r/lynxpointsiamese • u/puddle_hunter • 3d ago
I created a monster
Do any of your Lynx points cry and cry to be let outside?
My boyfriend found a stray kitten about three years ago and he has become my lil pal. Ollie is a wonderful cat and I love him dearly. Over time, we gradually became more lax about him spending time outdoors with us in our fenced-in garden. He loves going outside, and even though I feared he would learn to jump the fence or hunt butterflies, he wasn’t doing that. So I would let him stay out and nap or prowl outside while I worked inside from home (with a window to the garden).
More recently, he has started to do the things I feared - he figured out how to jump into the neighbor’s yard, and even though each time I’ve been able to collect him (just exploring), he’s skittish and doesn’t want to be caught. he got fleas, which we treated. and i found a dead butterfly out in the garden:( I stopped letting him roam without supervision, but he still slips out when I don’t want him to, and I panic when I can’t find him. I’ve thought about getting a tracker to ease my mind, but am deterred by the expense.
My biggest current problem is now he cries to be let outside. He cries in the middle of the night, disturbs me and my bedside table things (and not my sleeping bf). I leave a big bowl of food overnight so that hunger isn’t the reason he wakes me up. But he still is a menace every night and early morning - I can’t sleep in. If the window is cracked open, he will claw at it and slink through if wide enough. He pushed out all our window screens to the back yard. He’s tasted freedom and now he’s insatiable. (He’s fixed by the way! And there aren’t any neighborhood cats visiting us)
It would be nice to be able to let him enjoy the garden in moderation, but I’m wondering if I need to just never let him out again? But will that eventually stop the crying and pining for the outdoors? And will that make him more inclined to bolt outside when a door opens? I appreciate any advice!
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u/RamblingSimian 3d ago
If you have the money, a catio might help. r/catio
Failing that, I have heard of people training their cats to not desire to go outside.
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
Thanks for sharing! A catio would be awesome and that sub is giving me some good ideas
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u/RamblingSimian 3d ago
I think you can maybe find some online that could be easier to assemble. The cats in that sub all look very happy, and it's good for bird populations too!
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u/EconomyCode3628 2d ago
I have a cat tent and tunnel system made of netting in my yard for my cats. That might be another option for you to look into. Can't remember if I got em off chewy's or Amazon, but cat net tent would be your keyword search.
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u/Tjmill02 3d ago
Yes; we have a balcony and he constantly cries to go out there. He usually gets around 5-6 hours out there a day (we WFH) but I am dreading winter since we won't be going outside much lol
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u/pink-exe2 3d ago
Ollie has tasted freedom and appointed himself Minister of Outdoor Adventure. ✨
Good luck negotiating with His Majesty! 👑😸
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u/fbbon 3d ago
Mine HOWLS all day long to be let out 😭 he doesn’t wake me up for it at least, but we live in an apartment building so I can’t just let him out in the yard unfortunately, I try to walk him as much as i can but he just cries so much sometimes it’s so funny and nerve wrecking at the same time haha he always sounds so pitiful
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u/fbbon 3d ago
Anyway not much worked for us besides distracting him with playtime (treats worked for a bit too but now he just eats and goes right back to crying by the door 💀)
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
Aw those howls are heartbreaking 🥺 but thanks for the ideas - more playtime and enrichment sound like a good path ahead
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u/fbbon 3d ago
I know, it always breaks my heart cause he just sounds so sad 😭😭 he doesn’t meow unless it’s to go out too!! And tbh you might even try getting a catio if that’s an option, that way he could still get the “outdoor” feeling whenever he wants! Leaving a window (with screen ofc) open works for us sometimes too but the main thing is giving them lots of attention and tiring them out
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
I dreamed of making a catio for a while! But when he was behaving well in the garden, I dropped the idea. Now I’m thinking this would be a good compromise for him.
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u/Remarkable_Lake_3333 3d ago
One of our cats, Rio, is a stray that was found when he was about 2-3 months old. At first we let him go in and out whenever he wanted. Then another of our cats who had also come from the streets was hit and killed by a car. So we decided Rio was going to be indoors only. At first he cried, we ignored. That’s probably been 5 years, and he’s adjusted perfectly well. And he’s safe and alive - that’s what matters. Ignore his cries, find indoor toys, activities and beds he enjoys - maybe a cozy bed on the windowsill (Amazon sells them.) Keep him safe indoors.
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
Thank you for sharing, and I’m so sorry that happened to one of your cats. It’s one of my biggest fears:( I’m glad that Rio was able to adjust to a comfy indoor life ♥️
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u/Remarkable_Lake_3333 3d ago
Sometimes I feel sad when he goes to the door and sits there like “I know there’s something here that I want…” but he’s the happiest, sweetest boy and I’m glad we made the decision we did.
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u/Waddlekitty 3d ago
I feel blessed. My rescue baby is terrified to go outside unless in her carrier
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u/giraffemoo 3d ago
They get used to being inside, and they'll stop crying about it eventually. For me, it took just a couple of weeks. I make sure to have new toys available and I try to rotate them out so they always have something that is new to them. But eventually they'll just forget about what it was like outside, and they'll enjoy being inside without crying.
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u/Cleo_16 3d ago
Oh yes. I got a little carrier that zips up and has a mesh side to it so she can go outside. We have too many predators in our area and she's still smol. She knows that she has to get in it to go out so she will sit in it sometimes and wait.
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
Nice! I’m glad you found something that works for her, and cute that she waits patiently 🥹
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u/question8all 3d ago
We created a monster too! Biggest regret ever introducing our LPS to our backyard 😵💫😩. We’ve vouched to never let our newest adoption outside everrrrr.
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u/Unhappy-Button-4354 3d ago
I did this exact thing with my boy. It started off just being out with my dog and I, and he was so good and stayed in my yard till he didn’t & started jumping the fence to the marsh behind my house. I grounded him for a bit and he would backtalk nonstop, but not as much as yours, he didn’t do it at all hours of the day and night but I gave in to his cries so I got him a mesh ball that I’d put him in. Like a hamster ball but for cats. He loved it, it was a great compromise and he even voluntarily goes in it. He can move easily, he’s not able to kill the bird’s or butterflies or escape now. I also recommend the GPS tracker too. Sometimes I’ll let him free roam the yard when I’m gardening bc I just love him so much and wanted he to be completely free and then he jumped the fence again, so now I use tracking collar for the days where he is free roaming. It’s sooooo helpful and now I don’t freak out if I’ve lost sight, I can ping his collar and find exactly where he is. Also, when he is free in the yard, I now also have a harness with a short leash attached that just drags just in case he wants to act up, I can grab the leash quicker than him and yoink him back
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u/puddle_hunter 3d ago
I’ve never seen a cat in a hamster ball but I sure would love to now! This sounds like a good mix of solutions. And I’m glad I’m not alone 🙏
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u/jp7755qod 3d ago
Haha, there’s no such thing as “in moderation” when it comes to garden time. At least, not for my lynxie. Here she is stealing my gardening hat!
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u/Spirited-Run5191 2d ago
My boy tries to sneak out all the time! I guess I’m lucky he doesn’t cry to go out. If I wasn’t planning on moving I’d probably build him a catio.
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u/SimonIvan25 3d ago
Ivan liked his leash time outside. Maybe you could get a long line like for dogs