How to adopt a stray cat, transition to indoor, and manage scratching?

Most cats will eventually settle down and adapt to life indoors. Her set up sounds wonderful and I'm glad you have taken the time to get everything in order for her. Here are a few things you can do which may also help. Try enriching his environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm (when Mimi is 1 year old) . You may also try feeding her from a food puzzle and/or hiding food around the house for her to find. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with behavior if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for helping her out! Some cats do prefer the outdoors and can be a little depressed when kept indoors. I would recommend getting her some toys and a scratching post. You can get different surfaces for the scratching post and some come with cat nip to attract the cat even more. There are lots of different toys to choose from. Get a variety. There are also interactive toys that dispense treats as the cat plays. This may keep her busy and brighten her spirits. Good luck!

Start now with closing the cat door at night and keeping Kitter in with a litter box available. After a few days or a week keep him inside only. That way he will adjust before the stress of moving. Most cats naturally use the litter box but you may want to confine him to a smaller area with the box at night when he's in. Use plain litter without fragrance and clean it daily and fully empty it and scrub it with mild dish washing soap weekly. Cats are fussy and if the box is dirty they can start going out of the box. Also pick up bath mats and laundry so he doesn't start urinating on those. He should be fine, most cats adjust well. Make sure you play with him a lot and he may enjoy a cat tree since he is probably used to more exercise when he's outside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitter.

Hello, cats are hardy pets and very loving. You may start by making sure they are all vaccinated, dewormed, and tested for FIV/FeLV. You may then bring them inside small amounts at a time to get them acquainted to your home. If they are doing ok while inside, you may extend the time spent inside so that they get can experience the indoors. While inside you should feed them wet food and give them love so that they know that it is ok to be inside. This usually gets them liking their new home and makes for a smoother transition. Hope this helps

The only way to do this is to try! Some outdoor cats are naturals at living indoors. Others, you will battle behavioral issues from their desire to continue roaming. Spaying and neutering may limit the roaming desire to some degree. There really isn't a set way for this to happen, though.

No, that should not be a problem provided he is wormed as well. Usually cats will run away from kids if the kids pester them. It is not likely that he will scratch her without a reason. Tell your girl to not pull on his tail as it will be ouchy, and he may make her an ouchy. Even at 2 years kids can learn. I grew up with cats that always had their claws, and I do not remember being mauled by them. However when I was an older child my cat would let me know in no uncertain terms when she did not like something, but again except for a little scratch here and there, no problem. If you keep his claws clipped (normal nail clippers and just clip the tip off, make sure you do not clip down to the pink quick) this should be no problem. Start with putting him on your lap , pet him spread out his toes , make it a massage the toes session first. Once he gets used to that, you can easily extrude the claws and clip the tips, Do one or two first, break, pet, do another, etc. Cats are pretty good with that, usually. It will be great for your daughter to grow up with a kitty.

Making them completely indoor cats would actually be doing them and the local wildlife a favor. Cats get hurt by other animals, hit by cars, lost, and exposed to diseases when allowed to roam outdoors. They may not like it at first if they were especially fond of going out, but they will learn and adapt and some even come to prefer it. Make sure they have plenty of perches and places to climb and look out windows, if they can have access to a porch that is fully enclosed they would enjoy that as well,