Would my very outdoorsy cat be happy in a flat?

We rescued a cat about 3 months ago, she walked into our house one day and never left since. Well she does leave, spends most nights and some of the day outside (we have a garden), but comes back every day.


Now we are moving abroad and in a flat in the centre of town. I know she loves hunting, brings mice every other day and shes just not happy inside.


I have found a lady who rehomes cats with an elderly home, or should i say estate, with acres of land.


I feel very saddened to leave her but could not bear the thought of her being unhappy in a close environment either.


Whats worse for a cat, trauma of leaving us or trauma of living indoors...Any advice?

Would my very outdoorsy cat be happy in a flat?
Trauma of living indoors is definitely worse. If she's an outdoor cat it isn't fair to shut her away for the rest of her life. A couple of weeks pining for you with a loving new family in a fabulous new home... or a lifetime living in an environment you know doesn't suit her personality. I think you know the answer to this one. I'm afraid it's the old adage "if you love her, let her go". Also, sorry to be hard, but you'll probably miss her far more than she will miss you.
Reply:you may not have to although your cat likes to hunt as long as you have lots of toys for it to play with it wont miss the hunting. so just make sure to play with your cat and show it plenty of attention and it will be happy to go with you cats are great animals and adapt to anything as long as it nos your there
Reply:I think you know deep down that this cat is not going to be happy living in a flat! If you had had her for years since she was a kitten it might be different but 3 months isn't really long enough for the cat to be more attached to you than the outdoor life!





Let the cat be re-homed. The sooner you do this the better, then you can see how settled she is before you go! It might put your mind at rest!
Reply:A Very sad situation to find your self in, I believe a cat finds it's own home, and obviously pussy found you and is happy to come when it feels like, I have the same with our cat, (second one to find us). I really cannot advise you but I really don't see pussy settling in a flat, it needs to hunt as it is doing and having it's own Independence. good luck in what you decide to do and be happy in your new home.
Reply:You will probably miss her more than the other way around. She will get over you very quickly and it sounds as if you could not have done better by her than you have. I hope you home another stray when you reach your final destination and I wish you luck x
Reply:no
Reply:You're absolutely right- your cat is going to be traumatised living indoors especially as she is used to being outside.


I have read about indoor cats that has suffered from depressions from just sitting on the window sill looking out- it's just not right.


Think that you did the right thing for your cat- they are easy to adapt to new surroundings and if her new home involves lots of land for it to run free and chase mice %26amp; nice people to feed her and fuss over her, then that's the answer right there. I think it's great you're putting your cats needs first, cats were never made to live in flats.
Reply:No,your cat is use to having it's freedom.
Reply:it depends in a cat,if a cat is staying at you with a long days or months or even years then he/she is happy with you and then the cat leaves you of course,he/she is having a trauma a trauma and like people if we lose something that we love of course,your sad and we miss that thing or in short we having a''trauma''.
Reply:As hard as it will be to leave her behind I think you know it's the best thing to do. Some cats just don't like to be confined and want to be out and about exploring. It wouldn't be fair on her but I think you know this. It will be sad to leave her but you know she'll be happier
Reply:Please take her with you, she's had enough of being shunted about in her short life and as she is so obviously happy and contented with you, it would be cruel to leave her behind. Besides, you will forever wonder how it would have been living abroad with her if you left her behind. I'll tell you my story then you can make your mind up. My girlfriend and i lived together, in her house, for 13 years with her kids, our dogs and cats and fish etc etc. Without going into too much detail, i came back to my own flat almost 4 years ago, bringing my dogs and cats with me bar one! He's an old man, lived outdoors like yours most of the time, hunting mice and birds etc. My girlfriends son bought in a stray dog, half pitt half staff that tried to kill the cat on too many occasions and so he was bought to me. I never thought he'd be happy here, in a flat and although i have a 30ft patio area, i was worried he'd run off. He's been here now for almost two years and i can honestly say, he's never been happier! I don't allow him to go out because there are little arseholes in this area with aggressive dogs so he has a tray with newspaper instead of litter ( he was paper trained ), he lays about all day, eats whenever he wants, eats whatever he wants ( he's an old man after all ha ha ) and has made no attempt to leave even when my back door is open! I'd say take her with you, wherever you are, she'll want to be! I hope it all goes ok for you all.
Reply:I live in a flat and my tenancy agreement doesn't allow cats or dogs.
Reply:Im sozza, but giving ur cat to a woman with lots of land is way less traumatising than taking her with u to ur new flat.She'll pobz miss u but itz 4 der best, and hey....once she sees all th@ space, she'll think sheez won der jackpott!lol any way i hope th@ i've been a help and good luck xx
Reply:My very first thoughts when I read this was....It would be like us living in a Mansion, then being made to live in a Bed Sit...I'm no expert on cats, so I'm not too sure how they adapt, if at all in these circumstances