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Can I Keep My Cat?

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  • Jun 27th, 2020 6:36 pm
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Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
1053 upvotes
Occupied Ottawa

Can I Keep My Cat?

I recently (two months ago) got a cat from the Humane Society, and I love her. However, I live in an apartment. A couple of times a day, she's crying at the door to go out. It's not constant, but if I happen to be near the door (which is often, because my apartment's small).
I've been bringing her on walks once or twice a day on a leash, but she's hesitant to come back into the apartment. When I pick her up to bring her back in, she cries, bites and scratches (not really hard like a wild cat, but it's obvious she's expressing she doesn't want to be moved).
If I'm outside the apartment, the second I open the door she'll bolt out, and when I chase after her she runs. When I catch her, she does the above.

She's a female domestic shorthair, about a year/year and a half old. The shelter said that she was a stray cat and didn't have any information on her. She's healthy, and she doesn't seem to really have and tendencies of a feral cat. She can be aggressive if you do something that annoys her, but she's otherwise very affectionate and craves company (as I type this in my bedroom, she's crying on the other side of the door because it's closed).

I want to keep her, but I have to wonder if she's truly meant to be an indoor cat. Right now I move her into my bedroom when I leave the apartment (so she can't get into the hallway when I return), but when COVID-19 ends I can't keep doing that for months or years. Will this get better or do I need to consider giving her up for rehoming/adoption? Opinions?
19 replies
Deal Addict
Apr 25, 2011
1473 posts
1208 upvotes
British Columbia
ConsoleWatcher wrote: I've been bringing her on walks once or twice a day on a leash, but she's hesitant to come back into the apartment.
This can aggravate the problem. Once a cat gets used to the outdoors they usually want out all the time, not just on your schedule. This is why I never recommend leash walking a cat, it creates more problems than it's worth.

If you can keep her indoor only for a time (even put a sign on your door so you are mindful of where she is when opening the door), see how it goes. That means don't shut her in a single room when you're gone! She may give up on going out after a few weeks.

Make sure she is in an enriching environment; get a tall cat tree if you can and give her lots of playtime daily (a laser pen is great), get some cat nip, maybe even an electric water bowl.

I did have a cat that lived indoor/outdoor with a cat door she could use 24/7 for her entire life; she had been semi-feral and it was a real process acclimating her to indoor life at all. She was the type where indoor life just wouldn't have worked, if she was shut in she went psycho until you opened a door for her. I currently have two of my cats that door dash; they escape often. They are content indoors though, just seize their opportunities wisely. Sometimes when they get out they try extra hard the rest of the day or the next few days to get out, but it passes fairly quickly.

Good luck. Only you can make the call on if she is truly unhappy. Does the shelter even adopt out cats to people that allow them indoor/outdoor? Some don't. If that's the cases and you think she needs to be an outdoor cat, try rehoming her yourself. Make sure the potential new owners don't live by a busy road.

Sometimes it's quality over quantity of life.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
1053 upvotes
Occupied Ottawa
Karala wrote: This can aggravate the problem. Once a cat gets used to the outdoors they usually want out all the time, not just on your schedule. This is why I never recommend leash walking a cat, it creates more problems than it's worth.

If you can keep her indoor only for a time (even put a sign on your door so you are mindful of where she is when opening the door), see how it goes. That means don't shut her in a single room when you're gone! She may give up on going out after a few weeks.

Make sure she is in an enriching environment; get a tall cat tree if you can and give her lots of playtime daily (a laser pen is great), get some cat nip, maybe even an electric water bowl.

I did have a cat that lived indoor/outdoor with a cat door she could use 24/7 for her entire life; she had been semi-feral and it was a real process acclimating her to indoor life at all. She was the type where indoor life just wouldn't have worked, if she was shut in she went psycho until you opened a door for her. I currently have two of my cats that door dash; they escape often. They are content indoors though, just seize their opportunities wisely. Sometimes when they get out they try extra hard the rest of the day or the next few days to get out, but it passes fairly quickly.

Good luck. Only you can make the call on if she is truly unhappy. Does the shelter even adopt out cats to people that allow them indoor/outdoor? Some don't. If that's the cases and you think she needs to be an outdoor cat, try rehoming her yourself. Make sure the potential new owners don't live by a busy road.

Sometimes it's quality over quantity of life.
I should have mentioned that when I bring her on walks, it's only in the hallway of the floor my apartment's on. My hope was that she would eventually get bored of it.
I have a cat tree in the living room, and she seems to enjoy jumping on it and other things in my apartment (bookcase, fridge, etc...).
She's ok with not trying to door dash when I'm leaving the apartment; she only does it when I go back in.
I don't like leaving her in my bedroom when I'm gone, but it's the only way so far to prevent her from getting out of the apartment when I come back. I've tried to set up my bedroom to be as accomodating as I can (there's food, cat toys, a storage cabinet and dresser for her to jump/sleep on, she can look out the window by being on the dresser, etc...

She seems to be happy inside; she does express the desire to go out, but it's not a constant one. I just don't know if she's a cat that is going to be happy being an indoor cat.
Deal Addict
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Jul 19, 2012
1988 posts
339 upvotes
Canada
She’s new given her time to adjust
I feel you want to keep her to judging by hour post
I have a shelter cat as well
And live in apt
I use to let him out in the hallway thinking he was bored
He liked but I didn’t
He didn’t door dash but would sometimes sit there hoping I would let him out
He got tired of it and he’s happily content
Keep your cat
Deal Addict
Jan 28, 2014
3926 posts
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Toronto
Yes, you can. Just do as bluenose2 suggested.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
1053 upvotes
Occupied Ottawa
bluenose2 wrote: She’s new given her time to adjust
I feel you want to keep her to judging by hour post
I have a shelter cat as well
And live in apt
I use to let him out in the hallway thinking he was bored
He liked but I didn’t
He didn’t door dash but would sometimes sit there hoping I would let him out
He got tired of it and he’s happily content
Keep your cat
Well, I tried not bringing her out for a week now, hoping she would adjust better to the indoors.
Today I tried for the first time in over a week leaving the apartment without leaving her in my bedroom.
Sure enough, when I returned she dashed out the door and bit me when I chased her down and picked her up to bring her in.
I can't keep leaving her in m bedroom everytime I leave the house, and I can't chase her every time I open the door.
As I've said, I really want to keep her, but I can't help but think that she's an outdoor cat.
Deal Addict
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Jul 19, 2012
1988 posts
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Canada
ConsoleWatcher wrote: Well, I tried not bringing her out for a week now, hoping she would adjust better to the indoors.
Today I tried for the first time in over a week leaving the apartment without leaving her in my bedroom.
Sure enough, when I returned she dashed out the door and bit me when I chased her down and picked her up to bring her in.
I can't keep leaving her in m bedroom everytime I leave the house, and I can't chase her every time I open the door.
As I've said, I really want to keep her, but I can't help but think that she's an outdoor cat.
you don't leave her locked in the bedroom
no wonder she bit you
she needs access to her food and water
let her roam FREE in the entire apt
when you are out.
Sr. Member
May 31, 2007
547 posts
158 upvotes
Toronto
When we lived in an apartment 7 years ago, we adopted a cat from a resident who lived in the first floor. Our cat was always outdoor during the day, greeting the residents and thats how we met her.

The first night we brought her in, we place her bed outside out bedroom. When we closed the door, she’d cry. This went on for 3 days, one of us had to sleep with her in the living room. (Now she sleeps with us)

Just like yours, she loves to be outdoors. She even had another cat friend from the neighborhood house.
She cries or sit by the door when someone is about to open the backyard door. When we entertained her, sometimes she didn’t want to get back home. To us, this becomes normal.. Maybe we get used to it.

She tried to sneak and door dash too. We always tell her that that’s not okay and she seemed to understand xD. We are always cautious when opening the doors. If you’re coming home, try opening the door a bit and gently move your cat inside so she cannot go out as you’re coming in.

When I read your story, I thought it’s similar to ours and we still have our cat despite this behaviour. Maybe because we’ve grown to love her.

I’d say give it some time to adjust. All the best :)
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
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Occupied Ottawa
bluenose2 wrote: you don't leave her locked in the bedroom
no wonder she bit you
she needs access to her food and water
let her roam FREE in the entire apt
when you are out.
There's food, water, a litter box, cat toys, a cat bed on a storage unit (where she sleeps when I'm asleep) and a litter box in my bedroom. I let her roam the entire apartment whenever I'm home (which is most of the time when I'm not at work).
Even if she's been out of the room for hours (as in today) she still tries to get out.
Deal Fanatic
Dec 3, 2007
5962 posts
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Calgary
I agree with others you need to let the car roam free in your apartment. Cats are very independent animal, she will be fine and she will enjoy the space.
You are doing a great job walking the cat with a leash, not every cat can be walked with a leash. So keep doing that and maybe expand to outside in the future.
Cats do mellow out as they aged. Your cat is still young.
You are doing a good job.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
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Occupied Ottawa
mucat wrote: I agree with others you need to let the car roam free in your apartment. Cats are very independent animal, she will be fine and she will enjoy the space.
You are doing a great job walking the cat with a leash, not every cat can be walked with a leash. So keep doing that and maybe expand to outside in the future.
Cats do mellow out as they aged. Your cat is still young.
You are doing a good job.
Thanks. The only reason I leave her in my room when I leave the apartment is because if I don't, I can't prevent her from getting out the apartment door when I come home. If it wasn't for that, I'd have no problem letting her roam the apartment when I'm away too.
Deal Fanatic
Dec 3, 2007
5962 posts
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Calgary
ConsoleWatcher wrote: Thanks. The only reason I leave her in my room when I leave the apartment is because if I don't, I can't prevent her from getting out the apartment door when I come home. If it wasn't for that, I'd have no problem letting her roam the apartment when I'm away too.
You can try open a little to peek inside first and try stick one leg in to block her. I think most of us cat owners does this sort of strange things some times in our life :)
I used to let my cat out in the hallway and play with him and he would run until he's tired.
And I've also tried to block my cats when he tried to "escape" outside, sometimes he won, sometimes i won :)
But sounds like you are doing fine. keep walking her with leash.
I have my 3rd and 4th cats now, none of my previous and current cats do walk with leash.
Deal Fanatic
May 22, 2003
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Vancouver
Does your apartment have a balcony? If so, maybe look into building a catio for them? One of my cats used to sneak out by opening the screen doors, after I built them a catio, they are content to just sunbathe in the catio now.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
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Occupied Ottawa
Well, as it had it my cat passed her probationary period.
She still cries to go our once in a while, but not as much.
I bring her out every day into the hallway on a leash, and she normally stays for 5 minutes to half an hour.
She normally comes back in on her own; I rarely have to carry her in, and the bite-proof gloves have proven useful.
I leave her in the apartment now when I leave (instead of my room), except for when I'm doing grocery shopping or laundry and my hands will be full when I return.
When I come from from work or when I've been gone for a while, she sometimes waits right by the door; I spray her with a water bottle (it's not a stream of water, only a misting) and she backs off. I think she's slowly starting to learn to back away from the door when I come back.
Member
Apr 30, 2020
472 posts
526 upvotes
Vancouver
my cat isn't allowed in my room, and he knows that now. he'll still try to walk in when i open the door for too long, but he won't dart in past me at the opportunity.
he's walked outside a few times when i opened the door, but he's still unfamiliar with the outdoors so he doesn't just run off, he just sniffs around for a few seconds.
i just walk up to him as casually as i can to pick him up, if i ran after him then he'd be hard to grab.
Deal Guru
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May 9, 2006
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Does your front door have a narrow hallway? Asking since many new condos opt for the long narrow units, so this is becoming more and more common. You could put a baby gate in that hallway. Far enough that you can open your door get in and close it before opening the baby gate.

Both my cats would run through my front door all the time and a baby gate solved my problem. If you do this, then I recommend getting the metal ones with long bars that only go up and down like this (so they can't climb the gate):

Image
Deal Fanatic
May 22, 2003
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Vancouver
resare wrote: my cat isn't allowed in my room, and he knows that now.
You have a dog, not a cat. My cats couldn't give 2 f's for where I tell they can't go, lol!
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May 22, 2016
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Ontario
YouTube. My cat loves watching those cat videos with birds.
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Mar 12, 2018
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Not wanting her to dash into the hall, but then leash walking her in the hall seems counterproductive to me. She has your whole apartment, she doesn't need the hall. My first one dashed into the hall a few times as well when I first got her, so I started throwing Temptations down when I left so she was distracted, and then I would give her some as soon as I got home so she'd equate me being home with treats and not even try. Second one was scared of people who aren't me, so after the third or so time of her trying to dash out I got a friend to wait outside my door and chase her back in when she tried. She never did it again.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 13, 2012
8501 posts
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Occupied Ottawa
pallidman wrote: Not wanting her to dash into the hall, but then leash walking her in the hall seems counterproductive to me. She has your whole apartment, she doesn't need the hall. My first one dashed into the hall a few times as well when I first got her, so I started throwing Temptations down when I left so she was distracted, and then I would give her some as soon as I got home so she'd equate me being home with treats and not even try. Second one was scared of people who aren't me, so after the third or so time of her trying to dash out I got a friend to wait outside my door and chase her back in when she tried. She never did it again.
She's pretty good now and not trying to get out when I leave the apartment. I generally point at her and sternly say "no", and she understands not to try to leave (if she's poking around the door, I grab the water bottle). I contrast this by when I am taking her out, when I dangle the leash (she seems to realize she's being taken out as soon as I open the drawer the leash is in).

Coming back, she often does go right to the door. Looking back, I'm not sure if getting put is even her objective, or if it's to see me (I've noticed she's more likely to do it if I haven't been home for a while), and I think it's more of a matter of once she's done seeing me, she'd rather be outside for a while.

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