Tips on keeping friendly stray cat inside...24 hours so far...

[CeleryStalks]

Finally got to the point to keep a friendly stray cat inside , so far 24 hours.
Uses the litter box, eats and mostly sleeps.
Occasionally goes to door/scratches at it/ meows...
So far we are ignoring her /gently coaxing her away from door when she does this with good results.

Background:
Have feliway plug in.
Have litter box.
Have cat nip.
Wet and dry food and treats.
Female, spayed, we have been feeding her approx 2 and 1/2 years so far.
Last year she started to feel comfortable enough to hang out/eat/nap inside for a few hours.
Would like to keep her inside permanently, tips appreciated. In the past She has come back bloody from a apparent animal attack (bite marks)

Thank you in advance

 

[Meowmee]

It sounds like you are doing all of the right things. Get her lost if toys and a cat tree etc near a window may help. Play with her amap to tire her out. Do you have other kitties? Maybe another rescue companion if not to run around with. Maybe build a catio and or take her for walks on a leash, for safe outdoor time. Here is an article.
Transitioning An Indoor/Outdoor Cat to Indoor Only • Feline Engineering

 

[tabbytom]

Finally got to the point to keep a friendly stray cat inside , so far 24 hours.

Thank you for taking her in and for giving her a warm and fur-ever loving ho0me and a safe sanctuary to live out her life

She looks like she's doing fine and you re doing it right too. Keep her as comfortable as she is and keep talking to her with slow eye blinks and praise her for moving away from the door.

Keep noise and sudden movements done in the house as this may startle her as she is still very new to the environment. Get sone towels for her to lay on so to absorb her scents. Once she has been laying on them for awhile, move a few piece and place it around the room or house. This way is to assure her that she is safe as her the towels have familiar scents. You may also us you clean unwashed non-perfumed garment and place near her so that she'll get use to your scents too. It's good especially when you are not in the room.

Spend more time with her talking, playing and feeding her Don't just leave the food there for her to eat and you go away. Sit a comfortable distance from her and watch her eat. All these will boost her confidence. Keep praising her when she does the right thing. She'll feel loved through your caring voice.

Remember, just do not betray her trust and please do not let her out again.

Do keep us posted and feel free to ask questions.

 

[CeleryStalks]

It sounds like you are doing all of the right things. Get her lost if toys and a cat tree etc near a window may help. Play with her amap to tire her out. Do you have other kitties? Maybe another rescue companion if not to run around with. Maybe build a catio and or take her for walks on a leash, for safe outdoor time. Here is an article.
Transitioning An Indoor/Outdoor Cat to Indoor Only • Feline Engineering

thanks for the reply. No other kitties, but will see how we can incorporate your suggestions.

 

[CeleryStalks]

Thank you for the replies so far…

as we never had a cat before, indulge us if you will and give us some tips on the litter box protocol… currently have a standard litter box which we fill up about 1/4 with litter, once she pees and poops in it, we remove the poop and scoop up as much of the urine soaked litter as possible. Should we top off the litter after each time we clean out the box?
As she took to the litter box right away, we don’t want to her stop using it if we do something inadvertently wrong.
Thank you

 

[Meowmee]

Thank you for the replies so far…

as we never had a cat before, indulge us if you will and give us some tips on the litter box protocol… currently have a standard litter box which we fill up about 1/4 with litter, once she pees and poops in it, we remove the poop and scoop up as much of the urine soaked litter as possible. Should we top off the litter after each time we clean out the box?
As she took to the litter box right away, we don’t want to her stop using it if we do something inadvertently wrong.
Thank you

You should scoop as needed, 3-4 x a day, and top off. I clean the box out completely as needed too. Which means throw out litter, wash out with soap and water and put fresh litter in. I also put a puppy wee pad in front of the box for any mess.