My cat has become an indoor kitty. Help me feel better about it.
March 21, 2016 8:02 AM   Subscribe

My 7 year old indoor/outdoor kitty has now become an indoor kitty. Please help me feel better about this and give me your tips for keeping him safe AND happy.

I have read other threads and the situations are slightly different from ours. I also do not wish this discussion to devolve into a sh*tstorm about whether cats should be indoors or outdoors. He must stay indoors to be safe.

T.L. Kelly was an abandoned kitten I found at age 6 months. Obligatory pic here. Baby T.L. here.

He seemed never to have been indoors before. He was dumped at a rest stop and I found him and took him home. Not a flea or a tick on him, in perfect health. Yay!

For the last 6.5 years or so he has been an indoor-outdoor model. This has been beneficial to me because I am slightly allergic to him.  Also he prefers the Big Outdoor Litter Box aka the yard. Our morning routine for years has been for him to run outdoors, use the yard, come back in, and have breakfast and skritches.

If he had not been a tiny survivalist outdoors for the indeterminate period of time, I would have kept him indoors all the time.

In the past I had a large rural yard where few other animals showed up. But now we have a little city backyard (fenced but not super effectively), and T.L. Kelly, now a distinguished elder stateskitty, has recently been attacked and bitten by a very large cat. Twice. The first time we thought a raccoon had attacked him, but the second time the vet could see the bite mark and that it had come from a huge cat. After the first time I kept him indoors after dark, but this obviously did not prevent the second attack. (My poor boy. And I could have built a fancy catio for the cost of the vet bills to treat the abscesses.) We will also be getting him tested for FIV and FeLV but he is always current on his vaccinations.

So for his safety he must stay indoors. He seems to be getting used to it, though he does fuss a lot and turn the sad meowing up to 11 if anyone with opposable thumbs is near the front or back door. I'm getting him a bigger litter box, using a Feliway diffuser, and planning to enrich his environment by reducing floor clutter, rearranging furniture to give him a refuge and play space, and making sure he has some playtime each day with either me or Mister Sister (heh) or both.

I am reading about the Indoor Pet Initiative to get as many ideas as possible for the transition.

And I am still a wreck. That cat loves our yard. I think I'm projecting, but I feel like a jailer, and I feel so sad sometimes. He doesn't seem depressed but he doesn't understand why he can't go outside.

My question is, how do I get over my weirdo guilt feelings and projection and feel okay about doing what is best for T.L. Kelly? And any advice regarding how to keep him happy AND safe would be very welcome.

Thanks, guise!
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy to Pets & Animals (22 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Build that catio!
posted by Mistress at 8:10 AM on March 21, 2016 [11 favorites]


Would you go out with him? Do you think he'd tolerate a harness and leash? One of our cats has learned that when we reach for the harness, it means he's getting outdoor time. We stopped for winter, but once the weather gets a little better, one of us will take him out in the yard for 30-45 minutes for some fresh air, territory patrolling, and catnip bush snacking.
posted by dywypi at 8:17 AM on March 21, 2016 [12 favorites]


Build a catio, try bringing him outside on a harness, but also -- he's likely to be less outdoor-focussed as he gets older. Play with him a lot more indoors. You are way sadder about this than your cat is.
posted by jeather at 8:19 AM on March 21, 2016 [7 favorites]


We take our indoor cat into our backyard on a harness and long leash. He is an incredibly chill cat, so he quickly got over wearing the harness (although the first few times we put it on he promptly dramatically collapsed), but I tend to think most cats will tolerate most things eventually, so this might be worth a shot (if it's feasible for you to go out with him).
posted by vakker at 8:24 AM on March 21, 2016 [4 favorites]


Your post makes it sound like when outside, he stays in your yard. If that’s true, can you supervise him out there once a day to keep him safe? (Not questioning the indoors move! Just wanting to make sure you consider all your options.)
posted by metasarah at 9:06 AM on March 21, 2016 [5 favorites]


You don't have to build a full-on catio, even. You could maybe rig something up with a large open cage secured outside of a kitty door. Large enough that Evil Cat could not reach in and claw him of course. But somewhere he could get out for sun/fresh air without danger.

Oh and kitty door advice; you don't have to chop up your existing door necessarily if it's nice. We bought a less-expensive door, put the cat door in it, and hung it instead. When we no longer need/want the cat door/move out, we can put the nicer door back.

Even simpler: a secure window seat. When you're home you can open it up for fresh air, but during the day, he can sit there and watch birds or what have you. You can also put a bird feeder outside to maximize the viewing potential (though not if it means Evil Neighbor Cat will eat more of them ).

We may have to do all this ourselves; our cat has gotten into one fight and he is pretty fast and savvy when he's outdoors. But if he got another bite, we'd probably switch over to indoor-only. For whatever reason, he prefers his litterbox to the great outdoors anyway, and I know from when I work at home that he mostly sleeps all day. He could probably endure going full inside cat without going crazy.
posted by emjaybee at 9:17 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Get a new routine & stick to it. Buy lots of toys for him to keep his mind distracted. He just has to get used to the new normal so sticking to a routine will help that sink in. If he likes catnip a catnip toy or 2 to distract him when the sad meowing starts, or just distract him with playtime if catnip doesn't work on him. Maybe grow some catgrass in a tray. Cat trees & lots of fun climbing things. You can even just make them out of cardboardboxes with holes cut in stuck together. Make indoors fun & full of distractions & his wanting to go outside so much will fade.
posted by wwax at 9:19 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you decide to try a harness with him, acclimate him to it _gradually_. Start by playing with it with him; after a while, loop it over his head just for a moment, then remove it almost instantly. On the second day, you can do the same thing and leave it over his head (with you still holding it, don't let him run around with it -- that would be dangerous) for a second or two. Eventually slip one leg through the leg part for a moment, then remove. Don't freak him out :)

Then you can work up to having the harness completely on for a few seconds, then remove.

Give lots of treats throughout, during and after! Play with him while it's on! Distract him! It will feel weird -- distract him more.

Eventually, put it on for a minute or so. Work up to him having it on with a leash attached; if he's not flipping around and trying to escape, then you're ready for a _brief_ sojourn outside.

You want him to associate the harness with going outside. No harness, no outside.

At the same time, it's important to avoid "dashing" -- him running for the door when it's opened. Here are two ways:

1) He can only go outside when he's carried through the door. Pick him up, go outside, put him on the ground (with the harness on), let him smell some stuff, whatever, then you pick him up and carry him inside.

2) Only recently learned by me: whenever you arrive home through the door, have him sit in a special place _away from the door_ (preferably a clearly defined place, like on a stool or a chair), and give him a treat. That way, he learns to run to that place when the door is opened, rather than outside.
posted by amtho at 9:20 AM on March 21, 2016 [3 favorites]


Our kitties love playing with their toys. Frankly, I'm sure there's a carpet underneath all of their feathers, mice, balls, balls with feathers and mice with feathers.

Our cats have a Catch, where we give them kibble. It's an environment enhancer, and the LOVE to hunt their food in there.

We put the cat tree by a window, so that they can watch the outside.

They also love the Friskies Pull and Play.

Don't feel too guilty, you're doing the right thing. Besides, I work from home, and cats are only awake for 20 minutes a day. The rest of the time, they're just depositing fur on soft surfaces.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:25 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


A huge part of what cats enjoy about outside is scent. Pick a window that gets a breeze and set it up for maximum smell-o-vision. Install a quality screen so he can't scratch or bash his way through it, set up a nice comfy easy to climb to area right at the open window for him to lounge, and maybe set up some bird feeders within view of the window if you wanna get fancy and there is a handy tree.

For bonuses, collect things to bring in for him to smell, like different plants and stuff critters may have left their scent on. He might also like sniffing your gardening shoes and gloves if you have pairs you wear for yard work.

As for getting over your feelings, try to acknowledge them. You are doing a very natural and instinctual thing: anthropomorphising a creature you care about. But cats are not actually furry babies and their experience of reality is fundamentally different from our own. So when you catch yourself getting worked up about this, accept it and try to take it apart a little. Separate what your perceptions of what he is feeling are from what he is actually doing in terms of actions and reactions. Look at your perceptions and think about how that really just says you are a compassionate human, projecting from your own experiences. And also how you have the awareness and knowledge your cat does not have to make the best decisions for his welfare.
posted by Mizu at 9:49 AM on March 21, 2016 [4 favorites]


The leash can be done! My experience:

- First just put the harness on indoors only. Lots of treats. Leave it on for a few minutes and gradually work it up to like half an hour. Have him chase treats around the house with the harness on.
- Put the leash on. Walk around the house with the leash. *Gently* hold the leash to stop them from being able to walk forward so that they get used to feeling resistance.
- Open the door with the harness and leash on. Now, this is where we may differ in experience because my kitty did not go to the backyard before so she was very cautious about it. I let her set the pace. Your kitty may make a run for it, but this is why you need to acclimate them to feeling resistance.
- My kitty comes in of her own accord about 30% of the time. The other 70% of the time I just pick her up and bring her in. When I take the harness off I immediately give her a few treats.

If you can, I would also invest in some cat trees and tunnels.
posted by like_neon at 9:56 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Getting a big cat tree and periodically dumping catnip on it was the single most helpful thing when our three became full time indoors kitties. Bird feeders hung outside windows they can get to have added to their engagement and have the big plus of no more little corpses brought to me when they were outdoors. We make sure to have lots of kitty entertainment stuff around - a cardboard box, cat toys and the like have all eased the transition.
posted by leslies at 10:30 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


I can also recommend catnip spray over messy catnip.

And be sure to get your cat a very nice cat bed.
posted by jeather at 11:01 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Seconding supervised sorties. I do this with my kitties, who are accustomed to their rituals: morning and evening on weekdays, basically-all-day when I'm home on weekends. I make a point of keeping an eye on them, and they check in with me too, meowing about their discoveries and "oh hey did you see that human walk past on the sidewalk? they had miniature humans with them!" sorts of observations. I also trained mine to come when called, which they're happy to do... when they have been outside The Right Amount Of Time (never less than ten minutes). It's a nice way to encourage yourself to enjoy your garden, too.
posted by fraula at 11:25 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


If it helps, next time your handsome boy is working himself up into what looks like a fit of sadness because the front door is RIGHT THERE and no one will open it because no one loves him, boo-hoo, remember that cats are master manipulators who will gladly send you down Guilt Trip Avenue of it gets them what they want in the moment. My boy was a serious snacker until he got pancreatitis and the vet said no more treats/scraps/anything that wasn't prescription cat food. This new rule didn't sit well with him, of course, and he got very, very good at making us all feel terrible that we weren't offering him morsels of delicious bacon or sneaking him bites of pie anymore. He'd cry and beg and put his paws on my leg and look at me with enormous, pitiful eyes. He'd try that, and it wouldn't work, and then he'd forget and wander off, and three minutes later he'd be playing the best game EVER with his catnip pickle toy, and you'd never know I just broke his heart. Meanwhile, his pancreatitis never came back, and he lost weight and got more active and felt better. While I felt bad in the moment sometimes that I couldn't reward his sadface with a handful of treats, I'm glad I did what was necessary to take care of him and keep him healthy.

Cats are like that. They live in the moment, so everything is a VERY BIG DEAL in the moment...and a few minutes later, it's nothing. So if your boy tries to guilt trip you at the front door, remember that you're his human and he needs you to take care of him, even if that isn't always what he wants at that second. Toss a toy to distract him, open a window to let him smell some smells, and know that he'll eventually get used to his new normal. He's definitely safer without Neighborhood Giant Bully Cat taking bites out of him, ouch!
posted by QuickedWeen at 11:52 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]


My formerly out/in cats became indoor only when I moved from a house to a condo. It took hardly anytime at all for them to get used to it.
posted by Kurichina at 12:50 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


My cat used to be a mostly outdoor cat, and when I adopted her from a neighbor at age 9, she came inside with me and hasn't gone out since. She's fine!
posted by Stewriffic at 1:42 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thank you to all who responded :) I was out today taking care of Kitty Things. Just writing the question helped me so much, and your practical and compassionate answers are also extremely helpful.

I don't know if he will tolerate a harness. He has never even worn a collar (though he is chipped). He did go outside of our yard before--he had various fave pooping areas. I love the window seat idea and the idea of kitty outdoor excursions. Mister Sister and I will look into a harness. So many things y'all said are helpful that I can't list them all. Cats basically being "in the moment" and little manipulators was really good to remember. Also the idea that he could sit in a safe window and sniff the breeze every morning in spring and summer is great.

I brought new toys home and a bigger litterbox and these sacrifices have been accepted by our Cute Overlord. I think the Catch feeder idea is awesome, too. The main thing is that he's safe, and I feel GREAT about that part. He can continue to be a spoiled rotten kitty, just indoors.

Thank you all again for your time and your input!
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 1:45 PM on March 21, 2016


Please check whether you have any bottom-hung tilting windows. These are very dangerous to cats; the triangular gap at the side is a death trap to a curious cat. There are grids you can buy to make this type of window secure.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:40 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


With harnesses--you can get a cat used to them by putting it on while they're inside for longer and longer periods of time until they stop trying to flatten themselves into the floor. Also make sure you get a really solid one. I know a few cats who have slipped out of this very popular one on Amazon. In general, the more the harness is like a shirt and the more fitted it is around the chest and front legs the more secure it will be.

When I have apartment windows that facilitate it, I hang up bird feeders in front of them to give my cats something to look at. It's like TV, they love it.
posted by Anonymous at 3:35 PM on March 21, 2016


When we adopted Chaplin, one of the terms in the adoption contract was that he had to be a totally indoor cat. He got used to it very quickly. As long as he has a cushy place to sleep (he's currently claimed our recliner!), a place where he can sit and look out the window, his corrugated cardboard scratcher (oh, does he love this. He's been known to nap on this too.), and plenty of food and water, he's happy.

You might consider getting him a cat fountain, if you don't already have one. Chaplin loves drinking the running water (and splashing in it too).
posted by SisterHavana at 9:00 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you are able to improve the fence, then using Cat Fence In on that fence can work really well. It's what I used on my ex-feral indoor/outdoor cat when he was getting beat up on.

But you've gotten a lot of other good ideas which may be a lot easier (and better, for your specific situation).
posted by jeri at 6:04 PM on March 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


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