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Cats/loved house pet goes 'bush' for 5 months then returns.

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Expert: - 6/17/2011


Question
We have a beloved cat Emit, who we have had since he was born from his mother Mia,(who is our other cat) a year and a half ago. On feb 14, emit had left and wasnt seen for about 5 months. (We had also got a new puppy on the previous nov. about 4 months proir to him leaving). Around the 5th month of his departure, we found him in our yard a number of times, and eventualy feed him through the fence resulting is us being able to pick him up and put him inside.. He does remember us, and does respond well to touch still although, he is very unsettled and has a very sad meow as he tries to get out side again.. he was raised by us as i said since he was born but, like evey cat owner i want him to he happy and safe. do we keep him inside and try and get the "bush cat" out or let him he be himself and do what he wants but at a possible risk of him being injured by cars,other cats, dogs ect?
Thank you sincerly for you time..

Answer
Trish,

I will tell you up front that my personal bias is against letting cats roam outside. The statistics I have seen are that outside cats live, on average, 3-5 years, whereas inside cats,  live, on average, 12-15 years.

The great outdoors is more fun for the cat, BUT, there are predators, automobiles, and people. So, unless you live somewhere where there are no predators, no automobiles, no people, he could have a tough time of it out there.

Although it may take some time, outside cats can and do get turned into inside cats and thrive in a very safe environment and, eventually, get over the wander lust.

I am assuming Emit is neutered, if not, that should your first order of business regardless!!!!!!!  If his mom is not spayed, you will end up with kittens!!!!!!!!!!

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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