indoor cats

Mrs7ones

Hi,
i'd like a bit of advice if possible....

A bit of history-
For the past 18 yeas we've been cat owners, and absolutely love them.
Our first kitty (Dorothy) lived with us for 12 yeas before becoming ill with cancer. She moved home with us 3 times and was adorable, if not a bit alouf!! We were gutted when she died.

Where we live at the moment is on a busy main road, so when we got our next kitty (Martin) , we were advised to keep him inside, but that just was not possible - he could get out of the smallest window opening and was a frantic mouser and just needed to be outside.
Whilst we had him, we homed a kitten (Colin) that unbeknown to us had feline aids, so died just 3 months after we got him, aged 6 months. again, we were devestated to loose another cat.

Shortly after Colin died, we got the cutest little balck kitten (Florence) to help keep Martin company. Florence is completeyly an indoor cat - she hates the outdoors and on the odd occasion she has ventured out by accident,she has cried the place down to let us know she is out and needs to come back in NOW!!!!!!! It's good that she hates the outdoors cos just before christmas 2009, Martin was hit by a car and killed. again total devistation...

So basically, over the past 4 years, we have lost 3 much much loved cats. I can't face going through that again. But we would dearly love to get a companion for Florence.

So finanlly my dilema - how do you get a cat to be happy to be an indoor cat? Florence is naturally happy to stay inside, but how can we 'train' a new cat to be the same?
We have large french doors that we like to have open in the summer, so other than shutting a cat in another room, I don't see how we can keep one in....... Sould we just stick with the one cat?

laura_random

I don't have any outdoor access at all as I live in a flat, I re-homed a cat last year and I spent ages searching for one who would be suitable, but I got there in the end and she's a very happy cat, she doesn't mind not going out at all. I wouldn't recommend getting a kitten, but if you rehome an older cat you can find out if they liked going out much in their previous home. My cat had a garden in her last home but wouldn't go in it, so we knew she'd be ok indoors. Perhaps you could try some animal shelters and see if they have any cats who they think prefer the indoor life?

strawberrymooose

Hi there

Cats are solitary animals so Florence will live very happily without a companion.
You are lucky that she doesn't seem to want to go outside, as you have found, it is really difficult to keep a cat indoors that wants to be out and about.

Keep Florence happy and fulfilled by providing her with a scratching post (tall enough for her to stretch to full height and heavy enough so it doesn't move around when she leans on it, with a vertical thread so she can drag her claws down it), play short (1-2 min) games with her several times a day - alter the types of toys you use, fishing rod toys are good, and reward her with a little yummy treat every now and then when she catches it, and if you feed her dry food, scatter it around the house rather than in her bowl so that she spends more time 'hunting'. You can also get food balls where, if you show her how, she should learn to push around allowing the food to come out.

I hope that helps a little :-)

lady_wolfs_head

We had two cats, frisk died aged 18 a few years ago, Penny is 14, she always loved going out but was not like frisk. Penny was a rescue and always timid. Whereas frisk would come running from wherever he was with just a shake of the crunchie tin, Penny would not. When we moved Penny loved being out and got to the point where she would never come in!!!!. My husband would be up till all hours with the doors open only to find she had either sneeked in eaten and gone out again. We even employed the old huckleberry finn technique one outside to shut the door once she was in. Me being of sound mind said leave her out she has a coat, but huuby loving the cat more would not leave her out all night. Once we got her in, she stayed in and has lived either under the bath or in my daughters bed!!!. She nipped out last summer but soon came steaming in. Even if the doors are open now she never goes out.
In fact she has grown quite content. being fed on demand and howling for more.

madget_2

strawberrymoose is right, many cats actually prefer to be the only one in the house. Although they definitely do require plenty of stimulation to keep them from being bored.

This will make me sound insane, but I even used to take the lids off my many spice jars and let my cat sniff them one by one as she seemed fascinated by the scents (except the curry and paprika!). I also used to leave one or two room doors permanently closed, but very occasionally open them so she could investigate and satisfy her curiosity. A window with a good view outside also provides excellent cat entertainment - particularly if you have a bird bath or feeder within sight. Catnip toys are usually pretty popular - especially mouse-shaped, too.

However, animal rescue organisations are usually on the lookout for adopters who can provide a good home for a cat who needs to be kept indoors for health reasons (eg, my 2 both have allergies which are better kept under control if they stay indoors, or there are partially sighted cats, deaf cats, etc). That way, you'd be helping a cat who might otherwise be difficult to rehome.

Of course, there are also some cats who are happy to be kept indoors (perhaps quiet, placid, nervous or older ones). A rescue organisation should be able to advise you as to whether any of their candidates for rehoming seem to be relaxed whilst confined indoors.

emlou2009

I cant offer any advice, but I am in a similar situation with my two. One is happy to stay indoors, and the other howls at all the doors and windows all the time, and when we open the door to leave or come in he tries to shoot right out, and we live by a busy road as well, not ideal at all

However, since I got our second (the one that wants to get out), I have come to the conclusion that the first (who wants to stay in) would have been much happier on his own had we not got the second so personally I wouldnt take the risk of getting another one in the future, if we had one and that one was settled, if you see what I mean? Just because one has got on well with another cat, doesnt mean it will get on well with another different cat, just as much as you cant predict getting a cat that doesnt mind staying in...

Pigget

Mrs7ones,

I've recently adopted an ex-stray who needs to be kept inside for health reasons. As yet he has not shown any interest in the outside world (granted we live in a 2nd floor flat so escaping wouldn't be the easiest of things to accomplish!)

To be on the safe side as Spring/Summer approach we are going to buy some child safety window locks so that smaller windows can be opened a little, enough for ventilation but not enough for him to get through. The locks should mean he can't headbutt the window open any further. The other things we shall be getting are window screens. These can be fitted so a larger window can be opened wide but a cat can't get out. Although I can't make any recommendations yet there are a few companies that provide these if you google.

You mention you have French doors. Do you have a garden? Would it be practical to either create a cat run or indeed completely cat proof your garden?

KSB235

You can buy cat trees that offer good stimulation for indoor cats, mine love them because they can climb right to the top and look out the window, they chase each other up and down etc..

Apart from that i just try to rotate their toys so they don't get bored with them and use catnip and catnip spray.

I would second Pigget's suggestion about window locks/screens. We survived the first summer in the flat without them but only just, it will mean you don't have to worry about them jumping out the window when your back is turned!

rita-rabbit

One thing I will say about indoor cats if it's still quite young & used to a companion you will need to consider staying home to keep it company if you are not going to replace the companion. For me that was not an option (staying at home more) - in fact the more outdoor cat sulked when I was out alot & the indoor one pines if the outdoor one stays out & demands attention from me to compensate.....

chelle230

I have 3 cats and are all house cats.
one used to go out, but since moving a couple of times in the last 3 years, she prefers it indoors.
one is a pedigree and I won't allow him to go out, although he's quite happy indoors and never made any attempt to get out even if the door is open.
my other is an indoor cat, but has escaped a few times now, I do my best to keep him in, and he's quite happy playing with the other cats and dogs, occassionally he'll cry to go out, but I just ignore him and he soon settles.
I think if they've never been out it's much easier for them than a cat that has had the freedom to explore then it's stopped

Fire_Fox

Mrs7ones wrote: »

So basically, over the past 4 years, we have lost 3 much much loved cats. I can't face going through that again. But we would dearly love to get a companion for Florence.

So finanlly my dilema - how do you get a cat to be happy to be an indoor cat? Florence is naturally happy to stay inside, but how can we 'train' a new cat to be the same?
We have large french doors that we like to have open in the summer, so other than shutting a cat in another room, I don't see how we can keep one in....... Sould we just stick with the one cat?

IMO it is cruel to force a kitten to stay inside, some will take to indoor life like a duck to water and others will not - depends on their personality. Have you considered cat proofing your garden or installing cat proof netting/ screening on doors or windows? There are loads of systems available.

Then you could adopt an adult cat that you know cannot/ does not want to go out: FeLV, partially sighted, deaf, timid, mature ... I took on my Noah as an adult and, tho he has been a stray, he shows zero interest in going out and was the same in his foster home. This is lucky as he has pododermatitis and vet has advised he should not go outside!

The alternative is to keep Florence entertained in other ways - Purrsinourhearts shop has the most amazing toys; Noah plays with his Turbo track multiple times every day (and night! ). We are nearly at this stage plus a flashing ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIgdVucDeVU
You can also make your own cat intelligence toys from egg boxes, yoghurt pots and toilet rolls - very Blue Peter - look up katzenfummelbrett on YouTube. Cats who do not like or are bored with catnip often respond to valerian or honeysuckle infused toys. Kwayzekatz is the best site for that, HTH.