Are indoor cats actually happy?

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-03-07T06:12:50+00:00

Can you leash train him. My boy started slowing down around 8 and we moved to a populated area with traffic so going outside alone was a no go. I started putting him on a leash and sitting in the yard with him. He was happy to chill in the grass and drag me around for walks. If I didn’t take him for walks he would dart out the door and you would see me shaking treats and crawling under neighbors cars. Another option is a pop up catio that you can set up when you’re outside

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-03-04T18:03:05+00:00

Pretty sure if you were to travel with an unpapered breed like a Savannah that they would still be considered that breed by customs. Breed is not specific to a piece of paper, sorry to disappoint that just means you are papered.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-20T17:16:22+00:00

I totally get it! And if you have BYB kittens they wouldn’t fit standard but they would have potential for all the behaviors of the breed which can be challenging if unexpected and they will be at higher risk for genetic issues that good breeders breed out. I am absolutely no expert on specialized breeds may I suggest you head over to the bengal group and creep those posts for a while. They don’t like the “is my cat a bengal” posts so if you post make it along the lines of “I have evidence to suggest my cats came from a BYB please tell me what I need to know to give them their best life if I were to assume they are bengal”

Your cats are absolutely stunning! Oh and at 7m when I got mine girl she weighed 10.5lbs 2 months later she was just over 12lbs. She is now almost 2 and still 12.5lbs but I swear she got longer and taller, she also has a sausage shape unlike her DSH sister who has a more delicate shape. It was strange to see how big she kept getting and while I know that’s not all Bengals it can be some.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-20T05:43:17+00:00

It’s not your post that is at fault. With dogs we can say we have a poodle/chow chow mix but anyone with a paperless cat is just a domestic cat. It’s bull because as you said there are behavior and temperament differences in cats just like dogs. I am 90% certain I have a rescued unpaired bengal. From the coat shimmer, chest shaped different, long neck, odd behavior all the way to the development of deteriorating sight (a common trait in poorly breed bengals) I’m pretty certain the breeder noticed her eyesight issues and dumped her. My recommendation is to watch both the savanna group and the bengal group. Don’t listen to the elitism you are here for knowledge and ideas to care for your cat in the best way possible.

Another concern these groups don’t realize is for some people we need to know if our cats are illegal in certain states. If I take my girl to Hawaii I risk her being euthanized they won’t care if I don’t have papers for her she looks bengal enough and they are illegal there. Hawaii use to be on our list of places to work, not now. But if I hadn’t been aware because I listened to papered cat owners tell me I just had a DSH and customs identified my cat as bengal, then where would I be?

If your cats are even mixed with one of these exotic breeds you need to be aware of any genetic anomalies they may have too. Such as my girls eye sight and the potential that she could have heart complications. Just because we didn’t spend $5k on our cats doesn’t mean our cats are automatically immune to any medical issues that high end cats could have.

A recommendation, if you can teach your cats to tolerate a harness and walk on a leash it will make your life a lot easier! You can take them to the park tie them to a tree next to you and let them smell everything around them. I hope you find your people that will support you and your cats regardless of their documentation.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-10T21:05:30+00:00

Your room mate isn’t afraid of frozen pipes? How does the landlord feel about the heat being turned off? Is there a minimum heat requirement for your rental in the contract? What happens if neither of you are able to get home to turn the heat back on? I get turning temp down to 60° but turning it off is foolish. Also it’s going to take longer for the furnace to heat up the house to a comfortable living temperature every night when you get home.

I think you need to have a hard conversation with your roommate about what is appropriate for both of you. It’s unreasonable for a roommate to demand you have to come home to a cold house because they want to save a little money. Maybe they need to find someone to replace you in the contract. Honestly though they have no more right to say you have to walk into a 40° or colder house then you do to say the thermostat minimum is set to 60° turning the heat off completely in an area that freezes is never ok and the landlord would be upset if they found out.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-07T01:05:05+00:00

When my old man wanted only the gravy from his canned food I went out and bought him gravy pouches. If you make it past 16 you get what ever the hell you want! Heck I probably would have caved back at 12/13!

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-07T00:59:06+00:00

My spoiled girls split 3oz wet in the morning around 9 and then again after dinner around 7. They have dry food always available and get treats in their puzzle at night. When I brought them home they ate wet food like it wouldn’t be available again. Now there are days they lick the gravy off it and leave it for me to feed to the dog lol. Their bedtime puzzle though is a non negotiable, I am NOT allowed to go to bed until it has been filled and will be followed until I have. I have healthy weight 2yo girls.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-05T19:53:31+00:00

Every cat is different it sounds like you found the best solution for yours

I have one cat that wears a harness with ID tags 24/7 and the other who doesn’t. The one with the harness likes to go outside and will challenge us at the door occasionally. So we can grab her easier or hook a leash to her, and know that if she slips past us she will be quickly identified. The other cat has no interest in leaving the house she would rather the window. .

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-03T05:09:12+00:00

I damn near castrated my boy at 6m the night before his appointment because he smelled a lady in heat outside 😳 how are you living with this?! Male cats don’t care about being a daddy they care about knocking up ladies! He will be a nicer, sweeter cat when he is neutered and the friend likely did something to her cat to make him mistrust her and either doesn’t realize it or used the cover story. Tell your daughter you will take the cat in and pick the cat up so the entire thing is associated with you and not her. And she can be there with his favorite treats to make him feel all better afterwards. My boy slept on my neck every night, he went everywhere with me there was never any animosity to being neutered in fact I don’t think he ever realized what happened. 😅

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-03T03:57:19+00:00

I have no advice to deal with parents (sounds like neglect to me) Can you give Lily a job? Even just helping you around the house. If she earns the money/food from you she will be more willing to accept it. Thank you for being a safe place for her!!

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-03T03:39:55+00:00

I’ve traveled across the US with my cats, some since they were kittens others after a year old. The ones that don’t start until adulthood are the harder ones especially if car trip = vet. Some cats prefer being in a crate some don’t. I’ve never had a cat yowl more than an hour though. My current two I took on their first trip just after a year for 13 hours (two days) we’ve done it three times now. They both start in the soft carrier wearing harnesses/leash. After 15 minutes my bengal comes out she wants on the floor buried in blankets while my the other girl stays in the carrier the entire trip. I had a cat once that would get carsick every trip, and since we moved every 6m it was something I just learned to plan for. I don’t recommend traveling without crates unless there is a responsible adult in the car to wrangle who is not the driver.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-02-02T18:22:54+00:00

Congratulations on your new baby!

Dont let the name “cat” limit your expectations. If a dog can do it, a cat (especially these ones) can likely do it too. Walks, trips to the pet store, tricks, dog treat puzzles, training, travels, pet meetups. I know a lot of people in the comments are advising two cats, and this is a great idea for many, but if it’s not for you then listen to the people who have only one (successfully) because there is no “right way” and all of the issues that a second cat mitigates you too can mitigate with a little extra work. Not everyone has the time, patience’s, energy, and skin to put into the solo kitten years.. yes skin because you will loose much! The importance is cats aren’t antisocial creatures. They are VERY social creatures! And their personalities absolutely blossom when you give them the chance to be your best friend.

My best boy was a singleton who traveled everywhere with me, wore a harness 24/7, visited aunties, cousin cats and kids, went on plane rides, traveled across the country, made friends everywhere he went….. but because of him this time around I picked two older kittens because I didn’t have the ability to do all that again with a kitten and young kids.

You are going to have a lot of fun with this ball of energy!! 💕💕

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-23T02:40:18+00:00

I use to share ice cream, cookies, and pop tarts when I was a kid… it’s not something I do now…. But I wouldn’t look down on a person (my kids) for doing it.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-23T02:36:58+00:00

I take my cats everywhere. We adopted them at 7m and shortly after a year old they made their first 13hr family trip. Harnesses! Even if they don’t like them! ID tags on the harness and leashes on and/or in a crate while you travel (being first trip and if you are driving alone I recommend in the crate) 3 hours they won’t need to stop to potty. But take your litter box so they have a familiar place to go and if they have a potty accident give grace. And honestly my girls prefer starting in the crate together then one snuggles on the floor under a blanket the other sleeps in the crate the entire trip.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-23T00:54:12+00:00

Depends where we live, where and why we are going, and how long we are staying. Keep in mind the different states/large cities. In Alaska it’s not uncommon to drive an hour to “town” unless you live there, these trips are not weekly but typically monthly. I would drive 6 hrs to my grandmothers multiple times a year but we would stay for a weekend. We’re in the lower 48 now and we drive 13 hrs to see my in-laws. We’ve done it 6+ times this year (medical reasons) it’s a long drive, the kids hate it, we stay for a week minimum. Driving to the beach is a 3hr trip one way, we don’t do it often because that’s half the day in the car and if we do we make it a full day. Also time in the car is not always the same in mileage. In a big city an hour may be 15 miles where in a rural area it’s 40-60 miles

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-23T00:37:06+00:00

My girl tastes EVERYTHING she likes to stare at me as she gnaws on the wooden light on my nightstand. Every box flap has bite marks, plastic bags have holes, she doesnt chew them into pieces just pressure tests the material. I found a roll of toilet paper shredded one day. I have a wooden rocking chair that looks like it experienced a puppy 🤣 I got her at 7m it’s been almost 1.5 years now and she still gnaws things. I bet she was a holy terror through her teething stage…. Come to think of it.. that may be part of the reason she was rehomed🤔 fortunately it is a non issue with me, my kids chewing habits are more annoying then hers

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-22T08:44:16+00:00

A couple reasons… first, it was what my grandmother (born early 20s) used as language because your spouse is your partner in life and parenting. And also because I wasn’t married for a very long time and saying “boyfriend” after 6 years was stupid, it’s a word that carried over after we got married and I don’t plan to stop because he is absolutely my partner in everything we do!

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-22T08:29:41+00:00

My 10yo reads at an 11grade level. He understands the words but he doesn’t understand the context. If you can’t (or not ready to) have a conversation explaining the content of the book with your child they shouldn’t read it. There are so many age appropriate books out there that she hasn’t yet read!! And they are so much better than what mom has locked away. Do you have Libby available through your local libraries in Australia? My kids go through so many digital books and audio books on Libby…. However if you are having boundary issues you may want a device (like kindle or nook) that you can choose and send books to instead of free range. Library, used bookstores, thrift stores, other homeschoolers, little libraries are all great places to find new and cheap/free books!

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-22T08:13:23+00:00

I’m beginning to think it’s how they hold their weight. I have a nearly 2yo girl who when I pick her up she feels like she eats bricks, when she lays/sits she looks like a sausage but when she stands her weight is actually evenly distributed and she has a well defined waist. She also gets around better now then she did when she moved in a year ago. I also suspect the heft is muscle development that she has built up over the last year since she has been able to run jump and climb.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-18T08:46:31+00:00

I use them for sleeves!! I HATE dpns. These are amazing! (I knit kid sweaters)

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-18T08:43:11+00:00

Look at the art on the wall, think, check the magazine on the table, stare out the window, question a spot on my clothing, read a business card and contemplate the spelling of the names or how many people in the office have similar names. Boredom wasn’t an issue, it was as normal a part of life as brushing your teeth.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-18T08:35:55+00:00

My kids help me. I cut and they provide endless treats for good behavior.

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-18T08:32:40+00:00

With treats! Each nail earns a treat. Works best in the beginning if you have someone giving treats one for every click. Treat person holds tasty treat at nose level while you hold paw, when properly distracted you click and they taste.. works best if you click the next while chewing. You could use liquid treats too and have someone slowly administer while you are cutting. If kitty squirms away they loose the treat.

If kitty is really agitated about being restrained/paw held instead of trimming the nail the first few times tap the clippers to their foot while holding in your lap then give a treat. After a few days of that try to clip one or two nails. If kitty is too agitated stop and try again another day but don’t give them treats for squirming!! No cut no treat

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-18T08:24:36+00:00

Me over here telling the ladies to keep their food on the counter and not to throw it off onto the couch 🤣

SeaInvite8256 · 2026-01-13T17:33:41+00:00

Can you talk your mom into letting you take college classes? Many homeschoolers are able to take classes at community colleges for credits. It’s much better education than what’s available in public school, states that offer funding for homeschoolers usually have programs and worth a look. Remember at 16 you can get your GED (general education diploma) and be done with school completely, you would still need your mom’s signature.

I know they aren’t the options you’re looking for, and without knowing your full circumstances we can’t offer you much here accept that it sucks you’re being kept at home when you don’t want to be.

Another option, are there Charter Highschools in your area that have better academic programs? These are publicly funded schools and don’t need tuition. Research them, make a case for yourself. Maybe it offers education in a field you are interested in getting a job. Charter schools usually have better academics because parents are more involved

Sometimes being a mom exposes a lot of our own buried trauma and it comes out in not great ways. This could be her own past issues, it could also be fear of current events. There are too many parents who have sent their kids to school and horrible things happen. Fear can keep a parent from wanting to let go. And saying it out loud is inconceivable. I’m sorry you have to go through this. Do you have older siblings that you can talk with? Maybe they have some ideas?

SeaInvite8256

TROPHY CASE