Problem with cat

[grange]

my son and his wife have a gorgeous cat. He is almost a year old and they've had him from a kitten.they live near us so the cat knows us quite well. We have looked after him in our house a couple of times over the last few months and he seems fine and settled Hoever we are always under strict instructions not to let him out. He has a cat-flap at home.He is here now for the weekend and cries pitifully to go out--------he has a large litter contraption indoors here. The weather is so nice and we have a large garden and I'm so tempted to open the door.----------------- what do you think?.

[TonyV]

Personally - I would do as instructed - Your garden boundries will not contain him - and if he disapears how would you feel?

[grange]

Yes, you're right, I would die if anything happened to him. But it was really the prospect of having to keep him indoors for 2 weeks in the summer while they are away that prompted the question!! It seems so mean when he so loves to be outside----------but better safe than sorry!!!!

[lizwhiz1]

Stick to the instructions! Try playing with him! It will distract and tire him out!

[lankeela]

If they live near you why don't they leave him it at home and you call in to feed and spend some time with him so he can go in and out as he is used to? If you let him out he will probably try to go home anyway, and if this involves crossing roads - well need I say more?

[ladybirder]

I agree that you have to stick to the owners' instructions. It's only for the weekend. They do make a helluva fuss when they want to go out but as others have said just play with him and keep him amused. I wouldn't advise taking him back to his own home so that he can go in and out when he pleases as something could go wrong and you would never forgive yourself. And anyway that is not what you were asked to do. Keeping him safe has to be your priority, hard as it is not to give in to him.

[boxtops]

I agree with lankeela, grange - it is so much more kind to all concerned if your son would let you go to his house to feed the cat when they are away. It's less disruptive for the cat, the cat will stay in his own surroundings and keep to his normal routine, and he'll be pleased to see you. We leave our three in the charge of a neighbour when we go away - it means she can keep an eye on the mail and stuff like that, too. Would this be possible for you for next time?

In the meantime, please don't let him out this time, even though the weather is ideal for a cat - if he lives nearby then your garden is probably on his normal patch anyway, he'll be off like a shot and go back home, cats don't understand fences, and if he goes missing (as he may well do, if the weather's mild and he enjoys outside), you will feel awful.

[ladybirder]

But box he could go missing from his own home which is one thing when its owners are in charge but quite another when someone else is. My much loved boy was run over and killed while I was out shopping one day and he had lived for many years in the same location. Don't forget it is only for this weekend - two days. Don't you think it's better to be safe than sorry?

[boxtops]

PS mine are definitely outdoor cats, but having said that, two are sleeping indoors at the moment. He only wants to go out because he can't - don't let him, this time - you would never forgive yourself if it went wrong.

[grange]

Thank you for all your advice! I think it's probably better that the cat is with us when son and wife are away as he so loves company! At least we can provide that for him and play with him lots!! But I won't let him out!!

[grange]

They live a couple of miles away so our garden is certainly not on his patch!.

[woofgang]

for the future, could you talk to your son and dil about getting him used to a cat harness?

[boxtops]

Grange - you would be surprised. When my little cat got run over some years ago, she was over a mile away from home. My No1 Son brings dead rats in - we think he goes to the stream which is a long walk for a cat... They can range over about 4 square miles in a night!

[brenda]

My neighbour puts a cat collar and a fine lead on her cat and takes her round the garden frequently,when the days are good.I don't know much about cats but she seems to be a happy pet.

[boxtops]

Good idea, brenda, but I'd go for a harness rather than a collar - I don't approve of collars and cats, too many near misses with cats, strangling themselves on collars caught on twigs etc.

[grange]

Goodness I didn't realise they could go as for as that!!! This cat is firmly in at night! The cat flap is locked so there's no argument!!

[grange]

The harness is a good idea, I will investigate that!

[boxtops]

They're not expensive, grange - these are selling on eBay at the moment, or our Jollyes pet store sells them too http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...s&hash=item53e6bdb80f

[ladybirder]

I hope you have more luck than me with a harness grange. My two just went completely limp like a rag doll the minute I put it on. And getting it on was no mean feat either. They just hung there in mid air, refusing to stand on their own feet. It was hilarious - I just gave up. Perhaps you'll have better luck.

[Ratty2E]

A harness would be the solution if you can get him to walk. Like Ladybirder's our cat just collapsed on to her side and went completely limp as soon as you put any tension on the lead. You could have taken her for a drag but walking was out of the question.