My cat wants to be outside and inside. Help

Hi let me give you a little background on my boy bell. He came to me 8 years ago April . He never wanted to come in so I made him a heated house with lots of blankets and also I have a bench with a heated pad. But this winter was so cold that he came in. He was in from dec. to march. Now the sun is shining and he wants to go out but he comes in at night. I so want him to be an indoor cat. It was so nice to have him in and not worry . But bell does not go far. He sits on my deck with my little dog and just takes the sun. He loves the sun on his bones. My question is I am afraid of him getting fleas and ticks. I will give him frontline but I hope that this helps. And when I go away what should I do. He will only let me bring him in. My friend had been feeding him for 8 years. Oh I also have an indoor cat that I will never ever let out. Does anyone have the same problems as me?

If your cats get along, can you just let Bell stay inside?  It will be tricky to make sure he doesn't bolt.  You can buy some Feliway; that will help keep him calm.

Make sure whoever is babysitting for you knows not to let him outside.  You may want to give him his own room temporarily to get him used to the idea of being inside without his being able to get to the door (and outside).

Other than a topical like Frontline, keeping him inside is pretty much the only way to keep the fleas and ticks away.  I would get a second litterbox to ensure they each have their own (and therefore won't be tempted to spray/go potty inappropriately).

We have two cats who started life outside and who came in.  It took them about two weeks to realize they liked inside better than outside.  Now, when the door opens, they run the other way!

Thanks ondine. I am so hoping he will want to be an indoor cat. My other cat is finally getting use to him but not the best of friends yet. I do lleave them both alone. They are good. I have two litter boxes. Everything was going great until the sun came out. And the weather is getting nice. Bell would start to cry to go out. Ugh I was almost there . But I guess at least he wants to bein at night now.

If Bell's really desperate to be out have you thought of making him a catio on the deck? That would let him sunbathe but keep him safe. I'm not sure if he'd still need Frontline or similar if you did this though. Just a thought. You've done so great with him. I'm sure you'll find a solution you're all happy with

Linda, Would a cat door solve some of the problem?   T

Tmccr that's a great idea. But sometimes raccoons come around for food.

Columbine. I live I a condo and there are rules. You should see my deck. It looks like a homeless shelter with the heated igloo and blankets on top. Lucky the board leaves us alone. We have a corner unit and no one can see our area. We live were there are all trees in the back. But we might be thinking of moving and that is an idea I can do.

tmccr said:

 
Linda, Would a cat door solve some of the problem?   T

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If she is micro chipped you can get a cat door that only allows a cat with the microchip to enter.  You can enter multiple cats if needed.  If she isn't micro chipped, I believe there is a special collar.  Yet getting her micro chipped would be easiest.

ShadowsRescue,

I didn't know that but it sounds like a great idea.

Linda,

i adopted a stray five years ago.   A week later I installed a cat door in a sliding window.   The cat door itself cost less than twenty dollars, but I also had to buy some plexiglass, which I put "above" the cat door.   Think of a sliding patio door, which has a cat door beside it.   But that is not a good example because the patio door couldn't be opened after installing a cat door beside it. Anyway, a handyman or handywoman could probably install a cat door within an hour or two.  One month ago  I took down the cat door because I am getting ready to sell my house. On  the window sill below the cat door, my cat had tracked in dirt, so the window looks better without the cat door.   I have raccoons, too, but as far as I know they never entered the cat door.  A neighboring cat entered once but my cat growled at him and he backed out.  The problem with removing the cat door is that I have had to let my cat in and out, and I have to think about where my cat is, especially in cold weather.  For example, I would not let my cat out just before going to bed.   I really like cat doors and I would install one again if I ever buy another house.

T

Thank you so much. I make sure bell is in before I go to bed at night. I would like to look into a microchip. And than put a cat door in. I love all the great ideas. I am so happy today because bell decided to stay in today. And it is so sunny on the deck today. Maybe he knows it is safer in the house

Ya my cat bell decided that he wants to be an indoor cat. Yahoo