personality plays
The last cat adopted by Cyrielle is fearful. She picked it up from her parents’ garden. She tells us that she got her out of poverty when she was a stray kitten. “She was full of fleas, barely weaned. She runs away from everything. She doesn’t want to leave the apartment.”
Her other cat, Cap’tain Miaou, is 7 years old. He is red and one-eyed. He has always been educated indoors. “Since we were in an apartment, I wanted a kitten. It was going to be I think simpler, since he had never known the ex interior.”
A good idea ? Julie Willems does not object. “Young cats have a strong ability to adapt, provided they have not experienced the outside independently before.”
Read more here: Do you have a cat in Brussels? Here is what will change to counter overpopulation: sterilization, identification, adoption…
With or without a harness?
Sometimes, Cyrielle walks her ginger cat in a harness, even on the balcony. “He claims it”, she says. However, this method is not natural for a cat, according to the behaviorist. “In general, they do not like to be kept on a leash. I think it is better to leave them free on the balcony. But there are exceptions to everything”admits Julie Willems.
His own cat has a peculiar behavior. “I take him on vacation with me. It has been gradual, with longer and longer journeys, depending on his reaction”she says.
Lock them up for their safety
One is scared, the other grew up on a leash. For Cyrielle, the two cats have found their balance in her apartment.
For her, her one-eyed cat would also be too vulnerable on the outside. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to him because he misjudged the distance.”, she says. A fear marked by multiple deaths of felines in his family. Cyrielle also thinks that an indoor cat has not learned to defend itself, since no threat exists in an apartment, a priori.
A camera not so unpleasant
“I know it’s against their instincts to stay indoors. But I see that mine are not unhappy. They have food, sleep, places to hide and toys. »
What seems decisive for Cyrielle is also the fact that they are two. “They play together, that means they keep busy. They have little hunting instinct, except with flies, which is not bad…”
Two cats is actually better for Julie Willems. “Indoor cats need to be stimulated, otherwise they will act as predators on their family. They are generally more aggressive.”
If you choose to have an indoor cat, you should therefore devote a little more time to your animal, to stimulate it and not leave it alone for too long. Telecommuting brings great opportunities to play with him.
Go out on the balcony? Yes, but under conditions.
Whether you are thinking about adopting or already responsible for an animal in an apartment, the layout of the premises is important. If you are lucky enough to have a balcony, you quickly wonder whether you want to go out or not. Should something be installed against the railing to prevent it from falling or escaping?
Depending on your cat’s temperament, you should think about securing it. Runaway or not, a miscalculated jump could cost him his life. Hence the interest for the cat that he can understand his territory. And visual perception plays a big role, according to Julie Willems. “In any case, the cat must be able to see far away. This will feed its curiosity.” Our animal expert, for example, is opposed to the installation of bamboo protection. “It’s a very bad idea, it obscures the view.”
It offers an alternative that is surely more suitable, but much more expensive. “The people concerned could put glass or plexiglass”she suggests.
Preparing your cat for the move
“Moving is a mess. » The behaviorist recommends consulting a specialist to anticipate this change. “A cat is deeply territorial. They are sometimes more attached to it than to their family. » To avoid behavioral problems, she advises, among other things, to provide a refuge room in the new accommodation. And the cat will have to stay there for a month without going out to get used to it and restore a form of serenity. “Whether he has previously had access to the outside or not, this delay is essential. Because he risks fleeing to find his old land., she supports. After a month of isolation, the cat will be able to go out without danger according to the specialist. And without a harness. Which does not convince Cyrielle. If she had to have a house with a garden, she would maintain her position. Her cats will go out with a harness or they won’t go out.
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