Cat crying at door

by Mimi
(Toronto)

Hi!

Our cat Babette is a beautiful black and white, playful 8 year old princess. She has been an outdoor cat all her life, until recently, when we moved to the 3rd floor of a brownstone. At first, she adapted well to life as an indoor cat: we bought her a cat condo, cat grass, toys and treats. We devote time to play with her in the morning and evening and for the first 3 months, she was happy. She did have some restless days, but nothing a new toy wouldn't cure. Recently, she has started to cry incessantly at the door that leads to the hallway, morning, noon and night. We do not let her out in the hallway because she cries at other appartement doors and because she tries to open hallway doors that lead to the front entrance stairs. It's a big building and she could slip through the wrong door. We have let her out in the hallway a few times, supervised, to stretch her legs and run, but of course this makes the situation worse. My husband works from home and her crying is starting to make him lose patience with her. He'll play with her or feed her to calm her down but she always goes back to the door! We have resorted to locking her in a bedroom for an hour to calm her down, but this just breaks my heart and personally, I think it frustrates her even more and makes matters worse. We don't know what to do anymore! She used to sleep all night, but now she wakes up at all hours. Basically, the great, happy cat I used to know has been replaced by an unhappy, crying, restless cat. We had her checked and she is in perfect help, with the exception of gingivitis.

Thanks for your advice or help if you can, we are desperate! :)

Mimi and Otis

Answer by Kate
Oh sorry to hear this Mimi, it sounds so sad. I assume she is spayed as you let her out before. I must admit i am stuck for an answer as i am am an advocate of allowing cats outside, but obviously with your new home sitiation this is not possible. Have you thought about trying to leash train her so that you can take her outside for short walks (if possible).
Maybe someone else on this site who owns indoor only cats will be able to advise further.