I don't want mine out don't get me wrong but I thought if I could get them out in the garden on harnesses then it would be a step forward just to give them the best of both worlds. Anyway they both absolutely hate it and miaow to come back in.

About 2 months ago I somehow fell asleep without locking the doors oops and it was windy and door blew open yet I still woke up to two cats demanding food.

Then today I had the door to the back utility open to air it as that's where the cats litter trays are. Somehow the other door which i shut (so cats don't have outside access) popped open and I've just come into the kitchen run in only to find cats unconcernedly doing their usual lazing on cat tree by door no attempt to go out whatsoever clearly.

I wonder if something happened to them before i had them to make them scared of the outdoors they were rescues and I think they were born outside.

They are proper indoor kittehs.

Henry is like this. The girls all like to go outside in our fenced-in, cat-proofed garden but Henry will only stand at the door and look out. He had about a week living rough once about 5 years ago. I was away for training for my job and left my then bf with a key to watch and feed the pets for me. Well, he "accidentally" let Henry out (I suspect when he was bringing a girl over as I later found out--he couldn't use his own apartment for the affair as he had a roommate who would tattle on him). Up to that point Henry had been curious about the outdoors, but I don't think he enjoyed days and nights outside, living under the neighbor's hedge, stealing food out of a bowl, dodging the neighbor's strays (including an aggressive tom) and finally ending up in the neighbor's garage under their minivan.

Now, he sits at the window, but never ventures a paw out. We use screens in this country, so he can enjoy a breeze, listen to birds, feel like he's outdoors in every possible positive way, but with none of the negatives. His bed and bowl remain safely within paw's reach, just where he likes them

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My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong

I was really panicking ran in the kitchen and was calling them and they are looking at me like don't be stupid why the hell would we go out there.

Good job too as the road is very busy.

They probably just feel safer indoors, My previous 2 weren't interested in going outside either.

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Our babies

Storm and Benji aren't overtly excited, they won't howl by the back door like Sooty used to to make sure we knew he wanted to go out. But they do enjoy the occasional time on the grass in their harnesses

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Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

I have never chanced leaving the door open but when I tried my two on harnesses they just belly crawled straight back inside and they don't rush for the door when we come in or out, but I would be having a slight panic if the door was open.

Lilly has always been an indoor cat and outside is too scary for her to contemplate venturing out, the other three were all outdoor cats and would probably go out if I left the door or window open but for that reason Im really careful not to.

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

Ki is a totally indoor kitty as well. But, I included the back porch of my old apartment to be "indoor". She would sit on her balcony and look out or wander over to my neighbors on either side (with permission). But mostly, she would go over there and ask to come in to their apartments.

However, the front porch terrified her.

In our apartment here in Korea, which is an indoor tower complex, she will peep out the door, but not set foot outside it. I'm harness training her, but I really think it's more just something for me to do rather than anything she will want to use.

We have a lovely little park at the bottom of the tower, but I can't see carrying her down the elevator (22 floors) and through the lobby and out to the park without her going ballistic. Now that the weather is cooler and humidity isn't so dreadful (and the mozzies are gone!!! YAY), I would love to go outside with her.

But, it is totally up to her. (Course, if one has any advice to offer, I'd be glad to hear it. )

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All of my cats have been indoor kitties. Now I have Pitch who loves to go out in his harness in the garden but he wriggles out of them. Luckily I have been there to get him. But I really wish there was an escape-proof harness ! Can anyone recommend one ?

Y'es. The Mynwood jackets are totally escape proof and very, very comfy for the cats to wear. I travel with my girl on trains with this on all the time. It's so comfy that she doesn't even complain when it's on for extended periods.