Can I make my old outdoor cat an indoor cat?
Monday, February 8th, 2010 at
4:44 pm
I have a cat who is now 10 years old that has lived outdoors all his life. I went away to college and got another cat and a dog. everytime I go home to my parents and see my old cat I want to take him back with me. I am worried though how he would adjust being he has lived 10 years as an outdoor cat. Is it possible to take a cat that has lived outdoors his whole life and make him an indoor cat or should I let him just live his remaining years outdoors back home?
Filed under: Cat Furniture
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"Is it possible to take a cat that has lived outdoors his whole life and make him an indoor cat or should I let him just live his remaining years outdoors back home?"
It sounds like you already know the answer to this. If you are just looking to bounce this off other people - all I can say is - you are right.
Good luck. He will drive you crazy initially trying to get outside. My mother took in a stray that must have been outside for quite some time. He was a sweet cat, but he wanted out. She eventually gave in & started letting him back out. His deep focus on a squirrel & a speeding car…
It might be possible to take him with you & make him an indoor cat. Especially if he’s neutered. Male cat’s are much calmer when they are neutered. & the new setting might make it easier to get him to learn to stay inside.
As for the dog & cat, how good are they with other animals? Integrating them might be an issue.
Check out the link below for help in the introduction to your existing kitty & dog.
The second link is for tips on making an outdoor kitty an indoor kitty.
Good luck!
Yes, it’s possible. As he’s adjusting to his new home he will get use to living indoors. It’s a new place a new beginning.
It takes some cats quite awhile to adjust to changes… especially when they’re older, and some never adapt to big changes. If you still have your new cat and dog, he’ll be confronting three rather significant changes at once… moving to a new home, becoming indoor only and meeting your other pets. That’s quite a bit to take on, especially for a 10 year old kitty. I know it’s tough to leave them behind, but if he’s happy and well cared for at your parents’ house I recommend letting him stay there and enjoy his "golden years".
It would be best to leave him where he is, especially since you have other pets now. It would be very hard on him to adjust to other animals, let alone being kept indoors. It is also difficult to make an outdoor cat an indoor cat, plus you have to be careful every time the door opens that he doesn’t escape. When he does, you will worry and spend a lot of time chasing him (useless) and searching for him. Believe me, this is how I got all my gray hairs.
It is possible,,,, but have you considered your parents, too? they may not be saying anything, but they may have gotten quite attached to "your"cat, and he has been in that home ten years….. and you have been away a long time and gotten another animal
Could you be happy with visiting ,,,as you have been,,,, you do have another cat and dog.
Think about your older cat,,,, you are asking that he adjust to leaving the people he is used to, and being indoors, and a new cat, and a dog! WOW…..he;s an older cat,,,don’t stress him out.
If i were you, and my parents agreed, and they seem to have been taking care of him for years, I would rock the boat.
Yeah i brought my cat who was 5 in side. HE IS SO HAPPY. He went out because he was sycho. growls hissed and pooped in place not the litter box. Now he sleeps on the couch uses the box. BRING HIM INSIDE.. Where his litter box is take him in there sit in the room and shut the door. So you play with him them he’ll use the litter box. He will be so much happier inside and you won;t worry about him. I have 4 cats. and there used to him, the dog sleeps by him. the dog gave up doesn’y bother trying to make the cats scared. make sure your there when you introduce the other animals. We took him to the vet and had blood work done to make sure he didn;t have diseses like kitty luciema ect. to make the other cats sick. He got out once but went to where i fed him. But came right back in when i called him. he has not been out of the door since.. he doesn;t want to go out..
email me (click on avaitor) if there is anything i can help you with
you could but the cat would be unhappy, until he got used to it if he ever dose.