Advice needed!

[kittykatking]

Is it ok to have a cat (thinking of getting a kitten) in a flat with no garden or balcony? If it is brought up in this environment then will it be happy as it won't know any different?

[bird_81]

Try these websites

http://home.hiwaay.net/~keiper/indoors.htm

http://www.indoorcat.org/index.php

http://www.users.bigpond.com/berrime/inoutcats .htm

[lindsaythfc]

I've got indoore cats and they sem very happy and the vet gives them a full bill of health. I was worried initially as I have always had outdoor cats so when i took in a cat that needed a new family and then found she was pregnant i was worried. Allie (Mum) had been an indoor cat since being little, it was only because someone 'threw her out' of her old home and she had an 'encounter' with a tom that she got pregnant. The kittens (6 month but still babies!!) have known no difference. I live in a flat so they aren't able to go out. I'm moving into a house soon and I'm unsure if they will become outdoor cats or not.
They have lots of toys (no room for any of my things!!) lots of nice views, and regular vet checks. They've all been vaccinated though, better to be safe, and all been neutered and spayed. They show no signs of distress, and are playful and loving.
Sorry this is a bit of a long winded answer, in summary, as long as provisions are made there is no reason why your cat cant be happy staying indoors.

[maggie01]

I have heard of cats being house cats but it doesn't really seem natural to never feel the fresh air or the sun. Perhaps it's just me but it seems a bit unkind.

[divegirl]

Hi, many times on here people say they would like to get a dog, but are at work all day....and so, people suggest getting a cat as they are apparently more independent. The question you ask is is it Ok to keep a cat indoors? So my answer would be, only if you don't work! If you expect the cat to happily live indoors with no outside stimulation, as I am sure they can....you could only expect it to do so under the same conditions as a dog IE...someone at home with it. Will that be the case?

Lisa x

[ganesh]

Have you thought of 2 kittens.? I have had two sets of 2 kittens in the past,and they play with each other constantly well into adulthood. This might help if they get bored indoors. I personally like to see cats hunting in the garden but I suppose if they've never known anything else ,it's OK.

[nickinoonoo]

i have an a kitten in a flat and she does get bored which means she starts to miss behave. so i would recomend getting two kittens, so they keep each other company when your not around and they have each other to play with.

[LottieAnne]

I have had indoor and outdoor cats and they both do well but I agree if you are out all day then you should have two. Have you thought of offering a home to a deaf cat? They need the protection of an indoor environment. As for fresh air and sunshine it is easy to have frames fitted on your windows so that you can safely leave them open in the summer.

[Elfin]

The answer is yes, it is ok to keep cats indoors but there are soem basic requirements. First, it is best to get 2 kittens (for the reasons already stated) and second, you have to make their environment stimulating. That means lots of toys, hidey places, scratching posts, cat trees and other places where they can get up high. Cats like to use all dimensions, so if you allow them to climb up high, as well as hide under things down low, they are happier.

I've got 2 kittens (7 months) and I keep them in for a number of reasons. You have to put in the hard work to keep them amused though. I change the furniture around quite often - they seem to get a new lease of life each time. I read somewhere that cats (in the wild) pounce over 20 times a day whilst hunting. If you can simulate that with cat toys etc, you'll be on the right track.

[lindsaythfc]

Scratching posts with lots of levels and things attached are a god send.

[KKACJ]

We were given our cat at 3years old, she was a house cat originally bought up with her mother and three other cats she was the only house cat out of them, she is a happy playfull little thing she is now 5 and we have moved from a flat with no garden to a house with a garden which she enjoyed exploring but never went to far and always stayed in the fenced area we now have moved back to a flat which she still seems to be happy with, although occassionally she loves to have burst of energy where she runs and jumps over everything, i think it would be fine.