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I have a cat we rescued when she was probably around a year old. For five years, she was pretty much a complete outdoor cat. I had a back garage I would leave cracked for her to come in and through there she could get on shelving and get in the attic above my heated garage when it was cold. That was about it.
Over the last couple years she has realized inside isn't so bad and does spend a decent amount of time outside, however, she hates litter boxes and when she does want out she will cry nonstop at a door or window and sometimes even jump against one like an idiot.
So that's the backstory. She went out when we were leaving for Christmas Eve service at 6 pm and we didn't see her again until 2:30 am this morning on the 26th. Wife was freaking out and we were trying to keep it cool in front of my two kids bc we didn't want to ruin their Christmas. She does not stay away that long, even when she was outdoors completely she didn't. Wife was posting things to social media and to neighbors when we were looking and I was amazed by the amount of replies she got along the lines of "well now you learned your lesson not to let your cat outside bc she is gone". On Christmas, no less.
Am I the bad cat owner for giving in and letting her outside? We just moved and for the first three weeks we wouldn't let her out except on a little leash to get her used to the neighborhood. She was miserable. She would cry all the time at windows or doors, she wouldn't go in anyone's lap or snuggle, be lucky if she let you pet her. She kept having accidents bc she was fighting using the box. That has all changed once we started letting her out on her own again.
Over the last couple years she has realized inside isn't so bad and does spend a decent amount of time outside, however, she hates litter boxes and when she does want out she will cry nonstop at a door or window and sometimes even jump against one like an idiot.
So that's the backstory. She went out when we were leaving for Christmas Eve service at 6 pm and we didn't see her again until 2:30 am this morning on the 26th. Wife was freaking out and we were trying to keep it cool in front of my two kids bc we didn't want to ruin their Christmas. She does not stay away that long, even when she was outdoors completely she didn't. Wife was posting things to social media and to neighbors when we were looking and I was amazed by the amount of replies she got along the lines of "well now you learned your lesson not to let your cat outside bc she is gone". On Christmas, no less.
Am I the bad cat owner for giving in and letting her outside? We just moved and for the first three weeks we wouldn't let her out except on a little leash to get her used to the neighborhood. She was miserable. She would cry all the time at windows or doors, she wouldn't go in anyone's lap or snuggle, be lucky if she let you pet her. She kept having accidents bc she was fighting using the box. That has all changed once we started letting her out on her own again.
