How to prevent my cat from leaving home? That is a question that all of us who live with a feline have asked ourselves from time to time. And it is that, no matter how long we dedicate to him, no matter how much affection we give him, the curiosity he feels will drive him to go out the door as soon as he has the opportunity, right?
Well, the truth is that it depends. Actually yeah We can do many things so that the furry feels so comfortable inside the house that he will not have that strong need to go outside, so it will be easier to have it controlled. You do not believe me? Read on, put these tips to the test and you will see how sooner rather than later you will begin to notice changes in your furry.
How to make your cat not want to leave the house
Cats (especially males and even though they are neutered) may have the urge to go out and explore the world. Although if you follow the following tips, you may discover that suddenly, your cat will want to stay home because he has everything he needs.
Fellowship
Cats are social beings that need stimulation and interaction, so if you offer this daily, they will not feel the need to go outside to look for it. Spend quality time with your pet every day, prioritize this on your daily to-do list! There are some signs that can tell you that your cat is feeling extremely lonely:
- Follows you around the house and constantly seeks attention
- Aggressive behavior
- Urinate on your things as an indication that he is mad at you
- Excessive grooming
Workouts
Cats, like people, are routine beings. This is why they need routines to be in their day-to-day life and to be by your side. Waking up, time to eat, etc. They love their home and if their routine changes for whatever, your cat may feel stressed or even anxious. Changing routines and leaving your cat alone for a long period of time can also be a negative routine change experience and finding a way to change that by going outside.
Give him everything he needs
Give him play, affection, companionship, routines, a cat companion if possible ... your cat, if he feels totally comfortable and stimulated in your home, will not feel the need to leave the house. In addition, letting him out is to run the risk of something bad happening to him, such as an accident, fights between cats, getting sick, being hit by a vehicle, etc.
Spend quality time with your cat
It is not the same to be in a room, you sitting in an armchair and your cat on the floor, than to be both together in the armchair or on the floor interacting. There are people who think that a cat does not need this type of attention, that it is very independent and that to be happy it is enough itself, but to think that is a mistake.
If you do not interact with him, if you do not play with him and if you do not give him affection, we cannot expect him to want to be with us when we feel like it. Therefore, if we want it to be a happy cat, as well as sociable, we have to spend as much time as we can. In addition, we have to know that with a simple rope or small ball both he and we can have a great time.
Sleep with him
Sleeping with a cat? Yes why not? If you are concerned about parasites, veterinary clinics and pet stores sell antiparasitics that will eliminate both external parasites (ticks, fleas, etc.) and internal ones (earthworms). Just in case you have allergy the animal or that the furry is sick, the best option will be to prevent it from getting on your bed, but otherwise ... sleeping with a cat is the perfect excuse to strengthen the relationship.
And a cat that spends the night with its human is a furry that feels very loved. So you will not need to seek affection outside.
Give him a partner
As long as we can afford it, and as long as we have a sociable cat, it may be interesting to give him a cat companion that he can play with while we are gone, and why not say so? So that housing is twice as fun. I myself live with 5 felines that, although they have permission to go outside since we live in a quiet neighborhood, they go out for a little while in the morning and another little in the afternoon, and they spend the rest of the day sleeping and playing.
The youngest (Sasha, who was born in 2016, and Bicho, in 2017) do not go out at all, and it is a joy to see them run. When the adults arrive (7-year-old Keisha, 5-year-old Benji, and 11-year-old Susty), they act like a close-knit family; well almost. The truth is that Susty is more street than home, and is very, very independent. But with the others they have a great time.
So, really, if you can take care of a second cat and you are interested in the family growing, do not hesitate. Of course, so that everything goes well from day one, I recommend you follow our advice.
Protect your cat
If we do not intend to let the cat ever leave the house, either because we live in a city or a very populated town, or because we are concerned that something could happen to it, we have to do everything possible to prevent it from leaving. And how is that done? Putting a net on the windows that we can find for sale in animal product stores, both physical and online. Here we leave you with some offers so you can get it easily:
Likewise, we have to have the door of the house always closed, since at the slightest carelessness the furry could go out.
How long can you leave your cat alone?
One reason a cat wants to leave the house is because it is alone and needs to have experiences. In addition to taking into account the advice that we have given you above that it is a good idea to have a cat companion for your cat and that they keep each other company when you are not there, too it is important that you know how long you should leave your cat alone, in case you cannot have more than one cat for whatever reason.
Although it is true that cats are known for their independence, the reality is that they need company and affection all the time. If they spend long periods of time alone at home, they can become unhappy and even be depressed.… And it is a reason why some run away or want to leave home.
Actually nothing happens because you leave them a day or two alone if they have their basic needs taken care ofBut longer they can have a hard time emotionally and more if they don't have a playmate. Your cat doesn't have to be left alone for long periods of time.
If you go on vacation you don't have to leave your cat alone for too long because even though it has access to its litter box, water and food, there are other reasons that could make it want to leave home and explore the world.
What to do if you go on vacation?
If, for example, your cat has a chronic disease and needs medication, the ideal is to leave it in good hands such as in a veterinary hospital where they can give it all the care it needs.
Another idea is that if you plan to leave the house for a longer time and your cat does not have any chronic diseases, you can tell friends or neighbors to stop by your house to take care of your cat. It is the least stressful option for the cat and the most profitable for you. You can also pay for a trusted professional pet sitter to take care of your cat in your home while you are away.
I hope it has been useful to you.