The Cat Thread

Ah, I forgot about this! Yeah, that was a bit tongue in cheek, but I had Dizzy before I met her so she knows her place l! The first night my now-wife stayed over at mine, Diz climbed up onto the bed and very pointedly squeezed herself inbetween us and went to sleep, making it clear whose side of the bed that was 🙂

Too right, us humans must always know our place!

We moved house nearly two months ago now. Kept both cats indoors for the usual 6 weeks. Fitted a catflap and all was fine for a week, and then Mogget disappeared. He has been missing for over a week now. He's chipped and we've done all the normal notifying but I'm losing more and more hope of him coming back. His sister has fucked off for a week at a time before, but she has more sense than him so I don't rate his chances. Fucking sucks.

Also, his sister Jelly has for some reason totally fucked off the idea of ever using a litter tray. They both used to do their business outside at the last place. Mogget, when he was here, was fine using the tray. But Jelly pisses and shits in a couple of distinct places, that are not the litter tray. She won't go outside, either due to the cold or some sort of fear. Trying everything to get her to use the tray to no avail. Resorted to putting puppy pads in the spots she uses, but it A) doesn't help with the persistent stank, and B) only works if I remember to out one back after cleaning up the dirty one.

I'm really sorry to hear this mate. Its an awful feeling.

Don't give up hope. Fabric decided to up sticks for over two weeks once. Just rocked up back home looking a little scruffy and had a good kip as if nothing had happened.

Oh no poor Mogget. They can get disoriented when they move house right? Is there a local neighborhood facebook group you can post a photo to? It's probably well past leaving used litter outside but anything with his scent on might help. Not sure about sister's used puppy pads but if he's really just lost it might work?

Litter tray went outside as soon as we realised he wasn't just having a long shot break somewhere. Posted on the local groups and paid for a boosted/promoted thing too.

Forum excercise around shaking moggets fav treat? Give him a little help in case he is lost and disorientated? no need to meet just areas to search and photo.

If we can do anything. Just say.

Just seen the ad on Pets Reunited, I’m just down the road from you. Not seen anything around here, but will keep looking. Sorry to hear this, I’ve lost cats before and it’s horrible.

Added more seeds to the propagator which means there's less space for the cat but he's determined.

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Leeloo looking about as bougie as it gets.

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this sucks :(
Have you joined the nextdoor neighbourhood app?
We just moved to TH too and it seems to be really active...

Moving house today, so I need to try to put Celeste in her case. Can I catch her? Can I fuck. After a nice cuddly morning together I tried to catch her and she freaked out. She's now hiding under the sofa and I have no idea what to do. There are treats and her blanket in the case, there are treats all over the floor and I just put her favourite wet food out to try to entice her out. How can picking up a cat be so difficult?!

So this is what I have done when I need to put Patch in her case and she is hiding under the bed:

Obviously, shut the door and all the windows she can't go to another room. I then turn on the hairdryer and blast it towards under the bed, she usually comes out within seconds. She hates the noise and the wind.

I then swiftly burrito her (basically wrap her in a big towel and put the whole cat burrito into the case)

It always works. Downside? She hates me for about a week afterwards.

I have given up being nice and use treats a long time ago. Good luck.

I found with cats that hate the carrier. Is make it the only place they have to go. Try to make path way to the carrier then encourage the cat so it's the only place it has to hide. Hairdryers can be used! Good luck.

Celeste doesn't hate the carrier, she'll happily go in it of her own accord if it's on the floor... but obviously not when she's meant to go in it. What she HATES is being picked up. In the end I had to call in reinforcements and it took two adults wearing gloves plus an upturned sofa to get her in the case. She's now in the new flat - she has a room to herself with her blanket and cuddly toy and everything she needs and I've shut the door and left her alone to chill out. I'll go in and talk to her intermittently, armed with treats... Maybe I'll have a friendly cat again in a week or two.

Anyone have any tips for managing the process of turning indoor only cats in to outdoor / indoor cats? Other than not letting them outdoors just after feeding we are pretty clueless.

Our cat was an indoor cat for the first 3 years until we moved to a place with outdoor space, it just takes time as they gradually start to widen their territory but its very different for different cats and you may find that one or both just prefer to be indoors. Ours has always been a small cat (she's 7 and under 3kg) so while she likes to go out it's often not that far and not very long as there's too many cats in our area fighting for territory. The next door neighbours cat spent even longer inside than ours but is a chunky boi and quickly became a bit of a top cat that spends most of his time outside now.

It may seem odd but I took my cats out in my arms for a little walk arround the out side of the house 1st. Then let them out before breakfast and tea. Calling them back the dinner call. Tapping of the bowl or shaking treats. Then extend the time you let them out before tea/breakfast. If they need to learn a cat flap a gentle encouragement through with treats works holding the door open 1st then closed with a bit of help.

I’m moving too next month (hopefully).

Pocket is an outdoor cat flap cat. Sadly we’ll be moving at least twice as the house we’re trying to buy has got complex so it’s temporary accommodation in the meantime.

Any advice appreciated. I assume she’ll be an indoor cat for at least a few weeks in the temporary place? But will she have to be an indoor cat for the whole intermediate stop to prevent geographical confusion? How long should we imprison her for?

This is going to get batshit I reckon.

I think the general advice is 'at least 3 weeks', we will be moving this year and I'm thinking we will keep ours in for about 6 weeks. Ours is also a outdoor cat flap go out when she wants cat.

Ours have been back and forth between indoor and outdoor. Luckily they don't seem to mind being indoors as long as they have a nice view, but certainly appreciate getting out once we do let them. They've currently been inside for 2 months since moving and next weekends plan will be cutting a big hole in the front door.

@chiroshi and @mustardbeak sounds logical. We’ll just have to endure the bed hiding, mewling, scratching and zoomies until we’re all eventually settled. It’ll be a learning curve!

Thanks @Gewürzt & @Rich_G

Celeste update! She spent a day hiding under a laundry basket in the bathroom and eventually emerged yesterday evening and rampaged about the flat all night. I'm working from home today and Celeste is curled up behind me on the sofa with the top of her head and little feets pressed into my back (although she did have to hide under the sofa when the cleaner came as that was very scary). MY HEART IS MELTING.

Any sign of Mogget yet?