We know who's the boss.
Outdoor cat...advice?
- Thread starter gregk24
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We know who's the boss.
Make her an indoor cat. Cats don't last very long outside. Too many predators.
Ours do. We adopted a 2 yr old german sheppard last year. Took a few days but everyone gets along now.
This^
I considered this when my chipmunk issue surfaced, but I didn't have a way to let the cat come/go in my garage without creating way for the rodents to get inside too. Plus, even though I'm on the edge of the city and am near farmland, I am still in city limits and have a HOA and didn't want to deal with those issues...
We live out in the country and have about 11 outside cats and none inside since I'm allergic to them. Some are tame and others are not. We feed them cat food on the back deck. They are a pain in the butt and we have had a lot of the kittens that like to get up inside the engine compartments of our vehicles and a few have chewed wires and ripped up some foam fuel injector covers. One recently crapped all over the top of the engine in my fiancé's truck. They have also climbed all over the vehicles and have scratched most of them up.
Contrary to some saying that cats don't survive outside for very long, we have had quite a few outside cats that have lived for years outside.
Contrary to some saying that cats don't survive outside for very long, we have had quite a few outside cats that have lived for years outside.
If you have a garage, a cat door is a very good idea. It offers your cat a safe place from the rain, the brutal Florida sun and all kinds of predators like coyotes, bobcats, hawks, dogs and even other cats. It will get fleas so be prepared for that expense. My family has had everything from barnyard cats to exotic breeds. They can be fun and are much less work than a dog.
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Please do NOT let the cats roam off your property. Not only can it result in the cat being attacked by other and wild animals but
cats spray, screech, and poop everywhere and they scratch painted surfaces of cars too.
I have trapped cats that arrive on my property and if they are not tagged with the owners name they go to the pound to be put down.
Consider your neighbors. If you have neighbors who own dogs and you want to remain friendly with them, keep your cats in the house.
1st, Your cat WILL poop in your neighbor's yards. ALL dogs love to eat cat poop. Cats sometimes bury their poop (sometimes not), when they do they don't bury it deep. Dogs can smell it a mile away and go right for it. Dogs can contract Toxoplasmosis from eating cat poop. Humans can also contract Toxoplasmosis from handling cat poop, and if you have kids, this can be a concern. Cats are Toxoplasmosis carriers but it doesn't affect them.
2nd, If you leave cat food outside for your cat you will attract some unwanted/unwelcome and potentially dangerous wild animals like racoons, skunks, possums, and other feral cats. Your cat is not going to keep these animals away. Maybe the presence of these other animals doesn't bother you, but you can be sure that they will bother your neighbors.
3rd, Outdoor cats will attract coyotes. Cats are one of coyotes' favorite foods. They also like to eat smaller dogs up to about 20 lbs. They can easily clear a 4 foot fence and getting over a 6 foot fence is no problem for them either. Your neighbors aren't going to like them hanging around.
1st, Your cat WILL poop in your neighbor's yards. ALL dogs love to eat cat poop. Cats sometimes bury their poop (sometimes not), when they do they don't bury it deep. Dogs can smell it a mile away and go right for it. Dogs can contract Toxoplasmosis from eating cat poop. Humans can also contract Toxoplasmosis from handling cat poop, and if you have kids, this can be a concern. Cats are Toxoplasmosis carriers but it doesn't affect them.
2nd, If you leave cat food outside for your cat you will attract some unwanted/unwelcome and potentially dangerous wild animals like racoons, skunks, possums, and other feral cats. Your cat is not going to keep these animals away. Maybe the presence of these other animals doesn't bother you, but you can be sure that they will bother your neighbors.
3rd, Outdoor cats will attract coyotes. Cats are one of coyotes' favorite foods. They also like to eat smaller dogs up to about 20 lbs. They can easily clear a 4 foot fence and getting over a 6 foot fence is no problem for them either. Your neighbors aren't going to like them hanging around.
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Exactly. When I find them on my property I trap them, if the cat is tagged I contact the owners and tell them they have their one chance to respect my property. If the cat is found on my property again, it will get put down.
I suppose PETA is not on your annual charitable contribution list, eh?
What an ass.
You know veery well you can't stop cats from goping where they want to go. If that's what you want to do, I suggest you keep quiet about it as it's a criminal offense to kill a cat.
On the farm we had at least 10 or more cats at any given time and you couldn't get near any of them nor want to, they were there to do a job, working cats I guess.
OP you won't regret having indoor kitties, we have two now, both rescues and were kittens when we got them. I suggest finding one that is only a few weeks old, you don't want to miss out on that stage of their life.
OP you won't regret having indoor kitties, we have two now, both rescues and were kittens when we got them. I suggest finding one that is only a few weeks old, you don't want to miss out on that stage of their life.
manicrodder
$50 site donor 2022
We trained our kitten to use a pet door. When He was full grown he brought a jack rabbit inside and released it. Boy was that wild!!
manicrodder
$50 site donor 2022
I had a Collie that the neighbors said was a cat killer. I brought a kitten home from a football game because boys were tormenting it. I let the dog sniff it and put it down. He took it in his mouth immediately and carried it around. They were inseparable from that day forward.
manicrodder
$50 site donor 2022
If you do have one that stays outside, Toot the Horn when you get ready to start the car. They like to sleep on top of the warm engine. I have known a couple that get caught up in the fan belt.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Mental illness
jagdriver727
Site Donor 2021
My shop cat lives primarily outdoors. I put out food twice daily, when I first open up in the morning and when we stop for lunch. When she smells our food on the grill she’s out there waiting for hers. In the winter she likes to come inside the building at night, which I have no issue with. I take her to the vet annually. She’s chipped and has a clipped ear to alert others she’s spayed.
She’s friendly but was born feral, when she was little I tried to make her a house cat and she was not happy.
I have an indoor cat at the house who is best friends with my 95 lb GSD. They quite often sleep on the same bed.
She’s friendly but was born feral, when she was little I tried to make her a house cat and she was not happy.
I have an indoor cat at the house who is best friends with my 95 lb GSD. They quite often sleep on the same bed.
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