I am adopting a gorgeous 2yr cat on Thurs and I need some advice. Do I need to keep him indoors for a certain amount of time to stop him running away or trying to get back home? I don't want him to feel cooped up, and my doors are open most of the day so the children can go in and out. Any advice?
2006-07-11 04:07:41 · 13 answers · asked by sardoherty13 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Put aside a room in the house that the cat can have to himself (a spare bedroom or a room you don't use very often) so that he can get to know his surroundings. Keep him in this room for a day or two before letting him explore the rest of the house. Make sure that he can get back to his room in case he feels the need to be on his own.
It is best to keep a new cat in the house for about three weeks so that they get to know you and learn that this is their new home. When you let him out for the first time make sure you haven't fed him for about 6 hours - they are more likely to come back if they are hungry.
If you can get him mircochipped before you let him out it will help you should the worst happen and he fails to come home.
Good luck!
2006-07-11 04:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by PNewmarket 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
What I do is keep them in a single room at least for 3 days. Give them time to adjust and unwind, and relax and get used to the new sounds and smells of the new house. Then you want to keep him inside for at least a month. If you can, get his personal belongings - toys, litter box, bed - whatever he has, so that he has something that is familar. You can replace them later on if you want, but it will give him a sense of home right off the bat. He needs time to come to the conclusion that this is his new home and you are his new family. Be sure that he is neutered, as that helps keep a male cat close to home. Make sure the kids understand that the new kitty doesn't like loud noises or quick movements, anything that could frighten him. When you do decide to let him outside, try out back first, in a fenced area, and stay with him. Try to teach him his name during his indoor period, so that he will come when called. All my cats know their names, and if I call them, they come running. Be sure he also has a break away cat collar with a name tag on it, so that if he does wander off, people will know where to return him to. Another thing, keep his food inside the house - an empty stomach will always have them coming back.
2006-07-11 05:21:51 · answer #2 · answered by buggsnme2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would keep him in for at least 2 weeks if the kids don't accidently let him out. Put a collar on him. You could attatch the collar with rope to a clothesline but be outside with him.
When he first comes in the house, he will run and hide. That is normal. It takes a while for a cat to get the run of the house. He may not eat for a day. Make sure you introduce him to the litter box.
2006-07-11 04:54:06 · answer #3 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must keep him indoors for at least 2 weeks. He has no map of the area, and does not feel your house is his home. He has no reason to return if he gets lost, and may find it difficult to get back if he's chased off by a dog.
Take the time and effort to settle him in and give him a good reason to stay or you will not be doing him a favour taking him out of the cat home.
2006-07-11 04:12:56 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got my cat from the RSPCA. You will probably find that he will be very timid for at least the 1st week. He may find somewhere to hide, my cat did. she hardly came out at all, but i left her to it so as not to stress her. she didnt eat much at all at first so after 3 or 4 days so i got some fresh chicken out of the fridge, got down into her hiding place and put some right under her nose so there was no effort needed on her part to eat. She did so i gave her a few more bits, then slowly put them further away from her towards me, so that she would associate me with food and therefore, something good! When enough was enough i left her to it, and the next morning, she came out of her hiding place! I didnt let her out till she was desperate, try to leave it about a month so he knows thats home.
You will worry, but take it slow, make sure food and water is available somewhere safe, maybe up on a window ledge, they like to be high up. Good luck, i hope it goes well for you xxxxxxxx
2006-07-11 06:41:09 · answer #5 · answered by zbfinlove 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely would not let him outdoors and you need to make it clear to the kids that they have to watch that he doesn't run out when they go in and out. Cats are fast and they will wait for an opportunity to leave if they are determined. Was he a housecat before or was he allowed to roam free? If he was allowed to roam free, then definitely keep him in at least for a few months. When you do take him outside, make sure you supervise to keep him safe. Is he neutered? If not that could create big problems as he will spray in a new house to mark his territory. You usually have to throw out anything a cat sprays on as the smell is almost impossible to remove. If he isn't neutered, consider having it done. That might stop the spraying, it's better for their urinary health, and it takes away one of the reasons for their roaming. Good luck!
2006-07-11 04:18:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is advisable to keep your new cat in for about three weeks so he doesnt go straight back to his old home; my friends Siamese walked 18 miles, over two railway lines and a motorway, to get back home when they emigrated- the new owners only kept him in for three days. Give his lots of catnip and toys for playing with, canned tuna goes down very well, and clean water 24/7. If your children are likely to let the cat out to see what he does, you are going to need to shut him in a particular room during the day when the doors are open, and let him roam the house at night when he cant get out. (Remember to keep windows closed; cats love playing Houdini) Very good luck with your new family member.
2006-07-11 05:03:42 · answer #7 · answered by k0005kat@btinternet.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to find a room of the house you can keep him in for a while till he gets used to being around you and your family. I wouldn't trust the cat to run around and believe it will come straight back to you this early. You DO need to keep him cooped up for a while till he KNOWS that your home is HIS home. It may be difficult for you to have to deal with this, but in those first couple of days he's going to try and hide from everyone anyways. Don't force yourself on the cat right away beacause you may make him REALLY want to run when you finally let him loose. This means you're going to have to keep the kids away from him for a while. Let him get used to y'all on his OWN terms. This is the best way to keep him from being a total recluse forever. Eventually, he will come around and be athe loving cat he knows he's suppoosed to be.
2006-07-11 04:13:30 · answer #8 · answered by weareallcrazy25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he gets out right away he will take off or get lost, during the day when kids are in and out, put him in a bedroom with food, water and litter, make sure kids don`t let him out, let him roam the house at night so he gets to know the place for a few weeks, I`d keep him in for good but it`ll be hard with kids in and out
2006-07-11 04:14:24 · answer #9 · answered by airpolicejohn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd keep him in one room to begin with. Let him learn his new territory a room at a time, if you can. He may spend his first few days in hiding, that's normal. If you let him go outside at all, be sure to keep up to date on his flea prevention and shots. Inside is safer for a cat, depending on where you live. If you have a fenced back yard, try to introduce him to that as his first outdoor venture.
2006-07-11 04:13:24 · answer #10 · answered by Cosmic I 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋