What should I do? Cat ?

Ok, so my one cat is 12 yrs old. When she was like 1 or 2, she went outside, and inside...
When we moved she became a indoor completly cat and has been for 10 yrs.

So now the other day she runs out the back door and it takes a few hours to get her back in. Same thing happens a few more times, just darts under our legs..

So now my DH is Annoyed, we have 2 other cats and a dog and a 1 yr old. He feels she has "ticks or fleas or bugs" and doesnt want her back in the house.

This is killing me and although shes enjoying thr life outside.
What is the "right thing " to do here?

Wash her and keep her in all the time? Put a flea collar on and let her enjoy both worlds?

Keep her outside like DH wants and he said he will build her a house?

No nasty responses please, Im really torn about this and want to do whats best for us all.

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

I'm thinking you should get her dipped if you think she has fleas, ticks or "bugs". She will then be bug-free.

Then, if you are going to keep her outside, I would suggest getting her advantix so that she doesn't pick up any kind of tick, flea, etc.

Why does your husband think she has "bugs"? Don't you let your dog out? Does he/she have bugs?

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

I would try to keep her inside, as it is the safest thing for her. However, if you have no choice, get her a flea treatment, and she won't have issues with "bugs." Like Jennie said, doesn't your dog go outside?

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

i think i would dip her and then try to keep her indoors. its just much more safe. she can get hurt outide, or eat something posionous, god forbid- get hit by a car, get into fights.

i know how you want her to enjoy herself outside but its not so safe.

plus in the winter i bet she'll want to be indoors always too.

good luck with your decision.

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

I agree with the above posters- just give her a flea and tick treatment

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

Hey sweetie! I would just give her a flea & tick treatment as pp mentioned the advantix - or whatever the one you put between the shoulders is called. If it was me I would attempt to keep her inside, but if this isn't going to work can you get a cat flap for the door? You can get them with a special collar that activates the door, so only she can go in & out and not the other cats. Unless you see a tick or she is scratching a lot I wouldn't think by just going out a few times she would have picked up fleas/ticks. But as she has got used to living inside for the last 10 years I wouldn't now limit her to being outside only, see if you can find the cat flap, I had one when I lived in England and it worked really well.

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

Please keep her inside- it's safest for her.
I don't think she has a bunch of bugs and fleas if she's only been out a few times but to be safe you should probably give her a flea treatment.

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

We have this problem with our cat and we do everything in our power to keep him in. We watch the door like hawks when we go in and out and if he does get out, we go after him right away. If we can't get him,then so be it(which has only happened once). I would try to keep the cat indoors, but put a flea collar and/or treatment on her just to play it safe.

ETA: I agree with the other posters about how dangerous it is to let her be an outside cat....I see so many cats that have been hit by cars in my neighborhood and it is so sad.

Message edited 7/15/2008 6:48:03 PM.

Re: What should I do? Cat ?

be careful with a flea collar because she could get it stuck on something and be trapped. i recommend using either advantage or frontline. both are flea treatments. it comes in a little tub, and you just squeeze it out onto their skin on the back of their neck (in between the shoulder blades). this will kill any fleas that they may have as well as prevent any new fleas for 1 month. just reapply 1x/month. then you can keep her inside and not have to worry about her bringing in "bugs" if she gets out. i definitley recommend keeping her inside as much as possible. it's so dangerous out there!