Kitty question!

ours love to sit in open windows...we have A/C tho so it's not often we have them open. I don't know really..ours just never go outside...it wasn't something we needed to try and do..it just is the way it is here. If you have concerns...screw the screens in. Vaccinate your indoor cat if the frequent screens because they can be infected with diseases even thru nose thru screen contact with other cats or wildlife

We have one cat who will run out sometimes...but he never goes far and is yowling to get back in in about an hour. Of course..spay and neuter.

Ours just have enough indoor space here and are so lazy...it's just not really something I think about.

Diet? I am not a foodie...but mine get some wet food to help out the dehydration indoor cats can sometimes suffer from.

They will be vaccinated because of Kameo going in and out. And they will be s/n since thats how we lost Crombie So they get used to being inside eventually. Hmmm... 

 Can I direct you to Dr. Lisa's website concerning food? She is an unbelievable asset to the feline community. On my feline diabetes board, I have seen so many cats improve and do so well on a species appropriate diet. I strongly recommend reading her website!

Sweet! thanks. I'm new in the cat world thou I've owned cats all my life. lol. So I'm still learning bout the different foods for cats. 

Indoors - all mine are indoor only, no exceptions.  That includes cats that were born outdoors or previously feral adults.  Sure it might take some time to make the transition but I've never had it fail.  The only time mine go out is on a figure-8 harness under my supervision.  Of my current 3, only one likes to go out.  Luckily, we have screened windows and a screened in porch with a cat tree.  I'm not sure how to keep them in without screens.

Food - I use Canidae, Eagle Pack Holistic, Natural Balance Ultra, or Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul kibbles.  They are all about the same quality and price range around here.  My cats eat a little less than 1/2 cup a day total, fed in two meals.  I can't afford canned and I won't feed my cats corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or by-product. 

rwbeagles

I don't know really..ours just never go outside...it wasn't something we needed to try and do..it just is the way it is here.

Wow. I actually had no clue there were indoor-only cats who weren't desperate to get outside, LOL! Tiger-Lily and Kovu both were indoor-only before we moved to California, but they were both always trying to find a way out, and slipped out any time they could, and then would be gone for HOURS while I looked desperately for them, or sat panicking at home. They can go out whenever they want now, but I swear they're both only out for MAYBE 30 minutes total per day. And most of that for Kovu is in our back yard, most for Tiger is in the front garden.

Sorry Oranges, I've got no clue. I totally understand why you'd want to keep the cat inside, but I failed there.

I could try and keep Kameo inside but in reality, he doesn't travel far from the yard anyways so I'm not worried about him. And he's to big to be carried away by something, besides a bear. Lol. But bears don't come around here anymore due to all the dogs in the area.

Crombie was content to stay inside until his nuts dropped then he came in at night with Kameo. *sigh* Wish I got him neutered sooner. Oh well..

Chelsea: At least now they're willing to stay near the house now they've got the freedom. Lol.

Now for food, I've heard it's best to feed all wet food (which I can't do. To expensive)  but would it still be good to feed a mix of kibble and canned on a schedule? I feed Kameo wet food for breakfast then he's free fedish dry for the rest of the day. His kibble is measured out and left out all day like Maze.

I've heard that mixing kibble and wet doesn't work that well b/c most cats will eat the wet and ignore the kibble.  I would feed wet in the morning, kibble at night, or something like that, but not mix them. 

Liesje

I've heard that mixing kibble and wet doesn't work that well b/c most cats will eat the wet and ignore the kibble.  I would feed wet in the morning, kibble at night, or something like that, but not mix them. 

Makes sense. Good thing I'm going to the petstore today. Lol They're used to my random questions about food.  

 Actually, feeding one cat canned food is not that expensive. If you compare the cost of feeding canned cat food to the cost of feeding a dog a good high quality food - it isn't that much different. If you are going to insist on feeding kibble, please be sure to get one that is all meat based! Cats are not designed to deal with carbohydrates - they don't need them. Please be sure to read Dr. Lisa's website - she is the best authority that I have ever seen on feline nutrition.

I just finished reading her website. thanks again for the links. I'm leaning towards the same kind of feeding that Kameo is on. Wet in the morning and kibble at night.  

I know nothing about cats (don't even like 'em LOL) but years ago a neighbors cat decided to run away from home and came and parked with us.  I absolutely refused to but a litter box in the house and I forced the poor thing to learn to use the doggy door - which she did, grudgingly.  She just pretty much stayed inside on her own and went outside just to pee/poop. Every now and then when the weather was nice she'd go out in the patio to sit in the sun, but that's the only time she was out there.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I absolutely refused to but a litter box in the house and I forced the poor thing to learn to use the doggy door - which she did, grudgingly.

4 cats here, and not one litterbox. Makes me like cats more, I'll tell ya that.

I'm not much help, but I will say that canned cat food = stinky poo ime.  My office mate at work often fosters underage kittens in our office and you can tell when they've had wet food. :P ick....give me puppy poo any day lol (I'm fostering 5 three week olds in the office right now).