Kitty help

LSquared1024

We moved into a new house a month ago. Before this we lived in an apartment. Now he wants outside allllll the time. We have no intentions of him being an outside cat. He cries at the door and tries to dart out when we open them...we have been just ignoring him going he gets over it. Thoughts?

LSquared1024

***hoping he gets over it

BackseatDriver

If he likes treats you can try to train him to run over to specific spot (away from the door) for a treat whenever the door gets opened. I would also recommend that you make sure he is getting enough exercise when inside your house. Getting toys that are interactive so that you can play with him are key. Da Bird is a great example and I'd highly recommend it if you don't have one. 

mainerocks

I second getting him involved in other activities inside. At my last place, we had a bird feeder outside a big window and the cats loved hanging out on the sill and "hunting" from a distance.

My two boys love any fishing pole type toys. It doesn't take much to tire them out and I can watch TV while I do it if it gets boring too (which it doesn't usually because they are hysterical).  They get good and tired out. Tired = happy at my house ) 

Stellina+Amour

If it's a new environment your cat is probably just curious and is liking the contact with nature. I wouldn't worry too much about it and let him enjoy his new life style, unless of course the surroundings pose dangers to him. When my mom goes to her country house and brings the cat he spends a good few hours outdoors hunting and doing who knows what other feline activities. Then he runs back home to his naps, food and cuddles. If your cat has found a rhythm of staying outside for a while and then coming home, he knows that that's home and you are family. I would let him do a little of what makes him happy.

BackseatDriver

Stellina+Amour:

If it's a new environment your cat is probably just curious and is liking the contact with nature. I wouldn't worry too much about it and let him enjoy his new life style, unless of course the surroundings pose dangers to him. When my mom goes to her country house and brings the cat he spends a good few hours outdoors hunting and doing who knows what other feline activities. Then he runs back home to his naps, food and cuddles. If your cat has found a rhythm of staying outside for a while and then coming home, he knows that that's home and you are family. I would let him do a little of what makes him happy.

I completely disagree with this. 

Kaiene

Ditto Maine and Backseat.  Try puzzle toys too! We have the peek a prize toy box.

Stellina+Amour

Or you can force your cat indoors his whole life, like some people force birds in cages, even if a healthy contact with nature is available to him. Like I said, I would completely understand and agree if the case was that there were immediate dangers, whereas the reasoning seems to be "I forbid it from having any contact with nature so I won't allow it outside at al". Every apartment dweller regrets not being able to offer their pet some "natural environment" experience. I think that if the option is available, and safe, it can only be healthy for any living being. JMO. 

LuckyAngel07

Stellina+Amour:

Or you can force your cat indoors his whole life, like some people force birds in cages, even if a healthy contact with nature is available to him. Like I said, I would completely understand and agree if the case was that there were immediate dangers, whereas the reasoning seems to be "I forbid it from having any contact with nature so I won't allow it outside at al". Every apartment dweller regrets not being able to offer their pet some "natural environment" experience. I think that if the option is available, and safe, it can only be healthy for any living being. JMO. 

Bolded is a generalized statement and therefore untrue.

Immediate dangers are posed to any domesticated animal being let outside unattended, be it from other animals/predators outside, insect bites or stings, passing cars, or horrible human beings. Believe me, if my cats were guarranteed to be safe outside, I wouldn't just "forbid it from having any contact with nature." That's ridiculous.

Outdoor cats live shorter lives than indoor-only cats. Cats might have lived outdoors for centuries, but their lives were shorter, more dangerous, included more illnesses, and had fewer modern-day dangers.

OP: adding a few perches high up around your new house might help kitty get some great views of the outdoors without feeling he has to actully get out into the outdoors. Either cat trees or window seats let him get up off the ground and see a wider world to entertain him.

mainerocks

LuckyAngel07:

Stellina+Amour:

Or you can force your cat indoors his whole life, like some people force birds in cages, even if a healthy contact with nature is available to him. Like I said, I would completely understand and agree if the case was that there were immediate dangers, whereas the reasoning seems to be "I forbid it from having any contact with nature so I won't allow it outside at al". Every apartment dweller regrets not being able to offer their pet some "natural environment" experience. I think that if the option is available, and safe, it can only be healthy for any living being. JMO. 

Bolded is a generalized statement and therefore untrue.

Immediate dangers are posed to any domesticated animal being let outside unattended, be it from other animals/predators outside, insect bites or stings, passing cars, or horrible human beings. Believe me, if my cats were guarranteed to be safe outside, I wouldn't just "forbid it from having any contact with nature." That's ridiculous.

Outdoor cats live shorter lives than indoor-only cats. Cats might have lived outdoors for centuries, but their lives were shorter, more dangerous, included more illnesses, and had fewer modern-day dangers.

OP: adding a few perches high up around your new house might help kitty get some great views of the outdoors without feeling he has to actully get out into the outdoors. Either cat trees or window seats let him get up off the ground and see a wider world to entertain him.

Ditto Kaiene. I can't believe I missed that ridiculousness. My cats spent years living in apartments and I have no regrets. They love time in the window and enjoy fresh air through said window... all way safer than spending time outside.

Cats are killed all the time in my area from coyotes and fisher cats. My neighbor has an outdoor cat who barely escaped a tangle alive and had to spend the last 6 months inside in quarantine. Bet near death wasn't a lot of fun for that poor cat. And guess what? She adjusted quickly to being inside and did fine during her quarantine. Too bad he let her out again.  I'm happy knowing my cats are safe, and my cats are quite safe and happy. It's certainly not like they live in a cage. What?!