Keeping the cats in

[anothergloriousmorning]

We have two 'indoor' cats. Until lockdown, when furlough, kids at home and lovely weather meant the doors and windows were open and they spent more and more time in the garden.

For various reasons we now want to keep them in again. Is this going to be a nightmare?! One of them doesn't seem too fussed but the other is being very vocal about his disgust. He'll be in protest soon, knocking things off surfaces etc.

For various reasons we now want to keep them in again.

Why? You've let the genie out of the bottle now. It would be unfair and probably very unsettling to the cats to suddenly stop outside access going forward.

Can you put up cat proof fencing around the garden or if not a catio so they can be safe outside?

We would love a catio, we have the ideal space for it, just need to save some money first.

We want to try to keep them in because they seem to be travelling further. Until recently they didn't go further than the back gardens either side of us and were back in seconds when we called or opened their food! Now it seems to take them a while to come back. We've noticed them going across the road out the front which obviously comes with risks. Also, our new neighbour (house was empty for ages) has told us that they're using her garden as a toilet. I hadn't considered that because they have still been using their litter tray.

How does your neighbour know it's your cats' poo?

I know roads are risky, but imo it's crueler to keep a cat indoors than it is to let them roam.

We trained ours to come home when we ring a little bell by shaking the bell every time we feed her. Works like a dreamie