Question:
I have a wonderful neutered cat who is about 14 years old. Since I got him (he was a 2-year-old stray) he has always been content to be an indoor cat and never showed an inclination to be outdoors. However, during the last month or so, he's been trying to get out each time I open the door. He will not tolerate a collar and/or leash, nor will he tolerate another cat.Normally, he rules the roost, but this latest demand worries me. How do I handle this?.
H.C., Whiting, NJ Dec 05, 2004
Answer:
If there has been no change in the home environment (such as a new cat, or another resident cat becoming more aggressive), your old cat may be behaving like many old animals do. Some want to leave the home to find a quiet place to die. Others develop senile dementia and become restless, disoriented and difficult to handle.I would have your cat examined by a veterinarian, and if there is nothing wrong physically, have a harness fitted so that you can take your cat out safely on a leash (collars often terrify cats and can slip off when the cat pulls). In the final analysis, he may be feeling "the call of the wild," and his old, tired spirit may want to be close to nature. Perhaps we are not the only animals on Earth to have a sense of connectedness to the totality of being.HOLIDAY SEASON WARNINGAvoid holiday tragedy by taking the following precautions to protect animals in your home from possible injury, illness or death:-- Keep animals in a separate, quiet room during the festivities, especially when visitors
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