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I have conflicting decision whether i should let my cat go outside and roam or stay inside. My family moved from a town called Chetwynd in northern British Columbia (Canada). My cat roamed around our neighborhood ever since she was kitten, and the reason was because the town was in a rural area, and a forest as our backyard. She always found her way back every time she goes out, and been doing this for two years. Now that we moved into a city, Vancouver, we made her stay inside. Now she's bored, depressed and dissatisfied.
Were in a nice quiet neighborhood, lots of trees, very green, surrounded by other houses, and not as much cars driving across our house. Should i let my cat roam? or should I keep her in? I've been thinking of giving her a harness and walk with her outside with a leash.
Can anyone please give me their suggestions? My cat looks so sad
I would totally keep her inside, but this is a major life change for her, so you might want to enrich her environment. Do you have a window perch/cat tree where she can look outside? Add a bird or squirrel feeder she can watch. Rotate toys every now and then so they stay "new."
If you can afford it, buy or build an outdoor enclosure so she is safely able to go outside. There are lots of options and sizes for any kind of house.
Please don't let her wander and become a nuisance to the neighbors who may do something drastic to her. She will also be subject to getting some disease or parasites both internal and external. She could become the victim of some psychopath which seem to be the fate of too many cats allowed to roam. As others suggested, enrigh her environment with a bird feeder, a window or two to look out, interactive toys and at least one cat-tree/condo.
It's tough! About two cats ago, I moved from a rural area to the city and my male tabby needed to become an indoor cat. He didn't adjust! He clawed the screens and did everything possible to let himself out. Eventually, he got out at one point and went missing. I never found him. ):
The next two cats I got were "indoor" cats and were much easier to keep inside. Yes, there was/is an enriched area with perches and plenty of toys and hiding places.
I wish I lived in an area where the kitty could in and out as she pleased but as long as I live in the city, her exposure to outside will be from safe enclosures, like the screened in back porch.
I wish I lived in an area where the kitty could in and out as she pleased but as long as I live in the city, her exposure to outside will be from safe enclosures, like the screened in back porch.
Mine have a Florida room built on the front porch and a Catio on the side deck we no longer used after all the kids and grand-kids moved on. They can sun themselves and get fresh air safely.
I often wonder if our 3 are bored being in the house all the time too, but they have the screened in lanai if they want to look outside. The one big fear about letting a cat roam (aside from cars and predators) is that there are some sick people out there who HATE cats. We had one cat that used to roam years ago and we found her dead beside the house, apparently a neighbor poisoned her.
But I understand your feelings.
Don
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