Outdoor cats

[cstocks]

Do you want to keep them around as pets or just as mousers? The reason I ask is because my experience with outside kittens is that unless you catch them while they are VERY small they may not make good pets. I have an inside cat that I caught at 3-4 months, spayed and brought inside. Now she is close to 3 years old and she is still flaky. Not as wild as she used to be but not a good pet at all. I have had other kittens that were the same way. Once they get a feel for the outside they tend to stay a little wild.

Now if you just want them to keep outside to catch mice and be halfway friendly you will probably be okay. Contact the nearest dog pound and borrow a live trap. I trapped so many strays over the years that I ended up buying my own live trap. Be aware, as Mosey said, that the vet may have a hard time with them if they are wild. Sedated they will be fine but getting them sedated may be a problem.

Good luck if you decide to persue this!

 

[ptonline]

I see what you mean when you say ``they dig in too deep``. had to put my last one to sleep(she was 14) and felt like I had just lost a relative. We all agreed we would never get another cat or dog, but after a while that bluesy feeling tapers off and you miss their presence and those little eyes looking at you. it seems like a household is not complete without at least one . cats retain some of their wildness and Iguess that is what make them so special. in short,we are now looking to adopt!!!

 

[MDNY]

ptonline,

The best place is your local SPCA or a friend/family member who's cat had a litter. We adopted in January last year and our little one (was 2-3yrs old) when we got her and is a bundle of energy. She out plays any kitten I have ever seen.

Save an animals life, adopt a friend when no one else will.

 

[MDNY]

ptonline,

The best place is your local SPCA or a friend/family member who's cat had a litter. We adopted in January last year and our little one (was 2-3yrs old) when we got her and is a bundle of energy. She out plays any kitten I have ever seen.

Save an animals life, adopt a friend who needs a home.

 

[jasonf]

Here is the Friends of animals website address. They have low cost spaying/neutering progams:

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/spaying/cover.htm

 

[Fireman_dcb]

Mosey,

We have 8 outdoor cats, 3 for the front and 5 for the rear barn. We used to only have 2 for the rear barn til the 6 month old female got in a "family" way. I would highly recommend that you get your kittens from an adoption org. such as ASPCA - usually for the small donation that you pay you get a certificate for spaying/ neutering.
Good luck! Doug

 

[Mosey]

Doug - Animal shelters around here will not allow anyone to "adopt" a kitten without first signing a paper stating the cat will be kept indoors. They are all firmly opposed to outdoor cats. They are very closed minded and make no exceptions! I'm willing to bet any of the places listed by the ASPCA will have the same policy.

 

[vongiese]

get them fixed whatever you do!
Whistle every time you feed them and they will eventually come whenever you whistle (if they want to....).
lots of "risk" with outside cats - depending where you live. Critters tend to get some cats. Some cats are smarter or luckier at survival than others...so wait to spend any $ ont them for a little less than a year - they don't need fixed til abouta year old.

 

[Fireman_dcb]

Hmmm... is there a private group that will save cats/ dogs from being put down? Here in NJ we have a number of groups that will sweep through municipal pounds looking for animals that are going to be put down within the next day or two. They get folks to "'foster" them until they can adopted out. We got all our cats, three dogs and one of our two horses that way.

good luck - Doug