How to Create an Outdoor House Cat

Responsible pet owners pride themselves on providing their pets with good shelter, nutritious food and loving attention. Cat owners, especially owners of male cats, know that, unless they take steps to keep the cat indoors, the cat will wander. Many owners want to protect their cat and keep him healthy but at the same time they wish to allow the cat to move about freely and naturally. Creating an outdoor house cat allows the owner the satisfaction of tending to his cat's needs while giving the cat the freedom that it craves.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat door
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install a cat door in the home's entrance to allow the cat easy access to its food and a cuddle when it's ready. Make sure that the house has a litter box available in case the cat decides to spend an evening in the house or doesn't like to use the yard when mud covers the ground.

    • 2

      Keep the cat's food indoors. Not only will this prevent other roaming cats from eating his food but it will emphasize to the cat that his creature comforts come from the house.

    • 3

      Take the cat to the veterinarian for periodic exams and inoculations. Cats that roam pick up ailments and medical conditions that regular veterinary care can prevent. At the minimum, a cat that wanders outdoors should have a yearly rabies inoculation. Other suggested vaccinations include vaccines against panleukopenia (feline distemper), rhinotracheitis, chlamydiosis (pneumonitis), calicivirus, feline leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis. The veterinarian should pay particular attention, when checking a cat that wanders outdoors, for signs of Lyme disease. The veterinarian should also check the cat's teeth and gums.

    • 4

      Observe the cat for signs of illness. Urinary tract infections can kill a cat but if an alert owner identifies the signs (the cat will urinate in the house outside its litter box), a course of antibiotics will quickly cure the cat. An alert owner can identify other illnesses and conditions if he monitors the cat's behavior when the cat spends time in the house.

    • 5

      Keep a tick and flea collar on the cat and update the collar according to the collar's instructions. Some collars last for several months, while others last for a month. When a house cat stays outdoors for long periods of time, fleas and ticks will attach to the cat unless the owner takes preventative measures.

    • 6

      Spay or neuter the cat. Even cats that wander will stay safer if they've been spayed or neutered. Males won't get into fights with other males and females won't get pregnant.