I would like an indoor cat. How does this sound?

Question

I have owned dogs all my life but i now live in a flat and would like a cat. This is my situation, what do you think:-

It must be an indoor cat. It will be left alone between 9 & 5 (is this ok?) Will it get lonely, I want to adopt a rescue cat obviously they come with thier little habits are most cats house trained? Do they naturally use a litter tray. On the odd occasion it will have to go into a cattery for a day or two, would this be cruel for a rescue cat?

Just anything you can tell me about having indoor cats will be a great help

Answer 1

Cats live fine indoor lives! Make sure the cat has plenty of toys, or you might even consider getting two cats so they can play together and keep one another company! Also, be aware that cats are very independent and can be left alone during the day. I've even left my cat alone over a weekend, and he did just fine. Just make sure the cat has access to food and water while you are gone. Your cat might need to be house-trained, but it isn't that difficult. Cats instinctively like to use the bathroom in sand-like material because they want to cover up their smell when they are done. You just need to place your kitty in the litter-box after it eats and it should catch on pretty quickly. When you adopt from a shelter, the workers should be able to tell you whether or not the cat is house-trained. If you have a view from a window, consider putting a bird-feeder outside (they even sell some that stick to the window). I did this for my indoor cat, and he spends hours just watching those birds! Cats are great companions... you won't be sorry!

Answer 2

Most cats don't mind being alone all day (mine dont anyway!). They are generally a lot lower maintenance than dogs in that respect. Having indoor cats is also fine, but bear in mind, once you have made that decision, you can't really change it. A cat that has been kept indoors all its life will have no knowledge of how to act and defend itself in the outside world. I don't think cats mind being inside all the time- especially when it gets chilly, but you may want to get them some toys to make sure they still get plenty of exercise, and a scratching post type thing, to save your furniture! Catteries are not cruel if you need to go away for a few days- although if you feel really guilty, since it will be an inside cat anyway, you could maybe just leave him where he is, and ask a neighbour or family member to go over once a day and feed him whilst you're away. Most cats dont mind going to the cattery, but they will be a little sulky for a few days once they get back!! Adult cats from rescue centres are generally house trained, and able to use a litter tray. Make sure you find a specific home for the litter tray, show him it, and keep it there all the time though, so he doesn't get confused. Good luck and enjoy your new kitty!

Answer 3

There are PLENTY of rescue cats that require loving homes who will only ever stay in doors so you are off to a good start. The best thing to do now is to contact your local Cats Protection League branch and they should be able to match you up with a cat which will have a beneficial relationship for the both of you. I wouldn't worry about leaving it alone from 9-5; even when I'm home all day my cats will go off in the morning and do their own thing and not come back til the evening, so most days I don't actually see them between the hours of 8am and 6pm anyway! As long as you are able to spend quality time with him/her in the evening and at the weekends you and they will be fine. Obviously your situation is slightly different as you live in a flat, but I'm sure any rescue cat will have picked up some toilet skills are most places I have visited use litter trays anyway.

Answer 4

I have a rescued cat who LOVES the outdoors, but because we care about her safety we keep her indoors. She meows A LOT but is mostly happy. She needs more exercise than an outdoor cat would but it's easy to accomplish with a laser light.
Boarding a cat who has been rescued really depends on the cat. If it's easy going gets along with everyone immediately it's probably ok./ A cat who has trouble bonding or is nervous should not be left. A playmate while you are at work would be great. Although cats sleep a lot they do get lonely very easy. Most cats naturally use the kitty litter but some who have been outdoor there whole life don't know. If you have plants a cat who was ever outdoor will probably choose them over the litter. Many cats pee in the house to mark there territory.

Answer 5

If you are away from home, get two cats. Their company is good for each other. Also, leave a radio playing softly for them.

Most cats naturally use the litterbox. When you get the cat home, set up the litterbox. Take him to it and put him in. Hold his front paws and make scratching motions. That lets him know where his litterbox is. You shouldn't have any problems after that. Like people, they like a bit of privacy when they do their "business" so make sure his litterbox is in a place that affords privacy, such as your bathroom. Do not put the food bowl too close to the litterbox.

Get the cat spayed or neutered. That's a good idea even for an indoor/outdoor cat. If you get it de-clawed, that's up to you. Most vets don't like the idea of de-clawing but they also realize it's the only way alot of cats will get homes.

It is not cruel to send him to a cat hotel for a couple of days if you go away. But, it would be better for him (and cheaper for you) if you could have a friend stop by and feed him and spend some time with him. A vet told me cats stress easily.

You said you've always had dogs. I did not like cats when I was a child but began to appreciate them as a teenager. You will be surprised how interactive a cat can be. They are not aloof as the stereotype suggests. They are like kids, if you raise them with love and affection they will be sociable. My cat is 12 years old. One time I had 30 people at my house and he just laid all stretched out in the middle of the living room. It didn't bother him a bit that all those people were around.

Answer 6

A cat will do fine in the conditions you describe, Most cat owners work all day.

Talk to the adoption coordinator wherever you go to adopt the cat, tell them your lifestyle, apartment size, and so on, and they will help you select an appropriate cat.

I suggest you get a mature cat rather than a kitten. Kittens are energetic and probaly would get lonely (and bored, and destructive) being home alone all day. And older cats are more in need of homes. Ask first, but I'm sure any cat up for adoption would be litterbox trained and reliable. You might even consider getting two cats. Some mature cats available for adoption have lived with another cat for years, and they are bonded...adoption societies sometimes make a two-for-one deal on them so they can stay together.

It isn't cruel to board a cat for a few days. They may not like it (though we have some cats that love to stay with us where I work) but they will be fine. Rarely there are cats who have been traumatized and are afraid to be put in a carrier or box. (I have one like that) and that is something you should ask about, too, since you will be needing to take the cat to the vet occasionally for its checkup and vaccinations.

Before you get the cat, have your place all set up to welcome it. Get a cat bed, metal or ceramic dishes for food and water (some cats are allergic to plastic), a few toys, and put a litterbox in an out-of-the-way place. Find out in advance what the cat is accustomed to eating and what littter it is used to (and what type of litterbox...some cats won't use an enclosed one) and have that on hand. The cat may hide for a day or two, so don't worry.

Enjoy your new cat, and thank you for adopting a rescue/shelter cat.

Answer 7

It sounds brilliant!

I could rant and rave all day about why it's better to keep a cat indoors than let it roam outside. But I won't, as it seems to me you've already made your decision and you won't let anyone sway you, which is brilliant!

That aside, I'll answer your other questions:

* It is perfectly fine to leave your cat alone between 9-5pm. They are very unlike dogs - most of them are perfectly happy on their own. My indoor cat gets left from 8am-8pm and he copes very well - no problems whatsoever.

* Most cats are house trained, although obviously when you get a cat from a shelter there are certain things you need to consider. Some of the most common reasons for people giving their cats up is that they either scratch the furniture or do not use the litter tray. This is not the cat's fault, but the fault of the lazy owner who could not be bothered to educate themselves on how to properly train the cat. This may mean that the cat you get has previously had house training issues.... this means that you'll have your work cut out for you, but it is by no means impossible. With patience and most importantly, consistency, you can train any cat. When you've read up on it a bit more, post another question about all these individual things and I'll be happy to give you lots of advice.

* Many cats will use a litter tray, and most shelter cats will be litter trained. The only problem you may face is if you aqcuire a nervous cat who does his business around the house at first because of nerves. But again, it's possible to litter train him if he isn't already trained.

* It wouldn't be cruel to put the cat into a cattery, but there are much better options available. Cats are extremely territorial and can become stressed when placed somewhere new - especially as catteries don't exactly have that 'homely' feel. The company I use are a brilliant alternative, and you can read their details here: http://www.guardianangelservices.co.uk/

*More information about indoor cats*
To have a happy indoor cat, you will need to provide lots of stimulation for him and be prepared to set aside at least half an hour every day for play time. Invest in a proper 'cat tree' rather than a single scratch post, and don't underestimate the brilliance of cardboard boxes - they can entertain themselves for hours in them! Give him plenty of love and attention and you'll have one very happy kitty.

You must also make sure you get him vaccinated and neutered, if he isn't already, despite him being an indoor cat. You must also get him microchipped. Indoor cats do sometimes escape or dart outside and it's much better to be safe than sorry.

One thing to consider is that you may have difficulty with some shelters. Unbelievably, I tried to adopt from the Cats Protection League, who would not allow me to have a cat because I would be keeping him indoors. When I went to an RSPCA shelter, they were all for keeping cats inside. So just be aware of the policies of various organisations.

Here is some useful information for you:
http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/indoor.html
http://vet.osu.edu/indoorcat
http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/indoor_cats.htm

http://www.whiskas.co.uk/whiskas/en-gb/CareGuides/articles/behaviourLifestyle/article_cat_behaviour.asp
http://www.petsathome.com/pcat/catcareguides

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1838&articleid=829
http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

Good luck!

xx Emmie

Answer 8

I have had both indoor & outdoor cats, both male & female. They have been no problem at all. As cats can sleep for hours on end leaving them alone is no problem. Also taking them to a cattery while i was away on holiday was fine also( check cattery out!) I had a 13 year old tom cat called Tomus who was an indoor cat living in a flat all his lfe. He was neutered and i had no problems with him whatso ever.! check with the rescue place as they will give you some insight into the cat you purchase. Obviously when you give a cat a new home please have it checked over by your own vet( we have a cat that we picked up from a vet after being abandoned by its owner as it had cat flu..they told us it was a "tom" but when our vet checked it over ...you guessed it...it was a she!) cats can also live on their own or with others . I must admit i do prefer two but one can be a happy soul on its own!!
Make sure it has toys etc and invest in a good scratch post..saves your furniture( cover it in cat nip when you first buy it..the cat will go mad for it and it will become its "favourite" item!)
Have fun >^..^<

Answer 9

sounds like a cat would be fine living with you. Here are the steps to training your cat to use a litter box.

1. Fill a medium sized litter box with litter.
2. Put the cat (all 4 paws) in it, then leave. DONE!!! the cat will automatically know to use this for their toilet.

*Find out if the cat is allready litterbox trained. If not ask for information on how to do it.

My cats have always had another cat living with them. Just dont't get 2 cats too far apart in age. (ex- 2 years and 14 years). This happened to us when one of our kitties died and we adopted another one a few months later. We had a 15 year old and a 1 1/2 year old together- didn't work out too well. Younger cat always wanted to play with the older one and he turned into a big pest for the older cat.

Answer 10

Sounds like a great idea to me. Cats naturally live longer when kept indoors. Besides you will not have to worry about territorial fights or cars or anything like that. Your cat will need lots of toys and things to keep it's interest while you are away. Many people think they are too busy for a dog.. and get a cat. They think cats are low maintance... which is partly true. They do use a cat box.. you don't have to take them for walks but they will miss you when you are gone. My point is.. if your cat is going to be left for most of the day just find things to occupy him..and make sure all hazzards like poisonous plants.. cords.. anything he/she could hurt themselves with.. make sure they are all put away or out of your cats reach. When animals get bored they get distructive. Which is only natural.
Maybe set up a bird feeder out of a nearby window or have a small fish tank that will interest your cat for hours. spend as much time as you can with your cat when you are home... don't listen to other people who think it is alright to leave cats for long periods of time because they are "independent". They need attention just like anything else!
If you do have to leave and take your cat to a bording place..once your cat has been with you for awhile ( if you have a rescue) they will learn you always come back. Just don't expect a cat that isnt well adjusted to be left in an environment like that. Cats really have a hard time with change so you need to be as consistant and patient as possible. Maybe even have a friend watch your flat and feed your cat while you are gone? That way the cat is still able to stay in a place where it feels most comfortable.

Good Luck