Converting an outdoor cat into an indoor pet can greatly increase their lifespan and overall quality of life. Outdoor cats face many dangers that indoor cats do not, including cars, predators, diseases, parasites, and cruel humans. While the transition may take patience and effort, it is well worth it to help keep your feline friend safe and healthy. This comprehensive guide will provide tips for making outdoor cats happy indoors.
Reasons to Make Your Outdoor Cat Into an Indoor Cat
There are several excellent reasons to transition an outdoor cat to indoor living:
Increased Lifespan
Cats who live exclusively outdoors have an average lifespan of just 2-5 years, while indoor cats typically live 12-18 years. Keeping your cat inside protects them from cars, predators, communicable diseases, parasites, poisons, and cruel humans, significantly increasing their chance of a long and healthy life.
Protection from Cars and Predators
Outdoor cats face serious threats from cars and predators like coyotes. These dangers can easily cut a cat’s life tragically short. Indoor cats do not have to navigate traffic or defend themselves from wild animals.
Reduced Risk of Illnesses and Parasites
Outdoor cats are exposed to more diseases like Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms. These can make cats very sick and even cause death. Keeping your cat inside greatly reduces their exposure.
No Accidental or Intentional Poisoning
Outdoor cats may accidentally ingest poisons like antifreeze, pesticides, fertilizers, or motor oil. Some cruel humans also intentionally poison outdoor cats. Indoor cats are not at risk.
Elimination of Nuisance Behaviors
When outdoor cats roam they may fight with other cats, spray buildings, dig in gardens, kill birds, or upset neighbors. Keeping your cat in stops these nuisance behaviors.
Better Supervision and Care
Indoor cats are under your watchful eye, so you can quickly detect any emerging health issues and ensure they are eating and eliminating properly each day. Outdoor cats don’t get this consistent care.
More Quality Bonding Time
With indoor cats you can spend more quality time playing, cuddling, and interacting each day, strengthening your bond. Outdoor cats have more limited supervised interaction.
Preparing for the Transition
Switching a long-time outdoor cat to indoor living takes patience and preparation. Here are some tips for setting up for a successful transition:
Have the Cat Veterinarian Checked
Before bringing your outdoor cat inside, make a veterinarian appointment to have them thoroughly examined, vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for any parasites. This gives your cat a clean bill of health before their lifestyle change.
Have Your Cat Spayed or Neutered
If your outdoor cat is not already spayed or neutered, make sure to have this done. This eliminates roaming, fighting, and mating behaviors that make adjusting to indoor life more difficult.
Gather Essential Supplies
Get all the supplies you will need to keep your outdoor cat happy indoors, like scratching posts, cat trees, toys, a cat bed, litter boxes, a water fountain, puzzle feeders, treat-dispensing toys, and pheromone diffusers.
Cat-Proof Your Home
Check your home for any small openings where your adventurous cat could escape and make sure screens on windows and doors are escape-proof. Keep toilet lids closed and keep laundry and other hazardous items out of reach.
Create a Safe Outdoor Enclosure (Optional)
Consider creating an escape-proof outdoor enclosure or catio where your cat can get fresh air and watch the world go by from the safety of an enclosed patio or yard. This provides limited outdoor access.
Have Patience!
Understand this transition may take weeks or months as your cat gets used to their new indoor life. Be patient, loving and encouraging as you both adjust. Consistency is key.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Once you have prepared your home, here are some useful tips for smoothly transitioning an outdoor cat into indoor living:
Start Confined to One Room
At first, confine your outdoor cat to a comfortable room like a bedroom with their essentials – food, water, litter box, scratcher, bed, and toys. Visit often, play, and reward good behavior with treats.
Try Using Synthetic Feline Pheromones
Feliway and other pheromone diffusers can help soothe and relax cats in times of stress like this transition. Plug them in the room where your cat is staying.
Provide Plenty of Entertainment
Make sure your cat has ample toys, scratchers, perches, hiding spots, food puzzles, and other forms of environmental enrichment to stay busy. Rotate toys to fight boredom. Play with interactive toys like wands and lasers.
Give Them a Window View
Let your outdoor cat watch the outdoors from a sunny window perch. Bird TV can provide mental stimulation. Just make the windows are secure so they can’t escape.
Gradually Allow Access to More Areas
As your cat gets more comfortable, gradually allow them to explore more areas of your home under supervision until they have full run of the house.
Take Them Outside Supervised
Let your cat outside on a leash and harness or in an outdoor catio to ease the transition. This allows fresh air without the risks of free roaming. Always supervise outside time.
Adjust Feeding Times Gradually
Outdoor cats are used to hunting for food. Slowly transition them to set mealtimes by spacing out feedings further apart before removing free access to food.
Address Any Problem Behaviors Quickly
If your cat begins exhibiting inappropriate elimination, aggression, or destructive behaviors, address it right away with more play, pheromones, or by consulting your vet.
Offer Plenty of Playtime and Affection
Make sure your indoor cat gets several interactive play sessions and daily pets, cuddles and love. A tired, happy cat is less likely to act out!
Be Patient!
Some outdoor cats adapt quickly while others take months to adjust. Be loving yet consistent as your cat learns their new indoor routine. It takes time!
Enriching Your Indoor Cat’s Environment
To keep your outdoor cat happy when transitioned to indoor living, their new environment must be enriched with entertainment and exercise opportunities. Here are some great options:
Cat Trees and Vertical Space
Provide high-up perches like multi-level cat trees and wall-mounted cat shelves so your cat can climb, scratch, play and survey their domain from on high.
Cat Condos and Hiding Places
Give your cat cozy dens and hiding spots to retreat to when they want privacy or quiet time to feel secure. Cat condos, cube beds, and tunnel toys are great.
Window Perches
Let your cat enjoy entertaining “bird TV” from sunny window perches while getting fresh air. Make sure screens are secure! A plexiglass enclosure can allow safe outdoor viewing.
Food Puzzles and Dispensing Toys
Keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated by feeding them from food-dispensing puzzle toys and balls. They have to work to get their food!
Interactive Toys
Have an assortment of wands, balls, and other interactive toys to play with your cat at least twice daily. This allows them to get out predatory energy.
Scratching Posts and Catnip
Provide strong, sturdy scratching posts and catnip-filled toys to satisfy your cat’s need to scratch and roll around in catnip. Prevent them from destroying furniture!
A Garden Catio (Optional)
Building an enclosed outdoor catio allows your indoor cat to enjoy fresh air, watch birds, and get sunshine while staying safely confined from escapes and predators.
Common Problems and Solutions
Despite your best efforts, some cats have difficulty adjusting to indoor living. Here are some common challenges and solutions:
Inappropriate Elimination
If your newly indoor cat stops using their litter box, take them to the vet for a checkup. Then try adding more boxes in various spots, new litter, and thoroughly cleaning soiled areas with enzyme cleaner. Using synthetic pheromone diffusers can also help with anxiety related accidents.
Excessive Vocalization
Indoor cats may meow excessively for attention. Try playing with them more at their heightened activity times, leaving a radio on for company when alone, and praising them when they are quiet to reinforce silence.
Destructiveness
Cats who scratch furniture or curtains are trying to trim their claws. Make sure you provide sturdy scratching posts and cat trees and trim their nails regularly. Using double sided tape and aluminum foil on forbidden surfaces may deter unwanted scratching.
Aggression
If your indoor cat hisses, swats or bites you, make sure they have plenty of perches to escape from unwanted attention. Never startle or corner them. Let them come to you and use treats and play to build trust. If the problem persists, consult your vet.
Urinary Issues
Stressed cats may stop urinating or develop urinary crystals and infections. Make sure they are drinking enough, feed wet food, and try calming pheromone diffusers. Immediately contact your vet if you cat stops urinating or seems to strain while trying.
Escaping
Determined cats may still try to dart outside. Use audible indoor barriers like Ssscat automated sprayers at doors/windows to startle them. Also explore anti-escape harnesses and outdoor enclosures if you want to take your indoor cat outside.
Benefits of Transitioning an Outdoor Cat to Indoor Life
While it takes effort and consistency, converting an outdoor cat to indoor living has immense benefits:
- Prolongs your cat’s lifespan by protecting them from many dangers
- Reduces your cat’s risk of contracting diseases and parasites
- Prevents nuisance behaviors like fighting and hunting birds
- Provides you more opportunity to bond with your cat
- Allows closer monitoring of your cat’s health and wellbeing
- Eliminates the risks of cars, predators, poisons, and cruel humans
- Gives your cat a comfortable, environmentally enriched home
- Allows your cat to live a longer, healthier and happier life!
So while it may take some work at first, transitioning your outdoor cat to be an indoor pet is well worth it for both you and your beloved cat. Follow the tips in this guide to help ensure a smooth adjustment period. With time, patience and effort, your outdoor cat can adapt to enjoy their new safer, healthier indoor life. Both you and your pet will reap the rewards!
Frequently Asked Questions About Transitioning Outdoor Cats to Indoors
Many cat owners have questions about converting their outdoor cats into indoor pets. Here are answers to some of the most common questions:
Is it cruel to force my outdoor cat to live indoors?
While your cat may resist at first, living indoors provides huge safety and health benefits that let cats live longer lives. Get them accustomed gradually using treats, play and environmental enrichment to make indoors fun!
Will my outdoor cat ever adjust to living exclusively inside?
With a patient yet persistent approach, most outdoor cats can adapt to indoor life, even if it takes weeks or months. Some tips to ease this transition include pheromone diffusers, window perches, interactive toys and supervised outdoor time in an enclosure.
What should I do if my indoor/outdoor cat keeps trying to run outside?
Invest in cat-proof, escape-proof window and door screens. You can also use motion-activated devices that spray air or water at the door when your cat approaches to startle them. Provide plenty of enrichment indoors so they don’t feel the need to escape.
Why does my newly indoor cat seem stressed and unhappy?
This lifestyle change is a big adjustment! Make sure to give your cat plenty of play, affection, hiding spots, vertical space, mental stimulation and environmental enrichment to help them adapt. It takes time – be patient!
My indoor/outdoor cat always tries bolting outside. What should I do?
Train them to associate darting for the door with unpleasant consequences like loud noises or puffs of air. Praise and reward them when they stay away from the door. Use a leash when taking them outside. Indoor exercise and play can help redirect their energy.
How can I tire out my indoor cat who used to roam outside?
Interactive play with wands, puzzle feeders, catnip, and treat balls can help burn their energy. Engage in at least 2-3 vigorous, aerobic play sessions daily. Cat trees and perches also allow climbing and jumping indoors. Just make their indoor space very stimulating!
Why does my cat cry at the doors and windows now that he’s indoor only?
Your cat longs for the outdoors they knew! Distract them with play and treats when they cry at thresholds. Give them an outdoor enclosed catio or walk them on a leash and harness. Plug in synthetic feline pheromone diffusers to help ease their anxiety.
How do I train my indoor/outdoor cat to use a leash and harness?
Start by just letting them wear the harness indoors, praising and rewarding with treats. Then attach the leash and let them drag it around while supervised. Finally graduate to holding the leash and walking them around the house and yard, going at their pace.
Are there any health risks to letting my outdoor cat continue roaming?
Yes! Outdoor cats face significantly higher risks of infectious diseases, parasites, being hit by cars, getting into fights, eating poisons, and other dangers that greatly shorten their life span compared to indoor cats. Making them indoor pets greatly increases their safety and longevity.
Final Tips for a Successful Transition
Switching a long-time outdoor cat into an indoor pet takes dedication, but it can definitely be done! Here are some final tips for making it a success:
- Start indoor confinement gradually using a comfortable, enriched room before allowing full house access
- Address problem behaviors like inappropriate elimination promptly and consistently
- Provide ample play, vertical space, hideouts, puzzle toys and window perches
- Consider constructing an outdoor catio for safe access to fresh air
- Use synthetic pheromone diffusers to help ease stress
- Try putting an old shirt with your scent on their bed for comfort
- Be extremely patient and persistently consistent during this process
- Lavish your cat with affection, treats and praise for cooperating
- Invest in cat-proofing your home thoroughly so they can’t escape
- Avoid punishment – use positive reinforcement training methods only
- Consult your veterinarian if issues like not urinating arise
- Reward and encourage every step your cat makes towards accepting their indoor life
With time, effort and patience, you can make the transition from outdoor cat to indoor pet a success. The safety, longevity and quality of life benefits to your cat are incredibly worthwhile! So stick with it – you and your cat will be so glad you did.