Indoor cat wants OUT!

Question
Dear Norm,  We have two, 2-year old Burmese brothers (neutered).  One sleeps all day, unless playing with his brother or tolerating the Dachshund pup we just got a year ago, and the other drives us crazy with his yowling!  He has just started being really vocal with low, guttural calls.  We think it is because he wants to be an outside cat.  He is micro chipped and we have a collar tag for him and wonder if it is wise to allow him to venture out?  We have many feral cats in our neighborhood with a catch and release program for neuter and inoculation, and he is up to date on all his shots. We just worry he won't come back or is not street smart. We have given him condos in every room, a screened porch with perches and play with him constantly but nothing seems to satisfy him.  Burmese seem agreeable to everything but do you think the dog has upset him?  I mean, they sleep together!  If he is in earshot, he comes running to the treat can, on the occasion he has gotten out of the house.  We can't stand his crying any longer.  How do you think we should handle it?

Answer
Robyn,

Nobody likes this answer, so please do not shoot the messenger!!!!!

My advice is to ignore the yowling.  He will not stop, and Burmese, like all cats, are nothing if not persistent.  I am also assuming the boy is neutered, if not, that could go along way to helping. If the yowling is really that bad and the cat has no medical problem, you might look into a pair of airline earplugs used for first class passengers on trans-Oceanic flights.  They really are very comfortable.

Given the statistics: Indoor cats live an average of 12-15 years, whereas outdoor cats live an average of 3-5 years, I would not let the boy roam outside if you can help it.

Best regards... Norm.