My husbands grandmother has an outdoor cat who is about 5 years old. She was strictly and outdoor cat, along with another cat. We got the other cat, Birdie, used to coming in and out as he pleased, but he a racoon killed him. So now me and my husband are trying to get the five year old cat, Mommy cat, to stay in the house because it is getting really hot outside, and there is a stray dog that likes to jump over our fence and chase her. Is there any suggestions that anyone can give me to help her adjust better, and feel better about staying inside from now on? Ne help would be greatly appreciated. I really do not want her to go outside any more. I am so afraid that something will happen to her.
2006-06-09 07:50:51 · 20 answers · asked by Jordan M 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Give her a tablespoon of tuna once a day for a couple of weeks while she is inside. Try to keep everything calm. No loud noises or sudden activity. This will make her look forward to something and ease her adjustment.
2006-06-09 07:54:42 · answer #1 · answered by HoneyBee24-7-365 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Outdoor cats will adjust quite well to staying inside. A friend took her mother's cat (outdoor cat) in when her mother went to a home. The cat did fine as an inside cat.
A few suggestions: grow a pot of cat grass...you can buy the seeds wherever you buy seeds.
Make it easy for the cat to be able to perch somewheres to look out the window. A cat "tree house" near the window is ideal.
Get a scratching post. Some prefer carpeted posts and others prefer cardboard. Mine have a round cardboard thing on the floor with a ball they can chase around inside the ring. Some cats like to scratch while stretching up and others will scratch something on the floor.
Keep the cat litter box clean. Many cats do not like perfumed cat litter.
Good luck. Indoor cats do live longer.
2006-06-09 07:57:31 · answer #2 · answered by Dellajoy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you can get the cat trained on a harness - it takes time but you can work on it so they can eventually have supervised time outside. in the meanwhile, make sure there are plenty of open windows with sills or seats that they can hang out on/in and observe the great outdoors with a breeze on their face. MEow Mix has a kibble for indoor cats with some stuff that cats love but can't get indoors obviously. You can go to pet supply and get some cat grass (usually a wheat grass or oat grass) which can help them still feel like they're getting the great outdoors. A plant refuge would be nice if you could house plants that they won't eat and are not hazardous. And just make sure they are plenty occupied with lots of love and play time. The cat will adjust eventually....
2006-06-09 07:58:31 · answer #3 · answered by bbq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough call, if the cat is use to being out side it will want to get back outside. Also, keeping it inside will have other negative side effects. Cats like to sharpen their claws and if not declawed they will schread your furnature.
Think about:
Is the cat spayed or nutered. Get it done.
Does the cat still have it's claws. Talk to your vet about having the fronts removed.
Does the cat use a litter box. Start teaching it now.
The cat will eventually get use to being indoors but you also have to make sure that it has food and water and that you allow for it to claw stuff. Just getting a scratching post helps but if you don't declaw they will still ruin your furnature.
2006-06-09 07:58:11 · answer #4 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know how that feels. Cats are always safer inside I had a cat once that loved going outside and kept getting attacked my dogs. They live longer if they are inside too. Once cats go outside they always want to go outside. The only thing I can really suggest is just to make it more fun inside. Get her good place to hide and play like a cat tree and put catnip all over the place and lots of toys. And just really make sure you watch when you open any doors to go outside. Good luck!
2006-06-09 07:57:17 · answer #5 · answered by play_romantic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat has to make the decision to do so. It is very hard to nearly impossible to "train" a cat. You can bring the cat inside and leave her pinned there, but she may retaliate by peeing on furniture and such. Unfortunately , especially once they are adult age cats like the one you describe, they are pretty set in their ways and don't change. My grandma had a cat that was a total outside cat. As far as I know, the cat was never inside of a house.
2006-06-09 07:53:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let her have access to all windows to look out
Get a leash, and take her outdoors with you for short periods of time until she gets more used to being indoors.
An indoor cat can live till about 20 years--outdoors cats can die much earlier (animals, cars, etc.) So you are doing the right thing. :)
2006-06-09 07:56:37 · answer #7 · answered by Holiday Magic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just don't let her out. All my cats are indoor. Outdoors are subceptible to disease and other dangers. She might pee on everything she wants though, but u can train that. Keep plenty of cold water around the house and soon she will like it inside.
2006-06-09 07:57:49 · answer #8 · answered by bria. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i took in a stray cat, and all i did was cover any of the ways she could get out. i think for the first few days she really wanted to get out, but after a while she got used to the indoors with the a/c on.
2006-06-09 07:54:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An outside cats average life span is 2 years ,an inside 18 you do the math and put up with her until she adjust.Give her lots of love and attention.
2006-06-09 07:55:16 · answer #10 · answered by Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋