how do i keep cats indoors?

Question

after asking if its acceptable to keep my kittens as indoor cats all their life i have decided to try and do this but how ?
will it mean having all windows shut in the summer i dont think i can bear that and what if a door gets accidentally left open as i put washing out ect how is it possible to keep an eye on them all the time
how have others managed it ?

the reason i am thinking of doing this is because i live on a busy main road and either side of me they have dogs 4 one side 2 the other all are agressive dogs one got out once and attacked a yorkie dog im worried if i let them out they will be attacked

Answer 1

Up to the age of 1 I would recommend that you are careful and do pay attention to open doors and windows. After that you will find that your cat is curious of the world ouside but not particulary bothered about flying through a door to thier freedom at any given opportunity.

I have kept cats all my life, indoor and outdoor. I currently have a British Silver Spotty who turned 1 this month. When the door is open he sits at the entrance and watches the world go by, he's not interested in venturing any further.

If your cat does go out, they won't go far, unless you make it available for them to go out whenever they want.

Answer 2

When I lived in Australia there was a company - catnip - which produced cat runs that left the house via a window and allowed the cats to get out and about without being vulnerable to traffic, other cats and also protected the local wildlife. I also had a high-set house so was able to open windows without the cats jumping out. If you are at ground level then yes, closed windows are essential unless you can put up with building out cat-balconies on the windows you have to have open. The interesting thing is that cats that have grown up indoors rarely actually want to go out so the odd open door is not so dodgy. You do have to keep an eye on them though, because if they have never been outside they don't know what the dangers are, and if they get chased, don't necesarily have the skills to find their way back home. It can be done, but requires dedication.

Answer 3

Good choice! Keeping cats indoors helps ensure they'll live longer, healthier lives. Keeping them inside means making sure everyone in the house knows and will do their part to keep the kitties inside too. You can use screens on the windows, but they're not 100% safe. I work at a shelter, and we've gotten numerous calls from people who have lost indoor cats through an open, screened window. You can used ceiling or floor fans, and/or air conditioning (even window units work well, and are relatively inexpensive). Spay and neuter them when they're old enough, and this can help keep them from wanting to leave through windows or dart out the door whenever it's opened. Keep a spray bottle near the doors that lead outside, so any time you come in or go out, if the cat comes to sniff at the door, you can spray them to make sure they associate going out those doors with a bad experience (it can help ensure that later in life they won't start getting curious and just dart out). Again, I think you've made a very wise decision, don't listen to what all these other people here are saying. My cats stay indoors, and they are all very happy and healthy!

Answer 4

I have 3 cats and they are all indoor cats. I keep them indoors because I also live on a main road that is very busy. I open the window but make sure they have screens in them. The same with the doors. Just make sure you have a storm door that has a screen in it. Then you can have windows and doors open without the cat getting out. My cats love to sit in the windows and watch the outside world but never even try to escape!

Answer 5

Its cruel to keep cats indoors. I totally disagree with it for a number of reasons. You wouldnt buy a fish without buying a tank for it to live in, so dont buy a cat without sufficiant outdoor space.

Edit.


For Christ sake people cats are outdoor animals. They're built for running, jumping, climbing and hunting which they can’t do when stuck in pokey flat/house. You wouldn’t keep a budgie in a rabbit hutch so don’t keep a cat indoors. Cats are not “happy” indoors…. How on earth do you people qualify a happy cat anyway? Does it tell you? Or do you just know? Christ almighty Id bet money most of you would say ‘we just know’ because it’s what you want to believe. You people probably convince yourselves that it is OK because you find the poor little beast oh so bloody cute. The animal becomes less a living creature that requires attention and care and more a cuddly toy. If you live near a busy main road DON’T BUY A CAT AS A PET! It’s irresponsible and cruel. I accept some cats may carry HIV or whatever however healthy cats should be allowed outdoors. Im stopping now otherwise it’ll become a 3000 word rant. Not that I expect this post will make a blind bit of difference to your opinions anyway – if your stupid enough to believe keeping an animal such as a cat indoors in the first place your probably stupid enough to throw reason aside and buy the poor creature regardless.

Second Edit.

"Here is what I do.....the cat stays in when no one is home. When I get home from work, I take her out on a harness and leash and let her wander around the yard. SHE LOVES IT"

ARE YOU FOR REAL? Thats the most ridiculous thing Iv ever read in my whole life (and Iv read 2 pages of Jodie Marsh's biography) You cant keep a cat on a harness like a f**king swingball! Its cruel! Do you even know what type of animal a cat is? Have you taken the time to study what its genetic makeup is? Here's a clue - whats the fastest animal on earth? A cat. So what part of a cats body is most likely to be developed? ITS LEGS! Imagine keeping a Monkey and not giving it space to swing! Cats are designed by nature to run fast and climb tree's. You neglecting the poor animal what it was born to do. F*cks sake. Im going home. This is stupid. I dont even know why Im letting it bother me.

Answer 6

All I can say is no matter what you do if your cat wants to go out it will eventually find a way out. Yes you will have to keep doors and windows shut or find methods of keeping them escape proof maybe you could buy a cat harness and take the cat outside for walks (like you would a dog). I know how hard it is for you as I have a kitten and she isn't allowed out yet but when she has had her innoculations and is trained to answer when I call she will have her freedom to roam. I have to go around making all the doors and windows are shut already as she has expressed an interest in going out and has made a few attempts at escape and even as I type this she is sitting in the window looking out :(
(if you don't have a good reason for wanting to keep your cats indoors all their lives please reconsider)

Answer 7

I had house cats from kittens and they loved being indoors, if one of them escaped he use to cry to be let back in! hehe Unfortunately it means only having windows open a crack or opening them and keeping an eye on them! I didn't have to worry about them escaping out of doors as I had a flat, but even then they never went towards the front door and only escaped once when they were tiny, so I think they were prefectly happy indoors.

Answer 8

I keep my cat inside and she isn't a bit fat nor is she lazy! But then, I actually play with her and get her toys she can chase!

I currently live with my parents, and to my Dad's dismay, she isn't declawed -- but she was 2yo when I adopted her, so I wasn't about to do that. Plus, if she does escape, she has some protection.

I don't know about where you live, but this area has a lot of fleas and ticks, and even flea collars and such don't help completely. If I let my cat out, she'd never be able to be allowed inside again. Also, in this area, if you hit a dog, you're legally required to stop and see about the owner (not that the person who killed my dog did...) but for cats, it's like hitting wildlife or something inanimate, the driver can't be held accountable for anything.

We simply trained Marble that she's not allowed out; she's very smart and 99.9% obedient about that. The few times she's escaped since I moved back to my parents house, she's immediately looked to get back in, and luckily it was in the winter when the bugs weren't out yet.


Screens are good, but get the REALLY sturdy, inflexible brand. Where I used to live, the screens were rather bendy, and with enough jumping force, while avidly watching a deer, my cat ripped it right off and went flying through to the outside from quite a drop. (My vet checked her for free and she was okay, just terribly surprised.)


I disagree with those saying it's cruel to keep a cat inside because it "isn't natural". Would you let your pet bird outside too?

Answer 9

Some cats NEED to be kept indoors. A lot of rescue cats are infected with FIV (the cat version of HIV/AIDS) and they are only allowed to be rehomed if the new owner agrees to never letting the cat(s) out on their own.
We rehomed a 9 month kitten (non-FIV) and we've had to keep her in for 6 weeks. During that time we held a birthday party for our little girl and we kept our new kitten in another part of the house where she couldn't get out. Surprisingly, she didn't stress, worry or put on any weight!!!
The suggestion of screen doors and windows (American style) is a good idea too.

Answer 10

Personally I wouldn't keep my cats indoors but I can understand people who do it if they live on a busy road and the like. You will have to be careful and ensure windows and doors are shut if you want to keep them in - especially as they will be SO curious to get out! One thing you could do is make a frame the same size as your door from wood and put gauze or wire over it so you can have the door open, and the fresh air in - like a fly screen.