Cat Obsessed with Outdoors

I started taking my two cats to the backyard to play and explore. One of them, however, is now obsessed with going outside. Every day she wants to stay out longer. Mornings aren't enough for her, she wants to go out all afternoon too. The backyard isn't enough for her either, she has now begun rushing out the front door to explore the frontyard. She sleeps in the vestibule just to make sure she doesn't miss an opportunity to head out. If I don't let her out, she opens the shutters to the backdoor and just meows like she's being tortured; she's even lost her voice from all the meowing. I try to play with her indoors and it'll distract her for awhile but nothing will take her mind off being outside.

The other kitty has no problem staying in the backyard and if I don't let her out she will not complain. She also doesn't try to jump the fence if she's outside even though she's the skinny one and was a feral cat. I guess she appreciates what she has, eh?

Anyway, my question is, how do I re-train my cat to stay indoors without going mad? I know now that it probably wasn't the best idea to let them out in the first place but it was me who couldn't stand being indoors. It was a veeeeery long Canadian winter for a newly arrived Mexican. :o In my defense though, they have never roamed freely.

Any suggestions?

i had a cat one time that loved out doors, but we moved and i did not want to let her out too busy!!!!! so i put her in a harness and a long rope i put her out every day for a couple of hrs, she just loved it, but i checked on her often like a child she did live till she was 19, good luck to you. :fingerscr

hee hee hee... i'm laughing cause I know that "LET ME OUT NOW" meow... my little one does it too. You could do harnesses, leashes, and whatnot, OR, you could bring the outside IN for her. Maybe create a kitty jungle in a sunshiney corner of your home? There are plenty of plants that are safe, and grow well inside. Sure it's not as fun, but maybe the next best thing? you could grow catnip, sweet grass, maybe a big palm for her to hide under, herbs, put a kitty tower among the plants, some toys, you could even put a little cd player in that corner with a nature cd (bird sounds, crickets).... get creative.

@The gang: She has a harness but she turns into a wild mountain lion when I try to put it on. Seriously, I have never heard a housecat growl like she does.

@Jessi: Thanks, that is a good idea. I'll have no choice but to do that during the winter because there is no way that I will be outside watching her. However, I can almost see the look on her face as if saying: "Don't insult my intelligence, I want the real thing!" I swear that cat could be Einstein's reincarnation.

A friend of mine did this when she moved.Where she is there is a law.Your cat must be on a leash when outside.So what she did was make Tootie a cat run.I can't remember the demensions,but it was a fair size.So when she is outside,Tootie spends the time playing and lounging..... :D