Our four year-old Maine Coon mix Sam has suddenly decided that he wants to go outside. The problem is that we live up on a mountain in the deep woods of NC just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We have mountain lions, bears and Coyotes in the area. Coyotes hunt domestic cats as food, and we certainly don't want Sam to become a meal for a Coyote. The north/south black bear migration trail runs along the mountain above our home. Sam is fast and will rush between our legs when we come in the house or go outside. He is so much faster than we are.
Sam has a very long coat, and he acts like freaking Tinker Bell outside, rolling here and rolling there, and generally running around the yard like an idiot. His longest time staying outside is two nights. We could see him, but could not catch him. We set a Have-A-Hart trap with the stinkiest sardenes I could find, and he just walks around it chattering. Sam is not stupid. He has a thing for poison ivy, and has managed to transfer that stuff to me a couple of times. Not fun! When he makes his escapes, he manages to mess up his long black coat with all sorts stuff that gets tangled in it. It takes us a couple of weeks of brushing to get his coat back to normal. Besides the poison ivy and the messed up coat, our main concern is that our goofy fearless indoor cat will get eaten by a wild critter. As much as I would like to ring his neck right now, we would be heart broken if anything happend to him. Yes, Sam was neutered as a kitten. The only living thing around here that isn't neutered or spayed is me, and I am too old to be a problem.
We have five cats total that we claim. Three cats are strictly indoor, including Sam. One cat was an indoor/outdoor when we got her, and she continues that behavior to date. We know the dangers are greater for an outdoor cat, however she insists on going outside. This cat stays very close to the house, in the dog kennel, or the garage, and she is only outside for a few hours in the middle of the day. Cat number five is a feral that we trapped, had neutered, got all of his shots, and was released. He has a heated cat condo on our front porch and stays very close to the house. There is a cat colony in the woods that we trapped, had neutered, or spayed, got shots, and were released, but they don't come near the house. We see them in the edges of the yard, but are unable to get close to them. I manage to keep a head count, (12) and so far have not lost any. Based on that I don't think that the wild critters are frequenting our property, however one never knows when they may start. We see wild critters in the neighborhood all of the time. Our three Golden Retrievers may keep the wild critters away, but we can't be sure. Besides, the goldens are locked in their kennel at night.
Normally we allow the kitties to roam the entire house, which is 4000 square feet. Right now our solution to Sam, the escape artist kitty, is to keep him in our sun room, a 500 square foot room. It is not a whole lot of fun for Sam and is a pain for us. That way if he escapes into the house we still have him trapped so that he cannot get outside. Eventually we can get him back in the sunroom. When Sam gets loose in the house we use the utility room as a barrier room, closing the door on the inside before we open the door going outside. Still Sam is patient, and waits for his next chance to escape. Sam is an easy going kitty and seems to get along fine with all of the other cats. Sam and our other young male indoor cat are big buddies, and they play most of the day. I work nights. When I sleep during the daytime Sam and CJ pile up on my bed and stay most of the day. The two females are older and seem more serious. The females rule the house and the two younger males don't challenge them.
We are perplexed as to why Sam suddenly wants to go outside. Maybe he is bored, or maybe he is just curious? Any ideas on how to change his mind about this subject are appreciated. Otherwise we will have to maintain this maximum security prison environment.
Betty and Charles
Sam has a very long coat, and he acts like freaking Tinker Bell outside, rolling here and rolling there, and generally running around the yard like an idiot. His longest time staying outside is two nights. We could see him, but could not catch him. We set a Have-A-Hart trap with the stinkiest sardenes I could find, and he just walks around it chattering. Sam is not stupid. He has a thing for poison ivy, and has managed to transfer that stuff to me a couple of times. Not fun! When he makes his escapes, he manages to mess up his long black coat with all sorts stuff that gets tangled in it. It takes us a couple of weeks of brushing to get his coat back to normal. Besides the poison ivy and the messed up coat, our main concern is that our goofy fearless indoor cat will get eaten by a wild critter. As much as I would like to ring his neck right now, we would be heart broken if anything happend to him. Yes, Sam was neutered as a kitten. The only living thing around here that isn't neutered or spayed is me, and I am too old to be a problem.
We have five cats total that we claim. Three cats are strictly indoor, including Sam. One cat was an indoor/outdoor when we got her, and she continues that behavior to date. We know the dangers are greater for an outdoor cat, however she insists on going outside. This cat stays very close to the house, in the dog kennel, or the garage, and she is only outside for a few hours in the middle of the day. Cat number five is a feral that we trapped, had neutered, got all of his shots, and was released. He has a heated cat condo on our front porch and stays very close to the house. There is a cat colony in the woods that we trapped, had neutered, or spayed, got shots, and were released, but they don't come near the house. We see them in the edges of the yard, but are unable to get close to them. I manage to keep a head count, (12) and so far have not lost any. Based on that I don't think that the wild critters are frequenting our property, however one never knows when they may start. We see wild critters in the neighborhood all of the time. Our three Golden Retrievers may keep the wild critters away, but we can't be sure. Besides, the goldens are locked in their kennel at night.
Normally we allow the kitties to roam the entire house, which is 4000 square feet. Right now our solution to Sam, the escape artist kitty, is to keep him in our sun room, a 500 square foot room. It is not a whole lot of fun for Sam and is a pain for us. That way if he escapes into the house we still have him trapped so that he cannot get outside. Eventually we can get him back in the sunroom. When Sam gets loose in the house we use the utility room as a barrier room, closing the door on the inside before we open the door going outside. Still Sam is patient, and waits for his next chance to escape. Sam is an easy going kitty and seems to get along fine with all of the other cats. Sam and our other young male indoor cat are big buddies, and they play most of the day. I work nights. When I sleep during the daytime Sam and CJ pile up on my bed and stay most of the day. The two females are older and seem more serious. The females rule the house and the two younger males don't challenge them.
We are perplexed as to why Sam suddenly wants to go outside. Maybe he is bored, or maybe he is just curious? Any ideas on how to change his mind about this subject are appreciated. Otherwise we will have to maintain this maximum security prison environment.
Betty and Charles
