indoor cats

tabskitten

cats (unlike humans) do not need friends.
it is a human projection onto the feline that makes us assume that they do.

Fire_Fox

tabskitten wrote: »

cats (unlike humans) do not need friends.
it is a human projection onto the feline that makes us assume that they do.

That is not correct - some cats need feline or canine company, some cats need human company and some need no company at all. They are very intelligent animals and generally need both mental and physical stimulation - something that would usually be achieved by experiencing all the sights and smells of nature. Cats that are bored or lonely can suffer with clinical depression, separation anxiety and OCD - overgrooming is far more common in single indoors cats than indoor/ outdoor cats.

Pigget

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You can also make your own cat intelligence toys from egg boxes, yoghurt pots and toilet rolls - very Blue Peter -

We bought Milo loads of fancy toys when we first got him. The toy that he plays with by far the most is the plastic lid from the top of a milk bottle! So Fire Fox's suggestion is very much worth bearing in mind!

(Although we don't tend to leave it with him when he is alone, just in case!)

Mrs7ones

Thank you all for your relpies.

( Madget - Florence is a 'sniffer' to - she has to sniff EVERYTHING, even what we are eating, (but doen't ever try to eat)...)

She likes to watch out of the window - we get lots of birds in the garden, and she's constantly 'chattering' at them.. This keeps her occupied for hours. We also have 3 kids who all play with her in turn for short burst of time, bit TBH, she isn't much of a one for playing.... it's as if SHE hasn't got the patience!!! She did used to play for hours with Martin though, and cry at the french doors for him to come home if he was out (this is what made me think she might need a companion).

I like the idea of leaving small bowls of dry food in different places for her to find... I may give that one a try. She has the run of the house (and it's quite a large house) day and night, and DDs bedroom is such a pig-sty there's hours of exploring to be done in there...! We also have a large cellar, which she loved to go into given the chance - new exploration opportunities there...

i really don't fancy having to try to train a new cat to be an indoor cat, or to get a rescue cat that she might not take to, so having read all your wonderful suggestions, I think i'm going to stick with keeping her a happy only-kitty rather than risk stressing us and her out....

thanks all xx

Mrs7ones

Pigget wrote: »

We bought Milo loads of fancy toys when we first got him. The toy that he plays with by far the most is the plastic lid from the top of a milk bottle! So Fire Fox's suggestion is very much worth bearing in mind!

(Although we don't tend to leave it with him when he is alone, just in case!)

Martin was a 'straw-cat' he would play for hours with a plactic straw, either with is, or alone.... He once managed to tie one in a knot...... god only knows how he did that with no thumbs!!!

rita-rabbit

Mrs7ones wrote: »

Thank you all for your relpies.

( Madget - Florence is a 'sniffer' to - she has to sniff EVERYTHING, even what we are eating, (but doen't ever try to eat)...)

She likes to watch out of the window - we get lots of birds in the garden, and she's constantly 'chattering' at them.. This keeps her occupied for hours. We also have 3 kids who all play with her in turn for short burst of time, bit TBH, she isn't much of a one for playing.... it's as if SHE hasn't got the patience!!! She did used to play for hours with Martin though, and cry at the french doors for him to come home if he was out (this is what made me think she might need a companion).

I like the idea of leaving small bowls of dry food in different places for her to find... I may give that one a try. She has the run of the house (and it's quite a large house) day and night, and DDs bedroom is such a pig-sty there's hours of exploring to be done in there...! We also have a large cellar, which she loved to go into given the chance - new exploration opportunities there...

i really don't fancy having to try to train a new cat to be an indoor cat, or to get a rescue cat that she might not take to, so having read all your wonderful suggestions, I think i'm going to stick with keeping her a happy only-kitty rather than risk stressing us and her out....

thanks all xx

your cat has lots of company through her carers:T: - different if just you & cat.

captainprincess

I got my 2 cats as kittens thinking they would be good company for each other, which they were at first. They are 3 now and tolerate each other but certainly one wouldn't miss the other if it was gone! The dog on the other hand they adore and can't get enough of him, they certainly seem to like him more than they like me!
I think you are absolutely fine with only the one cat, she get's all your attention that way too!!

madget_2

Mrs7ones - My current 2 pusscats are occasional sniffers, but my last little girl was obsessed by smells. You could have loads of fun, Florence and you, getting her to sniff various things around the house. Even the post when it comes through the letterbox provides interesting scents.

I think Florence will settle well into being the only cat, especially as you are willing to ensure she'll get plenty of stimulation. I do feel that female cats usually tend to be less playful as they become adults than males. My boy is always trying to interest my girl in mischievousness - which often rewards him with a sharp whack across the nose. However, very occasionally, she'll leap into action and they'll chase each other around the house like a herd of very fast elephants. (Aren't they supposed to be graceful, noiseless creatures? ;-) )

If you do ever wish to adopt another indoor cat at any time, though, please do think of trying a rescue organisation. That's where mine have all hailed from, and they've been an absolute joy.

Pixiechic

Hi,

I have one cat and in our old house he was an outdoor kitty as we were surrounded by fields with no roads anywhere near. He loved being out and loved hunting, not birds as he had all the bells on buts lots of mice.
Anyway, we moved to a small village for various reasons and we have a garden. There is a rather busy road and a few neighbours have said that they have had cats killed on the road. Therefore, I decided that he would have to be indoors and I just had to hope that he would be okay. I had a harness for him so I take him outside most days for a wander around the garden. He is happy and loving and affectionate, he plays with his toys, loves catnip and interacts a lot with us. So it is definately possible for an outdoor cat to be happy becoming an indoor cat.
I would also have to agree that one cat can be very happy on its own and don't actually require a 'playmate'. I have thought about having another cat but mine is so spoilt we think it would knock him off his perch a bit now