Need Advice On Best Course Of Action

[MicheleG]

Hi everyone
5 months ago we moved our neutered indoor cat from China to Thailand, I was extremely worried about the move, but our little Patches handled it extremely well. We moved from a high rise apartment where she had never been outside to one where she could access a balcony. At first she was not interested in going outside so we didn't force the issue as she is an very nervous cat, so we left the timeframe of going outside up to her, when she felt comfortable. As she had never been outside we decided that she should only go outside on a leash, which she was surprisingly fine with. Over time she became much more confident, which is great as we will be moving again next year, so we needed to build up her confidence.

We then decided that as she was fine on the leash we could start taking her for walks out the front of the apartment complex. It is a quiet complex with a nice garden area. Again over time her confidence level has improved so much it is great to see. However, the complex has two stray cats that the guards and other residents feed. At first Patches paid no interest in the other cats, but she could obviously smell them, and to be honest I don't think she even knew what they were. Now however she is crying to go outside first thing in the morning and at night and now instead of exploring the gardens she is just sitting and looking for the other cats. When she sees them, she fluffs up and strains against the leash to get at them. One of them will just sit and look at her but the other, which I think is the male will try to come up to her. But neither of the strays look in any way aggressive. There is no meowing or hissing from any of the cats. There are a lot of cats in the area that we are living, so they are all used to other cats.

My questions are, do I stop taking her outside all together, she is a calico cat so very determined when she wants something, but she loves going outside and purrs like crazy when we go to the front door and when putting on her leash. Do I introduce her to the other cats and see what happens? I obviously don't want her to get into a fight, but it might lessen the interest if they have met? I also don't want her to be stressed out when she is trying to get to the other cats and I am restraining her with the leash. At the moment, when she is acting up I pick her up and bring her inside. She complains a little but then is fine.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[susanm9006]

You definitely don’t want to let her get in a fight or even near the other cats. They may contain infectious diseases that could be passed to your cat through a bite. Walk her only if you can keep her away from these other cats. Otherwise keep her in.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi!
I agree with susanm9006 and even without the disease issue, i don't think letting her meet the other cats would lessen her interest.
You'll be moving again fairly soon anyway, so in the meantime, maybe you can play with her, a Da Bird wand toy, could be good for exercise

 

[danteshuman]

I would set a special alarm with a specific sound that goes off before you take her outside on her harness. That way she can get a routine and eventually quit the extra meowing.
About the other cats. My instinct says to sit so she is 5-10 feet from the cats, remain calm & see how they play out. It might be that she might make friends. I would add that I would carry some change in a change purse or change plus an empty soda can. That way in a pinch you can toss the change purse on the ground or put change in the can and toss the can near the cats if a fight breaks out. I think your cat is just scared so she is acting aggressive.

Maybe someone who harness walks their cats can weigh in?

My boys stay in the backyard and run in if a intruder cat is there. I have broken up fights between a neighborhood cat and our semi-feral cat that was in the street and went under a car. I clapped my hands and approached. If you see the other cats growling, hissing, puffing up their fur or hissing then I would pick your cat up and take her inside (or scare the other cats away.)

 

[MicheleG]

You definitely don’t want to let her get in a fight or even near the other cats. They may contain infectious diseases that could be passed to your cat through a bite. Walk her only if you can keep her away from these other cats. Otherwise keep her in.

Thanks Susan, yes disease is a problem here so definitely something to worry about

 

[MicheleG]

Hi!
I agree with susanm9006 and even without the disease issue, i don't think letting her meet the other cats would lessen her interest.
You'll be moving again fairly soon anyway, so in the meantime, maybe you can play with her, a Da Bird wand toy, could be good for exercise

We used to play regularly but now she has zero interest in playing with us and only wants to go outside

 

[MicheleG]

I would set a special alarm with a specific sound that goes off before you take her outside on her harness. That way she can get a routine and eventually quit the extra meowing.
About the other cats. My instinct says to sit so she is 5-10 feet from the cats, remain calm & see how they play out. It might be that she might make friends. I would add that I would carry some change in a change purse or change plus an empty soda can. That way in a pinch you can toss the change purse on the ground or put change in the can and toss the can near the cats if a fight breaks out. I think your cat is just scared so she is acting aggressive.

Maybe someone who harness walks their cats can weigh in?

My boys stay in the backyard and run in if a intruder cat is there. I have broken up fights between a neighborhood cat and our semi-feral cat that was in the street and went under a car. I clapped my hands and approached. If you see the other cats growling, hissing, puffing up their fur or hissing then I would pick your cat up and take her inside (or scare the other cats away.)

We have a fairly good routine going at the moment, we typically go out in the morning and evening. If she carries on too much I ignore her until she is quiet then we go out. At the moment we are sitting and watching and if they get too close I pick her up and move her out of the way. I guess I was more concerned that mentally she might become distressed by being on the leash and not being able to go where she wants when she wants. When the cats are not around we walk to her schedule and go pretty much where she wants to go. Would love to hear from anyone else who walks their cats.

 

[Furballsmom]

I walk my guy, I don't go anywhere where there are other cats, I watch like a hawk for dogs, squirrels, other people, noisy trucks etc.
My whole intent is to give him the mental and physical exercise but also to keep him safe. Any distress he may or may not feel about not being able to go where he wants to go is totally overridden by safety concerns, staying out of neighbors yards, away from grass that's been sprayed for weeds
You're already able to ignore her until you are ready to go out. Simply apply that to maintaining protocols that ensure her safety, including not letting her go where she wants, if it isn't safe. Stray/feral cats are often sick with transmittable illnesses, so be very sure you're not walking your baby through their pee or poop, and that she's up to date on all her shots.

 

[MicheleG]

I walk my guy, I don't go anywhere where there are other cats, I watch like a hawk for dogs, squirrels, other people, noisy trucks etc.
My whole intent is to give him the mental and physical exercise but also to keep him safe. Any distress he may or may not feel about not being able to go where he wants to go is totally overridden by safety concerns, staying out of neighbors yards, away from grass that's been sprayed for weeds
You're already able to ignore her until you are ready to go out. Simply apply that to maintaining protocols that ensure her safety, including not letting her go where she wants, if it isn't safe. Stray/feral cats are often sick with transmittable illnesses, so be very sure you're not walking your baby through their pee or poop, and that she's up to date on all her shots.

Thank you. I was concerned because I read an article recently that was basically saying that cats can become stressed when being walked on a leash because they like to wander and roam and do their own thing. But I agree with what everyone has said here, keeping her away from the other cats is my highest priority. This morning the male actually came up the stairs and to the front door, poor little Patches was very upset, so I think she will be inside for a while now and hopefully he will forget about her. It's a shame because she did seem to be enjoying her daily walks.

 

[Furballsmom]

 

[Furballsmom]

By the way, she is ADORABLE!!

 

[MicheleG]

By the way, she is ADORABLE!!

thank you