How to toughen up two kitties

[amelia100]

My 9 month olds are rather cowardly these days. Bless them. LOL. I live in the city, so cant let them outdoors until i bring them to my mother's house in the country every two weeks or so; she has a lovely big garden. Now, they both started off there, when i first brought them home, for a bout three months, they seemed fine, loved going out in the garden. Since they've been city dwellers in my new apartment, it's like they've gotten acclimatised and used to be indoor cats. It's rather interesting to observe how adaptable cats can be. So nowadays when i bring them to my mother's house, they stay indoors most the time, unless I'M outdoors in which case they'll follow me like little over-dependent babies. LOL. It's a little irritating since i want them to enjoy the outdoors whilst their there.

Is this normal? Do they really adapt so quickly and rigidly to indoor living? I want them to be feisty, and know how to protect themselves against other cats. My mother's neighbour's cat now considers my mother's garden as IT'S territory, and i've caught my cats cowering and running away from it. LOL. It's a weird situation...

[marie73]

Under the circumstances, considering the neighbor's cat's behavior, I would keep them inside. Giving them a taste of the outdoors could also backfire on you, they could want out ALL the time when they're with you and they can't go out.

[catloverami]

Or it could backfire the other way, they would want out ALL the time, get so tuckered out by playing and hunting outside that when they come in all they want to do is eat and sleep. Then when you're back home in the city, the cat is pestering you and meowing at the door to go outside.

I would not encourage your cats to play outside if they don't want to, especially with an aggressive neighbour's cat who considers you mother's property it's territory. Your cats are the wise ones in this instance, not cowardly. Cat fights usually result in bites and deep scratches that can result in infections= a trip to the vet and $$$.

[spotty cats]

Originally Posted by amelia100

I want them to be feisty, and know how to protect themselves against other cats. .

I'm not sure why anyone would want their cats exposed to diseases, bite wounds, abscesses etc.

[MowMow]

Originally Posted by spotty cats

I'm not sure why anyone would want their cats exposed to diseases, bite wounds, abscesses etc.

This and if they are happy inside..let them be inside cats.

[happyrocinante]

Amelia - just so you are informed - I had an indoor cat that wanted to be outside so badly that I allowed him. He was a big cat, weighed about 15 pounds, and seemed to be able to hold his own. He was only outdoors for about 4 or 5 months when he got sick. I hadn't stopped and thought about his vaccinations not being up to date when I let him out and he got Feline Lukemia and Feline AIDS in a matter of weeks. I had to have him put down because there was nothing they could do for him. I still mourn him and wish I had just left him inside.

I have two cats now that are very curious about outside but I won't allow them to go out for this reason. The vet said my cat probably contracted the diseases from sniffing and etc another cat's butt.

Just make sure your vaccinations are current.

[amelia100]

Originally Posted by happyrocinante

Amelia - just so you are informed - I had an indoor cat that wanted to be outside so badly that I allowed him. He was a big cat, weighed about 15 pounds, and seemed to be able to hold his own. He was only outdoors for about 4 or 5 months when he got sick. I hadn't stopped and thought about his vaccinations not being up to date when I let him out and he got Feline Lukemia and Feline AIDS in a matter of weeks. I had to have him put down because there was nothing they could do for him. I still mourn him and wish I had just left him inside.

I have two cats now that are very curious about outside but I won't allow them to go out for this reason. The vet said my cat probably contracted the diseases from sniffing and etc another cat's butt.

Just make sure your vaccinations are current.

Hi. Yep, they've had their vaccinations and are due their next boost in around four months. We had a persian full breed who lived indoors and yet went outdoors everyday for 15 years, which is when he died. As long as I vaccinate them, It's likely to be ok, but thanks for the reminder, it's good that i don't get complacent.

As for everyone else, they are mostly indoor cats, about 90 percent of the time, I just don't want them to go stir crazy inside, so I give them some free reign every once in a while. I don't believe in exclusive indoor living for animals.

[catloverami]

I should have added that I think it's good for cats to get outside for a change of scene. I used walk my stud cats with a harness and leash when I was into breeding. My two Devons go out in a pet stroller for a walk in an adjacent park. They like the change of scene, but are happy come back home too, and it satisfies them and they don't have any desire to go out.

[GhostTown]

Wow.

Last spring I had to make the choice to keep my cat indoors at all times. It was a hard thing to do, but it was either that, or let him get destroyed by a car or a raccoon.

I never thought I'd see someone having troubles pushing their cats out the door.

[MowMow]

Agreed, I'm great with my cats going outside for fresh air and scenery but ONLY with supervision. In which case They wouldn't need to be tough. I'm there to do it for them.