Cats have a primal instinct to be in nature. However, the outdoors isn’t always safe for a domesticated cat. If you want to restrict your cat’s movements to be indoors-only, it’s possible. Making your outdoor cat an indoor one isn’t cruel, but it does take work.
Transitioning yours from an outdoor cat to an indoor cat doesn’t make you a bad pet parent. After all, the outdoors can be a dangerous place for your cat. While making your cat an indoor one isn’t a bad thing, it’s important for you to maintain its normal activities as much as possible. Introduce new games or exercises that tap into your cat’s primal instincts. It can take time for your cat to adjust, so be patient.
The dedicated cat sitters at Critter Sitters know that transitioning your feline to be an indoor cat can be difficult. Our team is here to help, especially when you’re out of town. For attentive care when you can’t be there, call the cat sitters at Critter Sitters at (404) 793-6178 or visit us online today.
Is it Cruel to Make My Outdoor Cat an Indoor Cat?
Cats are generally self-sufficient, curious animals. Allowing your cat to roam the outdoors can spark its innate desire to explore and hunt. Outdoor cats can get more exercise and be independent. However, it’s normal for pet parents to worry about their felines, all alone in the outside world. Making your previously outdoor cat an indoor one isn’t cruel, but you’ll need to do so in the right way.
Changing the daily routine of your cat isn’t cruel per se, but it can be challenging. Your feline might be used to having independence and exploring the great outdoors. So, you might need to give your cat some time to adjust. There’s no need to completely change your cat’s lifestyle all at once either. You can still give your cat time to roam outside, just with your supervision.
Your cat won’t resent you for restricting its movements as long as you do so in the right way. It’s also important to examine the reasons you want to make your cat an indoor one. Many cats can balance indoor and outdoor behaviors with ease. As long as they know where to find love, warmth, and, most importantly, food, your cat will come home at the end of an outdoor adventure. However, if you have reasons to make your feline an indoor cat, it can be done without cruelty.
Should I Make My Outdoor Cat an Indoor Cat?
If your cat has been allowed to spend time outside for a considerable part of its life, it can be hard to make the transition into an exclusively indoor lifestyle. Allowing your cat to explore the outdoors can be beneficial for its physical and mental health, however it’s not necessary. If you’re concerned for your cat’s safety, that’s reason enough to make it stay inside.
Domesticated cats still have primal instincts, meaning they can be cuddly and exist solely indoors, or they can lead a double life and enjoy the outdoors. Taking that freedom away from your cat may not be necessary. However, if there are legitimate reasons why you want to make yours an indoor cat, it’s a valid choice. For example, you may have wildlife in your area that threatens your cat’s safety. In that case, limiting your cat’s movements makes sense.
If your cat is prone to picking up ticks or fleas, making it an indoor feline might be the answer to your problem. Your cat may be hunting too much, or your neighbors might have complained. There are countless legitimate reasons why you might want to transition your cat into the indoor lifestyle. If your cat was once allowed outdoors, it could take some time to adjust. Suppose you leave for vacation or a work trip. Your previously outdoor cat might get antsy having to spend so much time alone indoors. That’s why it’s beneficial to enlist the help of compassionate caretakers, like the Atlanta cat sitters at Critter Sitters. Cat-lovers, who understand how hard that transition can be can check in on your feline while you’re away.
While your cat might be grateful if you allow it outdoors, restricting it to your home isn’t cruel. Indoor cats are less prone to injury and getting lost. If you’ve been thinking about making your outdoor cat an indoor one, you can do so without upsetting it. A gradual transition is best in these circumstances.
How Can I Make an Outdoor Cat an Indoor Cat?
Making your outdoor cat an indoor cat isn’t too challenging. It just requires patience and effort on behalf of you, its owner. It might take a bit of time for your cat to adjust, but it can be just as happy once it does. You can also relax, knowing your feline friend is safe and sound in your home.
Cats have a primal need to hunt. That’s one of the reasons they love being outdoors so much. They can prey on mice that scurry around the neighborhood, appeasing their instincts. Spending all of their time indoors can prevent cats from hunting in the way they love. So, try incorporating some hunting-esque games into your daily routine. Many toys and feeders allow your cat to feel like it’s hunting without having to go outside.
If your furry friend is a newly indoor cat, it might not yet be accustomed to the change. Leaving it behind to go out of town can be stressful. Having access to a dedicated caretaker, like the cat sitters at Critter Sitters, can eliminate that stress. Our compassionate team can check in on your cat and make sure it’s adjusting well. Feline-fanatics, like the cat sitters at Critter Sitters, can play with your cat, so it gets enough exercise. Exercise is an important thing to monitor when you make your cat an indoor one. That’s because outdoor cats can run and jump to their heart’s content. Instigating play and exercise indoors is important during the transition.
Don’t get discouraged if the process takes a bit longer than you hoped. It can be hard for your cat to accept that it can’t go outside anymore. Here’s a pro tip: be careful when entering or exiting your house. In the first few weeks of its new lifestyle, your cat may run outside if it sees an opportunity. There’s also no need to end outdoor time altogether. You can allow your cat outside, under supervision, so it breathes some fresh air and gets to explore safely.
Critter Sitters Cares for Outdoor Cats and Indoor Cats
Whether your feline is an outdoor cat, an indoor cat, or a combination of the two, our caring team can be there when you can’t. Call the cat sitters at Critter Sitters for dedicated care at (404) 793-6178, or visit our website today.
