Hi - You make them "outdoor" or "indoor" kittens. Just as you would a toddler, you have to train them that they live indoors. Simply do not let them outside! They may complain at you, but you are the "mom" and have to hold the line. It's in their best interest to be indoors where they are both safe and not a nuisance to neighbors.

If it helps with any guilt you might feel, you can always build them a little run attached to your house. We live in a second floor condo and have only a small balcony. I put a catdoor in my slider and built a catio outside on the balony out of two by fours and some window screen. My three go in and out as they please, enjoy the sun, have some flowers in there to munch on, and are safe from predators, mean kids, disease, car-squashing.... Of course, if this is ground-level, they would still be exposed to disease if another cat comes up and sneezes on them from outside the enclosure, so make sure they have their shots when they're due.

Remember, you're the mom, you decide. Good luck!
Tippy's web page

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]