Can an outdoor cat be your indoor friend?

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Do you have a friendly outdoor cat who likes to stop for a snack on the porch? Have you ever thought about bringing them inside to officially join the family? If so, we’ve compiled some tips to help you start transitioning your outdoor porch cat to an indoor companion.

There is a caveat, however. Bringing an outdoor cat to live indoors can work if they seem friendly and socialized (perhaps from a previous owner). But if he’s afraid of you, he’s probably a feral cat (not a stray cat) and he’s been outside all his life. For these cats, it’s probably best to stick to the porch feed. You can, however, provide them with an outdoor shelter to make their life a little more comfortable.

Vet check first, cuddles later

Before you bring your new friend inside, you need to make sure he’s not someone else’s pet and doesn’t have a contagious disease. Your veterinarian can help you with both of these issues. They can check for a microchip and make sure the cat doesn’t actually belong to your neighbor down the street and is just visiting the neighborhood for extra treats. Your vet can also make sure your new friend doesn’t have diseases that could spread to other household cats (eg, feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus) or to you ( for example, rabies). This first exam will likely include a general health check, vaccinations and a microchip. They will also check and treat any internal and external parasites, as you don’t want to bring anything other than the cat into your home. You can also spay or neuter the cat so it’s less likely to mark inside your home and more likely to stay with you. Depending on the results of his exam, your new cat may need to stay at the veterinary clinic until he can safely interact with the people and pets in your household.

A safe place to call home

Your new cat has survived the challenge of living in the great outdoors and all the dangers that come with it, but now it needs to be protected from any dangers that lurk inside your home. If this is the first cat living in your home, you need to make sure it is a cat-proof home. Before your new friend enters. This includes removing or covering up any potentially dangerous chew toys (eg, electrical cords, poisonous plants, small objects) and checking that windows and screens are securely fastened. Don’t forget to look up as well. Many cats feel more secure and comfortable resting in high places, so look at the top of your cupboards and shelves to make sure there is nothing too valuable up there – in case it is “accidentally” pushed back.

Adjusting to inner life takes time

You want your cat’s new home to be a comfortable space for her, but it will likely take her a few days or even weeks to get used to her new surroundings. To help them adjust, start by keeping them in one room that has everything they need. This includes food and water bowls, a comfortable bed, and a kennel or box to hide in. You can satisfy their natural hunting and climbing instincts by placing a cat tree near a window, providing a scratching post, and hiding treats around the room.

Perhaps the most important thing your cat will have to adapt to (at least, in your opinion) is using a litter box. Place the litter box as far away from food and water bowls as possible and start with unscented, clumping litter. You should scoop the box daily and avoid using covered or self-cleaning litter boxes (for now).

During this adjustment period, it’s important to spend time with your new roommate and get them used to you and being touched. If they haven’t been around people for a while, it may be a while. Once they seem to have acclimated to their new room, allow them to explore the rest of the house without other pets or people around to potentially startle them.

Slowly introduce new pets

To make it easier to introduce your current pets to your new cat, try rubbing a towel over each and giving it to the other pet, so they can get used to the smell of it. their new friend. You can also let them sniff each other under the door. Once you think he’s ready for face-to-face introductions, make sure your new cat has at least two escape routes to his safe place and that you always supervise all interactions.

Bringing a stray indoors to be part of your family is possible if you make their new environment a safe and comfortable place where they can still act on their natural instincts. Remember that this may take some time, so patience is also important.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why ‘Community Cats’ Should Be Neutered or Neutered



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