Has anyone had an outside cat and made it an inside cat, did your cat mind? How long did it take to get used to it?
2007-01-10 21:19:47 · 14 answers · asked by sparklyheidi 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi There, I had to do this for two of my cats when I moved from a surburban area to the city and I did manage to convert them from outdoor cats to indoor cats, successfully they are perfectly happy.
I read a lot of books and spoke to my vet and was given the following advice. Firstly, you must remember that cat's are very adaptable creatures, but you do need to do a lot of work to make sure that they have everything they need indoors and plenty of stimulation.
Things to consider are that there food may need to be changed (some of the dry food manufacturers do a special formula for indoor cats) and plenty of fresh water. Litter tray's should obviously be supplied in a nice quite area and changed daily. There should be plenty of toys to stimulate and you should trying hiding dried food around the house so that your cat can seek and find. Give them lots of love and attention and you will be rewarded with happy, contented cats.
2007-01-11 01:16:38 · answer #1 · answered by Suzy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This happened to me - moving from the countryside to somewhere with busy roads outside the house. I have to say, the poor cat never adjusted.
She was always trying to escape by any means necessary - through the door, windows etc. Once, she even climbed out through the bathroom window three storeys up and fell out. Luckily there was a bush underneath and she was fine. It became a nightmare having friends to visit because I was always so paranoid they would leave a window open to wide or let her out onto the road.
It made me feel so guilty - she would constantly sit in the window and meow at the birds. And her personality changed - she became pretty withdrawn.
In the end, I felt so bad, I asked if she could move in with my parents who give her access to the countryside through a catflap. She is now such a happy cat, and I'm really glad I did that.
I'm really sorry it's not good news. Maybe your cat will take to being indoors better?
There's really no point in trying one of those cat harnesses... they hate them and just try to attack the leash. Beleive me, I've tried!
You could try and get loads of toys for the cat, but in my experience it's no comparison to life outdoors.
Good luck, anyway!
2007-01-10 21:53:16 · answer #2 · answered by Keira H 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's as easy as keeping the door shut, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
One of my sister's cats had her leg broken by a pickup truck when she was about 1. After that, we kept her indoors without any problems.
My previous cat came to my family as a stray and had no problems being converted into an indoor cat. The same went for my oldest sister.
And one of the two cats I adopted from the humane society last month spent her entire life outdoors (10 years) and is now an indoor cat. She has not shown any inclination toward trying to get out.
I had no trouble teaching my previous cat to tolerate a harness and leash, and I doubt I will have much trouble with the 10-year-old.
2007-01-10 22:02:35 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My mom did that with one of her cats...she did not move but had to start keeping it in the house due to a coyote problem. It took the cat between 2 and 3 weeks. My mom helped it though by switching to canned food for awhile, and by giving the cat treats and extra toys...before long she realized that being inside all of the time wasn't such a bad thing after all.
2007-01-10 22:54:31 · answer #4 · answered by angie_65611 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have tried this before, and it was a difficult pain in the butt to try to get the cat to stay inside, and I didn't succeed. I have heard from others, though, that it is possible, you just have to be persistent, and it can take up to 6 months to train an outdoor cat to not go outdoors anymore. I haven't given up on my cat yet, I intend to keep trying to convert him to indoors only. One trick I have tried that works, is to limit the amount of time he stays out. Don't let the cat go out at night (the most dangerous time for them to be out!). Don't leave the cat out all day while you are at work. Only let the cat out for limited periods of time. Let him out for a little while, but then call him back in soon, like half an hour later. It helps to catch him if you go outside with his favorite food or treats, and make noise with the bag or container, then give him a treat as a reward for coming in the house.
I put a link below of a website which I found especially interesting on this subject, you might like to look at for some helpful pointers. Good luck!
2007-01-10 21:48:51 · answer #5 · answered by Nelly Wetmore 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
when are you moving? If you still have some time in your current home why dont you try weaning your cat off the outdoors -start keeping in in and increase to longer periods inside nearer to the move date.
I have gone the opposite way as my cat is now able to go outside.
Good luck, i dont think it will be easy on the cat but hopefully it'll adjust.
2007-01-10 21:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by Sophia 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yeh thats going to be hard on the cat. I guess you'll just have to give it a lot of attention at first and play with it a lot. How old is it though.?
I have two old cats that are very happy indoors. But then again all they do is sleep, lol.
Here's something that could cheer you up though: house cats on average live much longer than outdoor cats.
Gd luck!
2007-01-10 21:26:45 · answer #7 · answered by Postman 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's going to be very difficult for your cat to make this transition from being an outside cat to an only inside cat. My cat used to be an inside cat. Once cats have a taste of outside, they don't want to give it up- it's their instinct. I suggest maybe you get a long leash and allow your cat to sit outside tied up? Otherwise, the cat may rebel if kept inside. My cat did- Although neutered, he was peeing in the house. This behavior stopped when we allowed him to roam outdoors again. Good luck!
2007-01-10 21:31:14 · answer #8 · answered by Teddy Bear 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I suppose it depends on the cats age & your relationship with it - my previous cat moved home with me several times to places where he could get out & places where he couldn't & was fine and happy as long as I was there - the cat I have now appears to have thrown an almightly strop by not having free access to the outside & keeps defecating right next to his litter tray ........... but I'm hopeful I can cure it. Moving home is a fact of life & hopefully the cat will get used to it in time......after all who pays the mortage?.... you or the cat?!!... righto so it's your choice where you live?...
Best of luck!!
2007-01-10 21:36:15 · answer #9 · answered by Lilith Raven 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your poor cat will react very badly to this, I don't like cats being kept in at all, but at least if that is all they have known from being kittens then that is OK, I know it is a hard decision but have you thought of re-homing it? you have to think of your cats welfare and happiness, it has to be priority, you could end up with a cat who has escaped and it won't know where it is so you may lose it which would be far worse!!
2007-01-10 22:27:00 · answer #10 · answered by Pawstimes16 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋