How to Make an Outdoor Cat an Indoor Cat

Several months ago our neighbors let us adopt their cat because it was not getting along with their dogs. The cat was an outdoor cat and was allowed to come and go as he pleased. That is how we got to know him. He would come to our door and eventually, we'd let him in and began purchasing cat food for him to eat. We told the neighbors how he would come over and if it would be ok to feed him. They didn't mind but eventually, he just stopped going home.

After some months the neighbors allowed us to keep him. We decided to keep him indoors for safety and health reasons. Of course the cat did not like this at all. He was used to his freedom and eventually, he would begin scratching the furniture in order to get his way. In the beginning we became quickly frustrated and gave in to what he wanted. We'd let him out and sometimes we couldn't find him. He would end up on the doorstep very late at night. We finally decided that we couldn't keep letting him have his way since he was officially our cat.

How We Helped Our Cat Adjust to Staying Indoors

The first thing we had to do was save our furniture. He would continue to scratch up our couches so we invested in soft-paws which fit over his claws and keeps our furniture safe. Now when he attempts to scratch, his claws just slide off of the material.

Second, we knew that we had to keep him stimulated since when he went outdoors, he loved to chase birds. We purchased some cat toys and things he could chase. We also make an effort to play with him using a stuffed mouse which hangs from a string. It's his favorite and he loves to run around and catch it.

Finally, we give him as much attention as we can. He still meows at the door every now and then and sneaks out when we open the door, but over time, he has become better with staying indoors. The key thing to keep in mind is to give your cat plenty to do in terms of toys. Switch them up every now and then. Don't leave them all out at once.

Also, give your cat treats every now and then, so that besides playing with their toys, they will feel that being indoors is just as fun as being outdoors. We keep cat treats on hand and occasionally give our cat milk made for cats. You can find cat milk in any pet store.

The good thing is that cats tend to sleep most of the day so you are not spending a huge amount of time having to play with them.