Put Indoor Cat Outside Last Resort

10 years ago

My wife and I have a Boxer and 2 cats (male and female). The female was feral but she has been indoors for the past 3 years and always urinated in the house on clothes, shoes and now furniture. We have taken her to the vet to be checked and she is healthy. We also have a 20 month old child and we are tired of having to close off all bedrooms, washing bed linens, clean clothes and shoes because she continues to pee on them.

We called out vet and they said more than likely it is a behavioral problem and not something that can be fixed. Well, she peed on the couch again so we have decided to put her outside today while we are at work. We live in a quiet neighborhood in a rural area so she should be safe. She is micro chipped and has a collar with our phone number on it in case someone picks her up. I left her bed, food and even a litter box outside so she has some familiarity.

We have a large back porch that is covered but this was the last choice we have before we take her to the vet for who knows what and from all of the previous posts I have read, there have been little to no good results of doing this. Can someone tell me if they have ever been successful in doing this?

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Comments (8)

christine 5b
10 years ago
"We have a large back porch that is covered but this was the last choice we have before we take her to the vet for who knows what"

Can you find her another home? It sound like "who knows what" means put her down? Take her to a shelter, but to just put all her things out on the porch I feel is truly cruel, she will not come home someday !!!

I hope others will have some good advice for you.....
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
Find her another home. No kill shelters can help you. Humane Society can help you.
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annztoo
10 years ago
I know this thread is old but I wonder if Mike tried the usual options first. With another cat, a dog and a toddler it's very possible the household is too active for this cat......especially after a life of being a feral. Has the cat been offered some isolation in a room of its own and easy access its litter box? If there is only one litter box the male cat may be harassing her when she tries to use it.

If this is a cat that preferred the outdoors then she may love living on your porch, but if she was fearful when you put her out then I have to agree with christine that limiting her to the outdoors is cruel. Even if she is thrilled to be outdoors, putting her out this late in the season does not allow her to adjust to the cooler temps and she will not have had time to grow a coat that will sufficiently keep her warm.

I would first take her to a cat clinic (one that specialize only in cats) and talk to them about meds since there are other treatments available besides tranquilizers. I would also try to find her a new home with the requirements that they've owned cats before and she will be the only pet. She may end up being the perfect pet for someone.
Vertise
10 years ago
It could be something about her litter box that she doesn't like. It seems you have been reading, so maybe you have already tried unscented litter in an unlidded box. Those can be a deterrents. Cats do not like perfume and things do not smell for the better with them! There are also litters that have attractants in them. Depending on the age of the cat, if it has arthritis, cutting the entry to floor level can make it easy for them to access the box without joint pain from stepping up and over. And you must empty it frequently when it is soiled, especially with another cat in the house. I would try the separate room for some training time to see how she does that way with her own clean box.

Behavioral can be difficult but sometimes they will not continue the habit in a new home for various reasons.

Being from a feral background, the other animals might be an issue for her.

Good luck and hope for poor kitty.
nyboy
9 years ago
It is so easy to say find her another home. Well trained cats can find homes, who is going to want one that urinates all over.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
nyboy, some people aren't short sighted, they have the compassion to see a living being. They can rehab an upset, or ailing cat so that it doesn't use the restroom outside of its box. I, for one, am glad there are kind, patient people out there!
User
9 years ago
rob333

Condescension s not flattering - nor helpful.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
So stop being condescending!

Put Indoor Cat Outside Last Resort

Comments (8)

christine 5b

rob333 (zone 7b)

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