How does one acclimate a cat to being confined indoors after having freedom for four years ?

Question

She will be living in a mobile home now since a neighbor has complained that she has been killing his flowers. She will not experience going after grasshoppers out of garden anymore. Is she going to be miserable ? I am not necessarily a cat person so the transition will be a challenge for me as well. What can we do to keep her from crying the blues. My husband is her best buddy....Thanks

Thanks for all of the good suggestions. You all are certainly cat lovers. I think what put a damper on my feelings towards her was that we lived in a trailer for a short time and my husband let her hang out on our bed when I wasn't around. I know for a fact that she had fleas. I like the harness idea and keeping her out for short periods of time.We have a wonderful trees by the garden that she can climb and used it to sink her claws in.I appreciate all of the responses....

Answer 1

Dear Believer. Don't feel bad about the grasshoppers - there are also dogs, cars, disease and perhaps wild animals outside that aren't much fun for cats.

Here are some tips - use as many as you can, and thank that person for complaining! :-) His plants COULD be toxic to your cat.

First & foremost, put the litter box in a quiet, accessible place and show her where it is. When she uses it, praise her (at least for a while).

Put her food & water somewhere away from the litter box and show her that too. Give her some extra canned food or treats so she doesn't feel deprived.

Go on a shopping spree for toys. :-) These will entertain her, keep her out of trouble. It will also encourage you to bond with her a little more if they are "interactive". My cats' favorites are furry little balls, "wands" with feathers/mylar/bells on them, and a roundish tunnel with a ball or mouse inside that rolls around when they try to catch it. Can't remember the name of it (we have two), but they have to reach inside to get the toy & the toy spins around. If you really go crazy and buy a BUNCH of toys, save some & alternate them, so she has something new now and then.

Another thing you might consider is growing a little catnip or cat grass indoors. That will give her something she evidently likes anyway. :-)

It's harder to keep a cat indoors when they've been accustomed to being outdoors, but these little hints should help to make her a happier cat, and your neighbor a happier person too!

Best of luck and thank heavens you asked the question instead of adding her to the unwanted population in a shelter!

Answer 2

Might your kitty be able to have some 'outside time' while wearing a halter and a leash? Not a collar, but a SNUG halter. It has to be fairly snug or she can slip out of it. Before allowing her out, let her wear the halter around the house so she can get use to it. You can then take her for short walks on the leash. Once she is familiar with this, then tie her leash to something outside while you supervise her. If she seems to be OK you can leave her out on her own for short periods. Check on her frequently to make sure she is OK. Do you have a tree or something she can climb on if a dog approaches?

If leashed outside is not an option, she WILL get used to being an indoor cat. One of my three kitties belonged to a family who let her outdoors, but they had to find a new home for her. I took her in and she is the sweetest cat! Right now she is laying on my crossed legs while I type. I bought her a tall kitty-condo and have it by the patio doors so she can look outside. I do take her for walks with a halter and leash. I also have two others that keep her entertained. Catnip and toys and lots of love will help the transition.

Here is another option, but your neighbor will have to agree to this one. There is a plant called the 'P*ss-off plant'. I'm not kidding!!!!!!! The other name is 'plectranthus', Animals hate this plant and will avoid any area it is in. It doesn't smell bad to humans and it is harmless to children/pets. Pets just don't like it for some reason. If you plant one every three feet in the flower garden, ALL critters will keep away. I'm sure your cat was not the only one responsible for killing your neighbors flowers!!!!
It is a pretty little plant, the leaves sort of look like an african violet plant. I don't know where you live but go to www.richters.com
this is a herbal nursery in Ontario, Canada. They ship throughout the US and Canada. You can get 3 plants for $13.50 Canadian $. If you offer to pay for the plants, your neighbor may be agreeable to try this.

I'm glad your husband loves the kitty, you will get used to her as well. You will need a litterbox and good litter also, I like the silica litter, it looks like white crystals. It is the best for absorbing odour and urine. You do have to poop scoop every day. I buy mine in the grocery store. It is cheaper there than pet stores and same quality. A scratch board is needed as well. If your go for the carpeted kitty-condo, rub catnip on that and it will make a nice big scratchboard.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

That is REALLY going to be tough for this kitty. You are going to need to enrich her indoor life as much as possible. Get a cat tree so she can climb and perch up high. Get her lots of toys and play with her often.

Your best bet may be to train her to be on a leash & harness. If you do, you can take her outside from time to time or even tie her up on your patio or something so she can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I've met many a cat who's owners do this for them.

Answer 4

I have gone through this before. For the first month the cat darted (or tried to) out of the door every evening. When he finally realized he wasn't getting out he stopped trying to bolt and was very content indoors.

As another poster said, get lots of different toys and cat grass. A tall cat tree is a good idea, as well, so she can climb and perch. Make the indoors as fun and interesting for her as you can and she should be fine.

Answer 5

Well, I have a 12 year old cat that was just diagonised with feline lukemnia. He has always went in and out has he pleased, but was always inside at night. Since the vet diagonised him, he has to stay inside so that he does not get any type of infections. He was a little upset at first to say the least, trying to run out the door every chance he got. but after about a week or two he is getting better. he is very hyper inside though, he is always running up and down the hallway or chasing after something in the floor. but he is so loving. he has always slept with us everynight, but now seems like he gets even closer when he sleeps. it will all be ok, but just take your time and i wish you the best of luck.

Answer 6

till she's executed it earlier, this may well be a extreme subject! Cats are creatures of behavior and don't substitute till there's a reason. She is a cat, and could be doing it to get interest, quite if there's a sparkling cat / dogs / toddler interior the dwelling house. She could be ill, UTI or perhaps diabetes. We observed comparable habit and took our cat to the vet, notwithstanding he died 3 days later of kidney failure. TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET. do not could watch your cat slowly die because of the fact the vet reported he might basically stay if he took 6 diverse drugs an afternoon, and can be in a great number of discomfort. He did not even have the flexibility to open his 2d set of eyelids.

Answer 7

Try getting the cat use to a leash inside and then take it out late at night.

We had two cats that got in the same circumstances, one had been homeless a long time before we took him in, he was happy with the leash (I think actually proud he was like the dogs on leashes he saw for the year he had been homeless, they are that much like people).

I know cats, you show them a litter box, they use it, unless its dirty

Answer 8

The cat will not like being confined after having the freedom to roam the neighborhood. She will probably pee inside of your mobilehome because she is not litter box trained.

Answer 9

She will eventually get used to it, mine did.