A few questions about indoor cats please!

[2FluffyKittens]

My older cats go outside but I have 2 kittens and everyone I speak to is advising me to keep them indoors and I agree that that should be indoor cats.

However I have a few questions. Do your indoor cats wear collars? They are just 13 weeks right now and absolutely crazy and I am worried about the collars getting caught on something.

How do you keep an indoor cat entertained for a life inside?

Are catios worth building? I could make a small one in my garden for summer if it is beneficial.

And finally how do you cope with a lifetime of litter trays indoors?? Have always been relieved when my cats have transitioned to pooping outdoors!

Why do you want them to be indoor cats? Do you live on a busy road?
My cats dont wear collars and are microchipped

I cat sit. I've sat for single cats, pairs of cats, multiple cats. Short hairs, moggies, posh breeds. Quiet cats, noisy cats. Greedy cats and fussy cats.
Indoor cats and outdoor cats.
In my experience indoor cats are not as happy as outdoor cats and need much more work to even try keeping them content. Unless there's some major overriding reason, if I had a cat or cats myself, I would never make them indoor cats. Obviously this is just my opinion.
I no longer take sits that involve cats in flats. I honestly find it too distressing.

They are pedigrees and people keep saying they will get stolen?

I’d rather my cats had a good happy life cut short than a long miserable one inside. I understand cats with problems need to be kept inside but two little kittens who have no health issues seems cruel! Can you cat proof your garden? Not just for summer but do they can go out all seasons?

No cat of mine has ever had a collar. They are unnecessary, irritating to the cat and a risk to them.

A catio is always a good idea as they get to be outside safely.

Entertaining kittens means giving them lots of time and attention, playing with them and buying them a lot of toys.

Litter trays are good because cats tend to go in other peoples gardens which is simply not acceptable. My cat has 2 trays indoors plus a patch of my garden that I keep dug over which she likes to use. I made it as cat friendly as possible. It's private, it's clean and most importantly its me making sure my cat isnt my neighbours problem.

If you have a pet then you have to be 100% responsible for them and that means cleaning up their shit rather than having an out of sight out of mind attitude.

Thinking about it I actually could probably cat proof my garden fully, its a small garden with 8ft walls on all sides. I could probably add rails or something or even netting to enclose it all.

I would probably have to put a catflap in my front door for my other cats.

Hmm. Interesting idea.

No collars, they’re more dangerous than good in my opinion.

Some cats are not suited to indoors, I have had cats that are not happy at all to stay in. I currently have two pedigrees who are not interested in going out the front door whatsoever.

We have a large catio that they have free access to that they use a lot so it’s definitely worth it. It’s half covered and half open so they can go out in all weathers and they do

In terms of indoor entertainment, we have loads of scratching posts, including floor to ceiling ones with high perches. They have access to every room in the house at all times. We have mesh on the windows (flat cats are great) so they can sit and watch without worry. And we have a cat wheel (need to make sure it’s big enough for their spine to be straight) that one loves and the other isn’t interested!

Pedigrees generally do fine indoors. If they are friendly breeds they are at risk of being stolen as well. Much safer indoors with a good catio.

I agree. It’s always about what the owners want, not what’s best for the cats. It’s cruel. If people live somewhere where they can’t let a cat outside, don’t get a cat. It’s that simple.

I really agree with this, pedigree or not these are cats and keeping them indoors is really sad. There need to be good reasons to do this like cat aids.

If they are indoor, or you have a catproofed garden, you don't need collars.

I have had pedigree cats for many years and have never had one stolen, or heard of one being stolen locally. They are far more likely to get run over or attacked by a dog, or have some other kind of outdoor accident (that is not just pedigrees of course, it can happen to any cat).

If you feel your other cats are safe when they are outdoors, I wouldn't see a reason to keep your kittens indoors.

Some cats tolerate being indoors, or confined to a cat proof garden and some don't. It depends on the pedigree, some breeds are fairly laid back and lazy, some are hyper and and will be stressed by being confined.

I have Maine Coons.

they cost me 750 each as kittens and are worth more as adult cats.

they have never been stolen (although one did get lost for a few days).

being expensive is not really a reason to keep a cat inside.

collars are definitely not needed inside and are of limited value outside.

I rescue Siamese. Currently have 2 non-related who are indoors. NEVER again. It is like having toddlers all over again. My last Siamese rescue went out and was very street wise. But always in at night, no catflap. We have a home built catio. They barely use it. Scratching posts in most rooms, 1 uses them, the other prefers the staircarpet.

If it's a Ragdoll then it needs to be indoors as frankly they are more dog then cat and have very little road sense.

Mine has a catio and he loves it.

Collar, up to you.
Entertainment, lots of climbing stuff, cat trees, walkways along your walls etc
Catio, absolutely fantastic even just a small one off the window.
Litter tray, automatic one and a good quality clumping litter, I don't rate silicone personally but some people do.

I have 6 indoor cats. Two used to go outside but dont want to, the others are breeds that aren't suited to outdoor life.

Yes, they are ragdolls.

This a 100%!
I had 2 cats who live long lives and loved being outside, in the summer they were out all night. I understand your reasons, but I would say reconsider.

It's not about expense, and risk of theft. It's about how certain breeds are bred to have specific temperaments, high quality pedigrees are bred from show cats, bred to be docile, low startle, low sense of danger. Our ragdolls will lay rolling about as dogs run about over them, they wouldn't flinch if a dog in a garden came running at them and have no idea what a car or road is. It's like letting your toddler walk to the shop by themselves. They are bred to not have survival instincts so they are cuddlier pets and better behaved in the show ring.

If you want an outdoor cat you need to choose the breeds that have good survival skills but those cats are less easy to handle and less cuddly and docile.

You say you can probably set up the garden so it is enclosed for them, and I think Ragdolls would be fine with that. I would never consider keeping cats indoors but an enclosed garden is a good compromise.

How will it work logistically though if you have other cats who roam? Do you have a set up which will allow them to come and go, while the Ragdolls are confined?

To give the other side from many of the posters above, I have indoor only cats who are very contented and happy. I would never have a single cat as indoors only unless I was at home all day every day as a rule, but as long as they get on well then 2 can be fine.

My current 2 consist of a girl who spent the first year of her life as part of a feral colony then a year at the rescue, the boy was thrown out on the streets at about 6 months old & was finally rescued 2 years later. They play together (friendly wrestling mostly), they share their food bowls swapping during a meal etc, they sleep very close together much of the time, and often follow each other about. I have flat cats in the windows and though they like to look out neither have ever tried to get through them, same with the meshed and netted French doors which are open in the hot weather.

Neither over-grooms or shows any signs of stress, or tries to get out of the door when it's open. Tobias has recently unfortunately been diagnosed with FiV and attendant IBS/thickened bowel walls but of course that was caused by his time as an un neutered stray. That's likely to mean he needs to be PTS in the future as a still young cat, as he can't absorb nutrients as well as he should, but being indoor only means I can ensure he doesn't catch anything else and make sure he's only eating things that are good for him, which should prolong his happy life.

Only one of my indoor cats has worn a collar. The first two were long haired and it caused matts. Cheddar did like to escape occasionally so she had one. Penelope completely freaked when I put one on her so she doesn’t. The indoor litter tray doesn’t bother me. I use good quality litter that doesn’t smell. Mine have all been Persians and an indoor lifestyle is ideal for them. As they are not bright enough to be let loose!

I have an enclosed garden.

there’s a YouTube channel about people living in flats with indoor cats, and it’s awfully depressing. Ok they have plenty of toys and what not, but it just seems cruel to me. I think a lot of people just don’t understand cats.

I was told by the breeder they should definitely be indoor cats so was doing research into how to keep them happy and entertained. I was just going off what she said and the reaction of other people. My moggy goes out so its not like I am a militant indoorcat person.

Obviously they are only 13 weeks now so need to be indoor until they are both spayed anyways, but wanted to think about long term after that, hence the catio question.

I was thinking of the enclosed rear garden then a ID chip activated cat flap on front door for older cat to get in an out.
But then he hates collars and manages to lose them immediately.

Still figuring out logistics.

No collars, just microchips.

toys, cat trees, and play time with your cat.

you just scoop.

we don’t have a catio. Where we live the weather is more extreme than the uk. I don’t think it would get much use.