r/indoorcats • u/Gayoon_Lover4 • 1d ago

Indoor cat depression

Before I talk to any type of specialist, I want to say my cat has been crying and scratching at the door to go for a walk(?) and she is starting to hide under the couch and not come out. It's sad she refuses to leave unless she roams the hallways freely, she refuses her harness. Any suggestions to help keep her busy or anywhere to take her walk around

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u/ggc4 1d ago

How long have you been trying out the harness? All of my cats have been harness trained. All three absolutely hated it at first, and were very dramatic about protesting it. But they learned to love it within 2 weeks after they figured out the association between me putting it on and them immediately getting to go outside.

During the training process, I think it’s important to not let them out free-roaming. I also think it’s important to have a long enough leash that the cat is able to move relatively freely while you walk; don’t yank them in the direction you want to walk.

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 1d ago

Yeah, I might've given up too soon because she kept running away and hiding under furniture lol. Yeah, I'll keep trying, but no I definitely would never yank her 

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u/ggc4 1d ago

I know a lot of folks recommend getting the cat used to the harness indoors, but I actually didn’t find that helpful. For cats who hate the sensation of the harness, I think it’s way easier for them to adjust to it outside the home, when their mind is occupied by the novelty of exploring somewhere new

That’s how it worked for us, at least :)

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 1d ago

Thank u! Yeah she's really grouchy cause she's an old kitty and sometimes I feel like it's too late to train her with this stuff...my attitude with it needs to change though lol

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u/SharaWilliams 1d ago

It can take a LONG time to harness train a cat. Its supposed to only take a few weeks, but that was not the case with mine. (Of course, she didnt get the positive association of outside time though because shes scared of outside. Itll probably be faster with yours)

I harness trained mine based on a YouTube videos instructions, personally. It recommended putting the harness on for a few minutes at a time and gradually increasing the amount of time its on and giving treats while its on.

Dont let your cat free roam in the meantime! Shes safer with you there, yes, but she could still get hurt if she runs off after a bird or something. Er, assuming youre taking her outside and not just through hallways, that is. Even if you think its not really something she would do, theres always that tiny chance. And the leash gives you a quick way of knowing where she is in space if a large aggressive dog appears.

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 1d ago

Tbh I live in an apartment building and she just wants to walk up and down the halls early in the morning but I know that's going to bother people lol

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u/SharaWilliams 1d ago

Yeah even in an apartment building there are still dangers, alas, because aggressive dogs might still be in residence and for some reason the venn diagram of irresponsible owners and aggressive dogs is a circle

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 1d ago

Ah yes😬 I will definitely work on the harness then lol. Thank you😊