Cat with agoraphobia?

My cat has agoraphobia, which is very frustrating for me, as I have a big garden. He may have been an indoor cat I never bothered to ask at the rescue centre. Anyway, is there a cure? I've had him for a year now, and the only time he goes out the garden is when I'm also there (to protect him!) The thought off having to buy cat litter for the rest off his nine lives...hmmmm?

Cat with agoraphobia?
An indoor only cat lives a longer, healthier and happier life. There are many cat litters that do a very good job of killing the odor.



Can you build an indoor-outdoor litterbox? I have a large enclosed litter box attatched to the house via a cat flap. The cats use the litter box on the outside without exposure to the hazards of the outdoors.



Safe cats. No smell. Perfect.
Reply:Buying cat litter for your pet should be the least of your problems. If your cat prefers the indoors, do not force him outdoors. You are subjecting him to other animals, injury, disease, and dirt (which he has to clean off himself and drag back into your house).

I have never understood people that think cats NEED to go outside - they are domesticated!
Reply:Buy a small kennel and put him in it outside for small periods of time several times a day then start incresing. then start opening the cage and walking back into your home. eventually he will get the idea. just don't forget about him and leave him out all night.
Reply:if you train your cat with little patience,you will surely be successful by making the cat outdoor.i also did the same.but more patience needed.
Reply:Agoraphobia is a fear of wide, open spaces, large human gatherings (malls or rock concerts for instance). It is a term for a human phobia and is not used with animals though it is a good description of this cat.



I had a cat who would go out playing in the woods every morning. When I came home at noon I would call her and she would come dashing to greet me and use the litterbox inside the house.



When you have pets you are committed to twice daily walks with a dog and a litterbox for a cat. I have some cats who use the garden for a litterbox and they are always in at night (as every cat should be IMO) and there are plenty of litterboxes inside should they need to use one.
Reply:I am familiar with what you are going through. I had asked a question about a kitten who refused to go out the cat door to mess and all I got for answers were a lot of people who scolded me for taking away the kitten's litter pan. But like you, I didn't want the smelly thing around. And no matter what people try to tell you, or what products you buy, a litter pan is ALWAYS going to have an oder!



I'm going to suggest something that will probably have cat lovers howling. When you leave for work in the mornings, simply put the cat outside and close the cat door. No access to the house means your cat has no choice but to familiarize itself with its outdoor surroundings, and no choice about going outside to mess. As one answerer suggested, you would want to provide a box or crate for the cat, with a blanket and maybe some toys where it can retreat if it feels threatened. If you have an open garage, this would be the ideal place, or perhaps a workshed in the garden. If possible you could also install some "kitty shelves" in your garage- a shelf or perch where the cat can jump to, they love to be up high and it makes them feel safe also.



Then when you come home from work, let the cat back into the house. Once your home you can keep an eye on the cat to make sure it doesn't mess in the house. You would also want to take the cat for a walk in the garden before bed to let it do it's business.



Keep this up until your cat seems comfortable being outside (probably a month or two). Then unlock the cat door so that the cat can go in and out during the day and see how things go. By now the cat should have it's outside routine down and be more than happy to go outside to the garden to mess.



(I would not start this in the dead of winter however, endure the cat litter until spring and start then)



oh, and by the way - DON'T let people guilt you into thinking your a bad cat owner just because you want your cat to go outside to mess. Domesticated or not, a cat's natural enviroment is not a house. They are happier and healthier when they are alowed to be indoor/outdoor.
Reply:There is no harm keeping him indoors. If you let him out, he will then go and do his business in other peoples gardens. Not very nice eh.
Reply:The cat is very probably used to living indoors. The outside world is an unfamiliar place. You must introduce it by holding him and walking around the garden, don't leave him on his own at first. Then gradually start to leave him, making sure that you're not far off. Perhaps bring a toy for him, or a snack, so that he can associate the garden with positive experiences. He'll begin to like it out there.
Reply:What the hell is agoraphobia?
Reply:I don't buy cat litter. I hate it. But if you have a big garden just use soil from the garden and change it each time it is used. Then dump it back outside when used. On the other hand maybe get him a collar and lead and take him walking outside so that he sees that there is nothing really to be afraid of. This might help

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