My cat wont got outside

Question
Hi there,

Sorry to bother you with this question - I have had a look around the net trying to find answers and I can't find any.

Basically we had a cat for 2 and a half years (from a foster home) - she was very independant and loved being outside as i guess many cats do.

Anyways sadly she died last year so in August we got our new cat Rosie.

She was originally with an old lady and about 5 other cats - that's lal the information we know - and that the old lady past away last year and so Rosie and the other cats were put up for adoption.

When we got her she was very very affectionate (overly so I expect form having none from the previous months) but the problem is she hates going outside.

I know there are house cats about and she seems ok with being in - all she does is sleep most of the day and the odd hour that she is up we play with her and feed her.

We bought a harness and have taken her out a few times but she hates it - she shivers and goes all slinky and walks close to the ground. She has gotten slighlty better but taking her out seems to stress her out a lot so we have only taken her out about 8 times since we have had her.

She can be very nervous - you know hiding if a door slams or something. But she is a lovely cat - she has never even bitten or scratched us she's great! But I feel sorry for her cooped up in doors all day - i know that if i were her i would be bored! We have toys which she sometimes plays with, but still we would prefer for her to go outside - and some days she even sits by the cat flap!

So is there anything we can do? Once it warms up we are going to try and take her out every day, but we know that if we let her off the lead she'd be off and we'd never get her back!

Do you have any advice?

Thanks

Luke

Answer
Luke,

First of all, please accept my apologies for taking so long to get to this.

Rosie sounds like a normal cat to me.  Most cats do not like going out for a walk.  A cat who has been an indoors cat all his/her life should not be made to go out unsupervised as they do not have "street smarts".  In many studies, cats who are indoor/outdoor cats have much lower life spans since they can run into predators, automobiles, other cats, and (the worst) people out of doors!!!!!  The studies show that the average outdoor cat lives 3-5 years.  Indoor cats can live 12-15 years or more.

It is normal for cats to spend most of their time sleeping (whether indoors or out).   To make the indoors more interesting is to remember that cats can utilize all three dimensions, so having tall, sturdy exercise posts with lots of shelves, cubbyholes, etc. near a window would be an ideal addition for any room Rosie frequents. The exercise post should be at least as ling as she is in full stretch and be very sturdy covered by closed loop carpet and/or sisal rope.  You can usually ge some pretty good deals at your local cat shows.

As to the time Rosie has been with you, you did not say.  It may take an older cat many, many months to totally adjust to your household.

On walking Rosie.  I would put her in harness and take the leash and just go outside with her.  If she stays in one place, let that be her choice. If she decides to walk somewhere, let her decide where to go. Unlike dogs, most cats do not like being "told" (or led) what to do.  If she is walking on her own terms, she might do better.  Also, it may take many, many weeks before she is comfortable going on walks.


Best regrads... Norm.