<div><p>If little Mitzy has been spending too much time patrolling your backyard and you have no idea how to move her inside, you're not alone. </p><p>Teaching a cat to stay indoors is one of toughest struggles pet owners face. It takes persistence, creativity and patience but it <strong>can </strong>be done, and we'll teach you how.</p><p>The first peace of advice we need to give you is <strong>don't lose hope</strong>. Like we said, this is a very hard thing to do, but if you start to give up just remember <a href="http://pets.thenest.com/whats-normal-indoor-cat-lifespan-10139.html">you're adding years to your cat's life</a>, whether they like it or not!</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Cat-eating-outside-shutterstock_323366051-600x420.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Cat-eating-outside-shutterstock_323366051-600x420_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Catster</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>To start things off, you'll want to <strong>introduce indoor landmarks to your outdoor cat</strong> as soon as possible. If they live outside 24/7 they'll fall in love with a cat scratcher, and you'll want to leave their litter box somewhere they can get familiar with it. This will save you a lot of hassle later on.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/112273156-transitioning-outdoor-cat-632x475.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/112273156-transitioning-outdoor-cat-632x475_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Petfinder</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>You can easily move your cat inside by moving the food bowl into the house, but once they've visited a few times, <strong>it's time to go cold turkey</strong>. Your pet will adjust much faster if you don't let them go in and out of the house.</p><p>During this early phase remember to <strong>take it slow</strong>, you cat will be adjusting to lots of scary things - like sharing their living space - so <strong>try to make your home as inviting as possible</strong>.</p><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Foster.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/Foster_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Doctors Foster and Smith</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>It can't hurt to give your cat lots of food, a warm place to relax and even a place where they can be alone. If they don't feel comfortable in their new environment, why would they stay?</p><p>The most important thing is to <strong>have lots of toys</strong>. The outside world is full of distractions but your home isn't. Your cat will want to hunt, climb and play, so give them every chance to.</p><p>To make them really feel at home, <strong>bring the outside in. </strong>Adding some <a href="http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/food-and-health/treats/catnip-and-grass/whisker-city-grass-plus-tub-cat-grass-11974.html?cgid=200200">cat grass</a> or <a href="http://www.petfountain.com/">running water</a> to your home means your pet will have no reason to leave. But <strong>the best thing your home has to offer is YOU</strong>, so spend time with your cat and make them feel welcome.</p><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>If you've done everything we mentioned so far your cat should be warming up to you. <strong>Get them checked by a vet</strong> in case they've contracted any parasites and it should be smooth sailing from here. </p><p>Just remember: <strong>going outside is a bad behavior now</strong>, and you need to remind them of that as much as possible. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/how_to_get_cat_smell_out_of_couch.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/how_to_get_cat_smell_out_of_couch_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Get Smell Out</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>If you feel alright spraying your cat with a water bottle it's a good deterrent for when they try to run outside. You can also throw a treat into another room when you open the door.</p><p>This should go without saying, but it bears repeating because this is a frustrating process: <strong>never ever hit your cat</strong>. Along with being terrible it's unproductive.</p><p>The more welcoming and friendly your home is, the happier your cat will be to stay inside.</p><p><strong>Share this post if you found it was helpful!</strong></p></div>
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