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How can I encourage two outdoor cats to come inside?

I took on two outdoor cats when I moved into the house I'm living in at the moment. We've had snow for two weeks and it's freezing outside. I can get one of the cats into the kitchen for a few minutes but it goes mad if the door is closed. The other cat won't come in at all. I'm really worried as I really don't want them to die.

Public Comments

Tempting them with food works.
Leave some food on the window sill inside (and the window open of course!)
Cognitive therapy - associate coming in with something good. When I had cats I would click my fingers when I fed them, they eventually associated the clicking with having food, so then when they were let outside I would click my fingers and the would come running in from the darkness! Then I'd usually give them their dinner anyway. Or you could try something louder like a whistle, clapping, shaking the food box?
if you go outside to call them, get a bag of treats and shake the bag so they can hear it, normally works for my cats. good luck and i hope they are ok
food or catnip
if they are feral, it takes time to build trust. sometimes its best to keep them in and let them realize, yes, its scary, but nothing bad will happen. keep them well fed and talked to and petted if they will allow it and keep them away from children and other pets.
theyre animals. they were living outside long before people domesticated them. obviously they prefer it. just leave em be and make sure they have food and unfrozen water. and i guarantee they will be fine.
You only need food and patience. It make take a while until they trust you.
Food ( tuna works well) and a special call out to them everyday and they will start to come to you.
Get a trap if you have to. I would trap them and put them in a bedroom. If the cat gets mad when you shut the door.AND he doesn't go crazy jumping off the walls..then keep the door shut and put him in a room. He will get used to you like that...bedroom etc.
Hi Paula Your cats need food and shelter to survive. They get the food from you and must have found shelter somewhere else. Many years ago I cared for a family of feral cats. After quite some time they began to enjoy being groomed with a special brush that had twisty bits on the end. I didn't try to hold them but just stroked them with the brush. They became ecstatic during these grooming sessions and would follow me into the house so their grooming could continue. I was able to get them to the vet for neutering and injections and all through the grooming brush. They did eventually condescend to move in to the house but it was certainly on their terms!! I hope this helps. Good luck and best wishes.
My old tabby cat went AWOL last year after our dog died, they were best buddies. I used to get scared in cold weather because she was old, but I would just walk up and down the garden calling her with her name and a noise we always made to call her and I would shake her food box too, then wait for her little bell to come tinkling closer!!!
It sounds as if these two cats are ferals and they would be very stressed shut in a house.Ferals are born with thicker coats than domesticated cats and can stand a lot of cold, but wet gets to them.They need a waterproof shelter of some sort outside to sleep in and it's very important they have plenty of food, and fresh water to drink. Ferals just go crazy if you shut them in as they feel trapped and vulnerable.You may be able to get them into your kitchen for a warm through if you leave the door open and stay away from it while they are in, but apart from that you can't do much more for them.
i always shake some food and if my cat hears it she always comes running. If they don't come don't worry, they will be out exploring the new place.
Bring them inside and play with them with their fav toy. Bring the litter box inside so they kinda have to stay inside. this might sound kinda weird but when your cat does somthing you don't want them to do like go outside pick it up, hold it to your face and gurr. I know it sounds odd but i just read it online. :)