Angry cat wants to go outside

Question
Hello, I adopted a cat from the humane society one month ago.  He is a neutered male shorthair, about 2 years old.  Most of the time he's very affectionate and friendly cat and I really love him.  He uses the litterbox regularly and does not claw the furniture.  The problem is that he gets very angry when I don't let him go outside in morning.  He sits at the door and meows and meows.  I've tried playing with him, but he's not in the mood.  I've tried ignoring him, but he just meows louder.  I've bought him all kinds of toys and scratching posts.  He has window perches and places to climb.  He doesn't care -- he just wants to go outside!  And I can't let him outside because I live in a large apt. complex on a very busy street.  He's much mellower later in the day so I suppose his former owners must have let him out first thing in the morning.  Do you have any suggestions?  Will he ever get used to being an inside cat or do I need to find him an owner who has a big yard on a quiet street?

Answer

dog crate for cats Rebecca,

Cats do not have any reasoning ability so he probably thinks that if he goes outside he will be in the same familiar 'marked' territory where he was before.

Once a cat is used to going outside he will still want to go. Have you thought about a walking jacket/harness? Here is a link for some information on it:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm

Indoor cats have suppressed hunting urges that they can't satisfy if they don't go outside. The only thing that the inside cat can do to satisfy this urge is to 'hunt and kill' something inside the home like a toy.

Get a pet laser light (at PetSmart or a similar place), they love that. Chasing the 'little red bug' on the floors and walls will help satisfy the hunting urge, tires them out, gives them quality time with you, and is a riot to watch them. But make sure you don't shine the light into their eyes.

Another thing that hunter type cats like, periodically for a treat, is a raw beef rib bone. I have the butcher cut some in half. The cats satisfy their 'fresh kill' instinct by pulling on the meat, the protein is good for them, and the fibers in the meat help clean their teeth. Not all cats are interested in them (some of mine aren't...one of mine won't touch meat, raw OR cooked!) but the 'hunters' usually have fun with them. Sometimes they will growl too if you look like you might try to take it away.

Do you have room out your door for a large dog crate? That way you can put him in it and he can be outside safely. I got mine at Petco and it works for a lot of things. I will attach a picture of it.

Other than these ideas, you basically have to change his routine and what he is used to. It won't be easy but he will finally give up at some point. Though he won't be happy about it.

Tabbi