hi its me again more questions about my kitten?

Question

when i get my kitten in two weeks time im going to have her as a house cat meaning not letting her out i no some of you will not agree well can you answer this please if i dont let her out we will have to be careful not to leave doors and windows open will she get uesed to being in and will she not atempt to try and get out at some stage i bet she does im going to get her taged in case of but im terefied of her getting out i will have to open windows at some stage wont i please help love marina x

Answer 1

Although cats are wandering creatures and not well suited to remaining in a confined area but I appreciate your concern for her safety. As your kitten will be young and in shock from leaving her mother, she won't be in a fit state to explore! I suggest you take advantage of this and buy her a crate or large travel basket ( http://www.seapets.co.uk/view-products/category/463.html There are some examples here). This will encourage her to take the basket or crate as her 'den' and safe place to which she will always return, even if she does manage to get out!

You can also try to find window catches. They will simply keep the window from opening too widely and making it difficult for kitten to get out.

Another option which you may or may not agree with is an electrically tagged collar. The kitten will have a special collar to wear containing a small electronic chip. You also have a wire which you use to surround your property discreetly. When the kitten attempts to escape the area, a small static shock (completely harmless and non-stressful) is administered through the collar reminding her where her area is.

You would also be well advised to have her micro-chipped and registered with cat societies and rescue shelters if you have local kitten registers. If you can bear the thought, an ear tattoo will mean that she is easily distinctive.

To quell her interest in her outdoor surroundings, ask the neighbours if they would mind spraying cat-be-gone spray on their lawns if you supply it for them. You can spray it all around your house and garden so that there is a 'smell-barrier' which your kitten is not likely to enjoy crossing.

You should also take her for mini walks. You can obtain harnesses from most pet shops and this will satisfy her curiosity if you take her out to new places or for a little walk.

Most important of all is that you establish a strong bond with your new kitten so that she will not want to escape.

Here are a few myths about straying kittens:
In Bali you stop a new kitten from straying by cutting off its tail and burying it by the door. Cats in Bali grew wise to this trick which is why cats in parts of Malaysia and in Japan only have bobbed tails. Of course, in England you just smear their paws with butter to stop them running off.

God bless.

Answer 2

For every person that thinks you should let a cat outdoors, there will be another person who thinks you should keep it inside. Don't listen to what other people say - do what you feel is best.

If you have a garden, you can make the decision easier by installing cat fencing ( http://www.purrfectfence.co.uk ), which will mean that your kitty can explore the garden but won't be able to escape and therefore won't have to face the many dangers that outdoor cats face. If you do this though, remember that he must have both of his injections before you let him outside; so he'll need to be at least 3 months old.

In my experience, yes, most cats will try to go outdoors if you leave the window open. Males are more likely to do so; but girls do too. Cats are such inquisitive creatures - it's not even necessarily that they want to get outside, but perhaps moreso that they want to explore a new area.

We leave our windows on the 'latch' so that some air gets in, but our cat stays inside. We have opened windows in the past a little bit, but he manages to push them open and get out - which isn't good in the area I live in.

You can buy window screens, which are mesh panels, but you may not like how they look. My suggestion would be that if you have to open the windows, keep your cat out of the room for a while.

xx Emmie

Answer 3

If you want her as an indoor cat, the best thing to do is leave the windows and doors shut for the first few months that's she with you, she can't go out anyway until she's had her second lot of jabs so it's not like you're keeping her in unesceassilry. She should adapt to being an indoor cat after a while, but if she wants to go outside, you can buy cat harnesses and lead her out on a leash to give her that experience without letting her out of your sight.

Hope that helps

Answer 4

If you are keeping her in because she is a kitten I can understand that, as I don't let mine out until they are at least 10 months old and neutered.

However, if you have a garden and do not live on a busy road, I cannot understand why you would want to take her freedom away from her. What did she do wrong to spend her life confined, even prisoners get to go out side in the fresh air and feel the grass beneath their feet.

All my cats have been allowed their freedom to come and go as they please, as I have a cat flap. I only bring them in at night to avoid them getting into fights etc. A cat flap is a great way of doing this, as you can adjust them to incoming only in the evening and free flowing in the daytime.

Please don't make her and indoor cat unless it is absolutely necessary. She will try to escape out of windows and any way she can.

By getting her tagged I think you mean micro-chipped, which is a good idea for outdoor cats as well.

Sorry to put a spanner in the works, but my only concern is the happiness of your cat.

You'll do the right thing I'm sure.

Good luck to you and your Kitten.

Answer 5

Hi there, I have lived with indoor house cats my whole life and can tell you that you are making a smart choice by keeping your cat indoors. One of our cats was always curious about wanting to poke his head outside and we trained him. Our cat Giza really wanted to explore the garage, and she would do what ever she could to get in there, so we squirt-gun trained her (do not use this excessivly!) You want your cat to trust you, praise him for behaving well him lots of affection, and punish him when he gets too close to the exterior doors and windows. This means that you will have to watch your cat closely for the first little while you have him. My second suggestion is when you bring your kitten home, place him only in one room, DO NOT LET HIM ROAM THE HOUSE! Let him feel safe in that one room, get use to the smells and sights, then as he is getting more curious about the world out side your room, leave the door open and let him explore the house and this way you control his training for when he gets too close to an exterior door or window. I know using a water gun might seem harsh, but it works very well and very quickly. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 6

It sounds like your kitten has a sprain and it will take a few days to recover so try to limit her activities although I know it's next to impossible! If I have the time line right - she hurt herself last night, saw the vet today but hasn't pooped yet today. That's not too long without going #2 and the medication may slow her system down a bit. I highly recommend you call the vet to get guidelines on what to expect for your cat's recovery and what things could indicate there's a problem. From what you said, I think your cat is OK right now and you don't need to worry, but your vet has checked her out, knows the extent of the injury and is the best person to tell you what to watch for.

Answer 7

IT is a shame that you will not let her out,but some cats will live very contentedly not going out at all. My cousins cat NEVER went out and all the doors and windows were left open all the time. Some cats crave the wild in which case you will have trouble on your hands, she will try to escape at every opportunity. My cat comes in to eat has a quick wash then goes out again, she would go mad if I kept her in. ANSWER only open high windows or install mosquito nets, be carefull when opening windows and doors. Good Luck

Answer 8

Too be honest I think it depends upon the nature of the cat. She could be perfectly happy indoors.

I had one cat who would try and bolt for the door everytime it was opened, even when she got older. Yet I had another who was quite contented basking in the sun on the window ledge and never attempted to escape.

Remember Cats are freewilled. They are not like Dogs and very few of them will obey commands when they do not want to. 'Sit' and 'Stay' don't work! Lol

Make sure she has plenty of toys to keep her entertained and get her neutered as soon as she turns 6 months. Not only will this stop her getting pregnant if she does do a Houdini on you, it will also get rid of the urge to go and mate, so reduces the likelyhood of her trying to escape Also, although it is tempting resist the urge to carry her with you to the corner shop you friends house, etc. This will only get her used to being outside.

Hope I helped and good luck with the kitty. x

Answer 9

Every cat is different. Some aren't interested in going outside, some really want to. It's impossible to know which kind your cat will be! Cats can live indoor lives perfectly happily.

The most important thing is to get your cat spayed once she's 5 months old. If she ever does get out and she's aged 4 months or over and not spayed, she will come back pregnant.

It's also important to get indoor cats vaccinated and defleaed - the only disease indoor cats are safe from is feline leukaemia, and that's only if they never, ever get outside. Indoor cats still get fleas because fleas enter houses, they're attracted to the warmth and the prospect of a meal, so deflea your indoor cat regularly.

If your cat ever does get outside, she will come back, especially if she's neutered. So long as she's been at yours for at least a month, she will know it's home.

Chalice

Answer 10

Yes, your cat will get out whenever she finds a door or window open. Cats like to explore their surroundings. Be very careful, especially for teh first few months. Put a tag with your phone on her, and put a mesh on the windows, so that it is closed when the window is open. Also, make sure to spay your cat soon enough. If she wants to mate, nothing will keep her in. If she is spayed, she may go for a walk outside and come back. However, I would make sure to keep her inside too, because sometimes they get lost, hurt, etc., even if they are spayed.