Outside cat

[answer001]

One of my neighbours cats lives on the fence dividing our properties. He's sitting on there morning, noon and night, day in, day out, and has been there constantly for the past 6 months at least. I assume he does go in to eat, but whenever we look out the window he's there, never moves. My question is, why would he choose to stay there all the time rather than in their house? They do have several other cats, so maybe that has something to do with it. And he's also had a bad flea problem (causing nasty sore areas on his back and legs), which the neighbours say they're treating, so maybe he finds a fence more comfortable to sit on than a chair?? The weather's getting colder now and I'm worried about exposure, if he's out without cover on frosty nights. I just can't see why he would choose that life without some underlying problem that might need sorting. Anyone know anything about the cat mentality?

[paddywak]

Being a dog person myself I can't really give you any advice, but from what my friends tell me and I what I've gatherered on here, cats unlike dogs will do what THEY want to do not what their slaves want them to

[ailurophile]

The cat may be entirely happy OR the nasty sores may be caused by overgrooming due to stress probably caused by living in a muli-cat household. Have you asked your neighbours if he ever goes in? they will probably be able to enlighten you on his movements, you could maybe ask if he enjoys the company of other cats or would he prefer a solitary life, in which case, they may consider re-homing him - they probably don't want to do this but it may get them thinking about his quality of life!

[katerich48]

Well Any cats that I've had love to go out - but then at some point they are banging at the door to be let in..as well as the outdoors they love a a nice hot radiator.. Maybe its the other cats he keeps away from.. he can't be hungry as he would be bothering you for food or even shelter so he's probably quite happy there....

[katerich48]

ps..
I don't think its fleas that cause sores (maybe I'm wrong) but I know ticks give them a lot of grief..

[Nosha123]

Having had a few cats myself I would say this does NOT sound like a happy cat... Cats do not tend to like living with lots of other cats as they get picked on and there is a 'pecking order'. Are you a cat lover? Could you offer to take him in? Or try to coax him into your house and see if he responds to some stroked or food? If he has a bad flea problem - this would be sorted almost immediately with a de-flea treatment - the sores may take longer to heal as some cats do have an allergy to flea bites and causes flare ups - but if the owner knows that then why do they not de-flea him more regularly. The drops are meant to be used every 6 weeks! I would imagine the whole house is crawling with fleas, so maybe he knows he doesnt get bitten on the fence! Poor love. Really doesn't sound a happy cat! Can you try to get close up to him and see if he responds to some human affection? He obviously isn't getting any at the moment!

[Barmaid]

My older female (who will now not venture outside unless there is an ambient temperature of 23 degrees) used to do this when she was younger. She had "her post" which she would sit on stock still for hours - either winding up next door's cat or checking the neighbouring field for mice. Didn't matter what the weather was doing, she would sit there because she could. She had a lovely warm house (and she had the run of it), no other cats in the household, and could come in whenever she wanted through her flap. But no, she would sit for hours on the post like a feline sentinel.

Never quite been able to work out cat mentality. Just work on the basis that in the pecking order, I am at the bottom of the pile and only useful for providing food and warm places to sit.

[wiggal]

Hey!

I would like to think I would know something about cat mentality, currently having 7 of the demanding little things at the minute!
But they always seem to surprise me!

One of my girls, Spinks has a very nasty flea allergy, and nothing seems to work during the summer months, and she always has a bald bum! She has steriod injections, piriton tablets (which are impossible to fgive to her these days!) and extra regular flea treatments. However she still reacts all through the summer and it only calms down in the colder muonths, like now when she is growing the coat back on her back end!

Leo however is very much an outdoor cat, and appears every few days for some food, and to sleep all day on the stairs and then off he goes again!

At the end of the day, my job is to feed and love and cuddle my cats when they want to, but could never stop them going out or stop licking their fur til its sore (even when they are pumped full of antihystamines!) so I just let them get on with it!

I'd suggest maybe speaking to your neighbour to let them know you are concerned, as maybe if the cat is out all the time they don't know there is that much of a problem?

[LottieAnne]

Wiggal - are you sure that Spinks allergy is to fleas? My friend had a similar problem and her cat was in a really bad state. As her vet did not seem able to solve the problem she changed to my vet who immediately did lots of tests and it turned out that the cat was allergic to oak trees mainly but also to other trees and pollen. The treatment was long and involved giving injections but the problem was eventually contained if not completely solved.