I've created a monster. My indoor cat won't stop meowing to get outside. Help?

Question

I brought my cat outside for a few minutes so I could brush her well so I didn't get fur everywhere in the house... which was a big mistake because now she just wants to go back out. Before this she had gone outside and was afraid of it, and she never wanted to go out before. How can I get her to stop crying at the door? Should I just ignore her? I don't want her to out alone, and I don't want her going out to become a habit. (There are a bunch of fisher cats and foxes living in the woods).

Answer 1

My cats can be the same way, fortunately I have a secure patio that they can't escape from.  Does your cat have a perch or a specific window they like to look out all the time? If not maybe buy ones of those shelves you put under the window so they can have their own spot to enjoy the outdoors.  

For my cats if you ignore them long enough they'll give up.  Allowing them to go out all summer and then not allowing out on the patio in the winter is a hard transition, but they got over it eventually.  Helps to have a small brain! lol

Answer 2

Your cat has associated grooming with going outdoors.

She is meowing because she wants to be groomed, if you don't want her to be going outdoors alot, whenever she meows say firmly and loudly "no" but don't yell, and she'll get the point eventually.

Answer 3

I let my indoor cat outside but I watch her the whole time she only goes outside for a little bit but then shes happy again. It'll be good for both of you guys to have some fresh air. Shes just sad that she cant enjoy the outdoors and instead she has to be trapped in the house.

Answer 4

Ok, she has tasted freedom, she could even have smelled/sensed another animal/cat had been around in the area? Do you have 15-20 min/day to devote to your monster? Get a halter leash, the kind that goes around the back/legs/neck. Yep i know mine would not walk at first, i thought i was mopping up the yard dragging him, then i figured out, just stand there, he will eventually walk, so he did, a step here & there & before you know it, you are walking a cat! Mine was 1 yr when i tried this. I just do it very close to the house, so he will not get spooked. Patience is key, mine even peeded in the dirt, imagine that? I never heard of that before, of course it has to be loose dirt. And you don't have to do it every day, you can skip wks. months, once they get used to that leash it's a pc of cake. It may cure her taste of the outdoors. Of course you could move where there are tons of squirrels & she could watch them from a window? :)

Answer 5

bet she only crys when your there, distraction laser pen works for everything, she will run madly round in circles for ages forget she wanted to go out, then get so tired she will curl up in her favoirte place and sleep, doesnt take away from what you are doing either u can still watch tele read the paper etc and its good exercise for your wrists, try one they really work i have one in every room, i use mine to distract when things are tense. between them, 6 cats all came from bad people real attitude problems, hated people other cats etc only have to use them very occasionally now, hope this helps

Answer 6

have you bought her some cat toys?

keep here busy...there are some nice ones at the petshops

Answer 7

three words:get a leash

Answer 8

Hi, is your cat fixed?  If not she may be in heat.

If she is, you will probably just have to wait it out.  She will give up eventually.  You could also make here a nice window perch so she can see out and watch the world.  My cats love that.

Answer 9

Assuming she has been spayed and isn't in heat, I would suggest ignoring her.  Maybe she needs to chew on grass to work up a hairball (since it sounds like she's shedding) and that could be why she wants to go back outside - might want to buy something at the pet store for her for that purpose.  

Answer 10

Cats may sometimes act cocky and independent, but they are as defenseless as toddlers in the concrete jungle. Cats allowed to roam outside unattended may be attacked by dogs, stolen by dogfighters to use as “bait” or by thieves who sell animals to labs, or shot or poisoned by neighbors who don’t like them digging in the flowerbeds or climbing on their cars. Cats who roam outside are also exposed to deadly diseases like feline AIDS and feline leukemia, for which there is no cure.

Answer 11

leave a window open or something...

id let her out...

cats are wild animals.

they love it out there as much as they love it in a quiet corner sleeping.

dont worry, i created a monster as well, shes one of the most spoiled felines out there...

outside is their nature.

if i locked my cat inside, shed go crazy.

just imagine... if your cat accidentally got lost outside... she wouldnt know how to get back home or wont even know how to survive outside...