Concerns about Potter

[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?

[caseysmom]

Thanks everyone, I will try tough love. If she comes back and says she wants potter I will talk to her about the outside thing, my daughter is sort of shocked that I would consider this but I told her that this lady has no children and Potter would be smothered with love, she seemed okay with it.

Everyone that meets him loves him, unfortunately he is the greeter of the neighborhood and one day he will greet an unfreindly dog, car or person

[Catty1]

I think some 'tough talk' is needed with the teens so they stop rushing in and out, and make sure Potter doesn't escape.

The tough love suggested here is a good idea - but the folks suggesting it don't have teens, as far as I know!

Though if your daughter was shocked that he might go to another home - maybe she will be better about this, and her brother as well!