Regarding Outdoor Cats to indoor

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

HI! I have a question maybe someone might be able to help me with. My mother has lived in a very wooded area and their are alot of cats their. She has had cats show up at her door step having kittens and she has found them homes. When she can she has the strays nuetered. Well one cat Smokey has been coming to her house now for years and Mom lets smokey in and smokey goes out when she wants. She was born and has lived her life outside. Yet she comes to Moms for food and to sleep in at night and get out of the elements. Now my Mom is looking to move and wants to take Smokey with her. She is not sure what to do to get Smokey to become an indoor cat. She is afraid if she moves and leaves Smokey will no longer have ahome to go to and new people may not want the cat running on their property. She is also afraid when she moves if she takes Smokey that the cat may change because of wanting to go out ect. Or try to find its way home and get injured. Is their a way to help smokey get used to being indoors. Mom took care of smokey but now doesn't know what to do. Issue is also my stepfather has a disablility so if the cat was forced to be in the house she could easly run past him if he opens the door. Any advice they are not moving in the next month or so but are looking to but havent because of Smokey they dont want to abandon her.
RIo&Nickysmommy

[ClarkFarm]

This can be trickier than what one thinks at first. I say the cat would be better off moving with her albeit some precautionary steps should be done, first off having the cat microchipped in case he would get loose unintentionally. After she moves, I would keep the cat confined to the house for at least a few weeks. I have on occasion brought semi-feral cats indoors and if confined to one room, I have not had much trouble getting them litter box trained. The biggest obstacle was scratching. My couch is testimony to that. I had one female that was indoors until she was spayed (another drop off) and she really did a number on our couches despite all of my attempt to lure her into scratching the cat furniture tree thingy (I have no idea what they are really called) and I also used sprays that were supposed to be a deterrant. She climbed our curtains and hung from them, once pulling the entire rod down. She was moved back to the barn after getting vaccinated and altered and has reverted to a feral state.
When we bought our house initially, I soon noticed a male cat lurking about. It turned out he was the former owner's barn cat. She tried to take him several times but he always wound up back here (she only moved several miles way) and so we both agreed it was better to let him be. It took him almost two years before he trusted me enough to pick him up and pet him all over.

I know it is extremely frustrating having cats/kittens dropped off and it is a real problem around us. Kudos to your mom for helping those she could. Good luck!

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Thank so much for your responses have been giving My Mom all the info and she is working with her little "Smokey. Will let you know how it goes.
RIo&Nickysmommy

[SmoothCollieluver]

I would just suggest starting her in one room of the new house then opening it up. Don't let her out for sure for at least a month. After that she may or may not understand that this is her new place. That's how a friend of mine moved her farm cats. They go out now and stay close to the new place just like the old. But i'm sure that doesn't work for all cats. Just an idea.