How to keep an indoor cat indoors?

[Echofallen]

Hi I'm considering getting a cat (never had one before) in the near future and for various reasons want an indoor cat. With potential for it to have garden access but I need to look into options there.

Anyway, how do you go about keeping your indoor cats safe inside? I was thinking about this the other day. DH and I live in a semi with front, side and rear gardens. There's a 6 foot wall and gates out the side and back. Little wall and gate out the front. DH was out last weekend and I'd been out with my DM and didn't get home until late - it was dark and I fumbled for my key and let myself into the kitchen. I was thinking that in these circumstances a cat could possibly be waiting by the kitchen door and get out into the darkness. I don't have a porch or anything. I've also heard that some cats are quite relaxed and happy to chill out or sleep and an open door doesn't attract their attention whereas others are "door dashers" and might try to make a run for it.

Any advice? Thanks :)

Meant to say I did look after a friend's cat for a few weeks years ago in my then flat - he was an indoor cat. He was a bit stressed by the move and didn't settle, kept wanting into my bedroom which was out of bounds (he pees on beds). I managed to keep him inside and things worked out fine and he'd chill out on my lap but I was always worried he'd escape - just had to open the door slowly and make sure he wasn't behind it. I guess the same things would work here we just need to be careful?!

Why would you get a cat to cruelly keep it indoors?

Sorry to be 'that person', but cats try to get out because cats are not supposed to be indoor animals. If you can't give a cat the life it wants and deserves, don't get a cat.

You can rescue some cats from shelters who are used to being indoor cats so the work is done there for you!

We had kittens that we raised as indoor cats as one had medical issues. It was actually very straightforward. We never planned to do it which I think in some ways meant we weren't as worried about how to do it as we never really researched it. We always made sure the indoor environment was stimulating for them; they have plenty of toys, we're around a lot, we pay for our friends or a cat sitter to either stay in our house when away or to come in and play with them etc. They're not bored.

We also trained them as kittens to come running if we tap one of their food bowls; they always get a treat subsequently and this was easy to do. We would then let them outside sometimes supervised and if they wondered off (they never ever ran off) into a bush or something, the food bowl tap meant they always came running back. It's also useful if you can't find them in the house and you don't know where they are. They would miaow if they were stuck somewhere so you'd end up being led to them at the same time anyway (because they don't want to miss out on their treat hah!)

In our experience, once they're housecats for a little while, they've never ran out the door in the dark or any cold weather anyway. We now only have one and she is allowed outside as she pleases but she wouldn't go far without us and tends to just lounge on the lawn when it's sunny. She wouldn't dare go outside from September to March. She doesn't even stand in the doorway- too cold! So the issue solves itself.

One thing I would recommend, just let people know when they visit that the cats don't go out. When ours were little and one was quite ill, he was sat by the door as we were having a new washing machine fitted. One of the chaps opened the door and shimmied him out thinking he wanted to go out! He didn't, he was just sat there on his perch. He just sat in the porch until we realised so again, he didn't run off

Just as you have said, basically by taking care with windows and doors.

Mine have a secure catio at the back with access directly from the back door, so that's fine - back door can be open in the summer and it's lovely.

Front door - mine don't try to get out but I also wouldn't leave the door open if I'm sorting the bins or watering the plants out front or anything. When I've done cat sitting for others, I tend to go in with either my bag in front of me or just carefully by opening the door a bit at first. In my experience most cats won't try to escape like this, though.

You can buy screens for windows - Flat Cats are probably the most well-known. Or use restrictor so they don't open more than about an inch or two at most (my double glazed windows have an inbuilt ventilation setting so they can be opened and locked by just a crack).

You also need to be careful with deliveries and if you have someone doing work in the house - I tend to put my cats into an upstairs room and close the door if I have anyone in doing work or I'm expecting a bigger delivery like furniture that involves an open door.

As you have a back garden, it's worth looking into cat proofing (check Sanctuary SOS and Protectapet for fence-top cat proofing systems) as inevitably you'll want to keep the back door open and come and go in the summer.

Unless a medical reason, cats should be allowed out doors.

What is your reason for wanting it to be indoor?

You can get purpose designed cat-proofing for fences/wall. Also you could build an enclosed 'catio' off the house. This FB group is helpful www.facebook.com/groups/969511326500446 Kitty Gardens, Catios, House Cats And Catification.

I agree with a pp , if the cat you get wants to get out then it’s not cut out to be an indoor cat and it would be cruel to keep it in . I would ensure your rear garden is cat proofed . My late mother had a ragdoll indoor cat , he used to sit by open windows in the conservatory and never attempted to go outdoors .

Also as PPs have mentioned, some cats are suited to an indoor life. You need to either rescue one for indoor only or consider the breed very carefully. It wouldn't be fair to keep a young active cat in if it doesn't suit their personality. We had no choice but they were a very lazy breed and the house is very big with somebody around almost all the time so it is a good environment for them

Hi sorry am wanting to get a ragdoll or similar breed. I realise that most cats do go outside and one that already does so would want out. I don't want to worry that it's outside possibly getting run over, stolen or killing birds. Am looking to go through a breed rescue or get an older adult that already lives indoors. I gather that some cats who are used to being indoors don't try to get out but he or she could perhaps go out in the garden (perhaps even on a harness as a friend's neighbour does with her persian).

Thanks for the info on securing the house and catios etc, will look at options.

Ignore the comments about it being cruel - that's a very British attitude other countries don't share, and the tide is turning on this with more cat charities now in favour of indoor homes or secure gardens. Why would you want a cat to roam and suffer a slow, painful death alone on the roadside after it's been run over or die of dehydration locked into someone's shed? Keeping cats safe is the responsible thing to do. If you have outdoor space then a catproofed outdoor space is the best of course and actually makes your garden a bit more secure too as a bonus (less chance of opportunistic burglars wanting to climb over fence-top netting or break through the wire mesh of a catio).

The argument that if they go out of an open door then it's because they want to go out is really silly - there are lots of things my cats would do that wouldn't be safe for them, they just don't know better. One of my cats would prefer to eat chips and sandwiches at every meal, does that mean giving her cat food is cruel? A cat is not capable of thinking about what is on the other side of that door and whether it's safe to go there - they are not aware of traffic, poisoning, dogs and cruel people the way we are.

Yes I want to keep them safe - there was also a few cat poisonings in the area a few years back which makes me uneasy. Thanks for the advice.

My family had many cats when I was growing up and they've all been strictly indoor cats. My experience is that, with rare exception, a cat who has never been outside is not likely to try to get out. We did have one cat who tried to get out the front door on occasion, but you get used to exercising caution when entering and exiting. (Helps to have a large handbag to carry low to the ground and sort of block their way!) I will say this particular cat was one we had harness trained to go on walks, and I do think this made her more interested in escaping. So my advice is to start as you mean to go on: if you want this cat to be an indoor cat, just keep them inside full time. Don't send mixed messages about whether they are allowed to be out!

My cats are indoor and are perfectly happy. They don't bother if there's someone at the door delivering something etc but they do wait behind the door when we are coming in. When they were tiny kittens this was a bit scary because they could dash through tiny spaces so we actually had a baby gate up outside out front door. We live in a flat so it was fine. We lined it with cardboard and it gave us protection to see where they were before we came in. Now they're bigger we just say away and they know to move back. They've never tried to get out.

If you do have an indoor cat, bear in mind you'll never be able to leave windows and doors open in the summer. I have no idea how anyone other than flat-dwellers get around this.

@oviraptor21

If you do have an indoor cat, bear in mind you'll never be able to leave windows and doors open in the summer. I have no idea how anyone other than flat-dwellers get around this.

Flat Cats screens

Don't get a cat if you can't let it out. It's cruel. So many people put their wants above what would be best for a cat.

@nordica

Ignore the comments about it being cruel - that's a very British attitude other countries don't share, and the tide is turning on this with more cat charities now in favour of indoor homes or secure gardens. Why would you want a cat to roam and suffer a slow, painful death alone on the roadside after it's been run over or die of dehydration locked into someone's shed? Keeping cats safe is the responsible thing to do. If you have outdoor space then a catproofed outdoor space is the best of course and actually makes your garden a bit more secure too as a bonus (less chance of opportunistic burglars wanting to climb over fence-top netting or break through the wire mesh of a catio).

The argument that if they go out of an open door then it's because they want to go out is really silly - there are lots of things my cats would do that wouldn't be safe for them, they just don't know better. One of my cats would prefer to eat chips and sandwiches at every meal, does that mean giving her cat food is cruel? A cat is not capable of thinking about what is on the other side of that door and whether it's safe to go there - they are not aware of traffic, poisoning, dogs and cruel people the way we are.

Had cats all of my life. Never had one die a slow painful death at a roadside. Not saying it doesn't happen but if that's a reason for keeping a cat inside, don't get a cat.

Depends on the individual cat surely? Some want to roam, others are home bodies.

My DSil's cat is missing one eye and has luxating patellas, she would have a real problem roaming as her knees can go at any time.

Ex-NDN's cat was beaten up so badly by a neighbouring Tom, in her own house, that she nearly died. Other neighbours cat also needed vet treatment a number of times from the same Tom.

My pair are ex-feral, and it was a condition of adoption that they be kept as indoors only in case they went back to being feral. As time has gone by, we have discovered that Boycat has certain "issues" that mean he probably wouldn't survive 5 mins outdoors (bless the thick, clumsy, terrified idiot).

There are more dangers than cars out there. Antifreeze in the puddles they drink from. Intentional poisoning by cat haters. Being shot by teenagers, or otherwise tortured by them. Other, often un-neutered, cats. FIV - even the RSPCA recommends that FIV positive cats are kept indoors only.

I’ve recently bought a catio. My cat loves it, she accessed via cat flap and chooses to spend her time in there. She can still go out, but isn’t really bothered.
I’m the catio she has climbing and cat shelves, and a warm kennel. She’s happy, not stressed, and I have peace of mind that she is safe whilst I’m at work.

I do think it’s important that indoor cats have opportunity to climb, so cat shelves are a good idea, although be prepared for the cat to prefer top of your freezer/high cupboard

I have 2 cats who are indoor cats. They are happy and content and get plenty of attention and play time. Infact a lot of zoologists and cat behaviourists now recommended keeping cats indoors as a safer option. You just need to be mindful of doors and windows.

My cats an indoor by choice cat. I wouldn’t have attempted it with the Bengal we had before but he died on the road two years today so this cat was always going to be an indoor only cat, I chose a 10/11yo rescue for this reason.

I have flat cat window screens for the summer.

A friend of mine had bengals but they sadly died on the roads. I think they'd be too wild for me anyway I'd prefer a more sedate breed. I'll look into the flat cat window screens. I saw a cat wheel online (like a big hamster wheel) that looked fun but dunno if they'd use it - maybe the kitty equivalent of an exercise bike.

It really does depend on the cat, unless it's a rescue with medical issues that mean they really have to stay in, like FIV or hearing problems.

My boy used to go out and roam but is happy indoors now after getting lost for weeks not long after we'd moved. By some miracle he found his way back after over 2 months and hasn't shown any interest in going out since (aside from sunning himself on the window ledge).

It all depends on the cat surely.
My boy is impossible to keep in. He gets nasty, frustrated and miserable if we try to. We kept him in for 5 weeks when we rescued him from the streets, and no one came out of it without scratches or bites, including the furniture!
He's so much happier wandering.
Good luck, I hope you find the perfect cat for you