As some of you may remember my cat, Link, went missing for a few days and came home with a broken leg almost a month ago. He stayed at the vet a few days, had bloodwork, surgery and has been home for 3 weeks now on house arrest. He will be going back outside sometime in mid-November once he gets clearance from the vet but he will have a curfew. I thought I would share my experience of indoor versus indoor/outdoor behavior for anyone thinking of making the switch to indoor only.
It's been interesting. When he could come and go as he liked he seemed more relaxed and mellow. He'd either find a spot to nap where he could watch my Mom garden or, in bad weather, sleep on the bed in the master bedroom with a view of the backyard. He'd relax in the house and demand attention from time to time but he seemed more confident.
Now that he is housebound he freaks out anytime he finds himself alone. He has to hear or see a human at all times. My Mom has commented that he yells at her if she's home alone and dares to go to the bathroom without him. He's also taken to sleeping cuddled up next to me at night (much to Rocket's annoyance). He is also more alert to anything happening outside and hates it if we close the blinds all the way. He doesn't try to bolt outside though, he is a smart cat and has figured out that while the other two can he is stuck inside. But he wants to be outside, he's made it out a few times but he turns back inside as soon as we call.
I will say that I will miss some aspects of the clingy cat he has become but I do miss the confidence he used to have. He will be indoors at night so we will see how that works out long term with him and Rocket both liking to sleep with me but not with each other. If I had to make the switch permanent I don't think it would be a hard change for him to accept. He doesn't seem to fight being indoors; you just can tell he wants to be able to go back outside. But it's not the direction our family wants to go so once his leg is better he will be back to his old indoor/outdoor ways.
Edited to clarify: This is meant for someone who is thinking of switching from outdoor only or indoor/outdoor to indoor only. I do not condone nor encourage giving a cat outside access unsupervised if they have not previously been outside on their own. My cats are from a feral colony and/or have been going outside since they were 3-6 months old (depending on size/weight). They have free access through a microchip cat door to go outside during the day and curfew at night. All my cats get regular exams and vaccines. But an indoor only cat who has not been outside wouldn't understand cars, dogs, limitations climbing, etc to navigate safely outside without supervision.
It's been interesting. When he could come and go as he liked he seemed more relaxed and mellow. He'd either find a spot to nap where he could watch my Mom garden or, in bad weather, sleep on the bed in the master bedroom with a view of the backyard. He'd relax in the house and demand attention from time to time but he seemed more confident.
Now that he is housebound he freaks out anytime he finds himself alone. He has to hear or see a human at all times. My Mom has commented that he yells at her if she's home alone and dares to go to the bathroom without him. He's also taken to sleeping cuddled up next to me at night (much to Rocket's annoyance). He is also more alert to anything happening outside and hates it if we close the blinds all the way. He doesn't try to bolt outside though, he is a smart cat and has figured out that while the other two can he is stuck inside. But he wants to be outside, he's made it out a few times but he turns back inside as soon as we call.
I will say that I will miss some aspects of the clingy cat he has become but I do miss the confidence he used to have. He will be indoors at night so we will see how that works out long term with him and Rocket both liking to sleep with me but not with each other. If I had to make the switch permanent I don't think it would be a hard change for him to accept. He doesn't seem to fight being indoors; you just can tell he wants to be able to go back outside. But it's not the direction our family wants to go so once his leg is better he will be back to his old indoor/outdoor ways.
Edited to clarify: This is meant for someone who is thinking of switching from outdoor only or indoor/outdoor to indoor only. I do not condone nor encourage giving a cat outside access unsupervised if they have not previously been outside on their own. My cats are from a feral colony and/or have been going outside since they were 3-6 months old (depending on size/weight). They have free access through a microchip cat door to go outside during the day and curfew at night. All my cats get regular exams and vaccines. But an indoor only cat who has not been outside wouldn't understand cars, dogs, limitations climbing, etc to navigate safely outside without supervision.
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