Outdoor to indoor kitty?

[rahma]

Hello all, long time no see!

It's been 4 years since you all helped me when I adopted my first (and thus far only official) cat.  I learned a lot and very much appreciate it.

Here is my current conundrum.  I currently live in an apartment.  The people who rent the house next door let their neutered boy cat out to roam.  He has been coming over to my apartment for more than a year for food and love, and will often spend the night.  But in the morning, he will usually stand at the door and want to go back out.

I am (hopefully) buying my first home and moving in November.  I worry about what will happen to this cat when I move.  Should I ask the neighbors if I can take him?  And if they do let me take him, can I successfully turn him into an indoor cat?  I will have a fenced in backyard and already plan to let my current official cat roam while I garden, but I have no desire to let a cat roam around unattended outside that fenced space.

 

[sk_pacer]

As to the cat, all you can do is ask, and the worst they can say is no, you cannot have him.

I've never had trasitioning problems. Had one barn cat come in the house on her own to deliver her last 'litter' which consisted of one very large lilac point kitten and she has no desire to leave the house, She learned quickly where the litter was and where the food and water 'live'. Other than the occassional spat with Da Magpie, there are no problems. Jack and Tippy come in every winter and no problems, they know where the amenities are and they mostly behave perfectly although Jack seems to think he should have the whole bed to himself. Tippy is more prone to following me every trip I make outside and back in.. So, in short, outdoor cats learn fast. Even Da Lip was a barn cat and he is the best housecat I have ever had and he does teach the others. Except for one, he has managed to keep them off surfaces where cats aren't allowed and he finally taught Tippy to leave the TV screen alone and not pat and sniff at it and leave nose spooges and paw prints on it.

Some. like Da Lip, Da Magpie and Hissy adjust so well to indoors that they have no interest in outside - Louie watches the door when it is open, Da Magpie investigates after it is closed and Hissy hides when it is opened. Blue stays well away from that bad door, she has NEVER been outside at all.

Because of circumstances, I also never did the slow introductions to the house residents - it's pretty hard to introduce a rocket fueled cat (Hissy's foray to becoming indoor cat) to the rest. Jack is so well socialised he was no problem at all, and knew them through the open windows. The only one to cause a minor problem was Tippy as Da Lip was horrified at his looks....I am assuming that was the problem since Tippy is black and had to look ilke he was faceless. That, too resolved itself in a couple of hours and now those two are best buddies. .