How can I keep my cat indoors?

Question

My cat is an indoor cat that has recently tasted the outside (literally). The other night she killed a baby bunny. Does anyone have tips to keep her inside? My husband is ready to get rid of her for fear of bringing disease into our house.

Answer 1

bit of a tricky one, this. i have two cats that originally were housecats, then they began to venture into the garden (no way to keep em in, kids runnin in and out all day). now they mostly stay out, and yes, i have had dead 'gifts' brought to me by them. if your cat is not neutered, they have more tendancy to stray, looking for a mate, so my first suggestion would be to make a vets appointment for that if necessary. you can try not letting the cat out, you will have to be vigilant of doors and windows, but the cat may cry to be let out. if your cat associates your home pleasurably this will help, keep her amused with toys if she is playful, make sure she has a scratching post and make a fuss of her. its your call, your cat was once happy inside, i think with a little work she will be again. best wishes

Answer 2

Cat's are natural hunters and nocturnal creatures, they love the outside, keeping cat' s indoors once they have tasted the outside is like putting a wild animal in a cage. your cat won't bring a disease into your house by going outside and killing a rabbit, tell your husband to speak to a vet or read a book on cats.

Answer 3

Other than fleas/ticks, I don't know of any diseases that a cat could bring into the house to worry about, and this is easily prevented with medicine or a flea collar. If your cat is spayed, she is much less likely to want to go out, but still might. You could try controlled outdoors, with the use of cat runs. These are like dog runs, only totally covered. Cats are natural hunters, and she might be bored in the house all the time. Purchase new toys, or just find ways to amuse her without letting her out.

Answer 4

You could lock the doors, close the windows and never let her breath fresh air or taste the freedom of the open road again. BUT if the area you live in is safe for her why not let her out. If you control when she come in (ie: do not give her a cat flap) then she cannot bring dead animals into you house and as long as you worm her regularly (just in case she is eating Au Natural) and use flea drops on her she shouldn't bring aniything into your home.

Answer 5

My cat has been an indoor cat for 17 years. You have to be serious and careful about the cat's whereabouts! I keep my eye out for her while walking through the door. By now, 17 years, she knows not to peep out past her end of the house. The ONLY time she was out was the electricain's fault!

Answer 6

Sometimes once they see the outside you can't keep them inside anymore. My cat is declawed but we let her go out on the screen patio, and now that's the only place she ever wants to be. She gets to watch all the birds and everything and she feels like a wild cat. If you can't keep your cat to stay inside then either you allow him to become an outside cat or you will have to get rid of him.

Answer 7

The best way of keeping the cat in is to confiscate its front door key. The best way of keeping your husband out is to confiscate his. If your old man is really paranoid that the cat will bring disease into the house then it's probably too late. But it is the first case of BSE I've heard of spread from cat to man.

Answer 8

My only advice is to watch her and make sure she doesn't get out. It is safest for cats to be indoors, the easiest ways for them to get diseases like feline AIDS and Feline leukemia are through injuries from fights with other cats. You could call your vet to ask about potential exposure to diseases and symptoms to watch for. We have five cats, all indoors, but we have a screen porch where they can experience the outdoors safely. We don't leave them out there when we are away, and we still have to watch sometimes that they don't slip out the door, but other than that, no problems.

Answer 9

If she's an outdoors cat (or decided to become one) it will be a bit tough trying to keep her inside. All our cats were outdoors cats and the one we have right now is the worst in terms of catching stuff. He brings a dead mouse/shrew/bird/rabbit -usually torn up- in the backyard every few days. If we don't let him out, he meows and keeps my parents up at night.
All I can suggest is keeping her inside and absolutely refusing to let her go outside. After a while she may get the message, but on the other hand she may decide to annoy you until you let her out. Our cats (all of 'em) did.

Answer 10

Wow, fierce cat! Good kitty. Poor bunny.

Just don't let the cat out...I hiss at mine if they get near the door when I am trying to come in or come out. If you are bringing in groceries or something...put them in bedroom or bathroom and don't let them out until the car was unloaded.

It is highly unlikely that a cat (or dog) is going to bring in diseases from outside even if they go out reguarly. Your husband is just being paranoid.

Answer 11

First of all--Is your cat spayed/neutered? They tend to want to roam more if ther're not!(good reason to get out!!). Otherwise, you all just have to be diligent & pay attention...they don't let themselves out! She may get out from time to time-that's life-but you can minimize risks by making sure her shots are up to date, shes fixed, and a flea/tick control product is on her. Also, put a collar(breakaway) on her for two reasons...1-keep a bell on it to alert other small animals/birds(as well as yourself) to her whereabouts and 2-have an identity tag w/your phone# on it 'just in case'! Using a flea collar instead would help with two of the problems. ps- People are the ones who bring those diseases that you need to worry about.