Advertisement
I've been caring for 7 outdoor cats for just under 2 years. The first litter is approximately 2 years old and there are 3 of them. The second litter is just over a year old and there are also 3 of them. Those 6 have the same mother. Then there is 1 who the vet says is over a year old that has been coming around for the last 2 months. All are spayed and neutered.
Recently a neighbor complained and called animal control. At that point, we talked to him and asked for about 10 days to get the house in order, ie cat door from house to the back porch and then hubby built a covered "cat walk" that covers a fairly large area. While he was building the cat walk, I brought the food in so they would get use to going in and out. That wasn't a problem as they caught on quickly and liked being in the house.
Now that the cat walk is done, they are totally locked up but have the access to the outside but not free roaming. It's been 3 days.
5 of the 7 seem to be doing fairly well. There are times when they complain and want to go out but overall doing well. 1 is very aggressive and from 4:30am to around 10am prowls and howls and generally disrupts the others. He has the access to the outside but doesn't seem to like the cat walk (and it's fairly large area.) The other cat really isn't too bad but he cry to go out. I've had the Feliway in the house for almost a week now.
Another problem is they all seem to use the litter boxes but one of them is peeing and pooping in the house at night while we are asleep. I think, but can't be positive, that I know which one it is. Why would he use the litter box during the day and do his duty on the carpets at night?
I know this one involves lots of patience but I'm hoping I can get some good advice on how to proceed with them. Like how long can it take for them to become use to being indoors and help with the litter box problems.
I really can't bear to take them to the Humane Society as it's not a no kill facility and if I let them out then the neighbor will just trap them and call animal control who will take them to the Humane Society.
All advice is appreciated!
Thanks so much!
Suezette
Recently a neighbor complained and called animal control. At that point, we talked to him and asked for about 10 days to get the house in order, ie cat door from house to the back porch and then hubby built a covered "cat walk" that covers a fairly large area. While he was building the cat walk, I brought the food in so they would get use to going in and out. That wasn't a problem as they caught on quickly and liked being in the house.
Now that the cat walk is done, they are totally locked up but have the access to the outside but not free roaming. It's been 3 days.
5 of the 7 seem to be doing fairly well. There are times when they complain and want to go out but overall doing well. 1 is very aggressive and from 4:30am to around 10am prowls and howls and generally disrupts the others. He has the access to the outside but doesn't seem to like the cat walk (and it's fairly large area.) The other cat really isn't too bad but he cry to go out. I've had the Feliway in the house for almost a week now.
Another problem is they all seem to use the litter boxes but one of them is peeing and pooping in the house at night while we are asleep. I think, but can't be positive, that I know which one it is. Why would he use the litter box during the day and do his duty on the carpets at night?
I know this one involves lots of patience but I'm hoping I can get some good advice on how to proceed with them. Like how long can it take for them to become use to being indoors and help with the litter box problems.
I really can't bear to take them to the Humane Society as it's not a no kill facility and if I let them out then the neighbor will just trap them and call animal control who will take them to the Humane Society.
All advice is appreciated!
Thanks so much!
Suezette
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Bringing outdoor cats indoors
Sun, February 1, 2009 - 1:10 PMis there a cat behavior specialist at the kocal humane society? I know that Marin humane Society in California has someone who will give free advice by phone or email on cat behavior and she is quite good. this sounds like a job for a pro. you are doing a terrific joband someat misbehavior is to be expected...my dumb o' cat sometimes has litterbox "accidents" too.
if ou had the feral cats spayed through a local group that ssits feral cats, they may also have good advice on how to get outdoor ferals used to indoor life. or some independent cat/pt resuce facility may have an expert...good luck!
-
Re: Bringing outdoor cats indoors
Mon, February 2, 2009 - 4:39 PMIt's going to take longer than 3 days -- in fact it sounds like you're doing rather well with just 2 protesters. The one who pees/poops at night is protesting being shut in at night. Cats will do this (or poop on beds, for another example) when they are blaming someone for something. For that one, can you shut him in a large carrier at night (like a big airline carrier?) He's likely to hold it rather than risk soiling himself. He'll probably be noisy, though! Would have to learn that he's in for the night, period, and nobody's going to respond to a lot of noise. Or can you keep him in a bathroom for the night with his own litterbox? at least that'll be easier to clean.
If you lived somewhere with a real winter, you'd have very little trouble getting these kitties used to indoor life! The two of you really are making the most commendable effort on these cats' behalf - really awesome. A bad neighbor like that will always be a danger; the worst thing about them is that they actually lure cats with strong smelling bait to the traps, and sometimes they end up just using poison.
Think of the noise and upset as kind of like having a new baby in the house -- you'll be sleep-deprived and run off your feet for awhile, but things will settle down, especially since they do have the ability to go out in that safe space. As if you don't already have enough to do, some exercise is really important for them. Stuff to climb on, sessions with one of those cat toys that's like a fishing pole with a "bird" attached to the end of a long string. Cats just go crazy for this and get a real workout. Exercise will keep them from getting fat and slow and bored with life, which indoor cats can get.
Any hope of moving? -
-
Re: Bringing outdoor cats indoors
Mon, February 2, 2009 - 10:01 PMThanks for some great advice!
I do want to get some fishing poles to play with the kitties. I've done that before and it was lots of fun.
I'm still working with "the pee'er". Its not just at night that he does it. But I have learned the signs of when he is getting ready to go in the house. When it's during the day, I just follow him until I can catch him (the little bugger is quick) and then put him in the litter box which is on the back porch and not let him back in the house until he uses it.
As for moving, we'd love to move to the mountains. FL has lost it's appeal to me after 24 years here. We have to wait for the housing to pick back up again before we could sell our house.
Thanks again for the advice! -
-
Update to Bringing outdoor cats indoors
Mon, February 9, 2009 - 4:23 PMWell, it's been almost 2 weeks. A couple of the cats are adjusting nicely. The aggressive one is now in a depression. I got some cat nip and that did seem to cheer him for a bit so I'll work on that a little each night. I did also get the fishing poles and most of them are playing. They are finally starting to come out of the bedroom when we are awake.
The one that has been peeing all over the house is now litter trained! Well, I think he is anyway since there has been no pee in the house for going on 4 days now.
Mornings are still very hard. I'm getting up around 6am to them trying to get out windows and all the whining.
Does anyone have any ideas on how long it take them to realize they aren't going out in the yard any more? They do go out doors in the catwalk but it's a very large closed in area and they are walking on a wooden deck, no ground.
THanks for any help you can offer! -
-
Re: Update to Bringing outdoor cats indoors
Tue, February 10, 2009 - 12:07 AMThey will get better about it, but they may never stop completely the yearning to go outside. I could never break my cats of the desire completely.
-
-
-
