Increasingly, cat owners recognize the need to keep their cats indoors for their safety and the safety of the community's wildlife. Cats that live outdoors can easily be injured, exposed to disease, or threatened by people and animals outside. The good news is that cats can be perfectly happy indoors as long as their needs are met. The transition from an outdoor cat to an indoor cat requires patience and a good understanding of the needs and desires of your feline friend.
Let's face it, our homes are designed around human comfort, not necessarily creature comforts. So let's look at our home through the eyes of a cat and come up with ways to satisfy those natural feline instincts. Just because your cat seems stressed about not going out for the first few days doesn't mean it's not the right decision. If you've made the decision to transition your cat to indoor living, you're probably already aware of the risks of outdoor living for cats.
If you are bringing a stray cat or if you have decided that your cat exclusively outdoors should now live indoors, you can't just bring it and let it take care of the house right away. Outdoor cats can have an impact on wildlife populations, especially when it comes to threatened and endangered species. Letting your cat go outdoors from time to time can only reinforce their annoying behaviors, so keep them indoors all the time. In fact, about two-thirds of the cats on property live indoors, either exclusively or most of the time.
An outdoor cat will have plenty of opportunities to hunt mice, insects, and other creatures, but an indoor cat may need more help. Life-threatening dangers of parasites, contracting diseases from other cats, being hit by cars, being stolen by strangers, attacked by predators or simply getting lost are constant threats to an outdoor cat. A clear vinyl mat turned upwards will encourage the cat to avoid walking near the door. The only newcomer you want to bring into the house is the cat itself, and not an army of tick fleas.
Even a stray cat or a friendly semi-wild cat can make the adjustment and live happily and safely only indoors. In the outdoor environment, the cat also had its own hiding places, favorite hangers and other places.
