Cat has become so needy lately and I’m not sure if it’s because I was gone for a week and now she doesn’t want me out of her sight. The last two nights, I’ve been afraid she was going to run in the house when I opened the door. I think she would panic when she got in the house, especially since she isn’t fond of Vince and the dogs would go nuts and further scare her. When I open the shop door and she goes in there, she goes in like a streak of lightning, heads straight up the stairs and has a little hiding spot up there. There’s no telling what she would do if she came in the house.
She follows me around the whole time I’m outside, right behind me but far enough that I can’t reach back and touch her. Most of the time, she will only come to me when I stand still, or sit in my chair and wait for her. I can rarely walk up to her.
Last night, I totally forgot about the chickens and it was almost 10 when I went out. She was sitting on the porch, still waiting for me to come out. She hadn’t forgotten that I still had one more trip to make outside. She followed me all the way to the chicken coop but this time, she meowed all the way. I stopped a couple of times to let her come to me so I could pet her but I had the flashlight in my hand and she was afraid of that.
I’m wondering if something has scared her and she doesn’t want to be outside at night. We’ve been leaving the shop door open til we go out and put the chickens up, hoping she would go in there and stay for the night. Sometimes she does go in there but more often than not, she doesn’t.
I don’t know what to do with her. I don’t know if she wants to come in, if she wants me to stay out with her. I still can’t pick her up so getting her to the vet isn’t happening. If she would end up in one of our traps, which she has avoided now for a couple of years, I would take her to the vet. She doesn’t seem like she’s hurting . . she just seems scared when it gets dark.
This morning Vince was looking online at ways to build a secure sleeping area for feral cats but I think she sleeps all day and prowls all night. She has me baffled. Any suggestions . . besides letting her in the house. That’s just not going to happen. She can go in the shop but she’s not going to be an inside cat.
Maybe I did the wrong thing by trying to tame her and be her friend. 🙁
wanda j says
Well I can tell you from my own experience she missed you bad. WE HAD TRIP TO nyc ONE YEAR AND WHEN WE GOT HOME AFTER 10 DAYS OUR CAT WAS LIKE THIS, hE WAS INSIDE CAT ALREADY AND WE HAD SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF HIM BUT IT WASN’T US. fROM THEN ON HE WAS ANYWHERE WE WERE AND DEMANDED MORE PETTING. Sorry about caps not yelling. Just old fingers get in way sometimes.So cat is yours now forever just give her more petting she is coming around. Soon you will be holding he and not being able to get rid of her at all. Maybe she and Boots will become friends?
Diann Smith says
Maybe Cat and Boots could become friends/companion buddies and hang out together.
Linda Mincher says
I don’t know how you have the shop set up, but at night could you walk in there and have her follow you in, then close the door so she is inside for the night…leaving a litter box/food/water and bed for her? Sounds like she will go in there with you.
Cherie in St Louis says
It’s because you were gone. She’ll mellow out after a couple of weeks, I’m guessing. It’s good you’re cautious about the house because it would not go well if she got inside, although I don’t think she wants inside, she’s just not wanting you to go away. She loves you 🙂
dezertsuz says
Cats are proprietary, so probably your absence, but something wicked could be out there and scary. However, she has claws and she knows how to climb, if she needs to.
Edith says
My sister left her window cracked in Houston so her cat could get in and out and she woke up to 5 mystery cats in her bedroom one day! My cat is very needy after I come back from vacation. He usually calms down after a bit. But he is very affectionate at the moment since he was alone for an entire 24 hours! My grandparents would consider her a barn cat and want her outside catching the mice. They were very practical about animals.
Heather Watts says
Perhaps you could set up a dog kennel on your veranda, but set it up on some bricks to keep it away from the cold. Cats like to be up high, so if you had a crate underneath the kennel she would feel a lot safer at that height. They also love wool, so if you put an old wool blanket inside, she would be in heaven.
Lee Young says
Build a catio (google) – an outdoor enclosed area made of fencing that she can’t get out from but with a roof, with stuff for her to climb/hang out on, that way she’s still “outside” at night but protected from scary things. Night time brings in all manner of danger for outdoor kitties: owls, coyotes, bobcat, raccoon – maybe she had a near-miss? We had a feral cat that I tamed. He’d sleep indoors on the bed but want to be out at night. Never came home one morning – we figured a coyote or owl – he was 12 and starting to slow down.
Mada Beyrent says
maybe she is a she and is p.g. and looking for a nesting place.
Lisa G Boyer says
I would guess that she was worried about YOU being out at night and carrying a scary light thing to boot. You’re hers and she’s trying to protect you, and here you go, wandering about in the dark. I think her meowing is trying to warn you to be careful of all the things that prowl around at night. Also, when cats get into their routine and you somehow break it, they can complain about it! If I miss a feeding or don’t do something just right, I hear about it for several minutes. Cats just LOVE their routine and you broke hers twice lately by going on vacation and not coming out for the chickens at the right time. She’s letting you know you’re not doing things right! Funny how we all assign different feelings and behavior our pets when they can’t verbalize what’s bothering them. It’s more a reflection of our fears and feeling than theirs! I’m always so worried my cats are bored or hungry and my husband always has to point out to me that their bowls are full and I have enough cat toys and cat trees to open a pet store. It’s fun to read how everyone interprets Cat’s behavior differently!
barbara says
that cat wants to be with you. she’s afraid you’ll go away again. think 3-year old. can it be arranged for her to sleep in the shop in her own place? when she comes up to you, can you drop a blanket over her and grab her? Vince could learn to use a casting net =) . all things considered, you should have that cat fixed or you’ll have a litter just like her. she actually sounds adorable.