I live in a house hold where both my housemates work and are only home in the evenings and weekends. I am usually the person that is home more days than not, meaning that my cat is allowed to use the outside front and back enclosed decks during the day (these decks are not outside but rather just an extension of the house). I just recently got a casual job which means that some days I won't be able to let her out onto these decks because she wouldn't be able to get back in (due to locking up the house). She is an indoor cat who sleeps almost 24/7 but takes refuge under her couch located on the back deck, outside. (My first post on this site, reflects her attachment to this couch and I am worried she may get upset with me or down if she can't access it on some or consecutive days.)
I have a few possible solutions for this and would like some thoughts/experiences/suggestions:
Solutions so that she does not get bored if she is indoors:
- Invest in some cat trees/climbers; she is an older cat, and did not have cat climbers in her previous home. Do you think she would use these and curb boredom?
Solutions with her couch: *I have taken the cushions off her couch and made a smaller hidey hole on the front deck so she can have her scent in both locations/feel safe*
-I wouldn't like to move the cushions from the front deck to inside but could if it made her feel safer as then there would be nothing on the front deck
- Move the couch inside all together. I have avoided this so far as I fear she would be under it all the time. when she is inside for the evening after being out on the deck under the couch she is calm and loving. She is also used to a routine and almost expects to be let out to the couch in the mornings..
- Ask for real estate approval to put in a cat door on the back deck so she can come inside freeley
Suggestions on how to make our house inside more entertaining would be apprecieted
And,
Is there anyway to make my cat get more attached to other pieces of furniture inside the house so that she doesn't ALWAYS want or need to go onto the back deck/be content with being indoors a bit more
Side note,
I am her new owner and the only piece of furniture that is her's is the couch and a few blankets gifted from her previous owner. Her blankets are on my bed which she loves.
I have a few possible solutions for this and would like some thoughts/experiences/suggestions:
Solutions so that she does not get bored if she is indoors:
- Invest in some cat trees/climbers; she is an older cat, and did not have cat climbers in her previous home. Do you think she would use these and curb boredom?
Solutions with her couch: *I have taken the cushions off her couch and made a smaller hidey hole on the front deck so she can have her scent in both locations/feel safe*
-I wouldn't like to move the cushions from the front deck to inside but could if it made her feel safer as then there would be nothing on the front deck
- Move the couch inside all together. I have avoided this so far as I fear she would be under it all the time. when she is inside for the evening after being out on the deck under the couch she is calm and loving. She is also used to a routine and almost expects to be let out to the couch in the mornings..
- Ask for real estate approval to put in a cat door on the back deck so she can come inside freeley
Suggestions on how to make our house inside more entertaining would be apprecieted
And,
Is there anyway to make my cat get more attached to other pieces of furniture inside the house so that she doesn't ALWAYS want or need to go onto the back deck/be content with being indoors a bit more
Side note,
I am her new owner and the only piece of furniture that is her's is the couch and a few blankets gifted from her previous owner. Her blankets are on my bed which she loves.