What can I do with my needy cat

Shoebox1926

My cat is male and nurtured. I love him to bits but lately he's driving me mad. He meows to go outside so I let him out, if I dont he'll meow and meow until someone opens the door, 5 minutes later he crying to get back in this cycle continues all day.
Theres a small window always left open which he uses sometimes but mostly he wont use it, he'll sit on the window opposite the open one crying for someone to open the door, sometimes I have to go outside and carry him in, as soon as I get close to him he starts purring and chirping so I really think he's just doing this for attention, it's all day and night.
Sometimes I put him in the back room at night where he sleeps on the couch and he has his litter tray, food and water. I tell everyone in the house not to let him out but of course someone does then 4 in the morning hes outside waking me up to get back into the house.
He gets loads of attention, hugs, pets and played with but I think I may have given him too much and now he's really needy.
Im worried because ill be moving out of the family home within the year and cant take him with me, im the only one that gives him attention and makes sure his food and water bowl is full. My families a bit feckless and he wont be looked after as well as id like so im trying to train him out of this needy behaviour before I leave so it wont be such a big change for him. Any ideas how I can do this?

Dandelion6

Cat flap?

volchitsa

Cats do that IME, wanting in and then out constantly, it's not like they can settle down and read a book or play on their iPhones!

Actually I don't think "needy" is the right word, "bossy" would be more my choice. Cats are like that, IME, wanting you to jump to it for them. A cat flap, as suggested, would be a great idea if possible, and for night time maybe just putting them somewhere they won't disturb everyone by calling (again IME, they don't even bother when they don't know you're just behind the door, so they aren't in need of anything, just bored.)

Taxburden carrier

You're saying that you are trying to train the cat. It appears that he has YOU trained. Once you are out of the house he will modify his behaviour.

mel.b

Yep, cat flap is needed to start with. I got one installed when i moved into my house and I was heading on holidays. The neighbour was feeding my cat, but I wanted him to be able to come & go (plus it meant I wouldn't have to get out of bed before dawn to let him out ) At first he wouldn't use it and it was because I was there. I was so worried about going on holidays but as soon as i left he started to use it :rolleyes: typical cat.

Shoebox1926

I cant get a cat flap, the other cat brings live rats and mice into the house, besides the window beside the front door is always left open, he uses it sometimes. the point is he's constantly winging for attention and to be let in/out even though his window is open.

mel.b

Shoebox1926 wrote: »

I cant get a cat flap, the other cat brings live rats and mice into the house, besides the window beside the front door is always left open, he uses it sometimes. the point is he's constantly winging for attention and to be let in/out even though his window is open.

You can get cat flaps that have magnets or chips that only let certain cats in, so that would stop the other cat using it.

As another poster mentioned, the cat has you trained, not the other way around if he is wanting to be let in/out despite an open window. I'd make sure the cat can access the window ok (ie/ it's not too high for him to jump if he's old) and that the other side is the same (ie/ not too far to jump down, no dogs waiting etc). Other than that, you're just going to have to learn to ignore him so he starts using the window.

Shoebox1926

mel.b wrote: »

You can get cat flaps that have magnets or chips that only let certain cats in, so that would stop the other cat using it.

As another poster mentioned, the cat has you trained, not the other way around if he is wanting to be let in/out despite an open window. I'd make sure the cat can access the window ok (ie/ it's not too high for him to jump if he's old) and that the other side is the same (ie/ not too far to jump down, no dogs waiting etc). Other than that, you're just going to have to learn to ignore him so he starts using the window.

He can access the window fine, theres a window ledge and a step ladder outside it and inside theres a chair and table beside it that he uses to go onto indoor window ledge, we've no dogs and my cats only 3 and a half years old. Him not being able to get in or out isnt the issue and its not what im asking. Ignoring him doesnt work, he just gets louder and louder and he can go for hours.

boomerang

No advice for you OP but I too have recreational whiner!