Ask the Vet - Keeping an Outdoor Cat Inside

About a month ago, my 5-year-old cat and I moved into a new neighborhood. He was used to being an indoor/outdoor cat in my old neighborhood, but I am not comfortable letting him outside in the new area. He is restless, very unhappy, and resistant to eating. What can I do to help him adjust?

The best advice I can give you is to be patient. A month in the new place is not that long. It will take your cat longer than that to adjust to the new environment.

Try to get him a variety of toys—including some with catnip—from the pet store. We often forget about toys for cats. If you find something he likes, you may want to play with him at the end of the day.

Consider taking him outside on a leash for a short period of time, preferably at night. You can get him used to this as part of a daily routine so that he will look forward to it.

Feed him some treats at night before you go to bed. You can give him cat treats or a moist food that you think he might like. Some cats happen to enjoy human baby food, such as stage one meats.

If these tips do not help the situation, consult your veterinarian.