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When my friend first got her, she was indoors. then she became indoor/outdoor. Due to a move, she would have to become an exclusively indoor cat again. Is this possible? Is it fair? Any tips?
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Answers
Physically, she'd be fine. Just make sure she doesn't dart out. Indoor cats are actually healthier and love longer, so you'd be doing her a favor in the long run (there are a myriad of dangers to outdoor cats that aren't there for indoor cats). If she has been pottying outside, you may need to reintroduce her to her box by putting her in a spare bedroom or bathroom (I prefer bathroom-accidents are easier to clean up) with her food, water, box, and toys. Just like with any new cat you bring into a household. As fr whether it is "fair", you will always get conflicting answers on that, because different people believe in different things (I have found this counts almost double for cat owners LOL). Personally, as long as she is still getting loved and taken care of, it may be "more fair" than leaving her to fend for herself when she goes outside. Emily, 15 years old, has been an indoor cat since she was two months old. She doesn't seem to miss anything. :)
When I moved from the UK to the US with Jester and her sister Strangelove they went from being indoor/outdoor with a cat door to the garden to being exclusively indoor for 4 years while I was in appartments. They did fine and I just made sure that they had plenty of toys and scratch posts etc. They did enjoy going into the garden again when I got a house in a quiet neighbourhood and it was safe for them to go outside again.
I think as long as your cat has plenty of toys and scratch posts and you make sure to be careful at the door in case she tries to dart out you'll be fine. One thing to watch out for is that you may need to start clipping her nails as they won't naturally wear down as much if she's indoor only.
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