Turning outdoor cat into house cat

[Talkativeparrot]

We got a rescue cat a few years ago when she was one. She has always had a ridiculously high prey drive - upto 3 birds/mice in one day. In the past month, she has been in 3 bad fights with other cats, two of which have needed vet treatment for bites and scratches.

I don't want to but I think we're going to have to keep her in from now on. I feel guilty as she clearly loves the outdoors but we can't keep seeing her injured and scared.

Has anyone been in the same position?

[ElegantDream]

Google cat fencing - try securacat or protectapet.

I find it does limit the hunting (not as much as keeping indoors, but better than free rein).

You can scare birds away before she goes out etc.

[evedavies]

I think lots of people have been in your position! Free-roaming can be perilous for cats but as you say - they love the outdoors and it offers a great source of enrichment for them. I am the co-founder of ProtectaPet and have had cat proof fencing since 2009. I think my cats have caught 2 birds in that time largely because their hunting territory is restricted to my garden. Good luck in your search for a solution and don't hesiate to get in touch if you require any further info.

[strawberrypenguin]

I couldn't do it. A cat that loves being outdoors will be thoroughly miserable kept inside.

[Cataline]

My cats were all house cats and after several run-ins with a cat hating neighbour, one of the was badly injured by his 'cat proofed' garden.

As a result, I made the decision that the only way to keep them safe was by not allowing them out.

Only our oldest boy cat ever showed any distress at this and it was only ever when a different neighbour (who he loved) would come round and he seemed to 'remember' that he once had a life outside the house! It only lasted a day at a time and he'd just sit at the window miaowing plaintively. By the next day he'd forgotten completely!

I made sure they had plenty of attention and enrichment indoors and kept an eye on their food intake as they were obviously less active.

They also have cat grass to chew and whilst I'm sure they would love to be outside (and do occasionally try and escape from an open window), the risks to them are too great to allow them to do so. They certainly aren't miserable and do seem to be very contented (and spoiled!) cats.

[KittyLover91]

We cat proofed our garden after my maine coon was hit by a car.

I only had him at the time but he adapted to the change really well. There has been only 3 successful escapes but now we know all the weak spots and have fixed these and its been over a year now!

I did get another cat to keep him company at the start of this year though as he used to have a cat friend who he played with every day. My new little cat doesn't have a care in the world about being outside of the garden as she knows no different!