Mary Allen
Are you seeing your outdoor cat less and less in your house? When she is at home, does she seem distant, and does she hardly touch her food? This can be an indication that your velvet paw has found a new home in the neighborhood where it is more drawn to – at least temporarily. Try to understand your cat’s behavior. Here you can find out what motivates your house cat to turn its back on its old home. And you read what measures you can take against it.
If your cat suddenly shows up less and less at home, there can be a variety of reasons. It should be clear to you: Your cat’s behavior does not happen overnight, it has its reasons for it. Now it’s up to you to find out what prompts your cat to start looking for a new home. Because only if you know the cause can you act and prevent the velvet paw from migrating. Don’t give up on your darling right away, because with the right measures you can win his heart back.
Unwelcome Changes: Your Cat Reacts
Your cat is a creature of habit and has a mind of its own. The sensitive animals often react sensitively to changes in the living situation. A new roommate in the household – be it a baby, another pet, or a new partner – can ensure that the house cat no longer feels comfortable and is therefore busy. Your cat may be jealous or even afraid of the new roommate. Often these are animals that have not been well socialized. It is therefore important that you patiently and gently get your velvet paw used to the new members of the household. For example, if your cat’s jealousy has been aroused, you should pay more attention to it shortly.
Old Home: Attractive Enough for Your Cat?
Even if your cat is free to roam outside, you should not neglect the interior design and provide it with an attractive and interesting environment in the house or apartment. Possibly the fur nose is bored because she can’t find any exciting employment opportunities indoors and therefore prefers to roam around. Or has even found another, more attractive home. Counteract this by sprucing up sterile home decor. Create hiding places and hiding places for your cat, set up good lookout points, buy or make new toys from time to time, and always offer your cat new smells to explore at home. Even a regularly replaced cardboard box that your kitty can climb into provides variety.
Other factors can also be to blame for the fact that the cat’s old home has lost its attractiveness. A change of feed, for example, or an excessive noise level, for example, a music or TV system turned up too loud.
Is the Bond Between a Cat & Human Close Enough?
A free-roaming cat also needs closeness and contact with people. Especially if you are employed and work full-time, you should pay more attention to your cat after work. Play with him, offer him variety, and give him cuddles. Above all, cats that have had too little contact with people during their formative phase or have had bad experiences are dependent on this attention. This allows them to gain trust and form a stronger bond. If you also allow the fur nose access to your bedroom, there will be more opportunities to maintain contact.
Territorial Disputes: Your Cat No Longer Feels Safe in Its Own Home
Territorial disputes sometimes arise when a new cat moves into the neighborhood. If your house tiger is the weaker one, it will withdraw and look for another territory to stay in. It’s up to you to make him feel safe again. If possible, install a cat flap in your door so that the animal can escape to the familiar home and retreat at any time. Also, do a little patrol before letting your cat out. If necessary, drive away from the neighbors’ cats or other possible animals that might frighten them. Above all, you should keep unfamiliar cats away from your darling’s territory with noise or water.
Here’s What You Can Do to Stop Your Cat Wandering Off
The most consistent action you can take is to stop your kitty from going outside for a while. If you also suspect that your cat has found a new home in the neighborhood where other people are feeding and pampering it, there is one more step to take against the house arrest or even show uncleanliness, but this is the only way she can not escape your influence and the situation. As long as your house cat is locked up in the house, you should treat it with a lot of love and attention and set up the apartment in a way that is extremely cat-friendly and interesting. Don’t let him outside until your relationship with him is strengthened.
Attach a note to your pet’s collar asking the neighbors not to feed your cat or to let them into the house. Often there is no bad intention behind it, but ignorance and well-intentioned care. If the feedings don’t stop, you can think about putting a tracker on the cat to attach the collar. This way you can find out where in your area the velvet paw is allowed into the house.