If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Changing an Outdoor Cat into an Indoor Cat
Hello everyone
I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a long line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out, but then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now. It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I dont think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he just wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any advice or experience will be most welcome. -- Trudie |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Troodle" wrote in message ... Hello everyone I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a long line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out, but then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now. It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I dont think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he just wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any advice or experience will be most welcome. -- Trudie I've had one who adjusted well to inside living and another cat who tried clawing through drywall to get back outside. Because your guy wanders I'd give it more time and get him a nice big cat tree and a window perch so he can look outside. Keep playing with him to keep him busy and see how it goes in a while. W |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Troodle" wrote in message ... Hello everyone I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a long line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out, but then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now. It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I dont think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he just wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any advice or experience will be most welcome. -- Trudie I've had one who adjusted well to inside living and another cat who tried clawing through drywall to get back outside. Because your guy wanders I'd give it more time and get him a nice big cat tree and a window perch so he can look outside. Keep playing with him to keep him busy and see how it goes in a while. W |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Sorry , you're having problems. I just wanted to say that when you
move a cat to a new area , you need to keep your cat in for at least two weeks before you let it out .A few days isn't enough, which is why he might have gone missing trying to reach his old territory. Perhaps the harnmess walks weren't long enough to keep him happy . Maybe you could walk him twice a day for a longer time. Cat fencing a yard so they can go out but not leave it , is enough to satisy some cats. There's advice here about interactive play which helps satisfy a cat's hunting instinct http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...t/?msg=11667.1 If your cat doesn't settle after a time and you are both unhappy , maybe you could think about asking the new owners of the farm if they would have him, if they are cat lovers and would care for him as you do. I know it would be upsetting and a loss for you but it is an option to consider. Alison "Troodle" wrote in message ... Hello everyone I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a long line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out, but then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now. It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I dont think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he just wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any advice or experience will be most welcome. -- Trudie |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Sorry , you're having problems. I just wanted to say that when you
move a cat to a new area , you need to keep your cat in for at least two weeks before you let it out .A few days isn't enough, which is why he might have gone missing trying to reach his old territory. Perhaps the harnmess walks weren't long enough to keep him happy . Maybe you could walk him twice a day for a longer time. Cat fencing a yard so they can go out but not leave it , is enough to satisy some cats. There's advice here about interactive play which helps satisfy a cat's hunting instinct http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...t/?msg=11667.1 If your cat doesn't settle after a time and you are both unhappy , maybe you could think about asking the new owners of the farm if they would have him, if they are cat lovers and would care for him as you do. I know it would be upsetting and a loss for you but it is an option to consider. Alison "Troodle" wrote in message ... Hello everyone I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a long line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out, but then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now. It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I dont think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he just wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any advice or experience will be most welcome. -- Trudie |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
We also took an outdoor farm cat from NY to FL where he became an indoor
only cat. It took a few weeks before he escaped for a few hours and when we found him, he never went near a door again - thank God!! Give it time and plenty of play time. Cats are incrdibly adaptive. We now have 3 exferals as indoor cats and they sit at an open door and look but don't approach the sill. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
We also took an outdoor farm cat from NY to FL where he became an indoor
only cat. It took a few weeks before he escaped for a few hours and when we found him, he never went near a door again - thank God!! Give it time and plenty of play time. Cats are incrdibly adaptive. We now have 3 exferals as indoor cats and they sit at an open door and look but don't approach the sill. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Be firm, Trudie. Don't even walk the cats outside. You are in for a possibly long session of howling and carrying on, but it will pass. Meanwhile, give both cats things to do in their new indoor home: new places to hide and sleep (an old cat game), toys, bird feeder outside the window, whatever keeps them interested. And don't give in! Better a temporarily unhappy cat than a permanently dead one. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Be firm, Trudie. Don't even walk the cats outside. You are in for a possibly long session of howling and carrying on, but it will pass. Meanwhile, give both cats things to do in their new indoor home: new places to hide and sleep (an old cat game), toys, bird feeder outside the window, whatever keeps them interested. And don't give in! Better a temporarily unhappy cat than a permanently dead one. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message ashington.edu... Be firm, Trudie. Don't even walk the cats outside. You are in for a possibly long session of howling and carrying on, but it will pass. Taking a cat outdoors with a harness is perfectly fine. Yes, the cat will probably howl and meow and harass you to go out, but the behavior will fade after a couple of weeks once the cat realizes it will get time outdoors. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Changing decorations | Miss Violette | Cat community | 47 | March 6th 04 07:42 AM |
My kittens changing bottom lip. | Hurrikane | Cat health & behaviour | 6 | October 27th 03 09:24 PM |
Changing the Sheets | jmcquown | Cat anecdotes | 6 | October 12th 03 07:13 AM |