Cats in Florida (Sarasota: living, dangerous, moving to)

[loves2read]

our daughter has two young cats that she got as babies from someone's friend who has larger property and "barn" cats--she took them when they were just weaned and they did not really get into being an "outside cat"...she has lanai area and now they are larger they love to be out there...they have also managed one or two times to get through the wire around the lanai and get into their yard...
she does not want them to do that...they live close to the bird sanctuary at Oscar Shearer park and do have birds in their yard and also other dogs/cats in the neighborhood that are outside from time to time...

your problem is that your cat DOES know about ranging and has been allowed that freedom of movement/activity...I don't think your cat is going to be willing to give that up

frankly I think some cats do have much stronger hunting instinct/need than others--my son has two cats--one taken from animal shelter, one an older stray that he took in when he was living in apt--the neutered male has the outside bug and will go into neighbors' yards or climb on the roof--bought him mice and other stuff even when he was living in apt before he moved into rental house...the other cat--neutered female that was the stray--is much more leery of being outside--just stays in the yard and does not go out for long...

our cat which came as kitten from pet giveaway is neutered male--made the move to our new home pretty well--we kept him inside for several days but he loves to be out--even if it is just sleeping on the back patio--he is hunter--has brought us a young rabbit that was at least a foot long last June in addition to mice...
there are people in our neighborhood who have roaming cats--he has not gotten into any fights here but he did at our old house--and got some bad bites that needed treatment...
we have coyotes at our new location (just 3 mi from old house but never saw coyotes there)...he is very leery about going outside when we hear them yipping--
coyotes are death to cats--one of the reasons we got this particular house was that it is on cul de sac away from busy roads and backs to part of a city park so he can go outside without being too threatened...there are also dogs on either side of us--which he did not have at the old house--he is careful not to go over those fences, into those yards...

I sympathize with your situation--having to try to retain your cat to stay indoors is just not going to work as long as he is healthy and physically able to do what he was doing...

[inkitnow]

The average life of an indoor cat is 18 yrs. The average life of an outdoor cat is 8 years. You figure it out. No reputable shelter would let a person adopt if they are going to let the cat outside.

I walk my cat every day (except in rain or snow) ON A LEASH. He is 23 yrs old and going strong. But I would never let him out alone. Everyone on here is right....find a house with a nice screened lanai. Your cat will love it.

[PixiStix]

Originally Posted by inkitnow

The average life of an indoor cat is 18 yrs. The average life of an outdoor cat is 8 years. You figure it out. No reputable shelter would let a person adopt if they are going to let the cat outside.

I walk my cat every day (except in rain or snow) ON A LEASH. He is 23 yrs old and going strong. But I would never let him out alone. Everyone on here is right....find a house with a nice screened lanai. Your cat will love it.

23?! You go kitty! That's awesome

[loves2read]

if I were to try to walk my cat, I think he would strangle on the leash--

you have to consider how the OP's cat grew up--

we saw someone in Venice FL walking a cat near the jetties one vacation--and their dog was walking freely--no leash--beside them...

but some cats have not been raised that way
our cat is now 11 and goes out at different times of day/night--sometimes he is out for 10 min and sometimes for 10 hours
I do worry about him--I have gone out at night when bad weather threatens calling him
I know that letting him out is dangerous

But frankly except for coyotes-- I am more worried about people who would take advantage of him because he is a very friendly cat and would likely come to someone who called him and wind up having that person torture him--which I know has happened--than I am about him being hurt by a car

people can be just as dangerous as any animal...

[mikey2]

Here's a perfect example of how my cat "hunts".....

Early this morning he spots a very ominous looking spider.

First he jumps around frantically to get my attention.

Then he steps back while I run around and step on the spider.

He then "sniffs" the spider to pronounce him dead.

Mission Accomplished.

Nap time.

Mikey

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by mikey2

Here's a perfect example of how my cat "hunts".....

Early this morning he spots a very ominous looking spider.

First he jumps around frantically to get my attention.

Then he steps back while I run around and step on the spider.

He then "sniffs" the spider to pronounce him dead.

Mission Accomplished.

Nap time.

Mikey

Funny story. Sounds like a great cat. But why would you kill a spider?

[mikey2]

But why would you kill a spider?

......because my cat told me to. He's the boss.

Mikey

[onegreatnurse]

Originally Posted by mikey2

......because my cat told me to. He's the boss.

Mikey

Lol....I'm finding you enjoyable!!! Or should I say your cat!!!

[onegreatnurse]

Originally Posted by inkitnow

The average life of an indoor cat is 18 yrs. The average life of an outdoor cat is 8 years. You figure it out. No reputable shelter would let a person adopt if they are going to let the cat outside.

I walk my cat every day (except in rain or snow) ON A LEASH. He is 23 yrs old and going strong. But I would never let him out alone. Everyone on here is right....find a house with a nice screened lanai. Your cat will love it.

Our cat lived until he was 18 years old, and only because he was sickly and we finally had to have him put to sleep or he would have kept going. And he was out all the time. I tried to walk my cat on a leash, harness and all and he acted like I was insane and walked around on the ground trying to get at the leash and swat it. I gave up, he just wouldn't walk.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by mikey2

......because my cat told me to. He's the boss.

Mikey

Okay, since cats rule, never mind.

(I'm actually a dog person, but cats don't bark which is a big, big plus in my book.)

Edit: I guess I was mistaken.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLwEktLK3Yk[/url]