how do you train indoor cats to be outdoor/independent cats? how long does it take?

I can't believe some of these poeple! I have a mother cat that has kitten and they are about 7 weeks old. The were in the house. How every that is a lot of cat to live inside the house to we decided to have them be outdoor cats. Every morning we would get up and talk the cat outside. Put there food and water right by the door. Leave them out there all day to explore.Yes the will sit by the door and cry some but that will soon stop. Bring them in at night. After about one week they were left outside and sleep close the house. They are all doing good and don't even bother us about coming in anymore. It just talk a week or two and they will be fine.

Good luck and I hope that this is helpful.

I'm so sorry that people have chosen to earn points by not answering your question and judging you as if they're God/Allah/Jah/whatever. PEOPLE PLEASE! IF YOU CAN'T GIVE A THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE THEN KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING HELPFUL, WHICH IS THE POINT OF YAHOO! ANSWERS!

Now, nitresk, what city are you in? Or maybe, are you in a different country? Also, why are you leaving your cats outside? Will they no longer have a home soon? Do you just want them to have more freedom? Of course you can call a no-kill animal shelter if you're here in the states and your cats need a new home, but if you're in a different country, then things may be different.

There are some countries that don't have any sort of animal shelter system (no-kill or otherwise). If you're outside the US, ask your local vet for tips on transitioning your cat. If your outside the US and your cats need a new home, ask the local vet and ask other pet owners who have indoor/outdoor pets how they did it.

There is no easy answer for this. How can anyone reason with a cat, and say, "See that road? the cars in it will kill you, look both ways before you cross it," or "See that coyote? It wants to eat you, stay the heck away from it," or "See that mouse? that's good eating. break its neck and drink its blood," ? If you are no longer able to give your cats a safe home, it may be time to consider find a new home for them.

That special on the Discovery channel about taking captive tiger cubs and teaching them how to survive independently on an African wildlife reserve, it seemed to take at least a year of daily working with the animals to get the job done. And the tigers would not have had to worry about larger predators, and I'm sure the traffic was less.

I'm sorry I can't be more encouraging, but I believe turning your cats out of doors is not going to have a happy ending.

If you are no longer able to keep your indoor cats as indoor pets, you should contact a local feline rescue group to see if they can take them. Cats that have been indoors all of their lives have no business being turned out. It will be dangerous, if not deadly, for them.

Call your local Petsmart or Petco. They should have a list of the rescue groups in your area. You may be put on a waiting list at this time of year, but eventually, they should be able to take your cats and find them appropriate indoor homes.

Why do they need to stay outdoors?

Keeping cats indoors is the safest -- being outdoors, they face hazards and dangers from cars, people, dogs, and wildlife.

Are you saying you care going to "turn them out" to live outdoors? When will they get their medical care, their physical exams, their dental work, their vaccinations???

Are they spayed and neutered, or are they going to start mating and adding to the already terrible Pet Overpopulation Problem in this world?

all you have to do is go outside with them everyday for about a week and then they will like out side and want to go out everyday, but some cats all you have to do is put them outside in the morning and let them in a little after noon or let them in at night.

Firstly, you bring them outdoor for at least a month. Then tried to free them at a place where you can see them. If they can go back home by themselves then you did not need to worry about them anymore...

i had an indoor cat try to live outdoors (actually my mom kicked him out) and he got killed by a dog. he was too friendly and trusting...

When my indoor cat went outside a very mean cat killed him.

Why is it necessary for them to now live outside? There are so many diseases and dangers for them, some diesases are fatal for them and some can infect you. Are they up-to-date on vaccines? Make sure they have safety collars with ID.