I have two esa cats who are around 13 years old. My apartment left a note on my door saying that there have been multiple complaints about cats around the property, and mine have to be inside now or outside on a leash. They're crazy if they think I can train 13 or old CATS to walk on a leash. I've tried, by the way. It doesn't work. So, my cats are confined to the house.

They have always been indoor/outdoor cats and they are DEPRESSED now. Meowing to go outside all day. The apartment says that cats have been killing birds, and while I guess it is possible that my cats are doing it, I just can't imagine these two old fatties are catching and killing enough birds for it to be a major issue. I'm mad because in my opinion it equates to animal abuse, and there's nothing I can do about it if I don't want to get kicked out.

Edit: Wow. I can't believe how common of an opinion it is that cats are an invasive species. Guys, their natural habitat doesn't include the word 'living room.' and as long as I'm in a suburban area, I don't think they're going to be affecting a farmer's crops. it absolutely is abusive to confine them if they don't want to be there. I understand indoor cats have no metric and therefore are content with their living space, but for cats who spent the formative years of their life roaming Californian brush, to be stuck in a small, dark apartment is absolutely a hardship to them. If you believe cats are an indoor species please never get a cat. 'It puts them in danger' and yet every other animal manages to live long enough outside to avoid extinction. Let me reiterate that they are 13. They have survived this long, and so I don't think the danger is as poignant as many would like to assume. They might not have human intelligence, but they're not effing morons. And you want to talk about what is bad for the enviornment--cats--and about what is bad for cats--cars--and fail to recognize the flaw in your reasoning: namely that a contrived major environmental hazard harms a natural minor one, and, quite against reason, you advocate for the removal of the minor hazard.

Well, if someone wants to explain their reasoning without insinuating I am somehow harming the world by allowing outdoor animals to participate in natural selection, please do so. Otherwise I'm not interested in hearing more about this categorically false assumption about what having an outdoor pet infers about your moral wherewithal.

Edit 2: also, please stop being rude. The cats belong to my sister and I, and our mother got them registered as ESAs after a close family member died. And, 'how can they be esas if they're outside all day?' Well, one, they are not outside all day and that is a strawman's argument (do better) and two, I would argue that a clinically depressed ESA cannot adequately do their job--namely emotional service. They are not toys and their needs cannot be ignored. They are used to being outside because that was their life for a very long time until I moved away from California. Therefore, they are now depressed at being stuck inside. It's pretty simple. They have not brought a dead thing to my door in years, they're old and fat and sweet and like to go lay in the sun. I genuinely do not think it is them doing it, but even if it is, go arrest the hawks next, why don't you? Because that's what my landlords are threatening. They're threatening to arrest animals that are unaccompanied. Also, yes there are other animals in the complex, yes there are 'bad' cats that I know of that rip up window screens, and yes, this is a blanket rule.

Hi, my Dads lives quite rurally, surrounded by feilds and about 10 houses all spread out. He has had a cat for 6 years, after the cat chose to come to him and his wife. It was persummed he was a stray farm cat, and was less than 1 years old. Since then hes a proper pet cat, in the house, loves him humans and food etc. A few weeks ago he was hanging out on the neighbours drive around 10am (cctv) and then vanished. Non of the neighbours saw him, nor did he show up on any cameras. He was gone for over a week. My dad and stepmum went litrally everywhere, every house in a large distance, did posters etc. Then miraculously he turned up on a neighbours wildlife camera, and then has been in my dads garden roughly every other night since. He does a lap of the house, looks abit thinner and skittish but generally well. My dad has left doors open, left food (which he has only eaten once), his beds etc, but he just hasnt come home...I'm finding it really bizarre. No one has seen him in the day, only on cameras around 2-4am. Why wouldn't he want to come back? He's acting like its not his house, but before he went missing he was there all day every day inside and out for 6 whole years. Its really upsetting for my parents as nothing changed in the house it was a normal day. Does anyone have a clue to this behaviour?

I have a quick inspiring story to share: this week our cat didn't come home for dinner. We last saw him at 2 pm on what I'll call Day 1. Well, it rained that afternoon and got below 40 overnight. No sign of him by morning and we got worried. I thought maybe he got scared in the rain and hid under a deck or something, then didn't want to come out and get wet.

By the end of Day 2, still no sign and it was still raining and very cold. Day 3, woke up and still no sign. We had left some food and a couple of beds/blankets in various spots. It was between 30-35 overnight and damp. Our deck was iced over. At this point, we had just accepted that some predator probably came and took him on Day 1. It was too cold for him to survive nearly 40 hours..or so we thought!

Well, mid-morning on Day 3, I heard birds making a racket deeper into the woods than we thought he would ever go. I decided to go see if maybe they were picking at a body...

I got closer to the noise and the birds flew away. And then, I hear our kitty MEOW once it got quiet. And I look up. He had climbed up a 50-60 foot tree and got himself stuck. I was shocked he was alive.

We had to call in help because he obviously wasn't going to come down on his own. It cost me a pretty penny but the gentleman was at our house quickly and got him down easily.

After getting home, our cat seemed totally fine. Just hungry and restless (tired). No signs of hypothermia or issues with his paws, tail or gums. Immediately used the indoor litter box and peed. Then, he went to the door and cried to go BACK OUTSIDE!! LOL.

Not sure what we can do to prevent this again other than restricting him to inside. He just isn't meant to be inside. He's a hunter/adventurer and has lots of energy. We've tried. He's gotten himself in a tree before but close enough that I could get him down with a ladder and backpack, and it was within view from the house. I have a GPS collar ready for him now too (it was in the mail when he went missing)...