Getting an Indoor Cat - Page 2

MarkMono · 29th June 2008, 12:41pm

As I said, it depends on the cat.

**Kenny Everett** · 29th June 2008, 1:08pm

totally, just saying that keeping an indoor cat isn't something I'd ever consider even though I have seen it work very well in some situations.

JennyPiccolo · 29th June 2008, 1:09pm

you think that till you let them go outside. Even fat lap-cats suddenly turn into cold-blooded killers, it's awesome.

~LEE~ · 29th June 2008, 2:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by poprock

Did you mean Lyndsey or the cat?

both

Hammer · 29th June 2008, 5:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Everett

Cats are wild animals, I think they should be outside if they're able to.

That's my opinion as well generally, but I'm wanting some company in the flat and I'm really not a small animal kind of guy. Given I live on the third floor and have a canal on one side and Maryhill Road on the other, outdoor cats aren't really an option.

I wouldn't be wanting to make an outdoor cat becoming an indoor cat - that would just be cruel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyno

Maine coon!

My mum has one of them. He's a snooty bastard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyPiccolo

you think that till you let them go outside. Even fat lap-cats suddenly turn into cold-blooded killers, it's awesome.

My first cat, Oscar, killed a seagull once. A fucking seagull!

Foxglove · 29th June 2008, 5:49pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Everett

If you're getting an older cat, I'd get one that's already an indoor cat.

Personally, I think it's cruel to keep a fit and healthy cat indoors. Most folk I know with indoor cats have them that way because the animal usually has something in it's background or health-wise that makes it advisable to keep indoors.

Cats are wild animals, I think they should be outside if they're able to.

Personally I agree with this. I have 3 cats, one of which is an indoor cat as she was a rescued feral and the rescue home I got her from and all the information I have read has said that such cats often choose to stay inside once adopted, as Nina does.

I have the benefit of living in the country in a quiet area with plenty of open spaces. I chose to buy the house that I own because I wanted cats and did not feel that I could have any if I got a place in town. My choice entirely and people are free to feel otherwise, but for me, cats should not be forced to stay in a house or flat without their choosing to. For me it is the same as caging birds.

Witch · 29th June 2008, 6:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgirl

giz and I have 3 indoor kitties. i would say top tips are;

6. finally i would get 2 or more wee cats to keep each other company, they eat food packets in half portions anyway, so it doesnt cost much extra food wise.

hope that was kind of helpfull, enoy your new babies!!!

I wish my cats ate that little

cowgirl · 29th June 2008, 7:00pm

yea, they dont eat that much. they have half a packet morning and night each and a bowl of biscuits and one of water all the time. they free feed which is good, i can just leave the food and they eat it when they are hungry.

Witch · 29th June 2008, 7:04pm

i go through 4 pouches of food each per cat, greedy wee buggers

cowgirl · 29th June 2008, 7:08pm

oh my word! hungry little monsters!

Witch · 29th June 2008, 7:09pm

I know, they dont like dry food, i attempted switching but nope they decided to kill bird and stuff instead of eating the dry food.

bikuki · 29th June 2008, 7:11pm

We've mixed dry and wet together and they're eating not too bad (albeit rather slowly).

Goth_pixie · 29th June 2008, 9:58pm

That's often the best approach for little kittens, as their teeth sometimes can't manage all dry food. We did that with our first, but his little sister seems to have jaws of steel - she just chomps away at it.

doogie · 29th June 2008, 10:17pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witch

I know, they dont like dry food, i attempted switching but nope they decided to kill bird and stuff instead of eating the dry food.

You can introduce/ switch over to dry food using a number of techniques......

Dry food mixed with their wet (if you want to switch, start with a high ratio of wet to dry and change the ratios over a couple of weeks) - sometimes they will be happier with dry on top of wet and sometimes fully mixed in, depends how fussy they are...

Dry food with some water in - depending on the dry food this may be a disaster or not, it makes it more meaty than when it's dry and sometimes they'll be happy with it.

Dry food with tuna water in it (obviously make sure it's tuna in brine or spring water and not in sunflower oil or something) - similar to putting water in that it makes it more smushy for them, but I've yet to see a little kitty that doesn't get a hard-on for tuna, even if it's just the juice out of the tin