A gentle timeline for transitioning
your cat to life at home
If your cat is used to roaming, keeping them at home can be a big change.
The good news is you don’t have to do it overnight.
A gradual transition can help your cat adjust to their new routine and learn that home is a safe, interesting and rewarding place to be.
Every cat is different. Some cats may adjust within days, while others may need several weeks or longer.
Use our guide below and let your cat’s behaviour tell you when they’re ready for the next step.
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Before beginning the transition, we need to make sure home is worth staying for. Your cat gets exercise, stimulation and opportunities to explore while roaming. Before reducing their outdoor time, make sure you’re replacing those experiences with plenty to do at home.
Make sure they’ve got:
Places to climb, such as cat towers, shelves or perches
Comfortable spots where they can watch the world from a window
Places to hide and retreat when they want some quiet time
Different spaces to explore
Toys and games that encourage chasing, pouncing and hunting behaviours
Scratching posts or scratching surfaces
Multiple comfortable sleeping spots
At least one litter tray per cat, plus an extra one where possible
Fresh, clean water available at all times
If you’ve got the above, you’re ready to start the transition.
Want to know more about the best cat enrichment, including products we suggest? Checkout this page.
A gentle timeline for bringing your cat home. Every cat is different. Some may adjust within days, while others may need several weeks or longer.
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Begin by bringing your cat inside a little earlier than usual.
As a starting point, you might reduce their outdoor time by around 30 minutes and maintain this new routine for several days before increasing it again. Choose a time when your cat is naturally more likely to settle, such as around dinner time or after a play session.
Once they come inside, make their time rewarding. You could try:
Giving them their meal
Playing with a favourite toy
Offering a food puzzle
Giving them affection if they enjoy it
Introducing something new to explore
Offering a small treat
Your goal: Your cat can stay inside for the extra time without becoming highly distressed and is able to settle, play, eat, sleep or engage with you. When this feels like their new normal, move to Step 2.
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Once your cat is comfortable with the first change, start extending their time inside again. You could increase their indoor time by another 30 minutes to an hour, then maintain that routine until they’re comfortable before increasing it again.
Keep meals, play and other favourite activities at predictable times. A routine helps your cat know what to expect.
Continue making home interesting too. Rotate toys, introduce new boxes or hiding places and give them different opportunities to climb, chase and explore.
Your goal: Your cat is spending increasingly longer periods at home and can settle into normal activities rather than constantly waiting at the door. When longer periods at home are becoming routine, you’re ready for Step 3.
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As your cat becomes comfortable spending most of their time at home, gradually reduce the remaining opportunities they have to roam. Continue following the same principle:
Make a small change → give them time to adjust → look for signs they’re comfortable → then make the next change.
This stage may happen quickly for some cats and take much longer for others.
Keep their daily routine predictable, with regular:
Meals
Play
Rest
Interaction
Enrichment
Your goal: Your cat can comfortably spend the whole day and night at home without roaming. They’re eating, sleeping, playing, toileting and behaving normally within their new routine. Once they’ve reached this point, you’ve made it to Step 4.
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Item descriptiYour cat is now living safely at home — but the work doesn’t completely stop here.
Just like us, cats can become bored when every day looks exactly the same.
Keep changing things up by:
Rotating toys rather than leaving everything out all the time
Moving boxes, tunnels or beds around
Creating new hiding or climbing spots
Trying different food puzzles
Scheduling short play sessions throughout the day
Giving them safe opportunities to watch birds and activity through windows
Introducing new smells, textures or objects to investigate
You may also want to consider safe outdoor options, such as a secure cat enclosure or cat-proofed outdoor area, so your cat can enjoy fresh air without roaming.
Your goal: Your cat is relaxed, active and engaged at home, with plenty of opportunities to express their natural behaviours.
Step 1:
Start small by reducing time by XXmins . Begin by bringing your cat inside for slightly longer periods than usual. Choose times when they’re naturally more likely to settle, such as around meals or after play.
They may meow at doors, scratch or try to convince you to let them out. This is normal when a familiar routine changes.
Stay consistent and redirect them with play, food puzzles, affection or another favourite activity.
Make being inside rewarding with lots of enrichment, play and treats. This will help them create a positive connection with being inside.
Not engaging? Seem upset? Maybe things are moving too fast.
We recommend reducing using the following as a base:
30 mins less for the first week
1 hour in the second etc… Get izzie input here.
When they seem comfortable, you can move to step 2.
How to know if I’m ready for the next step: Your cat seems comfortable. Help your cat learn that asking to go outside doesn’t mean the door will open — but there are plenty of good things to do instead.
Week 2 - 3:
Stretch out their time at home. If your cat is settling well, continue increasing their indoor time. Reduce outdoor time gradually: Start bringing your cat inside for longer periods, slowly building towards a fully at-home routine.
Before you start
Before beginning the transition, we need to make sure home is worth staying for. Your cat gets exercise, stimulation and opportunities to explore while roaming. Before reducing their outdoor time, make sure you’re replacing those experiences with plenty to do at home.
Make sure they’ve got:
Places to climb, such as cat towers, shelves or perches
Comfortable spots where they can watch the world from a window
Places to hide and retreat when they want some quiet time
Different spaces to explore
Toys and games that encourage chasing, pouncing and hunting behaviours
Scratching posts or scratching surfaces
Multiple comfortable sleeping spots
At least one litter tray per cat, plus an extra one where possible
Fresh, clean water available at all times
Regular opportunities for play and interaction with you
If you’ve got the above, you’re ready to start the transition.
Want to know more about the best cat enrichment, including products we suggest? Checkout this page.
A gentle timeline for bringing your cat home. Every cat is different. Some may adjust within days, while others may need several weeks or longer.
Why start now?
With Avian Flu cases increasing in South Australia, now is an important time to keep your cat safely at home — and a good opportunity to establish a routine that protects them long term.
Having trouble with change?
Changes in routine can sometimes lead to extra meowing, scratching or toileting outside the litter tray. If your cat is struggling to adjust, speak with your vet or an animal behaviour professional for extra support. It’s important to remember, don’t give up!
The transition might take time, but every day your cat spends safely at home helps protect them from disease, injury, getting lost and other dangers.
Week 4 - ongoing:
Your cat should be full acustomed to indoor life now. But make srue to keep changing things up to prevent them getting board. You could even consider incorporating some safe outdoor play to
If your cat is used to roaming, keeping them at home can be a big change. The good news is you don’t have to do it overnight. A gradual transition can help your cat adjust to their new routine and learn that home is a safe, interesting and rewarding place to be.
Every cat is different. Some cats may adjust within days, while others may need several weeks or longer. Use this timeline as a guide and let your cat’s behaviour tell you when they’re ready for the next step.