How do I make my indoor kitty an outdoor
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How do I make my indoor kitty an outdoor
| Fri, 12-03-2004 - 10:40am |
I recently got a kitty about 7 weeks ago. When I got her she was 6 weeks old and now she's 13 weeks old. I really didn't want for her to be an indoor kitty, but I felt she was to small to left outside at 6 weeks. Now, I have a baby coming in 6 weeks and I really don't think I can handle a baby and a kitty. I really want to keep her, but outside would be better. How do I make the transition from indoor kitty to outdoor kitty?

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My Amber is an outdoor cat. She's 9 years old and we've only had two major problems with her since we've had her. Once, she scratched her ear, got a tiny cut (I never did notice it) and it got infected causing her cheek on that side to swell up with the infected fluid. A trip to the vet and antibiotics was all it took to get her healed up. The other was a little more serious. She got into a cat fight and got a puncture wound in her ear. All I did was apply hydrogen peroxide to it one to two times a day and it healed up on its own. I would have eventually taken her to the vet had her ear not healed up. And naturally, she gets checked over every time I see her. My dad lives out in the country away from major roads. Aside from these problems, my cat has never had anything more serious happen to her. And she's always been fine during the winters. She has a bed in a little shed, so she's out of the elements and she's fed in the garage. She also gets let in whenever I'm out there. (I don't live with my cat and can't have her with me.) I have done my fair share of worrying about her over the years, but I've come to realize that she's absolutely fine. Of course she would rather be around us all the time, but she also likes being outside and being able to hunt, etc. My Amber is spayed and is always current on her shots. She can still get sick from other cats, but fortunately that has never happened for whatever reason. I think it's because she doesn't really like any other cats, so she always keeps her distance.
I understand your concern about the kitty and the baby. My cousin is due this month and was considering giving her two cats away. Their main issue is the litter box. They don't have a seperate, secluded place they can put it and they're concerned it might cause health problems for the baby. Not to mention the problems of when the baby starts crawling. They live in a small, two bedroom apartment. (I haven't heard what became of the kitties yet.)
As for me, I'm kind of stuck between two worlds. I'm very loving and caring to all animals and people. Therefore, my cat would be an indoor cat and spoiled rotten. My dog would be indoors as well. Then there's my parents - who grew up with the philosophy that animals are animals and are fine being left alone to an extent. I don't know how to explain it. My parents certainly took care of my pets growing up (vet visits, shelter, etc.) but they never treated the pets as a part of the family as I do. I guess what I'm trying to say is that while I understand wanting to give your pets the best life possible, I also understand that nature has provided for them as well. My pets certainly came to us when they had major health problems or got hurt, but if they just got a tummy ache, they took care of it themselves because they know instinctively what they need to do. While cats and dogs have been domesticated, they still have retained the instincts and knowledge nature/God gave them. Not to mention the physical attributes that nature/God gave them.
I'll tell you what we did for Amber. We got her as stray off of some other people. She found her way to their doorstep, but they didn't want another cat. We were able to keep her in our unfinished sunroom off the garage until we got her checked out by the vet and spayed. In the meantime, we would let her in one room of the house so she could get used to us (me mainly). This was to prevent her from freaking out too much and crawling under the couch or something like that. As she got used to us and the house, we started letting her roam a bit when we let her in. In the meantime, we got her spayed, etc. and started leaving her outside more. I can't really remember what all we did. I don't think we just threw her outside cause I would've thrown a fit. lol We probably let her out during the day and then let her come back in to the sunroom at night. We got her in Feb. and by April/May she was an outdoor cat who got to come in once in a while. We had to move her food from the little shed to the garage cause we live out in the country and, well, ya never know who's going to show up for dinner. lol (opposums and cats mainly) So now she gets fed in the garage so we can be sure it's her who's eating the food. lol But she has her bed out there in the shed still. I tried to move it up near the house, but Amber wasn't too thrilled with that, so back to the shed it went. I think because of this setup and due to her personality, Amber has always hung around the house. I also always have a collar on her so our neighbors know she's someone's pet instead of a stray/barn cat. Being let in also helps keep her around the house. She does wander sometimes and I have no idea where all she goes at night, but she always comes back home. Like I said earlier, she has always been fine.
Perhaps you can arrange the same thing for your cat. At least make sure you provide a bed someplace and keep the food in a shelter/secluded place so it's only your kitty eating. Your kitty should be fine being outdoors. Just make sure you keep up on the shots and get her spayed. That is the most important thing right there. You won't have to worry about your kitty running off, etc. so much although she will still hunt. You also wouldn't have to worry as much if other cats came to visit. Put a collar on your kitty so other people know she's not a stray. And provide some type of shelter she can go to to get away from anything that's harassing her. (Mine always shoots up trees when she thinks she's in danger. It works for her. lol But she still has the little shed to go to as well.)
As someone else mentioned, I would start taking her outside and letting her get used to it. Start out with supervised trips outside, then leave out by herself for a couple of hours, then maybe during the day, etc. I don't know how much a fence would help, but maybe that would help keep her a little safer. Good luck!
Danielle and her furbabies.... &nb
Why did you get a cat when you knew you were pregnant? If the cat isn't welcome in the house, why did you get a cat?
I truly do not understand people who decide that their "pet's" life is worth very little when a baby comes along.
As for outdoors cats - "better inside and fat than outside and FLAT".
Please find your cat another home - one where he/she will be welcome indoors and loved.
Animals are forever - and so is their love.