Concerns about Potter

[caseysmom]

First of all he is fine. I don't post much about Potter so a quick summary, I inhereted Potter last August when my brother passed away.

Potter was allowed outside and my brother lived on a horribly busy street. When I adopted him I tried to make a rule that he could not go out, this lasted about a week, he constantly cried at doors and snuck out when the kids went in and out.

I thought well he must be outdoor savvy he was okay at my brothers. Lately he has been wandering too far and even going out and laying in the street. My kids have said he has followed them to a friends house 5 houses away so I told them to bring him home and put him inside when he does this.

Well tonight a very nice lady that always comes by when she walks her bijon and she adores potter she comes and tells me that she has him in her garage, she lives 20 houses away! I went and got him. She is a lovely lady and almost cried when he left, he is an extremely affectionate cat.

She lost her cat 2 years ago, I told her my house has so many teens in and out that if she loves him she can talk to her hubby about adopting him...please don't flame me I am thinking of his best interest. My dogs are good and do not dart out the door but I am at my wits end with him.

Any ideas on how to curb the outdoor craving, she suggested a leash for him?

[Catty1]

A leash and harness maybe.

Of course - if she and her hubby spoil him rotten (I know you did too!), they just might make indoors a good place to be. Maybe they have a spare room they can make HIS - with cat tower and all sorts of neat things. And without teens running in and out, there's less risk of his escaping.

Maybe a kitty door with a large outdoor enclosure...that might work best.

I am glad she seems to know about the dangers of an outdoor cat.

Hey - if Potter would be really happy there, go for it!

(and visit and send pics! )

[jenluckenbach]

I'd suggest "tough love". He'll stop the whining to go out after a while. As for the door darting, everyone just has to be extremely careful. A water squirt bottle near the door to shoo him away is one thing to try.

[Medusa]

Yep, I agree w/Jen on this one; tough love. All of my cats were outdoor cats when I got them, some even feral. They've never been outdoors since the day I brought them in and, believe me, some have tried to dart out the door. Now, though, they're content to be indoors but it took a while. If, however, you feel that your neighbor would adopt Potter and keep him in and you'd feel better all the way around, go for it.

[jazzcat]

Jen and Mary are right about how to stop the outdoor problem. I had to do that with Ripley. He was an indoor only kitty till we moved here 14 years ago and within a couple of weeks of moving in he slipped out and was missing for 24 hours. After that he drove us insane to go out so we started letting him go in the backyard for brief periods but then he got over the fence and took off for hours. At that point I gave up and let him go in and out as he pleased until one day about 6 months later he didn't come home. After looking everywhere he showed up two days later with a hole in his leg. He had been shot with an arrow and still had the tip of it in his leg. He barely survived and how he got home and got over a 5 ft fence is beyond me and the vet.

After that I made a strict rule of no more outdoor kitties! Too many dangers.

If the lady decides she wants him and you feel it's the best thing for everyone then I certainly wouldn't blame you. Sounds like she may already be very attached to him.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes.

[Laura's Babies]

Why would anyone blame you if he seems to have selected the home he wants and you let him go? He is still close enough that you can see him/check on him often and it is not like he will never be seen or heard from again. She sounds like she already loves him so where could there be a problem?