Trying to bring in an outdoor cat

Ahah! He is adapting, slowly at his own pace, not too slowly though,  but just as expected and hoped.

GREAT!!

Oh that is so wonderful. I cat bell slepted out side on her heat bench all night. He did not even go in his igloo. I kept waking up all night. And there he was snuggled up. I was so worried. My indoor cat is jealous. I see the hurt in her eyes . I have to see if bell will go in the litter box.. She so use to going outside. Tonite I am going to try and let her spend the night. Any ideas how I can do this. How do you post pictures.?

I kept calling bell a her because I thought bell was a girl. Found out two years later a shewas a he. That's how long it took for bell to get close and let me pet him. Pipi the we did not have wind like you last night. I kept hearing the weather up by you. It is pretty cold by you. Today should be alittle warmer.

Linda, first find the icon in the "reply box" that looks like this:


Click that icon then click on "upload photos".

I'm not sure what to tell you about how to get Bell to come inside for the night. He has come into your house as I recall hasn't he? Well, when he does have a nice comfy spot set up for him and some treats in it. Then leave him alone but watch what he does. Does he sit and look like he wants to get out or does he relax and lie down. You will stand your best chance of having him stay when he starts to relax inside the house. But I would invite him in as often as possible even if he leaves quickly or wants to leave after a while. That's how it has been happening with Pi. But I'm sure all cats aren't alike just like all people are not. So this may or may not work with Bell. At any rate once he starts relaxing when he comes to visit try shutting the door to the outside and see how he reacts. The firs few times he may run to the door and want to get out. Let him out. I find that if you can make him understand he is not a prisoner you will have the best luck. I had tried to keep Pi inside the night before but he hid behind the toilet and wanted to spend the night in the vestibule inside so I said, OK have it your way. The next night, last night, he stayed after I closed the back door and never made a move to get out when it was clear I was going upstairs to bed.

This morning when I came down he was behind the toilet again until I said that it was "mommy." He peeked out then came right over for a pat and rub AND breakfast! I'm sure he was in his bed during the night but when he heard me coming downstairs this morning wasn't sure who it was and so ran and hid. He didn't make a peep during the night so Happy and I slept soundly. This morning he went out as soon as I propped open the pet door but came back in 5 minutes later to eat more breakfast. BTW I stopped the Temptations Treats. He had none yesterday. Instead he is getting Greenies and Wellness Kittles. He gets fare fewer than I was feeding him of the Temptations. Don't know if it was a coincidence but he ate his breakfast with more interest today. Now he has gone off on his daily wanderings--in the newly fallen snow! I thought cats didn't like snow. LOL! I hope and pray he returns to me safely later today--maybe early due to the weather. He HAS been coming home earlier the past few very cold days.

We I saw how you were having pi come in I did the same thing. Bell loves to be in here now. He even jumped on my couch and made he self feel like home[emoji]127881[/emoji] this morning he came in for his Breakfast and stayed. I put my grandson on the bus every morning So I had to let him out. We I came home his was in his igloo. It is snowing right now. He did not come out. I will be home all day so if he wants go come in I will let him come in. He is like pi pi he likes to go off in the woods but comes back around 3:00 thanks for telling me about how to upload pictures.

I'm so happy he spent the night inside. He must have felt so warm and comfortable.

this is my bell. I warmed up all the blankets and bell loved it.

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this is Nemo and bell. They love each other.

Linda I didn't realize how much Bell looks like Pi. They could be twins. Pi has a tipped left ear too from when they did TNR on him. Glad to see he and cute little Nemo get on well. Gives me hope for Pi and Happy.

Pi is in his bed in the kitchen again tonight. Yeah!

Hooray, hooray, hooray! Pi spent another night in the kitchen and when I came down this morning he was still cuddled in his bed. He turned over for a tummy rub when I went to him and purred loudly. When I opened the pet door and the very cold air rushed through it (16 degrees this AM) he actually looked a bit surprised at the difference in temperature. He ate a good amount of kibbles and not much wet food at all then went outside. He came back in twice before he took off on his daily jaunt. I am hoping he will cut it short today and stay in the vicinity of my house and neighbors homes. He has been coming home early for the last three days that it has been so frigid--not inside but around the yard. He still waits until about 4 to 5 PM before he comes inside.

I warmed up his 4 snuggle safe heating disks and put them in among his many blankets and comforter in the vestibule. Just in case he decides to come back and I'm upstairs and can't let him in the house. today I'm going to put some straw inside the feeding station that Is situated just outside the entrance to the vestibule and home. He used that up until it started getting so very cold and now he comes to the garage or inside the house to eat. I made the food station out of a Rubbermaid bin--37 gallon. I bought some builders grade foam insulation at Home Depot and cut it to fit the inside walls so it's insulated quite well. With the straw it should be a good resting place for him if he doesn't want to come all the way into the house or vestibule. I got the idea to put the straw in there because the other day I happened to see him go in there and just sit. He didn't want to be in the house but he didn't want to be out in the cold either--smart guy. Here is a photo of the food station on the back stoop. That's my old storm door not the one with the pet door.

Whoo Hoo Pi !!!  Great to hear that Pi is finally taking advantage of indoor life, even if it's just night-time for now.  Is it your plan to eventually keep him inside only?  Or let him come and go as he wishes.  I still think eventually he is going to discover the good life of napping on the bed, sofa or chair!   I'm also looking forward to someday seeing a picture of Pi and your dog cuddled together napping.

Oh that is great. I am so happy for you. You are a good mommy . I still have to have bell stay out and sleep in his igloo . Because of my
Indoor cat. She wants to attack him. Ha ha so I have to supervise. How high is your gate. Just wondering if pipi can jump it. I would like to try a gate. That feeding station is great. You did a great job.

I did let bell in at 6:00 and he stayed until 9:00 this morning .

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rubysmama said:

Whoo Hoo Pi !!!  Great to hear that Pi is finally taking advantage of indoor life, even if it's just night-time for now.  Is it your plan to eventually keep him inside only?  Or let him come and go as he wishes.  I still think eventually he is going to discover the good life of napping on the bed, sofa or chair!   I'm also looking forward to someday seeing a picture of Pi and your dog cuddled together napping.

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I want to see that photo one day too rubysmama! As to your question, I'm leaving the decision up to Pi. I would prefer that he come inside permanently and be a good buddy to my dog Happy. But, if Pi wants to be an indoor/outdoor cat that's OK too. Hopefully more indoor over time than outdoor. The reason I don't like him outdoors a lot is that it just increases his chances for something bad to happen whether car or animal like coyote or racoon even a large hawk. Hate to think of that.

linda carella said:

Oh that is great. I am so happy for you. You are a good mommy . I still have to have bell stay out and sleep in his igloo . Because of my
Indoor cat. She wants to attack him. Ha ha so I have to supervise. How high is your gate. Just wondering if pipi can jump it. I would like to try a gate. That feeding station is great. You did a great job.

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My gate is 41" high Linda and has bars 2" appart. It has a door in it so I can walk through when i want to. I suppose he could jump it if he really wanted to but he hasn't shown any interest in doing that, Glad you had Bell inside for so long this morning. Maybe Gwen will come around eventually.

You have a great set-up there.  Pi is one lucky cat!

Here's the gate. Actually it's a child's gate. Got it online.

C

linda carella said:

Oh that is great. I am so happy for you. You are a good mommy . I still have to have bell stay out and sleep in his igloo . Because of my
Indoor cat. She wants to attack him. Ha ha so I have to supervise. How high is your gate. Just wondering if pipi can jump it. I would like to try a gate. That feeding station is great. You did a great job.

Click to expand...

You have a great set up. The only way I can use a gate is if I put bell in the bathroom. I just don't know if he would cry all night. I live on one floor and I only have one bedroom. But I can try to put one of them in the bathroom .I would hate to buy a gate if it did not work out. But I am going to go to petco and check out gates. Thanks for sharing all your advice. I am hoping to finally bring Bella in. The spring and summer months are hard because I don't want him coming in with ticks and fleas . Last summer I came Down with Lyme disease. I know I got in from bell. I would pick the ticks off him when I sat on the bench with him. He was on frontline in the summer.

My condo is big and I have 2 bathrooms . I just don't have an upstairs . How do you get a picture by your name.

I'm waiting for the day that Pi spends the whole day in the house not wanting to go out.