When I was in Mississippi the last week of May, (now-)Wifey got tired of Tonka the Indoor Cat begging to go outside with Creamsicle. She let him out. He’s been pretty good about staying close to the house and coming in in the evenings. But he’s definitely increasing his territory.
It’s starting to get a bit dim outside, and Creamsicle wandered in on her own. Tonka was nowhere to be found. I went out front and called him (he usually comes trotting up, which is an amusing sight), but no joy. We were in the back yard and I saw him in a house that is being built across the creek and across the road. I called, and he started over. Stopped and meowed a bit where I couldn’t see him, but eventually made his way up the gully and through the bushes.
‘Mom’ doesn’t like to spoil cats, but I gave him and Creamsicle some wet food; mostly as a reward to Tonka for coming when I called. He just hopped up onto the ottoman to lounge at ‘mom’s’ feet.
If so he may be allowed in the dominant male’s territory, but I don’t know.
If he has been declawed, he has no business outside - eventually he will find himself going for the same thing as another critter (and not necessarily a cat) and will need to fight or run.
Tonka is 14½ pounds. Creamsicle is 9 pounds, mostly fluff.
Tonka doesn’t particularly like his belly rubbed. You have to do it when he’s dozing, or else he thinks it’s play time and those needle-sharp claws come out. He just likes lying belly-up, especially in warm weather.
People comment on Creamsicle’s colouring. We like it too.
Last night Tonka was out after dark. He led me on a merry chase, trying to catch him. Tonight he was out in the dark again. I finally found him squaring off against a tuxedo cat. Almost caught him, but he was more interested in trying to get into a fight. The tuxedo cat got away while I was chasing Tonka. He finally got himself between a bush and a fence. I managed to get close enough to grab him by the scruff of his neck.
Brat. The Missus says that’s how her old cat Vel(cro) lost her outside privileges.
I suppose if both kitties really have to get outside time (risky between wildlife, vehicles, nasty humans, and FIV/FeLV) and you’re feeling super handy crafty buildy, not much dough will get you an insulated wall cat flap and an outdoor enclosure.Could be an idea? After the effort, it’s worry-free and no more needing to let in and out.
This is how it works, though. The outside has other cats in it. And other dangers.
However, cats squaring off like that is almost never dangerous for the cats, at all. It’s normal cat behavior. Mostly they’ll hiss, maybe scuffle a bit. That’s how they work out their differences and settle issues of territory. I dare you to find an example of neighborhood cats fighting to the death, or to the point of real injury.
Don’t worry about the other cats. Worry about cars. Worry about bigger animals. Worry about humans. All of those are much bigger threats.
Oh, and you certainly shouldn’t worry about cats being out in the dark. The dark is a much safer environment for a cat than the daylight. They can see pretty well in it if they have even a little bit of light to work with, and the threat level from pretty much everything else (the aforementioned cars, bigger animals and humans) is much lower than during the day.
We lost two cats to Feline Leukemia and another to FIV, which he probably acquired after being wounded by another neighborhood cat. Any cat we have from then on has been indoor-only.
Yeah, there are risks. I guess it’s a bit like sending kids off to college. What you can’t do, Johnny, is what you’re doing now: Trying to keep an eye on Tonka all the time in the outside world. That’s about as workable in practice as following your kid around to all his classes, parties and into his dorm room at night.
An enclosed outside space may be an idea. It’s that, keeping the cat inside, or learning to live with the risk of a decreased life span. I’m nor sure if there is a perfect solution. Compromising: That’s life with cats.
My personal preference is strongly towards letting a cat roam free, and living with the dangers. What can I say, I grew up in a rural environment. But I appreciate that YMMV massively on that.
Yes, there is also that. A cat can wreak havoc on the local population of tiny critters. Every mouse and small bird in the neighborhood living in a state of mortal fear is pretty much par for the course when you let an unrepentant predator outside. That’s kind of a moral choice that has to be made at the outset.
I guess it depends on whether every small critter around needing therapy from now on bothers you more than the moral issues of turning cows and tuna into cat food. A carnivore with five pointy ends isn’t exactly Gandhi, no matter how you shake it.
Basically, cat life is pretty hardcore. More so than we like to admit. Your cats are all cuddly and cute when they’re curled up in your lap, and I know that a lot of the time they’re clearly thinking about quantum physics and Romantic poetry, but they are animals. Pretending otherwise is a bit like saying that ancient Sparta is Care Bear Village. It just doesn’t work like that.
I don’t have any cats, even thought I absolutely adore them, and one reason why is that I can’t seem to square that circle. It’s either having them live in a gilded cage, or letting them follow their dreams on what are, frankly, some pretty mean streets. I’m not really entirely comfortable with either.
Also, if you let your cats outside, you have to deal with every person on the internet telling you off, because outside cats are The Evil. And they have a point. You have be prepared to admit, and defend, that you’re going the hardcore route.
