Why I Will Never Take My Cat Outside Again

I meet many outdoor cats on my walks, I felt bad for my own cat who is locked inside all day in our apartment. I therefore decided to take him out in a harness to discover the world, but then deeply regretted it. I tell you why in the video.
#catcare
#catHealth
#catbehavior
#animalcommunication
#catstress
#catcaretips
#catharness
#harnesscat
#indoorcat
#catfacts
#outdoorcats
#outdoorcat
#cathealth
#catvideos
#catknowledge
✨𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: / tikisamo
👇𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞:
/ @samotriescatstuff
𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆.
𝑻𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖❤️😽

[@samotriescatstuff]

⚠️To the viewers who are upset and think that all cats should be allowed to go outside, I will give one and the same answer to avoid repeating myself: I understand you, I used to think the same as you when I was younger BUT you also have to understand that you neither know mine nor other people's cats personally (at all) nor do you know how we live, e.g. near a dangerous road, predators (we have plenty of foxes here and large birds of prey) angry dogs, etc. It's easy for you to think "go outside with the cat in a harness every day" but if the cat slips out of it and always becomes very anxious and restless indoors afterwards with clear behavioral changes so much so that the neighbors complain and the cat is also not suitable for re-homing also, it's not worth taking the cat out more because it reinforces the cat's bad behavior afterwards for a very long time. You also have to trust that those of us who keep our cats indoors OFTEN do so for a very good reason. Then of course it's totally wrong to lock up your cat out of sheer laziness and never play with it or get involved with it at all, I can agree with THAT and it's also something I feel very bad to see. But in my case, this is a very well thought out decision. I can only hope that you who read this understand that this kind of thing can be very complex and that it is impossible to show it in a few minutes in a video. Thanks for reading, have a nice day! /Samo's owner

[@1211foster]

I'm a 70 year old female. I built an outdoor area (not a catio, but an enclosed/fenced area with a wire "ceiling" so they can't climb out. Also safe from predators or wandering critters.) Built it by myself, so it took awhile. With a cat flap leading onto a screened porch and a 2nd cat flap leading from the porch into the enclosed space, they come & go as they please. They love rolling in the grass, climbing the homemade towers, chasing bugs and lizards, and trying to catch a bird or or two. It's about 45 feet by 20 feet, a section of my yard. I do bring them in at night, though. They are infinitely happier than when cooped up in a human-sized cage.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Sounds like a good place you built, well done & thank you for sharing

[@Cuddlingcats]

Hello Samo channel. Excellent share. The cats outside were very cute. We will never take ours out on a least again, but for a different reason. We trained them on the least and took them out very slowly and gradually over several days. They really liked it but one day I was on the side of our house with Uli, and someone across the street started yelling at someone else over there. Uli got scare and yanked right out of his collar and ran down the street in another direction. Thankfully, at the end of the lane, a dog started barking. Uli froze, scared, until I was able to walk up and pick him up. He was petrified of the noises, and so will remain an indoor cat. Luckily, we have a back garden for the cats to enjoy.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing this personal story😊 I understand your decision, it could have gone horribly wrong, Uli could have disappeared for good or worse. I always dreaded that this could happen, they hear a sudden noise and they escape from the harness & you never see them again or you find them flat on the road. The fact that you have a back garden they can use is perfect, I wish i had one too even if the balcony is big and good in many ways too.

[@zimjun7]

Yes! ( I did the 3rd like ) I know of a German female friend and her name is Uli. SO GLAD the dog barked and Uli froze!! And very GLAD that you have a back garden safely secure for him and your other cats. You gotta get a leash with wide velcro around the tummy to overlap a bit so it's really stable. June

[@Cuddlingcats]

@@samotriescatstuff If I have new cat in the future, I'd like to train him to go out on a leash, introduce him to all sorts of sights and sounds when he is a kitten, but we'll see. There are a lot of dogs in Hawaii and I would have to be vigilant for them.

[@samotriescatstuff]

I did that with Samo right from the start, but he was not cut out for it like my older cat was. I think it's always worth a try though to see how they react, hopefully it works well

[@ChonkyCats]

Yeah when i was taking mine out for walks, they started waiting at the door and would try to push pass me to go out. Then i had a flea invasion into the house. So i haven't attempted taking anyone out for a walk in a long time. I feel guilty at times for keeping them indoors only. But yet i hear coyotes at night, my neighbors outdoor cat was killed by a dog. People drive horribly here. I see road kill all the time. Heh so i keep the kitties inside. The random stray cat i was feeding i haven't seen it in like 2 weeks.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your experience with this. I hope the stray cat is well & alive and I understand your choice, fleas are not fun to deal with! Also cats hanging out in the door is stressful.

[@David31567]

I had 5 cats all outdoor 2 of them became 24 yrs😊 So i suggest cats should go out and play

[@sandovalperry2895]

My cat has free run of a tunnel catio that connects to a cat door, found it on Amazon. We connected tunnels together to give her more space to run. We now let her out in the backyard on a harness, the fence is 7 foot high so she can’t jump over the wall. We still have to keep a sharp eye out she’s pretty fast up a tree. She can be a real pain early in the morning if she wants out but she has the catio.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your story. My cat loves tunnels too, we play with him a lot in those as well Sounds like a great place to let your cat out on👍🏼

[@drmontreal6165]

"the fence is 7 foot high so she can’t jump over the wall"... um, for most cats a 15 foot wall is do-oable if they really want to.

[@ianmarteens]

I only take outside one of my four cats. She’s a white deaf girl, and her brain somehow made the click relating the apartment door and the view she sees on the balcony. She also had a time asking to get outside everytime she deemed it appropiate. That is: every quarter hour. Fortunately, she calmed out after a week, and now accepts a walk every odd day. Of course, each cat is different.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your own experience

[@TheLaughingLion]

You risk losing your cat forever. I lost a few pet birds this way. Like you said, some meow meows are not really suitable for the outdoors depending on their temperment and how they handle it. 😻😻

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing that my friend. I'm so sorry you lost birds this way😿 Yes, as with humans all cats are unique & our environments are sometimes not suitable to just let them run free either

[@Ragdollcats-Moru]

Hello dear friend! 🤗I watched this video of yours. I can understand how you feel. Cats are curious creatures, so if they see a world they've never seen before, they'll want to know more and want you to take them out.😼👍As you say, there are many dangers for cats outside. Depending on where you live, it is very important to decide whether or not to let your cat out.👍Please continue to make good decisions for Samo.🤗🤗

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you dear friend for always watching🤗 I agree with you, cats are very curious creatures and therefor we often have to think for them so they wont get into any dangers. I believe many cats can live a harm free life outdoors if it's a safe area all around, sadly, here is both dangerous roads & animals etc, so it's not worth the risk. I hope Moru is safe too🩷

[@these510]

My cats will never be out. They have a wonderful screened in terrace to fantasize the delight of catching a bird. They are grateful and let me know as such. I bought a harness and returned it the next day for the reasons the previous comment gave. Why screw up a good thing. Humans are cruel and there are those who get pleasure out of hitting animals with their cars. That I could not forgive myself for. Besides, they have made some bird species extinct. And I will never amputate any claws either. Love your cats and they will love you. Thanks

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your wise thoughts, your screened terrace sounds very nice and I bet your cats really enjoys it😊

[@PattyandWillie]

I don't blame you one bit for keeping Samo 😺 indoors only. Willie never has been and will never go outdoors. His predecessor Garfield became indoor only at 16 years old (he lived nearly 24 years) after he was attacked by a dog. Fortunately i heard the commotion from indoors and was able to intervene before he was seriously injured, but I vowed then and there never again. The rewards aren't worth the risks in my opinion. Live long Samo 😼❤️!

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your sad story, Patty. I'm happy Garfield survived the dog attack and I understand your fears about this whole thing. I feel still conflicted somehow about this topic since i always felt 'cats should be free', samo is my first only indoor cat but i guess with age fears comes with it, we have more knowledge and understanding for the dangers out there i guess as when i was a naive 20 something, i just let my cat come & go as he wanted. Have a blessed weekend, we are currently on a trip so Im just in here for a moment to respond😸🧳

[@PattyandWillie]

@@samotriescatstuff Have a good time on your journey! Yes, as we get older we do become wiser, and unfortunately, the world 🌍 is much more dangerous than it was in our youth, and sadly that applies to our beloved pets 😺🐈‍⬛as well. More cars with people behind the wheel who just don't care, more stray dogs and dogs with "owners" who intentionally make them aggressive toward other animals and I could go on and on. The dog that attacked Garfield was huge ...like a mastiff mix who was obviously either unwell in some way and/or had been abused and was extremely aggressive with Garfield. As I said, fortunately I intervened before Garfield was badly injured or killed. I love all animals, and I know the dog was not "evil" in the sense that people can be, but at that moment my only thought was to save my baby. I keep an aluminum baseball bat by my front door at all times. I didn't give one thought to the fact the dog was way bigger than me. I was willing to kill him had he not dropped Garfield and ran, which he did. I was so pumped up on adrenaline at the moment and determination to save Garfield I have no doubt I would have killed that dog. Thank goodness he ran, and that's been 19 years ago. And I have no doubt that Garfield 🌈😺 and the dog 🌈🐕have sorted everything out at Rainbow Bridge. I truly believe that, as I said I just don't think animals are capable of the evil, premeditated atrocities that "people" so often are. They are either made dangerous by sick people, or they are following their survival instincts, as is the case with "dangerous" wild animals. Anyway, glad Samo 😼 is safe indoors! See you soon! 😺💞🐾🐾

[@samotriescatstuff]

​@@PattyandWillieim not a fan of dogs that are of that fighting or guarding type, people can say all day long that "it only has to do with the owner" i don't believe it, some breeds are more aggressive then others. I'm glad you helped the cat out of that situation, but the sad truth is that, at least in my country that has not forbidden any dog breeds, that many people get either severely injured (kids too) or even killed, cats ofc too, and they are still coming with that old s*t that all has to do with the owner. Anyway, let's not get too mad or long-winded😊 I wish we were able to just let our cats out, Samo is still yelling here, it's not easy to keep him inside either, at least not for me when i have this hyperactive cat😂 Have a great weekend now and hug Willie from us!

[@StreetCatSafari]

That was a first-class upload, thanks for sharing :)

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you!

[@Iconoplastt]

Lovely, enjoys outside, it's quite nice out but a little wet

[@samotriescatstuff]

If only that was the issue, but sadly it's way more😅

[@LivingwithRagdolls]

Madame Ratty has always been an indoor /outdoor cat but I have been trying to put a harness on Harry so that we can enjoy the garden safely together. Odin doesn't have the slightest interest in going outside- he loves our sun room too much! Like 41 :)

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing that, cats sure are very individual in what they prefer, some like it only indoors, other can't be inside at all, some like both etc, they sure are unique

[@tiktokanimals-funnyandcute]

Excellent content. Thanks for sharing Have a blessed day Liked

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you, you too!

[@chiinwatv]

Thumbs up done

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you😊

[@minibichon-somsom]

❤ 집이 제일 안전하죠~^^

[@samotriescatstuff]

Indeed it is!😊

[@MsMyhouse]

Hi. I may have a solution for you and your kitty. I think it's so sad that you had to stop taking your kitty out on walks. I have two cats. They are indoor cats too. They have a big catio outside in the grass that they use every day, and I also take them on walks almost every day on their leashes. But they don't beg to go outside on walks. Even when we skip a day, they still don't beg. I think it is because we go regularly about an hour before sundown. I think that because we go on walks at a regular time every day, they know when they are going to go and look forward to it. They come inside and gather near the door and look at me expectantly around that time. I think that you can bring back your leash walks without the nuisance of hearing your cat beg to go out if you have a regular time every day to go. Even if it's just for a few minutes sometimes. That way he will know when to expect to go outside, and he won't beg anymore. I hope you get to try this, and I hope it works out for you both so you can enjoy walks with your kitty again. 🥰💗💗💗😸😽

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thanks for your well meaning suggestion, unfortunately that's exactly what we did but it didn't work for our cat. We took him out at the same time, every evening for a while but then he wanted out ALL the time instead. around the clock with screaming and banging. His behavior accelerated. Thankfully he has stopped this behavior and is his happy self again. It sounds very sweet that your cats behave so well that you can go out with them in such an orderly way, enjoy them☺️ Have a nice day!

[@MsMyhouse]

@@samotriescatstuff I'm sorry that didn't work for you. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Take care 🥰💗

[@MsMyhouse]

@@samotriescatstuff I did some research and found some things that might help. There are a few things he may have had outside that he doesn't have inside. One is grass. He may have eaten grass outside and liked it. Maybe he needs some nutrients from it, and craves it, and found he could get that outside. Second is entertainment. He may get bored inside and was really entertained outside. Maybe if you can solve these two things so he can get them while he is inside he will be more willing to wait to go on his regular outing. Also, if he or she isn't neutered of spayed, this is a common reason why they will cause a raucous and want to out very badly. I don't know if any of these is a possibility for you, but best wishes! 💗

[@MsMyhouse]

BTW, I have two male cats who are brothers. They are both neutered, so they don't want to go out and mate. They also have each other for entertainment and company all day. I don't know if you have a another cat for company, but that can be a real source of entertainment and joy for a kitty. I have had 14 cats in my adult life. I have found that if you want to get a second cat for company for an adult cat, it is best to go with a kitten who is the opposite sex. The adult cat is more likely to bond with a cat who is a kitten and the opposite sex of it than it will with another adult cat. Make sure to get one that is between 12 and 16 weeks old if you want to try this. It's so much fun to watch them wrestle and chase and play together all day, and groom each other at bedtime. 💗🥰

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you so much for all your thoughtful suggestions and for taking the time to share your experiences with your cats. I really appreciate your help and caring attitude. I'm happy to share that my cat has actually stopped the behavior I mentioned in the video, so things have improved. Your advice has been really valuable, and I'm grateful for your support. We wish you also a wonderful day :)

[@blingbling2841]

There are a few remarks here which are important to be said. No one is saying "ALL CATS" should be allowed to go outside. But if your cat shows very strong interest in going out that means it is in your cat's NATURE and you're denying that nature. No matter what the reasons or excuses you make to make it sound justifiable. What if the leash breaks? Get a better or different kind of leash. Looking at the leash you have, Honestly there are stronger and more full body harness with better leashes out there. What if the foxes and wild animals attack? Yes they are always having 24x7 surveillance on your place to see when you will take your cat for a walk. Your age has got nothing to do with it. Whether you are 30, 50, or 70 none of that matters. It really doesn't. Clearly you don't have any ailments of your own to go outside regularly. Dangerous roads. Yeah, I've seen enough cats being walked around roads, enough channels who have free roaming cats and other ferals that come and go through their property. Everyone has their own ways of learning to adapt with nature and their pets. I've seen many channels relocate to a different city for their pets. Someone suggested you to make an outdoor enclosed space. Have you considered it seriously, or something similar whatever suits your own home space and property? A balcony is really not comparable. People even walk their cats inside a transparent bag as well, it is BETTER THAN NOTHING. The cat wants to go outdoors and it shows it by crying and smacking the door and you've labeled it as reinforcing "bad behavior", how SELF-ABSORBED can one be. Instead of finding a MIDDLE GROUND, you just came up with the most convenient solution, "no more going outside". Honestly you should have kept it to yourself. Why am i saying all this? Because it is clear that people have found several ways to get around and make the life of their pets more suited to their personal nature. All these alternatives, it is obvious some won't be feasible for you and the rest depends on your willingness which is something that isn't there enough. Not everyone loves their pets the same way. Every cat is different, we all know that. Its just bad luck for you that you ended up with one who's outdoorsy nature is extremely strong and vivid. And you will be denying the cat that VERY nature for the rest of its life. Those are DECADES in cat years. Just remember it.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, my answer is in the pinned comment📍

[@samotriescatstuff]

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 [𝗖𝗖] 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 Japanese 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀/𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁. Kind comments and constructive feedback is always welcome🤗 but think carefully before writing personal attacks/nasty comments as my policy is to block such users from the channel✋🏼Once your name is hidden there is no going back and you are forever hidden and forgotten. ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ʜɪᴛ 👍🏼ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀꜱ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴍʏ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ🙏🏼 My other similar videos about this topic: kzbin.info/aero/PLZTRKv4ib2lI6xoBZJaKmaWP1HRR22MfR&feature=shared

[@JenniferMoralesFelineFilms]

Omg! It’s good he still has the balcony. Abby gets like that with the window. Once I start opening it for the nice weather she starts begging for me to open the window with meows and scratching on the glass. 💝💝💝💝

[@samotriescatstuff]

Oh no! That's tough when they do that, I know from my own experience since Samo did the window-thing a lot as well, it feels sad to keep them inside like prisoners but the risk out there is simply too big😢

[@zimjun7]

Balconies are great, I'd think. ( don't have one ) Cat love being up high to see and reconnoiter.

[@samotriescatstuff]

​@@zimjun7absolutely!😊

[@daiyavanilla]

1:22 こんばんは。ハーネスを付けて散歩楽しそうですね。

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for watching😊

[@callycharles2515]

Poor cat, of course he wants to be outside, it's natural. What isn't natural is keeping him inside. If you love your cat, you will continue to take it outside. You have him on a leash! Think of your cat and put him first.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts, I understand where you are coming from. Be mindful that things like this can be more complex then it seems though

[@glennquagmire1747]

Dont even get a pet cat if your gonna imprison it in house, cats need freedom to roam and claim territory, its in their nature to do so, cat owners in cities its different as cats let outside could be run over n killed by cars or wild dogs roaming the streets

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thanks for sharing, I responded in my pinned comment

[@chrislynch8914]

Get a dog and be way happier.

[@samotriescatstuff]

No

[@julietroberts1385]

I'm sorry but you are being very unfair to your cat. Of course it wants to be outside- you yourself wouldn't want to be inside all the time. Please take your cat outside ❤

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thanks for your opinion, read my pinned comment for response📍

[@anitaanderson2871]

I support your decision to keep Damp inside. When I was younger, I also let my cats go outside as they wishec, ad that's what my parents and everyone I knew did back in the day. Then my parents had their favorite cat died after he hunted and caught a poison ed pigeon. Then I had a cat who got licked up in the church across the street (she was very friendly and used to play with the children at Sunday school) and twice went down to stay at a frat house for several weeks at a time her sister got stung by yellow jackets when she ventured too close to the nest and my male cat (unrelated to the girls) almost died due to internal trauma from being g II ked by the neighborhood bully. When I movec, I vowed they would be indoor only cats; they adjusted well & never tried to go out - all lived to be between 19 & 21 years old. My current cats are failed fosters born to a feral cat. They have been indoors since being 5 weeks old and now, at age 14, they have never even tried to get out. I do have a large 2 story home with a finished basement and they have always had the run of the whole house. I also have lots of big windows and a large deck. I have created a NWF certified naturalized backyard with multiple bird feeders, and they have multiple cat trees to observe the live kitty theater outside. It is a fact that cats live longer inside, though you do have to take the time to enrich their environment. So don't let others guilt yoh for doing right by Sambo. Cats have no inherent need to be outside; my cats are proof of that.

[@samotriescatstuff]

​@@anitaanderson2871Thank you for your interesting & kind comment😊 I understand your decision and it sounds like your cats really have a great fulfilled life now with all you offer them which is not little. I wish I had more to offer like that to Samo, a garden would be perfect but I'm also happy he does have a big balcony since I know many don't even have that. Thanks again + have a blessed day, you & your cats

[@MewtaChannel]

I never take my cat outside. The exception is when going yo the vet. Thanks for your interesting video, dear Samo's mom💖😊👍

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your experience on this topic, i wish you & Mewta a blessed weekend🩷

[@selvingreen3585]

Samo I've sworn never to let my cat out (without my supervision). Once I let him out, he brought A BAT in his mouth. Had to get rabies shots. 2nd disaster was when he ate food but vomited 6 times in 24 hours, was not eating anything, drinking water very less. I thought it was food intolerance to a cheap cat food (i gave it as a treat). Imagine my horror when during his 5th vomit of only bile, there was a green plastic string on the ground. And this was definitely NOT from our household. I was terrified, cuz I'd always thought my cat was smart enough not to eat foreign objects while outside (he never tried something like this in house). Still he continued to vomit the 6th time. Took him to the vet asap in the morning, told the vet everything. We found he also had fever due to this. Got him injections. He then was normal; ate a bit, drank a bit, also pooped. Since that incident I've made my mind. Now I have sworn I'll never let him outside alone. It's a choice between keeping his life long or short.

[@samotriescatstuff]

Thank you for sharing your interesting story! My god, I'm happy your cat is fine now, sounds so wild that he got through all that, he could have died if that plastic thing got stucked and the bat thing and rabies risk is just awful to say the least. With all those dangers outside, no wonder you never let him out again, a good safe decision👍🏼

[@callycharles2515]

And a choice between having a happy cat and a sad one.

[@selvingreen3585]

@@callycharles2515 idk in which way you're speaking of it... outdoors nearly cost me my cat's life, TWO TIMES. He's around 6 months old. I did not rescue him and nursed him to health when he was abandoned by mother cat, just to see him die of eating a foreign object or a rabid bat. I at least want him to live till his senior years. I very well know what the needs of a cat are. As long they're busy and occupied during their waking hours (whether through outdoor or indoor enrichment), they'll be a happy cat.

[@callycharles2515]

@@selvingreen3585 I don't know where you live but it sounds very dangerous. If a cat has never been outside, then I agree with you, they don't know the difference.

[@selvingreen3585]

@@callycharles2515 My cat has been outside. I was the one who was letting him out, with the same logic. In spite of my sister's warnings. Recently I barred him from going out unsupervised, all because of these things. I live in India; there are stray dogs, negligent landlords who don't fix the nest of bats under their roofs, negligent dog owners whose dogs are touted as "friendly" but aren't and can kill cats, garbage lying left and right, some vile kids and so on. What stops me from sending him out, is the fact that he always comes back: healthy or sick. Healthy is good, but sick? I can't bear watching him suffer. I've spent nights crying & praying for his recovery. I don't want him to die in my arms, and the ultimate reason of his death to be me. "my cat died because I let him out & he ate anti-freeze from outside". All this could be avoided if I'd just supervised him. I've realised that I'm ready to go for hours with him on harness and leash, but I'm never gonna let him out alone.