Hi!
I've been lurking around this website for a few weeks and finally registered as a member. Brilliant site btw
!
Let me introduce myself... my name is Chantelle AKA Pippy-Pops and I have an 18 month old pitch black moggy named Pippin, my partners name is Tony and we've been together since Pip was brought home. I am originally South African but moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 and have now made the country my home, Tony on the other hand is a true Brit!
We have recently (2 weeks ago) moved from a house, where Pip could roam outdoors (and did all day) into a flat, where he's been subjected to a complete change in environment. We now live on the 3rd floor with no easy access for him to go out and roam, he has moved away from his Granny Mags
(my mom whom we lived with) and he now has to use a litter tray
(he's rather shy about his ablutions and will only go when there is no-one looking!) so I have taken the momentus decision to slowly train (with enourmous amounts of patience) him to be an indoor cat - not only for his own safety but also for my own piece of mind! At first my partner thought I was being really cruel as the great outdoors is all Pip has ever known.
We moved into the flat 1 week before me moved Pip over, ensuring everything would be in it's place and therefore we wouldn't upset Pippin as he is a little bit of a skittish kitty! Moving day was stressful for me as I was so emotional removing the last of my life living with my mother and because I knew how much she loved Pip..! I cried the entire way to the flat but Pippin was wonderful! He kept poking his paw out of the cat box to touch my hand as if it say "mommy, it'll be ok!" and he was as quiet as a mouse where usually the sight of the car would get him yowling at the top of his lungs! ... I think he knew that this wasn't just a trip to the Vet ... this was much much more than that! Back at the flat, I left him in the cat box while I got all his "gear" (toys, bed, food, bowls, new litter tray) into place in pretty much where he usually would have had them at the old house with Granny Mags and then sat down and let him out! At first he wasn't sure but eventually he came out, found his food, sniffed the litter tray and went straight into it to "relieve" himself (at that I cried and cried as he'd never ever used one before!).
It's been a week of having him over at the flat and so far... so good! We've kept the windows shut while we aren't home but have them open just enough to get a breeze in while we are home. He's stopped waking us at 4am for a feed as he's not using up enough roaming energy anymore and we now get a peaceful sleep. He's using his litter tray very well for a kitty who went outdoors and so far, no spills!
He has been trying to get out the windows but a stern "NO" has so far worked to keep him away! I know he's sad that he has to stay indoors and I'm trying to keep him "occupied" while I am home and he will slowly come to realise mommy loves him enough to keep him indoors!
I've bought an H harness today in the hope that I can slowly begin to take him outdoors so he can have a good rummage in the grass but I am afraid that he'll want to go outdoors on his own and escape! Maybe that's just me being paranoid!
I would be grateful for any advice but especially on how to make the transition easier for him, on how to keep him occupied while I'm at work and how to slowly introduce the harness and walkies would be great!
I've been lurking around this website for a few weeks and finally registered as a member. Brilliant site btw
Let me introduce myself... my name is Chantelle AKA Pippy-Pops and I have an 18 month old pitch black moggy named Pippin, my partners name is Tony and we've been together since Pip was brought home. I am originally South African but moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 and have now made the country my home, Tony on the other hand is a true Brit!
We have recently (2 weeks ago) moved from a house, where Pip could roam outdoors (and did all day) into a flat, where he's been subjected to a complete change in environment. We now live on the 3rd floor with no easy access for him to go out and roam, he has moved away from his Granny Mags
We moved into the flat 1 week before me moved Pip over, ensuring everything would be in it's place and therefore we wouldn't upset Pippin as he is a little bit of a skittish kitty! Moving day was stressful for me as I was so emotional removing the last of my life living with my mother and because I knew how much she loved Pip..! I cried the entire way to the flat but Pippin was wonderful! He kept poking his paw out of the cat box to touch my hand as if it say "mommy, it'll be ok!" and he was as quiet as a mouse where usually the sight of the car would get him yowling at the top of his lungs! ... I think he knew that this wasn't just a trip to the Vet ... this was much much more than that! Back at the flat, I left him in the cat box while I got all his "gear" (toys, bed, food, bowls, new litter tray) into place in pretty much where he usually would have had them at the old house with Granny Mags and then sat down and let him out! At first he wasn't sure but eventually he came out, found his food, sniffed the litter tray and went straight into it to "relieve" himself (at that I cried and cried as he'd never ever used one before!).
It's been a week of having him over at the flat and so far... so good! We've kept the windows shut while we aren't home but have them open just enough to get a breeze in while we are home. He's stopped waking us at 4am for a feed as he's not using up enough roaming energy anymore and we now get a peaceful sleep. He's using his litter tray very well for a kitty who went outdoors and so far, no spills!
I've bought an H harness today in the hope that I can slowly begin to take him outdoors so he can have a good rummage in the grass but I am afraid that he'll want to go outdoors on his own and escape! Maybe that's just me being paranoid!
I would be grateful for any advice but especially on how to make the transition easier for him, on how to keep him occupied while I'm at work and how to slowly introduce the harness and walkies would be great!
