If your cat suddenly wants to go outside, this post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat want to go outside? Likely reasons why your cat wants to go outside are that it hears or sees potential prey, it sees other cats, it wants to mate, or that it is older and braver now.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat suddenly wants to go outside and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat suddenly wants to go outside
Below are some possible reasons why your cat has been doing it.
It hears birds or sees squirrels
The cause could be that your cat hears or sees potential prey outside. This would be more likely if your cat seems to want to go outside urgently when you can see or hear things such as birds or squirrels outside.
It hears or sees other cats
It could also be the case that your cat hears or sees cats outside. This would be more likely if you have seen other cats around your house and your cat seems to want to go outside more when other cats are around.
It wants to mate
The cause might also be that your cat wants to mate. This would be more likely if your cat is more than four months old. In the western hemisphere, the breeding season of cats tends to be from march to september.
Intimidation
Another possible cause is that something inside is causing your cat to be intimidated and your cat wants to escape from something inside. This would be more likely if your cat wants to go outside when other animals are around inside the house.
It’s older and braver
If your cat has started wanting to go outside since no longer being a kitten, the cause might also be that it has gone through its more timid stage and now wants to explore the world. Although, in this case, another likely cause is that it wants to breed.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
What else happened when your cat started wanting to go outside
If your cat started wanting to go outside suddenly, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started. For example, if it started doing it since you saw other cats outside, the cause could be that your cat wants to mate with them or just to interact with them.
What is different when your cat wants to go outside
It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat wants to go outside. For example, if your cat wants to go outside when there are other animals inside, the cause might be that your cat wants to avoid them.
What to do about your cat wanting to suddenly go outside
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious inside
If your cat seems to be doing it to avoid animals inside or because something is causing it to be anxious, it would help to give your cat access to a safe area where it can go and feel safe.
Give it access to food, water and a litter box
If your cat does not currently have access to food, water and a litter box, it would also help to give your cat access to those things.
Should I let it outside or not?
There are some reasons why it might be a good idea to avoid letting your cat outside. It might mate, try to catch prey or get a disease. However, letting cats outside can make them happier. This post talks about if you should let your cat outside or not.