Can I let my cat out only occasionally?

Question

For 5 years, I let my cat go outside any time she wanted. Now I am living in a condo and one of the neighbors says when she goes into their yard it upsets her indoor cats. So, I guess I have to keep my cat inside because I have no way to keep her out of their yard. Anyway, I have let her out if I'm up late at night or early in the morning when it's dark. I figure the neighbor cats are sleeping. My question is...Is it better for her psychologically to just keep her in all the time? Or is it ok to let her out sometimes but not others? She meows at the door during the day, but I can't let her out then. Please don't give responses like "cats should never be outside"....I just want to know if I'm confusing her by only letting her out at certain times.

Answer 1

It may be very frustrating for her being kept in at certain times, as for five years she's been used to being outside whenever she wants. But I think keeping her in permanently would be worse for her. Do you have a yard of your own? Some owners find that building an outdoor enclosure (such as this http://www.catsnortheast.org/images/Encl...  )   helps for cats who can't roam but need to be outside.

Some cats who are kept indoors develop stress problems.

Maybe it would be good to consult a specialist so you can do what's right for your cat. Good luck!

Answer 2

yes u can , we do that with our cat

Answer 3

Do you have any kind of fencing separating your property from your neighbour's?  If so, you could fix some of those rows of plastic conical spikes to the top?  Cats find them uncomfortable underfoot and it would deter your cat from climbing out of your yard.  See the link below for more details.

http://www.prikka-strip.com/

There are also fences designed specifically for keeping cats on their owner's property.  See the link below.

http://www.purrfectfence.com/

I'm in a similar situation to yourself.  I recently moved from an apartment to a house and am now allowing my two 3 year old cats to go outside for the first time.  My cats are really enjoying their new found freedom, but unfortunately the neighbour next door isn't keen on cats.  I gave her a water pistol and told her to feel free to use it on either of my cats if they enter her garden.  I'm glad I did this, because she was pleasantly surprised by the gesture and it didn't take many squirts of water before my cats learned to avoid her garden.  Perhaps this option may work with your neighbour?  Maybe you could come to a time-share arrangement with them?  (When your cat goes out, her's stay away from the windows and your cat stays inside at certain times of the day.)

Having seen how happy my cats are (just to be able to sit outside on the patio of an evening), I understand how your cat would miss not being allowed outside (after having had 5 years of freedom to come and go).  I hope that you are able to reach an amicable compromise with this neighbour, as your cat has as much right to be happy as her cats do.

Answer 4

Yes, she's probably confused.  When we converted my indoor/outdoor cat to indoor only there were a lot of sleepless nights of constant meowing.  But it didn't take that long for him to give up.  She'll adjust.  If you just let her out sometimes she'll probably beg more.  You could just only let her out when you offer to, whether or not she's begging instead of only letting her out at time when she's already requesting it. Cats like routine so if you can do the same thing every day that would be easier for her.  

I agree very strongly with having a fence.  I've built a cat fence, it wasn't too tough and it kept the cats in.  That will solve the neighbor problem, the problem of not letting her out when she wants, and keep her safer.  Any pen or enclosure that can hold her would be good.  Although I suppose it depends on community rules whether or not you can have a fence - but if you can I really think it would be a great idea.

If you can't keep her penned up I would suggest keeping her inside.  It will upset her at first but she'll get over it and will probably get over sooner than she will if you just let her out a couple times a week.  either way, good luck

Answer 5

I feel for you, I "adopted" a stray cat from my neighbor.  My cat was born outside and stayed outside for the first 7 weeks of his life.  My neighbor wanted me to keep my cat indoors only.  We tried this, but he was TERRIBLE.  Everytime we opened the door, he flew out.  He knocked things off the tables, climbed wherever he pleased to get our attention.  Finally, I have in and started letting him out.  He is a completely different cat- we haven't had a problem with him since!  He began as an outside cat, so I don't think it was fair to him to try to convert him.  I wouldn't take his outside privileges away, but I would look into something you could do to contain him a bit.  Maybe you could walk him on a leash?  I can't imagine that he is bothering the other cats THAT much?  Is he fixed?  Are the neigbor's cat's fixed?

Answer 6

She probably is confused, because she doesn't understand why she used to be able to go out whenever she liked and now she can't.  Does she really come back in when you want her to?  If so, it might be okay, though it seems like she would end up staying out after a while of being locked inside.

Then again, how much can an indoor cat really be bothered by yours?  Sounds like a cranky neighbor!

Answer 7

Why not get a harness and lead and train your cat to go out for walks or just hang in her own yard area when you can be wiht her? Even if you let her out in the dark, other cats know she is there.  It is hard to keep them in once they are used to in and out I have one I adopted who was a stray outdoors for months.. and man door opens and out she flys..It is hard to convince her to come back in which she does after a bit of time outdoors..But there are so many dangers, this is a method I have just begun to try and train her with..I do believe it confuses them..

Answer 8

Im gonna say this once, and only once...

DO NOT LET YOUR CAT OUTSIDE

She may get hurt on the roads, attacked by a raccoon, someone might even think shes a stray and take her toa shelter. Im saying this with concern, plsdo not let her out. i have 3 cats that are 7, 15 & 16. We used to let our 16 year old one out, but then he got attacked my a raccoon and almost died ! Hope this helps (=

Answer 9

yes, you might be confusing her and frustrating her, but you have to do what is best for her