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Cats are naturally curious animals, and it is in their nature to want to explore, for this reason, your cat may want to spend more time outdoors than he does inside. The good news is that there are things you can do. Introduction to Cat Wants To Stay Outside All Of The Time You have probably heard the saying 'curiosity killed the cat' and it wasn't by chance that this saying was developed. Curiosity is one of the cat's most significant traits. As a cat owner, you have likely found your puss exploring the most obscure things, or perhaps things that seem mundane to us humans. However, their curious nature will always get the better of them and if they have the opportunity to be outside, well, think of how much they have to explore! If this behavior is concerning you or seems to have come out of the blue, you may be wondering if there is any way of enticing your cat back indoors. In this article, we are going to be looking at the various reasons that your cat might be preferring an outdoor life and what you might be able to do to draw him back into the safety of your home. Why Does My Cat Want To Be Outside All Of The Time? As we have discovered, cats are curious, and this isn't something that we can expect them to evolve out of any time soon, so, as cat owners, we must learn to adapt to this personality trait. When we think about cats, we often think of domestic animals that live a life of luxury in human homes. However, it was humans who domesticated these naturally wild animals, and by instinct, they will be drawn to their natural habitat - outside. For some cats, you may notice that they do not show any interest in going outside while they are young, but all of a sudden, as they mature, they may want to start exploring outdoors. This is very common, but if you have become used to your cat being around the house, it can feel intimidating to think about letting them into the big wide world. My Cat Keeps Meowing To Go Outside If, as we have discussed, if your cat suddenly goes from home bird to an animal who is constantly crying to get out of the house, you might find this slightly surprising. But you are not alone. Many cat owners struggle with a kitty who won't relent until they are let outside. In some cases, letting your cat out to explore the world may not be an option - perhaps for people who do not have a garden or live on a busy road. The dangers to the cat are far greater than letting him be upset with you because you have forced him to stay in the house. In this instance, there is the option to walk your cat. But this should be done with caution because not all cats take well to being put into a harness and paraded around the town. We have some handy information for pet owners looking to walk their indoor cat, here. However, if you do have a suitably placed home, where your cat will be safe when exploring outside, you might want to do this in moderation. Allowing your cat to go from being an indoor cat to an outdoor one should be taken in small steps - there are many potential dangers to letting your cat outside, and you should weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision. Once you do, you can gradually introduce your puss to this exciting new part of their life. Ways To Stop A Cat From Escaping Even if you are happy for your cat to spend some time outdoors, you may wish to limit this and have a certain level of control over when he comes and goes. This is fine. A lot of cat owners are very stuck in their ways and will suggest that either keeping a cat in or letting him out is cruel. But it is vital to remember that each home and each pet is different. What works well for one pet family will not work so well for another. You know your cat better than anyone else, and it is up to you to weigh up the reasons for an against letting him out. As a responsible pet owner, we know that you will make a decision that is best for you and your kitty. However, if you have decided that you would like your cat to remain indoors, or at least limit the time he spends outside, you may find that he tries to get out anyway. Escape artist cats are not unusual, and this can be very stressful every time you want to open a window and let in some fresh air or a package arrives at your door. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to stop your cat from escaping. Choose A Door If your cat has been trying to escape at every opportunity, this can be difficult. But it is possible to train your pet to leave the house through one door only. Let's assume you want to use the main back door into the garden - this will be the only door that your cat is allowed to come and go through. You can use a harness and lead to training him, but this may take some time. Once your cat associates this door with the outside world, he will begin using it and will stop any attempts from escaping through other entrances. Use A Cat Door Installing a cat door is a great way to give you kitty access to the outside world. It will prevent her from trying to run out every time you come home, but it also features a handy lock. If you don't want your cat to go out at night, for example, you can lock the cat door and keep her safely inside. She will have the freedom and opportunity to go outside, but you will stay in control. Keep Your Cat Away From The Door When You Are Leaving This may sound easier said than done, but with the right tools, you can successfully distract your cat so that he does not make a dash for it every time you leave the house. One of the most effective ways is to invest in an automatic laser toy or something that will enchant your cat as you leave home. You might also use treats to lure him into another room, giving you a chance to get out before he makes an escape attempt. Have Your Cat Neutered Another reason that cats might try to go outdoors is that they are naturally wired to find a mate. If you have not yet had your cat neutered, doing this could solve the problem. Quite often, cats who are looking to mate will display other behaviors such as marking, excessive grooming, and meowing more often than they normally do. Ways To Entertain An Indoor Cat Another problem with cats that have been brought inside to stay is that they will often get bored, and this can result in continual meowing or other unwanted behaviors. It is important that if you decide to keep your pet indoors, they have plenty to keep them occupied. Cats are intelligent creatures, and you only need to imagine being stuck in a house with nothing to do to appreciate how this might be difficult for your pet. Make sure that you have lots of toys to keep her entertained, especially when you are not at home. Cats who are left alone without anything to do will often display unwanted behaviors that can be hard to break - prevention is better than cure. Give your cat somewhere that is just for her. Being surrounded by people all the time could become overwhelming, and just like us, cats need somewhere to take five and have a little peace and quiet. This might be especially true of busy households that have young children. A scratch post is an important accessory for cats and will prevent them from damaging furniture. They might deal with their instincts when outside, but if they are confined to the home, this behavior needs to be managing with the appropriate cat furniture. You might consider getting another cat as a friend for your current pet. This can often keep them entertained when you aren't at home, but you should be careful that this won't cause distress to either animal. Conclusion Cats are naturally wired to go outside and just because humans have decided to domesticate them, this doesn't mean that their instinct will stop kicking in. That being said, it can sometimes be dangerous to let your cat outdoors and many pet owners decide not to allow this at all, with others allowing their cat limited time outside. However, you have decided to take care of your cat; there are things you can do to encourage him to stay in the house and spend less time outdoors.

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