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#1
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Help converting outside cat to inside cat
Two weeks ago I lost my 11 year old cat, Lucky, to an infection which
led to organ failure. She wandered into our yard one day and stayed. She wasn't reaaly an outside cat. It was obvious she was an inside cat that someone dumped at the school next door. She was so skinny and malnourished - no claws so she couldn't even hunt. Lucky she found our house before she starved to death - hense the name. For the past 4 months we have also had a outside cat. Twitch also just kind of wandered up one day. Twich was never really interested in coming inside as Lucky wouldn't let her. Now though, she seems to know that Lucky is gone and takes every opportunity to come in. For the last couple of days we have been letting her in for a few hours and putting her back out at night. (It's not as heartless as it sounds, she has a waterproof "kitty" house on the back porch with an outdoor heating pad so she stays dry, snug, and warm.) I think Twitch would adopt to being an indoor cat fairly easily, BUT as always there are problems. I have never really tried to take an outside cat and bring it in. Lucky was an exception, she wasn't really an outside cat. First, Twitch LOVES to claw EVERYTHING from the carpet to the furniture. Can't seem to get her to use a scratching post. Also, I don't know if she can adopt to a litter box. She loves to play and dig in it, but doesn't use it. Since she doesn't stay in for more than a few hours it hasn't been a problem - but later? Also, right now, with work and school schedules, we aren't even home for 12 hours of the day. There isn't anyone here to supervise her. My wife is especially concerned about the scratching - our furniture may not be the best but we'd like it to stay that way. Can anyone offer suggestions? -- Constitution; Bill of Rights; -- Void where prohibited by law |
#2
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Help converting outside cat to inside cat
I think Twitch would adopt to being an indoor cat fairly easily, BUT as always there are problems. I have never really tried to take an outside cat and bring it in. *Lucky was an exception, she wasn't really an outside cat. First, Twitch LOVES to claw EVERYTHING from the carpet to the furniture. *Can't seem to get her to use a scratching post. *Also, I don't know if she can adopt to a litter box. *She loves to play and dig in it, but doesn't use it. *Since she doesn't stay in for more than a few hours it hasn't been a problem - but later? *Also, right now, with work and school schedules, we aren't even home for 12 hours of the day. * There isn't anyone here to supervise her. *My wife is especially concerned about the scratching - our furniture may not be the best but we'd like it to stay that way. What kind of scratching post have you tried? Have you tried one of the cardboard ones? Since she was an outdoor cat, you might try alternative things like a piece of wood or an upside-down wicker basket. If this fails, ask your vet about Soft Paws, little plastic covers that you glue over the nails, replacing them every 4-6 weeks as they fall off. For a litterbox, you might want to try using sand or dirt (or dig up some soil from your backyard) and slowly transition her to a more traditional litter. Is here a small room you could confine her in for a couple of weeks while she acclimates to indoor life? Provide a litterbox or two, a nice tall cat tree, food, etc. If you have a window, a nice perch would be nice, or consider adding a bird or squirrel feeder near the window for her entertainment. Let us know how it goes. Thanks for bringing her to the safety of the indoors. Rene |
#3
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Help converting outside cat to inside cat
To all who offered advise, I thank you.
For the moment, Twitch is living a dual life. When we get home she comes in with us. At night, she seems content to sleep at the foot of the bed. In the day when we leave, she goes back outside. When she's in, if she stands by the door at anytime, she's allowed to go back out. When she's out, we let her back in when we hear her. She seems to prefer this, most of the time. On occasion, she doesn't want to go out in the morning. She has shown that she can and will use a litter box, so that's one question answered. We are learning to control her scratching. So far a stong "No" works. We have a couple of scratching posts and a scratching box. When we tell her "No" she usually goes to one of the scratching posts. We'll keep working on that. We are leaning toward trimming her claws to hold down on the damage to the furniture and to ourselves (she tends to get a little carried away and draws blood.) Right now, we are content to allow it to go on like this for a while, except or course she has a physical scheduled later this week with the vet. For those who meantioned it, most of the "cat" things we can live with and don't mind, even if we don't understand. Like the presents she leaves on the doorstep. We can live with that, but we'd prefer it if she would leave the the poor cardinals alone. Oh and her fascination with dirty socks, what's up with that? Again, thanks for all the advise. -- Constitution; Bill of Rights; -- Void where prohibited by law |
#4
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Help converting outside cat to inside cat
On Mar 31, 9:57*pm, Talker wrote:
To all who offered advise, I thank you. * For the moment, Twitch is living a dual life. *When we get home she comes in with us. *At night, she seems content to sleep at the foot of the bed. *In the day when we leave, she goes back outside. *When she's in, if she stands by the door at anytime, she's allowed to go back out. * When she's out, we let her back in when we hear her. *She seems to prefer this, most of the time. On occasion, she doesn't want to go out in the morning. * She has shown that she can and will use a litter box, so that's one question answered. *We are learning to control her scratching. *So far a stong "No" works. *We have a couple of scratching posts and a scratching box. *When we tell her "No" she usually goes to one of the scratching posts. *We'll keep working on that. *We are leaning toward trimming her claws to hold down on the damage to the furniture and to ourselves (she tends to get a little carried away and draws blood.) Right now, we are content to allow it to go on like this for a while, except or course she has a physical scheduled later this week with the vet. * * For those who meantioned it, most of the "cat" things we can live with and don't mind, even if we don't understand. *Like the presents she leaves on the doorstep. *We can live with that, but we'd prefer it if she would leave the the poor cardinals alone. *Oh and her fascination with dirty socks, what's up with that? Again, thanks for all the advise. -- Constitution; Bill of Rights; -- Void where prohibited by law I have an indoor/outdoor cat who some times sleeps in during the day and some times at night. Usually if she doesn't come in at night she will sleep in the next day. |
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