Cat that wont come indoors

[hb1d]

Hi

Hoping someone can give me some advice....I have a 7 year old rescue cat who I've had since she was about 2. We don't know anything about her background.

Up until about 4 weeks ago she was fine. She is a bit quirky and will pick a sleeping space and obsessively sleep there for a week then move on to another space in the house and so on and so. However, she was always happy and loved a fuss etc.

4 weeks ago she came in the house yowling one morning. We couldn't see a reason why and after a stroke and some breakfast she stopped....a few days later she was walking round the back garden miaowing and again stopped when we made a fuss of her. Shortly after this she disappeared for a couple of days and when she returned (starving!) she refused to come any further than the back garden. Since then I can only get her to eat in the back garden. She has come in the house a couple of times when the door has been left open but she looks and acts like a cat that doesn't know where she is. She lets us pick her up, cuddle her and stroke her but you can tell she isn't comfortable tin her surroundings.

I am pretty sure she hasn't 'moved in' with someone else as she is always starving and gobbles down a bowl of food really fast.

We don't really know what to do as summer will soon be over and the thought of her living outside and just coming to the back door for food is upsetting and we worry about her being outside all the time.

Has anyone had a similar experience or got any advice for us?

Thank you in advance.

[Crewella]

It sounds to me as though something must have frightened her in the house - have there been any changes recently, or strange visitors? Or is it possible that another cat has been able to get into your house and frighten her?

Your best bet might be, having checked the house for any interlopers, to keep her in for a couple of weeks to get her used to being indoors again.

Just a thought, it seems unlikely to be an issue given how long you've had her, but I assume she has been neutered?

[hb1d]

Hi

Yes she has been neutered. I think you are right we will have to try and keep her in and break the cycle. We have a cat flap so quite possibly another cat had come in while we are out at work.

Thanks for the advice

[Kay]

this happened to me many years ago - only when I came home early from work one day did I discover a strange cat sleeping in my airing cupboard upstairs - he had I think been coming in when he knew the house was empty for some time, upsetting my Siamese girl

if you keep your girl in and lock the flap for a week or so, and then only have it open when you are in the house, it may well do the trick - long term you could always upgrade to a flap which is activated by a microchip or special collar