Have you tried setting up a little cat bed near your own bed? In the basement, he’s probably lonely. Getting older, he might be feeling lonely down there at night, and wanting to seek out company.
He just wants to go outside. He’s a lone wolf type cat. I may try the bed thing, but sometimes he’ll hang on my bed or my daughter’s for a bit, before ultimately deciding to wake everyone up so he can go outside.
I’m sure you’ve heard it but in most areas it’s strongly recommended to always keep your cats indoors or otherwise leashed or restrained when outside, as they can be devastating to local wildlife and being outdoors can shave years off a cat’s lifespan.
Yeah, I know, but he was a steet cat until my wife scooped him up, he was about three then, and it was very hard to take the street cat out of the street cat. The alternative, as you can tell, becomes locking him in a basement, which isn’t a great alternative to me.
I wasn’t trying to be judgey, a lot of people think it’s better for the cat to let them have freedom to roam, but indoor cats have nearly double the lifespan.
No, it’s cool, I didn’t interpret it that way. I get it and I understand it, but I wrestle with having had this cat since 2014 at this point, knowing what he’s like and where he came from, and it definitely conflicts with guidance I’ve read, but he’s healthy and great weight and active when he goes out, and so here we are.
Yeah I feel ya. Ultimately quality of life within acceptable safety parameters should always be the primary motivator, and it certainly sounds like that’s what you’re keeping in mind.
Have you tried setting up a little cat bed near your own bed? In the basement, he’s probably lonely. Getting older, he might be feeling lonely down there at night, and wanting to seek out company.
He just wants to go outside. He’s a lone wolf type cat. I may try the bed thing, but sometimes he’ll hang on my bed or my daughter’s for a bit, before ultimately deciding to wake everyone up so he can go outside.
I’m sure you’ve heard it but in most areas it’s strongly recommended to always keep your cats indoors or otherwise leashed or restrained when outside, as they can be devastating to local wildlife and being outdoors can shave years off a cat’s lifespan.
Yeah, I know, but he was a steet cat until my wife scooped him up, he was about three then, and it was very hard to take the street cat out of the street cat. The alternative, as you can tell, becomes locking him in a basement, which isn’t a great alternative to me.
I wasn’t trying to be judgey, a lot of people think it’s better for the cat to let them have freedom to roam, but indoor cats have nearly double the lifespan.
No, it’s cool, I didn’t interpret it that way. I get it and I understand it, but I wrestle with having had this cat since 2014 at this point, knowing what he’s like and where he came from, and it definitely conflicts with guidance I’ve read, but he’s healthy and great weight and active when he goes out, and so here we are.
Yeah I feel ya. Ultimately quality of life within acceptable safety parameters should always be the primary motivator, and it certainly sounds like that’s what you’re keeping in mind.