Thursday, August 13, 2009

Good News/Not So Good News

Good News: Our House Sold!! Our House Sold! Not So Good News: We will probably be off line till the 23rd or later while Mom goes to DaughterBeans Wedding Shower this weekend and we move!! We are so excited and scared at the same time!! We have lived here all our life!! And GASP we might have to become indoor only kitties!! Mom wants to know how you do that! Does anyone have any suggestions??

29 comments:

Everycat said...

Oh crikey! Good luck with the move!

Any chance you could build an enclosure onto the house so Sam & Mr T could have some enclosed, safe wanderings? It might ease the transition if they can still get out a little. There's also going for walks on the leash, but we know that can be a little insulting for those of us who are used to coming and going.

Best of luck!

Whicky Wuudler

Milo said...

Well we are pleased for your beans that the house sold so they can move on but like yoo said it's going to be strange not going outside.

We think Uncle Whicky Wudler's advice is great ~ an enclosure if possible and a leash. You could try putting leashes on in the house to sort of get used to the idea.

I refuse to wear one but Alfie Marshall is quite a good boy about wearing one. He sits nicely to have it put on and walks nicely on the leash when it is on. Whereas I get scratchy (a band aid is ususally required by whoever is putting it on me) and then I lay down and refuse to walk (tee hee) ~ it works every time ~ so they gave up on me!

Milo xx

PDX pride said...

Skylar and Starla both went from being outdoor/indoor kitties to indoor-only, as did Skylar's now-angel sister. Also our foster Little Bit did.

The trick is to keep them inside, and keep a squirt bottle handy, or a coin jar, or just stamp your feet loudly whenever the door opens, to dissuade them from going out. If you stamp your feet, do it when you're not right by them, but a few feet away. You want to associate the door with whatever you're using to persuade them that going through the door is bad. Then you praise them when you come back inside, by petting and verbally praising them.

You'll have an escapee once in a while, but then just bring him or her back inside and tell them "No" firmly when you come back by the door with them again. Mommy always tells us "Good kitties, staying inside. That's right, you're inside kitties now!" And pets us afterwards.

After they're used to being inside, which may take as long as a couple months, you can put them on harness. Try the harness on them first inside and leave it on for a little while, then take it off again. They'll belly-slink, which is normal. Try it again like that a few more times until they're comfortable with the harness (no leash) and walk around normally. Then attach the leash but don't hold it. Once they get used to it following them (and the other one playing with the other end of it) and think it's a game, then they're ready to go outside with you. Walk at their pace, let them lead you.

Hope this helps! -- The PDX pride and their mommy.

Parker said...

You have a lot of good advice, we did the same thing 2 years ago and really don't miss the outdoors.
Concats on selling the house!

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Congrats!

We are purring you will love your new home. ~S,S,C & F

The Florida Furkids said...

ConCatulations on selling the house!! That was fast!!!

We've always been indoor cats, so we aren't very helpful.

Sniffie and the Florida Furkid

The Creek Cats said...

Concatulations, that's great news!!

When Rambler was being transitioned into an indoor only kitty from an outdoor stray, our mom put feliway diffusers in the room and gave him some rescue remedy when he started to freak out wanting to go outside. Now he loves the inside!
Will the new house have a screened in porch? That would be the best of both worlds!

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Concats on selling the house. We hope the move goes well.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tigger and Sam!
Moving can be scary. Lucy and Bouncie lived in another house before I came along.

We are not allowed outside either but luckily we have an enclosed deck! Maybe you will have one of those.

Snuggles and purrs,
Trixie

CCL Wendy said...

Yes, it's great that your house is sold because that is one less thing to worry about, but now it all becomes more real.

All I know is that when we moved last (which was 20 years ago now), we kept our kitties inside for a couple of weeks until they were really comfortable in their new home. Then we went outside with them, so they could explore their new territory and still be safe.

If you could handle it, you could put leashes on them with long leads. I still do this with Dante.

Some people have cat enclosures, too.

Jans Funny Farm said...

Congrats on selling the house. Not easy to do right now, so we're happy for you.

We will miss you while you are offline. We hope the move goes smoothly and you all love your new home.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Congratulations on the move. We will look forward to hearing more about you. We have only ever had indoor cats--except Georgia who refused so we don't have any good advice that way.

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Congratulations on selling the house. We are trying to sell my inlaws house ans no one wants it, yet! It looks like you have lots of good advice and WE are all indooe so can not add any thing. Just watch for those escapes! Kirby has started trying this new adventure!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Congrats to your parents for selling the house. Our kitties are only indoor so I don't really don't have any advice for that, but we did move a few years ago for the first time with the kitties, and let me tell you that Feliway was a great thing to help keep them calm (well calmer at least) for the first few days while they got used to the new place.

Reese =^..^= said...

Congratulations! How very exciting. Your kitties will adjust just fine.

Daisy said...

Congratulations on the sale of your house! That's a great accomplishment in the Florida housing market!

Jasmim said...

Oh! This is a good news!

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Good luck with the move and we will miss you untill you get back on line...

Hugs GJ xx

The Furry Kids said...

Congrats on selling your house!

Unknown said...

Grats on selling the house.

We've only ever been indoor kitties (I'm too scared to go out) so we can't give you advice there. Good luck with everything though.

P.S. Moving will be lots o fun with all the boxes!

Mickey's Musings said...

Congrats on selling your house!! Now the scary part comes...moving!!!
We have always been indoor kitties ,but it seems you have lots of good advice. Mom suggests ear plugs so your Mom does not have to listen to the whining!!! Moms!!!!!!!
Purrs Mickey,Georgia & Tillie

Quill and Greyson said...

Concats on the house selling, sorry about the moving!

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

All the best purrs on moving. It is difficult to be an indoor only kitty after you are used to running around outside. I whinge a lot if I have to be indoors for more than a few hours.

The Kitty Krew said...

Congrats on selling the house! We're sorry about the moving part though, that's a lot of work and hassle and scariness for you kitties.

Not much advice on going from outdoor to indoor only. We're mostly indoor, our outdoor time is very short each day and closely snoopervised by The Mommy, not a wander-as-we-will kind of thing. So if you won't even be able to do that, then we guess your beans will just have to deal with you guys whining to go out until you figure out you won't be able to. :( Sorry to hear it, kitties.

And thanks so much for stopping by our bloggie to share your purrs and good thoughts for our Bugsy on his surgery today, as you know all went well and he'll be home tomorrow. We appreciate your thoughtfulness very much!

Big purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew and The Mommy

Sweet Purrfections said...

Congratulations on selling the house.

I can't help on the transition to being an indoor kitty. I've been totally indoor since I was born. It has a lot of advantages.

KC and the Giggleman Kitties said...

Oh boy, you're going to be Texans soon. We'll haf to plan a trip to visit, maybe even when Auntie Deb is here.
My mommy loves you sea shell quilt, too.
Love & Purrs,
KC

Ann M & the Kitties said...

We converted Tocchet to indoor only when we moved a few years back, and it was really no big deal. Will you have a screened porch? We had one for a while and he was purrfectly content there.

Ann M & the Kitties said...

So anyway, congratulations on selling the house. Where are you moving to?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the move.
It looks like you have lots of good advice and WE are all indooe so can not add any thin.

--
Vince
Home Security Systems no CREDIT CHECK everyone is approved