How to get cat outside from second floor?

KatelynnRose

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to easily get my cat outside from my second floor apartment?  I just moved and kept him in for 2 weeks but he really is an outdoors cat and loves being outside.  He's 10 years old and has always been outside.  He can't jump from the balcony b/c it's the second floor (he did do it in a prior apt. but it was really only 1 1/2 floors up and he was younger).  It's kind of a maze to go out the door and thru the hallways to get outside. 

I just wasn't sure if someone had a similar experience and what they did.  Some sort of pulley system? lol

Thanks!

straymo

Sorry, he really should NOT be outside and you're not likely to find anyone on this board to advocate that.

ETA: I forgot the NOT.

New&Improved Mrs.Wyman

You'll be hard pressed to find anyone on this board who agrees with indoor/outdoor cats.  There's too many dangers out there (cars, wildlife, feral cats, other pet cats, parasites, posions, toxic plants, etc).  Plus, the life expentacy of an outdoor cat is MUCH less (if I remember right about 7 years less).  I live in the 4th floor now but before we were always ground level and my cat was NEVER allowed outside.  Sorry, but it's too much of a risk.

meghan0020

No one here is going to tell you how to get your cat outside because your cat shouldn't be outside. It's unsafe. Do your cat a favor and keep him inside. If you feel the need to take him out, put him on a leash.

Mrs.Shellfish

Please keep him inside.  There are too many dangers for an outside cat.  Cars, fights with other animals, fatal diseases that he can get from being around other cats, etc. And I certainly wouldn't be so sure that he wouldn't jump from a balcony- it's entirely possible.  He's inside now- keep him there.

GBCK

If you scroll down to the Converting an Outdoor Cat to a Happy Indoor One:

bit on this page, you'll get good tips to help him adjust and alternatives (like enclosures and leash) that may help:

 

http://tallyville.com/indoors.html

Josie22

Wow, I'm amazed he's made it to 10! Ditto PP's, he may not be happy about it for a while. But he'll live longer, and be healthier.

pepomntpat

I think people with outdoor cats are irresponsible. This sounds like a good chance for you and your cat to mend your ways.

Temp905625875002822

How difficult is it to get out of your building? I can't picture why it would be difficult to get out.

We live on the third floor and we go down one flight of stairs, open our apartment entry door, and go down the next flight of stairs to get to the outside door. Our cat just walks down the stairs because he knows that's how he gets outside.

Getting back in, well, most of the time we have to pick him up to bring him back inside. But we give him a treat when he gets back in, so he's trained to go up the stairs back into the apartment.

Harness and leash didn't work with our cat, he wriggled out of it, so we got him a walking jacket. Google "cat walking jacket" and you'll find websites that explain how to use it and different websites to order one from. 

mainerocks

Please keep your kitty inside! It's only been a couple weeks you said. He'll start to adjust. Can you get him some things to keep him entertained inside? A climbing structure, toys, etc.

Willeesamsao

These posters below all sound psycho. I can't stand people who lock cats in, it's tragic. It's a sad site to see an indoor cat staring out a window, knowing that they'll never get to enjoy their true home, the outdoors. I have the same issue right now since my roommate brought home a cat, and we live on the 2nd floor. I had a neighbor at my last place tho, who just let his cat out in the morning (if it wanted to leave), and let it back in at night. I'll probably try something similar. Wow I can't get over how crazy all the indoor cat posters sound. I've had outdoor cats my whole life, and I'd never lock one inside for theirs.

dm1372

Willeesamsao said:

These posters below all sound psycho. I can't stand people who lock cats in, it's tragic. It's a sad site to see an indoor cat staring out a window, knowing that they'll never get to enjoy their true home, the outdoors. I have the same issue right now since my roommate brought home a cat, and we live on the 2nd floor. I had a neighbor at my last place tho, who just let his cat out in the morning (if it wanted to leave), and let it back in at night. I'll probably try something similar. Wow I can't get over how crazy all the indoor cat posters sound. I've had outdoor cats my whole life, and I'd never lock one inside for theirs.

I've run over a cat before - it was running across the street with another cat and I saw the first, swerved to miss it and hit the 2nd. This was going about 15 mph a block away from my home. I'd always felt bad until then that I was too nervous to let my kitties outside. Then as sad as I was for that poor kitty that I hit, I was equally as happy that I don't allow mine outside. 

We're not psycho, we're compassionate.