I really do not think the vast majority mind one bit.

[shea_smom]

I lost one cat in march that was always wandering down to the woods. I tried to keep remaining cats in at night. One really didn’t want to be in with the dogs. She disappeared one day. I kept the others in. 2 days later one jumped out the window. He was gone. I’m sure it is coyotes. I have been keeping mine in at night. I only feed them inside now. They are hard to catch, I have the scratches to prove it. I have a dog door into a fenced yard which complicates things. I am building catico.
It is difficult to keep them in and they don’t like it. I won’t add any cats while I live here. My barn cats seem safe. They have a very big black dog who protects them.

[CindyB59]

I have 2 indoor only pet cats. They are going on 16 & have never known outdoors. So they are content.

Also have 2 semi-feral barn kitties. Started with 4 in March, but two has disappeared. I’m assuming they became coyote snacks, which sucks. One was badly injured & I debated making her an indoor only. Decided against it, I think she would have thought she died & went to hell. She’s still very skittish, even with me. I have her & her remaining sister locked in my big feed room right now. Scared they’ll run off this weekend due to fireworks. Sister is still terrified of everything & everybody.

I’d be tempted to try keeping your other(s) inside.

[cnigh]

I lost a cat in February . We moved and he took off one night and never saw him again. About a month later a lady sent me a video of a large orange cat in her yard. It’s hard to tell because you never see a face but I really believe it was him. I have kept searching, but no one has seen him since.

I have one female left and I don’t let her stay out over night. She goes out in the yard to do her business with the dogs and comes back in.

[Larissa]

I’m so sorry there are so many of us with these kind of losses. It’s been so much harder on me than any other old-age or sickness loss I’ve had. I’m totally gutted. I think I was initially leaning towards letting the others back out at some point because I’d been through this scenario in my head before, I’d decided the risks were worth the rewards. It would have relieved some guilt if I “accepted” it as playing out along the storyline I’d rehearsed.

Having lived through it I feel like I’ve made a terrible mistake gambling with their lives. I’ve never truly regretted anything before but this I do. I realize perhaps I’ve always had a second chance to right my wrongs and in this case, my poor sweet Screech does not get a second chance.

Thank you all for the commiseration and advice.

[SmartAlex]

Could you make them a catio (screened porch) to come and go from the house?

My cats were allowed outside during the day but always came back by supper time. After a few years we transitioned them to indoor only cats but also continued to take cat walks every day and let them spend time with us in the back yard. It took a little training but they learned to stay with us and to come when called. I’m not saying there were no rebellions.

My remaining cat is now 16 and we go out every day. She knows to stay around the garden area and I just get eyes on her every 5 minutes or so. She will sit in the shade with us for hours. She loves her outdoor time.

[Mukluk]

We have three. Two are indoor outdoor- they are older females whom I started out as indoor only but have shown themselves to be the sorts who remain in our fenced yard. The are not allowed out at night. Our 9 month old male is indoor only- I’m not sure we will ever let him out because I think he would be the sort to roam. He’s been out a few times on a harness. I think the enclosed outdoor space is a very good one if you can manage it- best of both worlds.