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Post by lesleyb on Jan 4, 2015 15:24:53 GMT
hi my name is lesley im a newbee 2 months ago i seperated from partner i had to move in to a first floor flat my cat was unsettled at first but i started using feliway plugins which done the job she settled when i had house she was an out door cat but now im in first floor flat i have ept her in shes use to inside of flat now but in last few weeks she has started to cry at the windows this can go on for ages she wants out im at my wits end with her crying could someone please give me some helpful advice do i give in and ge a harness and take her out the back or how can i keep her in and keep her a happy cat. thanks lesley
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Post by scallywag on Jan 4, 2015 15:44:35 GMT
Hi Lesley welcome to the forum. The harness sounds like a good idea, a couple of people on here do that. Also @gillykat has just started letting her 2 cats out after they were indoor cats. She may be a good person to come along and chat to you
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Post by zahada on Jan 4, 2015 16:43:48 GMT
Could you play with her to tire her out?
Taking her out on a harness sounds good as long as she accepts wearing it and the restriction of her freedom. So I would get her used to it indoors before attempting to take her out on it.
Next - I wouldn't put her food in her bowl, I'd make her work for it. If she is fed dry food you cat put it in a dispensing toy such as Catit treat ball. If she is fed wet food, then hide small bowlfuls around the place. You could teach her to jump over things, climb up things etc to take her mind of going out.
Have you got any cat activity toys/towers that would keep her entertained?
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Post by lotsofcats on Jan 6, 2015 10:11:36 GMT
Hi Lesley and welcome to the forum. I would definitely recommend getting a harness for your cat and take her out on it each day. I have 7 cats and 6 of them are indoor and with access to a garden pen. I bought Mynwood walking jackets to take them out walking around the garden. They are more secure than the harnesses which a cat can reverse out of (it happened with one of mine). If you google Mynwood you will get to the website and read all about them - they are made to your cat's measurements. My cats really love them.
Good advice from the others too. Let us know what you decide to do.
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Post by beaglel1fe on Jan 9, 2015 21:55:50 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I'm more of a dog person so you won't see much of me on the cat side of the forum! I'd get a harness.
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Post by tonib on Jan 13, 2015 1:40:40 GMT
Welcome to the forum lesleyb. Although I have 4 cats I'm not sure I can be much more help as ours are outdoor cats (except when incarcerated due to illness or injury). Its difficult keeping a cat in that's used to its outdoor freedom but not impossible. zahada has some good ideas about keeping your cat entertained & brain active whilst indoors. Little pieces of food in greasproof paper fastened at the top with string can make hanging parcels for her (perhaps from a climber/ door knob etc.) to hunt & achieve a reward. For example a some prawn inside with it rubbed on the outside to give a strong smell - of course only works if she likes prawns!  This article by the International Cat care organisation www.icatcare.org:8080/sites/default/files/PDF/essential_cattitude.pdf has a chapter in it called "Can Cats Be Happy Indoors" starts page number 59 (63 in the pdf as they have 4 unnumbered pages at the start.) Don't forget to change her toys over every so often so she doesn't get bored with them. If she doesn't settle, then train her to the harness, & eventually a lead, indoors before using it outside. Some cats do not take to a harness easily but take it steadily & you should be OK. Do let us know how you get on |
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