Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[counturchickens]

I've had cats for years, but in a short period when I didn't have one we bought a new back door and didn't put one in because we didn't plan on getting another cat and the hens spent most of their time pecking at it and trying to get in the house :lol To cut a long story short we now have Hattie, a rescue cat. She is quite timid, and doesn't go far, but a couple of times we've nearly had to leave her shut out as she hasn't come home in time for us to go out. She also often wants to go out just as we are going to bed. The other element is when we go away we have lovely neighbours who come in and feed her and the girls. We're going away in September for 10 days, would it be cruel to keep her in for the whole time?

[munkee1965]

I have 3 cats which are all kept indoors.I don't think it would be "cruel" to keep her in whilst you are away, If you put her in to a cattery she would be kept inside. However you might come home to some damage, to doors and carpets! Maybe you could restrict her indoor access to maybe the kitchen to try and avoid this. Also you would have to provide her with a litter tray which your neighbours would have to clean out daily. Some people who don't keep cats wouldn't relish the idea of this. Do you maybe have a garage or shed that she could go into instead of keeping her in?

[counturchickens]

Thanks Sharon, we have a litter tray anyway, she goes outside for a little stroll, then comes in to use the litter tray! I know lots of people have house cats, I suppose I was thinking that now we have let her out will she be stressed if she is kept in. Luckily she doesn't scratch the furniture except one old footstool, which is now hers! Obviously, she completely ignores the scratching post we bought!

[lillybettybabs]

I know how you feel, Could someone spend some time in your house every other day, just watching tv and have

a cup of tea and a cat cuddle for and hour or so?

[The Dogmother]

If she's used to being in for any amount of time then it wouldn't be cruel but she would be needing some company as LBB has said.

 

Mine have a cat flap (I fitted it myself into a UPVC door) and come and go as they want, when we're away a lovely neighbour comes in to feed all the animals and spends a bit of time with the cats.

[dancing cloud]

I don't have a cat flap and three of mine are very happy to be largely indoor cats, with just an evening stroll round the garden once the hens are in bed. Loki is more of an active boy and gets himself in and out through the window at night (and sleeps all day ).

 

If Loki wouldn't come in, my cat-sitter used to leave him out till morning, but he did have a greenhouse with cat beds in it to go to. When I cat-sat for my neighbour's cat, she used to run outside as soon as she'd had her dinner and then come to my patio doors later to let me know she was ready to be let back inside her house. I was so well trained !

 

I'm sure Hattie will soon get used to whatever routine is established while you're away and would appreciate a little company too. You can probably expect a sulk when you get back from your hols though. My Puddy-cat would love me to death when I walked though the door, and then sit with her back to me for about three days to let me know she wasn't pleased at being so heartlessly abandoned

[bluekarin]

I have a cat flap - though my two love to come in the back door and straight to the front door to be let out.....and visa versa I couldn't be without ours as our two have irregular going out/staying in times. Mostly they'll be asleep upstairs in the morning but sometimes they come out with us if it is nice. Some nights they sleep in and others I don't see them until the morning. We do have hens pecking at it, just to let us know they are there I think

[Olly]

I don't think it would be cruel, if she is not used to going out regularly. One of mine has to be free to come and go, but the other one would quite happily spend a fortnight inside with a litter tray. I'm constantly amazed, if I spend a day at home, at how much of it they spend sleeping! I always get the cold shoulder when I've been away, even though Welly loves my cat-sitter friend and I happen to know that she spends time sitting down with him. I really don't think it would be traumatic for her to spend two weeks indoors, and it's probably safer than having her housed outside while you're away.

[counturchickens]

Thanks. Luckily my lovely neighbour does come in and give her some fuss anyway. We are quite often away for a night or two as we go and visit my fil in Scotland quite often, and she is ok when we get back. As you say, she does sleep for most of the day. I have found that some whiskas cat treats rattled at the back door often do the trick. I might put the cat flap in the shed door, then if she is ever stuck outside she has somewhere to go.