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Have trouble getting cat to go outside
I have a very sweet bengal cat mix. He is about 15 weeks old. He really loves being around people, which I think is terrific, but sometimes, I wish he would do a little more exploring on his own. He really loves hunting, so I would like for him to get some quality time outdoors, pouncing on bugs and leaves. He is still a kitten, so sometimes he is really energetic, and he enjoys pouncing on and biting my legs. I want him to be able to burn off some of that energy outdoors. He refuses to go out or stay out on his own, and when we are outside together, he spends most of his time either on my lap or at the door begging to be let back in. I am currently unemployed, so we get lots and lots of quality time together every day. Is it possible that he is too comfortable always being around me (or the four people I share a house with), or is this needy behavior typical of cats still as young as he is? On a side note, will he grow out of the biting?
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Member 894779
on Sep 28th 2009
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in Separation Anxiety
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Be happy with your indoor kitty. Not all cats want to go outside. The outside world is a very unsafe place; your little kitty could escape your yard and be attacked by another animal, hit by a car, or injured by cat haters. Bugs and little critters can carry disease, so don't encourage him.
Find alternatives inside to burn all that energy. Try a laser pointer, or a toy like "da bird" which my cats love.
Yes, being a kitten he may just want to be with you and love you. Don't fight that. Some people would love to have cuddly pets. And yes, he should grow out of the biting thing, if you don't encourage him.
Howie
answered on 9/28/09.
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I totally agree with Howie. Having lost a much-loved cat under the wheels of a car last year, I can honestly say that having an outdoor cat is a constant source of worry. If he wants to be inside, keep him in. As he grows older, he will settle down and probably even become a lap-cat. There are many dangers facing an outdoor kitty. You don't want your kitty to discover what they are...
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 9/28/09.
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He's 15 weeks old! That's still barely a baby. The nipping and following you around are normal for a kitten his age. He's not needy, he's just bored. He's also going to be extremely energetic unless you take time to do some structured play with him every day. If you don't own one, I suggest buying a feather wand, and then playing with him with it for 10 minutes or so several times a day. That way you get his energy out, and there's no risk for you to be bitten and pounced on (the feather part of the wand, however, will probably go through countless replacements). I also suggest you get as many toys he can pounce on (rubber mice, crinkle balls, and the like) to encourage solo play.
As Izzie's mom pointed out, why would you want your cat to go outside? There are so many bad thing that could happen to him out there, and it seems senseless to send him out when he doesn't even want to go out there. Keep him in and keep him safe.
Boris
answered on 9/28/09.
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