Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hello! My first time posting, hope this is the right place! Apologies for long post.

My boyfriend’s parents have two wonderful cats (16 & 12) who I care about very much. They spend most of their time with myself and my boyfriend (sleeping in our bedroom, playing games, following us around etc…) and my boyfriend’s parents aside from the obligatory feeding don’t play with or show them any affection. Although they do care about the cats they don’t ‘love’ them in the same way me and my boyfriend do. (I have been with my partner for 10 years so know these lovely cats very well!)

Anyway the time has come for me and my partner to buy our own house, we hope to move out in the next year or so and I would really love to have the two cats come and live with us. My boyfriend’s parents have joked before about us ‘adopting’ them officially and have said before wouldn’t miss the vets bills or cleaning up after them! Although it would be so fantastic to have them come and live with us I do worry that it would be so stressful for them, they are obviously very settled in my in-laws house (have lived there for 11 years now) and part of me worries that given their older ages it is selfish of me to want to move them. I was just wondering if there are any other cat owners who have had experiences of moving older cats? The other side of me worries that once me and my boyfriend leave they won’t experience any affection or love at all, my in-laws are lovely people but don’t seem to fuss over the cats the same way I do. For example they often put them out all night regardless of the weather as they don’t want the bother of a cat flap and potential of them bringing in prey (I have always hated this and asked them to fit a cat flap but they won’t). If they were to move with us I would consider transitioning them to being indoor only cats as the only time they ‘request’ to go out is when they need the toilet and the rest of the time they just want to curl up and sleep! Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

I have a tendency to adopt older cats so most have come to me aged 10 and over, and I moved a couple of years ago with my existing gang. All were a bit wary of the new place at first, but all appreciated their familiar beds and blankets about the place and were happily settled within a couple of weeks, some a lot quicker. I suspect that, having each other and with you being familiar, they'd cope fine and be a lot better off being pampered indoors at their age. There's lots of support here if you have any worries or specific questions. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply! It is reassuring to know that your cats were able to cope with the change! I agree with you they definitely seem to prefer the indoors life at the moment, even in the summer they don't venture further then the garden! As and when the time comes to move and if the do come with us (fingers crossed!) I shall probably be back to seek more advice about transitioning from indoor/outdoor to indoor only or alternatively advice about training older cats to use a cat flap for the first time!

Cats of any age adapt remarkably well to being indoor only, even ferals. I was in rescue for over 20 years and for various reasons re-homed numerous cats that had been used to an indoor/outdoor lifestyle or just outdoor. We just have to remind ourselves if we are tempted to let the little ones out perhaps because friends tell is it is cruel or the little ones go to the door that we are the adults who are able to take on board all the dangers of allowing them out and sadly our little ones are not privy to that information.

Over the years I have adopted a number of 'mature moggies' from our local rescue, who are 9+ as they make such wonderful companions and they have all settled in brilliantly. We give them their own room to settle into and have as their base, but it's never long till they have explored the whole house!Mine have the option to go out into the garden, and often do in the summer, but it was months before they showed any interest in the outside world and if I don't open the door to the garden, they're not bothered in the slightest.
They also always seem to know that they have 'come home' - and they really respond to a happy environment - they will be in their element, I'm sure!

Thank you for your replies elastu and sunnyme_123! It is so reassuring to hear of your experiences with indoor cats and mature cats- makes me feel better knowing that other people have had good experiences. Our two are definitely the same in that they only ever choose to go outside to sit in the sun during summer or to go to the toilet, so I think they would cope really well with an indoor lifestyle and occasional garden trips! And I do think they will have a better quality of life with us in terms of more affection and not getting locked out all night!
I am getting excited about being their official owner soon haha