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Cats/Indoor Cat got Out - Came Back - Now What

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Expert: - 6/24/2011


Question
We have a gorgeous female one year old Bengal who recently got outside when a door was accidentally left open. We scared her even more by over-reacting and trying to catch her and she ran off into the woods. After 3 1/2 days outdoors (with mom & dad searching high and low) she came back and now seems so happy to be home and so not interested in going out. But she has only been home for 2 days now. Our fear is that now she has had a taste of the outdoors she will eventually want back out. I know there is no way for us to know for sure...but in your experience have you heard of cats that get out for that long and then want nothing to do with it? Having a Bengal adds that extra fear of not only having an accident outdoors but someone taking her for their own. Thanks for any advice you may have on this one.

Answer
Nela,

Every cat is an individual.  If the outdoor adventure was rather scary for her, she may be just as happy to stay indoors.  Everyone in the household needs to be more vigilant so she does not "escape" again!!!!!

There are many cats who shun the "great" outdoors for the security and comfort of the household.

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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