MY TOM CAT

Question
MY CAT IS ABOUT 9-10 MONTHS OLD AND IS VERY LOVING, CURIOUS, FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE, AND RAMBUNCTIOUS....IT CONSTANTLY IS CLIMBING ON OUR COUNTERS, CLAWING AT OUR SOFA, AND EATING OUR GOLDFISH....IT'S TO A POINT THAT I WILL HAVE TO FIND A NEW HOME FOR IT OR TRAIN IT TO BE AN OUTSIDE CAT THAT COMES IN AND OUT....I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF HIM BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM VERY MUCH....HOW CAN WE TEACH IT TO STAY OUTSIDE MOST OF THE TIME AND AVOID HAVING HIM RUN OFF....HE SHOT OUT THE DOOR ON ONE OCCASION AND WE DID NOT FIND HIM UNTIL MANY HOURS LATER BY SHAKING HIS FOOD CONTAINER AND CALLING HIS NAME....CAN YOU HELP US?

Answer
You are making a big mistake and endangering your cats life by suggesting he live outdoors at all. Many people have this concept that cats can somehow just take it all - weather, fights with strays, fleas and so on not to mention communicable diseases from strays as well. You don't want to do that to him. Also if you let him out and you haven't had him fixed/neutered, you are endangering all female cats out there and contributing to the overpopulation of unwanted kittens that are put to death every year in shelters because your tom will surely impregnate any females he finds. Which gets to the next point - have you had him fixed? If not, that is a huge part of your problem. He must be fixed for this to stop. He will be much calmer shortly after recovering from the operation. After that the next step is discipline. I don't mena hitting. But animals are just like children - they need attentive discipline. You need to firmly tell him no while pushing him away from the bad activity and you must do this consistently. I know you probably work or go to school and aren't always home, but when you are you must use consitent verbal discipline. And if you are out very long hours every day and have no time for training him, then I don't know how you can do this because he needs that attention especially since he's gone 9 months of age without it. If all else fails and you really beleive you can't give him a home, then I suppose you may have to consider giving hoim away and it would be better to do so before he's much older, but please whatever you do, do not let him live outside.