Indoor cats

[Ilmiopinguino]

Has anyone ever started to keep a cat who's used to going outdoors as an indoor cat? I feel it's cruel to start doing this when they're used to going outside, and I also feel there's going to be a lot more work for me: more play sessions, walks, clearing up etc. Me and DD1are at loggerheads, and we both think we're in the right.
If anyone has done this, how did you do it and what would I need to consider? If people agree it would be cruel does anyone know how we could stop him hunting so much?

sort of started out the opposite and I know there is no chance she would stay in now, because we tried.

I acquired our cat when she was an 8/9 month old indoor cat. We had her vaccinated and neutered anyway but she was a content little thing. She would happily spend her days on various window sills, playing fetch, chasing balls & watching the world go by. (Yes you would have to play with him more or he’d be bored)

one day DH left a window open after he’d finished cooking. We found her under a bush in the garden but she obviously like it out there because she yowled the house down whilst pacing along the patio door letting us know she wanted to be back out there.

She is now an outdoor cat and there is no way she would be happy to be kept inside now. I don’t think your cat would want to be suddenly kept inside. I also don’t think you could stop him hunting, it’s nature -loud bell? Or large, I’m meaning huge, catio?

It only worked with our cat because she went blind and couldn't go out. To be honest, for a cat that's used to being outside, I'd think it would be totally wrong to try and imprison them permanently indoors against their wishes. Cruel, in fact.

Thanks @LetMeInYourWindow and @takeitandleaveit. This is very much how I feel, but I keep wondering if my unwillingness to take on more work is clouding my judgement. Dd1 is very upset about the cat's devotion to killing, and I hate it too but at the same time think that's what happens with a cat. He's kept in at night and we don't let him out early as that's supposed to help. But he's clearly a hunter. What's making it so hard is that I know this is really upsetting dd1, but also know keeping him in will really upset me. I've even wondered about rehoming him but then dd2 would be beside herself. And I love him to pieces.

You can't keep an outdoor cat in all of a sudden just because you want to. It's cruel. You can limit their outdoor time maybe but to suddenly never let it out is grossly unfair in my opinion

I think it depends a lot on the cat. Some will adapt well, some not at all. Can you not look at either cat proofing your garden or building a Catio? If I had ground floor access that would be my preference, as it also keeps them safe from being run over on roads.

When you take on a cat as a pet, you have to accept that cats are predators by nature, so you need to explain that to your dd.

Cats are naturally predatory - how old is your DD? Can you explain that it's natural for a cat to hunt?

Are you stimulating your cat enough? I was told that playing with them a few times a day (mini mice on strings etc) helps.

Cats hunt. That's their nature and you can't stop it.

I have indoor cats so I'm not against keeping cats indoors, however mine have been raised that way from kittens and have never really show an interest in the outside world.

But that's very very different to suddenly making an outdoor cat live inside and I wouldn't do it. It's not fair.

Cats are hard-wired to hunt. Even indoor cats need these instincts to be indulged by giving them lots of opportunity to chase and play with toys. I started to feel slightly better about the dead rodents periodically deposited on the patio and in the house by my cat, when I realised that if left outside for even a short time, the magpies were taking them. Circle of life!

just catproof your garden - - then they have the best of both worlds.

Cat proof garden

3 bells on their collar

Keep in from before dusk until after dawn.

We were able to keep Cat Three inside after neutering, no problems. He went from being an outdoor cat to refusing to go out in a couple of weeks. It is winter here, apparently that makes it easier.
We kept him in one room for a couple of days, then let him gradually explore the house. Kept him in his room at night for a couple of weeks.
We have 3 scratching posts, two climbers, balls and teasers toys, a cat tunnel and various paper bags for him to play with. He is ecstatic about being in a warm house with food, toys, soft places to sleep and people to follow around.
He will go outside now but only for short times. Much prefers to be in.
He is a very sweet, gentle and social boy, though: he has clearly had owners before.

Also a cat proof garden.
You can buy brightly coloured collars that make it easier for the birds to see your cat.