CAT SCARED OF GOING OUT!

[gayleyh1976]

Hi

I'm a newbie here and am after some advice about our cat. We rehomed her from the local RSPCA in September last year, they recommended that we keep her in the house for 10 weeks. So after this time we let her out, only for her to not come home for 2 days. We eventually found her in next doors shed.
Over the last few weeks we have left the door open for her to go out and have a sniff around so she felt more comfortable. Unfortunately this morning the door slammed shut in the wind, when I realised this she was running around the back garden moewing like mad. I called her but she wouldn't come in and has now gone and hid in the neighbours shed again!!!!! I've left her for now but am a) worried about her b) wondering if she will ever go out willingly.
Thanks in advance

[meriad]

Can you get her back in asap and then once in, personally I wouldn't let her out if she's not that keen on it.

And if you do the two things I'd do if you can are to cat proof the garden so she's safe in there and can't get out and also install a cat flap so she can always come back in.

As a matter of interest, when you say

b) wondering if she will ever go out willingly.

how does she go out now - on her own or do you pick her up and take her outside?

[gayleyh1976]

we leave the back door open for her, she goes out in the garden has a little sniff around then comes back in. This morning the door was blown shut, when I realised I called her but she wouldn't come in. I've called her, shook her food and she won't come out. I've had to come to work now. When we adopted her they said she didn't like to be picked up and she will scratch if we try. They didn't say that she was a house cat though so I'm not sure what the problem is??

[lilynmitz]

I have a very nervous cat at the moment, and while he shows an interest in going outside, when I open the door he is literally too scared to step out of the door, so I'm just going to let him take it at his own pace, because to force him would only make him even more fearful and reinforce why he is scared.

If your puss doesn't want to go out, please don't force her. Why would you make her do something she clearly doesn't want to? (Sorry, that sounds a bit harsh, it's not meant to be). She may well have ended up as an outdoor cat against her will, and if she's happier indoors, then let her stay indoors. There might also be a specific reason why she doesn't want to be outside - maybe she's seen a dog/rival cat/piece of paper(!) that frightens her, but you'll probably never know what goes on in her head.

You might perhaps be thinking "all cats are hunters etc and like to explore and be outside", but that's not necessarily the case. Some nervous cats genuinely find it frightening. No-one knows what she went through before she was rescued, and it may have been a very unhappy or frightening experience for her. Part of the pleasure of having a cat in your life is providing a life for them that makes them content and happy. If she prefers to stay indoors, then let her. A happy cat is much more relaxing and rewarding to have in the house than a stressed cat that you're constantly worrying about.

So, basically, let her choose. If she wants to stay in, great. You don't need to worry about her running off again. But if she wants to go out, let her out just for short periods, maybe go out with her for the first few weeks. Also, fit a cat flap so she can come back in when she wants to. Sureflap do a very good microchip operated catflap, which you can programme to "in only", so you control when she goes out, but once she's in, she's in, and no other cats can follow her in. That way you don't have to panic and end up leaving her outside all day if you can't get her in before you go to work.

[gayleyh1976]

We haven't forced her to go out since we adopted her, if she doesn't want to go out thats fine I'm just concerned cos now she's out in the shed, won't come in, we can't pick her up either. Do I just wait for her to come back to our garden??

[booktigger]

I think you need to get her used to being picked up, my new cat will try and bite, so I pick her up for a second then give her a treat, and she is much better now

[lilynmitz]

I agree, there are going to be times when you simply have to pick her up, and this is one of them. Be calm and gentle but firm, pick her up with your hand under her chest between her front legs, put her over your left arm, with the other hand across her body holding her close to your chest. This will limit how much of your hands she can get to to scratch or bite, and she will struggle, but remain calm and firm. And if you do get scratched or bitten, really, it doesn't hurt that much and soon heals, so don't panic/worry about that. It's no big deal in the realm of cat ownership!

As Booktigger says, some cats do find being picked up stressful, but I've just "broken in" two cats who were like that. Wait till they're relaxed and looking for attention, calmly pick them up and hold them securely against you (as above) so that they feel safe and that you're not about to drop them, but as soon as they struggle, very gently put them down again and give them a treat and a stroke. This will let them learn that they aren't being restrained against their will and can control the situation by indicating (successfully) that they would like to be back on the floor please. Even if it only lasts one second. Keep doing this once or twice a day, and gradually they will let you hold them for longer as they start to associate being held with something nice. For them it's a matter of trust and communication, and only we can help them to realise that being held is ok.

My two love a cuddle from time to time now. I've only had them about 6 months, and both were very nervous to the point of not letting me near them when they came to me, which resulted in many silly hours of me lying on the floor talking to them under the bed! But I still always put them down as soon as they ask, except when I'm having to do this against their will, eg hauling them in from outside, moving them to another room for some whatever reason, or taking them to the vet. Then they do struggle, but I just hold them firmly until the job's done, and they recover within seconds from this minor trauma.

[gayleyh1976]

OK so I shouldn't be too stressed that she's hiding in next doors shed then and won't come out? Leave her til she's ready????

[meriad]

how did you get her in last time?

[meriad]

but to answer your question - if you know that she's in the shed next door and safe then for now - yes don't be too stressed. Easier said than done I know but hopefully by the time you get back home later today she'll hear you open the back door and come running home

but could you install a microchip catflap in case it happens again, so she can come back in when she's ready to?

[lilynmitz]

If she's still showing no inclination to come out when you get home, if you can I'd pick her up and take her home. Her behaviour does suggest that she really doesn't like The Big Outdoors at the moment, ie as soon as she's out, she finds somewhere safe to hide, so I'd keep her in for a good while longer yet until she does show some real desire to explore outside. But it sounds to me like she's not ready for that yet.