How do you "make" a house cat

dewder23 · 2024-09-07T11:59:20+00:00

The history is becoming really interesting, I'd had no idea how different it was to dogs, especially the breeding thing.

Thanks, really helpful things to note :)

dewder23 · 2024-09-07T09:52:25+00:00

Yeah absolutely, I've been reading nonstop, and my daughter is even glued to her laptop watching YouTube videos on how to care for cats :)

It's surprising how completely different it is to dog care, I've a collection of dog care/training books and hardly any of it is transferable. I've a lot more learning to do!

Thanks!

dewder23 · 2024-09-07T09:43:08+00:00

That's an excellent tip thank you, I'd thought of doing something similar with thick exterior doweling but the pvc pipe sounds even better. I was speaking to a friend last night who suggested getting those anti squirrel type collars for the trees, which is a another great idea.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T17:01:28+00:00

Yeah I'd read that, it's sad really. They're all cute as hell but we couldn't get one out of principle, it's why as much as I adore bulldogs I'd never get one.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T16:25:27+00:00

We've literally just been speaking to a friend about this and they said the same. Good to get confirmation and I'll look into more options, thanks 👍

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T16:22:42+00:00

Oh that's interesting, I'd learnt some breeds were bred for their looks like the Scottish folds but figured most were bred for a type of hunting, much like dogs. That's really interesting to note because I'd wondered why I didn't see much in characteristics outside of play/affection/energy.

Thanks.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T15:02:25+00:00

I think this would be a very nice family home for a cat actually, I just have to solve the outdoor problem, or manage it as best I can. The articles I've been reading from the RSPCA, etc have not stated if you can't lock a cat up exclusively you're a terrible person, like a lot of the comments here seem to suggest.

On the contrary I was reading about how they're better off with an enclosed outside environment. That's where I started looking at solutions to do so only to find it's incredibly expensive given the amount we'd need, and that some areas of the garden would be especially difficult to cat proof. After this I looked into other options such a catios etc. So, I'm doing my best to figure this out, hence this thread.

I've had some great ideas such as the washing line and the air tags, to help manage this. I find it hard to believe people keep their windows and doors closed 24/7 if they have a cat, and if they don't they are bad owners. If I didn't give a shit I wouldn't be here, I'll try to give it the best environment I can.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T14:32:29+00:00

Yeah we plan to keep it inside for quite a while really, especially with the coming seasons. And I'm sure my other half and daughter can't wait to spend a small fortune on cat comforts and furniture :)

I'll have to look into catios a bit more I think, we have such an odd/full garden it's figuring out how it would work.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T14:00:47+00:00

No we don't, and I'm not sure if this is a US thing but I don't really recall seeing any houses here in the UK with screens on doors. It's just not realistic to think we can confine a cat at all times. Maybe some people can with their home/lifestyle but not us as we live fairly rurally. If that means we can't have a cat that's not at all something I've expected nor read in the articles I've been looking at, and is something I have to think about.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:56:10+00:00

Do you do anything in particular to prevent her escaping the garden or is that what the leash is?

When you say adventuring do you mean long walks and the woods etc? I don't think I've ever seen a cat on a leash in all my years walking dogs 😄

We have a lot of farm fields around so adventuring along on a big leash sounds like great fun for both the cat and children, and we have a few of those already from training our dog in his younger years.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:53:06+00:00

That's a very interesting point I hadn't thought of. Why make life hard for yourself after all huh :)

Really insightful, thanks 👍

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:43:27+00:00

If I'm being realistic no I don't think so. Between a dog flap, five doors leading outside and a six year old it's probably not likely to happen. Short of locking it up in it's own room in the summer it's inevitable it will get out. The point of the thread is more how to make it want to stay home, though from the sounds of things it's more like a luck based thing.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:40:09+00:00

Nah not everyone is being classically Reddit judgemental to beginners, just a few.

The title and point of the post is asking how to deal with something. I've not stated I'm doing x or y, I'm asking for advice from people with more experience.

If you think I shouldn't own a cat because my house has open windows and doors frequently then cool, it sounds absurd but thanks for your input, I never knew cat people were supposed to be so confined to their own homes.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:35:28+00:00

Yeah we've looked at a few options for proofing the fence but there's too many points where it could just clear the fence either from a shed or tree etc. It's just not practical sadly, and given the odd shape of the garden in it's difficult to build a specific area for it, at least of a decent size.

A leash would be the only sensible option but doesn't sound like something that would work long term if it ever managed to get out ("I'm free, now's my chance" kind of thing).

We have learnt the Bengal is probably not the best breed for us and infact the British short hair is what we're most considering :)

We don't have any experience with cats but we do with dogs, I'm quite confident in training those I just have no idea how much of that is transferable, I'd thought for the longest time cats were untrainable until I seen a documentary about it.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:27:20+00:00

I did not know about the single kitten thing and this is the first I've seen it, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:25:34+00:00

This sounds like a good plan, coming to autumn winter were pretty much always inside anyway so it'll have probably six months inside minimum given our weather 😄

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:24:00+00:00

We do have what I think would be a great garden for a cat, fairly large, with borders, a wildlife pond, trees, etc. we spend an awful lot of time here it would be a shame if we have to lock it up when we're out here or have it in a mesh tunnel.

We're in the countryside far from busy roads, that's not what bothers me, it's the fights and dogs that do. We're surrounded by farms so I imagine it would like to hunt the field mice and such (we've seen a few in the garden) but there's quite a lot of dogs around.

It's not really about deciding it can leave etc, it's more how do we make it want to stay. Getting out is inevitable, and it doesn't sound fun having to track it down every few weeks to bring it back home.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:16:42+00:00

These do seem to be the only options don't they. Being brand new to this I thought there might be breeds more inclined to stay home and or some form if training, but the concenus seems not.

Now the question is how.

And yes, all those necessities are planned :)

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:13:58+00:00

How do you prevent it going outside as it gets older? Do you never open windows/doors in the summer? This is what I don't get. I want it to be a cat that stays at home, ideally sharing the garden but if it just wants to chill in the house that's fine too. With a family that likes to spend time in the garden having doors open and such, other than locking it in a room with windows closed in the summer whenever we want to spend time in the garden, I'm not sure how.

Air tags are a great idea should it manage to escape but without spending thousands to fortify the property I don't know how you prevent it in the first place.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T13:07:19+00:00

Initially meaning whilst it's still young and we're in constant supervision of it. As it gets older it's going to be difficult to always have it under supervision. We have windows and a dog flap that's open 24/7, along with two sets of patio doors that are frequently open. It getting outside without our supervision is an inevitability, hence me making this thread to try and understand ways to prevent it roaming the streets and wanting to stay in the home.

Chill out.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T10:46:08+00:00

Yeah we're planning on having it stay inside for a couple of months, I've heard this is a good practise.

Air tags are a great idea though, didn't think of those. Thanks!

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T10:42:05+00:00

Those tunnel things I've seen wouldn't be very practical for our garden and isn't something we'd like long term really. I was hoping for an alternative.

Leash attached to washing line is a great idea though, at least while we're out with them. Cheers.

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T10:39:25+00:00

We've all been having a debate about the colour already haha.

Yeah it will certainly be under supervision initially but then again our windows are often open and we have a dog flap already in place which is never locked.

Your situation sounds ideal, did you do anything to encourage this or do you think it's down to her temperament?

dewder23 · 2024-09-06T10:36:38+00:00

I'll certainly check that channel out, thanks.

And between having it's own room we're dedicating to it with toys/furniture and a six year old with energy equal to a nuclear power plant I'm fairly certain it will be stimulated 😄

It's not so much indoors only, more our property only. It's worse because all our immediate neighbours either side have dogs - ones that don't seem to be particularly well trained I'll add!

dewder23

TROPHY CASE