Having second thoughts

[Ann Clarke (Tabby cat)]

I can echo what others have said on here. My two are indoor only and neither of them show any inclination to go out even though Dylan was an outdoor boy before we took him in at our CP branch. Hobbes has never been outode and he actually had a panic attack when I tried to take him to the vet for him vaccs. They have loads of toys and scratching posts and have the run of the house but they do spend most of the day asleep - I can vouch for that as I've been on hols from work and they do a lot of lazing around during the day  They are both fine and happy and I certainly don't think they are distressed by being indoors.

[Hannikat]

I guess its the bored ones that get stressed and loopy then. I have to agree at the moment most of the time they'd much rather play with each other than me! I have thought about cat proofing but to be honest I'm not sure how easy it would be. My garden leads straight unto the drive and there are lots of trees / high bushes. We also back on 5 neighbouring gardens would I need to ask them before I start messing with the fences?

[maryas]

Loopy??????  I think they can send us loopy but never heard of an indoor cat going loopy 

Last September my 13yrs old cat, Smudge went missing (finally found him dead, but that's another story).  In December I got Bonnie (10yrs old) from the RSPCA and as you can imagine I did not want to let her out as I could not go through what I went through with my Smudgie.  I said if she made a fuss to go out I would let her because it wasn't fair on her BUT luckily she has never wanted to go out.

The little bit of a summer we had this year (can anyone remember it!!?) I sat in my back garden with her and I had one of those extending dog leads on her.  She loved it and was as good as gold.  Even though she had a taste of the outside she still never fussed to go out.  Sometimes when I come in the house she runs out to get some grass but when I pull some up and offer it to her she comes in.

I work at a College and know quite a few joiners, so next year I'm going to ask one of them to cat proof my garden for me.

Good luck.

Mary and Bonnie

[Gillian Harvey]

When we first got Izzy and Bella we always planned on them being indoor/outdoor cats (only during the day never at night) however I keep having nightmares about nasty things happening to them and both me and the OH are seriously considering keeping them as indoor only

If you have a garden could you cat proof it? You've got the best of both worlds then, they can enjoy the outdoors and be safe.

[tiga]

Riley and Digby have never been outside and don't try to get out. They go out on the balcony with me but only if I am right there as Riley has jumped up and nearly given me a heart attack.

I make sure I play with them before work and in the evening. Usually they chase each other about a lot late at night and early in the morning. They also have 3 cat trees and I am building a cat climbing wall with shelves. But they snooze a lot of the day away and really come to life when I get home. I'd agree with the others, you just need to provide toys and things to climb and play with them loads. Mine haven't destroyed anything and have the run of the house. They are butter for getting on the kitchen counters but I'm over worrying about that now.

I also bring them lots of things in from outside. I have quite a few grassy plants and herbs that I change about from the patio and am always looking for bird feathers, seaweed and other interesting things when I'm out.

Touch wood, they seem happy as larry indoors and no loopiness so far!

[Den]

Memphis has just turned 1 and been indoors his whole life. When he was a baby I'd shut him upstairs whilst I was out ... I left one bedroom door open so he had 1 room, 2 landings and the stairs - tons of room really. Then when I realised all he was doing was snoozing whilst I was gone and nothing was being damaged I left the door to the stairs open which gave him access to the downstairs. I always keep the bathroom/kitchen doors closed even when I'm in because those are the places where he gets into trouble - he can't leave kitchen/loo paper alone Even though he has access to the whole house when I'm out he spends the whole time in my bedroom either snoozing on my bed or lying on the windowsill watching the world go by.

He really is a very happy boy. I have lots of toys all different kinds. I keep his most favourite toys out of sight which makes it very special and enjoyable when I get them out. Then I rotate all his other toys which I/He leave scattered around the house. He doesn't try to climb out of windows (he does try to catch bugs through the window) but we have plenty inside he can catch .. had a few moths, a fly and plenty of spiders. He plays with me/himself the dog. He always manages to find things to do .. his routine is usually, gets up has a play, goes back to sleep on me until I get up, eats, plays all morning. Then he will sleep pretty much all of the afternoon into early evening .. I've tried to get him to play but he likes his afternoon nap too much. Then he gets up and he will play all the way through to 11pm/midnight.

He doesn't try to run out of the back door when people come in/go out, and I have the dining room window (the top part) open a lot, he has never shown any interest in it. However, I can only have my bedroom window open when I'm in my room and able to keep an eye on things .. otherwise he would climb out  So no window open when I'm asleep (but I'm working on that .. there are lots of ways you can keep a cat in and have a window open).

Memphis is my first cat and I made the choice to keep him indoors .. I've not regretted this and had no problems. Everyone's situation is different though.

[LeighK]

Hiya,

I agree, mine have the run of the flat except for nightime when I have to shut the boys out of the bedroom to give Suzie her food and her time with me. Two are great company for each other, the boys always have each other for company especially when I'm out at work. Toys and play are as we all know very important and I try and spend as much time with them playing as possible. Neither Frankie nor Alfie has ever wanted to go out, and considering Frankie was previously an outdoor cat, he's never shown the slightest interest in going outdoors. Alfie was a stray and he shows very little desire to go out so I think it's very possible for indoor cats to lead healthy happy lives.

Cheers

Leigh

[Sabrina (Auferstehen)]

All 4 of mine are indoor and cope very well.

We have a conservatory they like going into in the summer and I swear it's hard to get them out.

You'll need plenty of toys and things to keep them active, so have a few cardboard boxes around and remember to play with them when you get home.

[swampmaxmum]

hiya, don't think my 2 are any loopier than they would be if they were outside cats (Swampy was for a little bit, but kept getting shut in cellars and nearly run over). Plus they have each other to play with - I like the idea of 2 cats indoors, not just 1 on his or her own, especially if the slave owner is out at work all day.  I think they will be just fine, but as you say, maybe need more than just 1 room to move about in. Get lots of (safe), fun toys and a cat climber and catnip so they can keep well occupied. You'll feel so much more relaxed knowing that they are safe as well.

[Hannikat]

When we first got Izzy and Bella we always planned on them being indoor/outdoor cats (only during the day never at night) however I keep having nightmares about nasty things happening to them and both me and the OH are seriously considering keeping them as indoor only (with sessions outside on a lead). I know quite a few of you on here keep your cats indoors for probably similar reasons as me but I read such horror stories of indoor cats going loopy. What sorts of things should I be considering at this stage to make sure this doesn't happen?

Currently they are in one bedroom during the day while I'm at work and roam the house when we are home. Once they get older I think we'd let them roam much more of the house while we are out, just a bit too naughty for that at the moment teehee