I want the cat to be an outside cat for most of the time. Welcome to come in and out of the house but essentially an outdoor cat. The kitten will be from a farm cat and will live outdoors or in an old barn until I get it. Worried about its ability to survive alone outdoors. A smelly Tom cat has started coming into my garden at night and I'm concerned it might attack a kitten alone. Also, swallows are nesting in the shed where the cat shelter is and I'm wondering will they attack the kitty? I havent had to experience a new kitten before as my last cat came to me as a stray and decided to stay around.
Any advice will be welcome as I want to do what is best for the kitten.
New kitten?
Why don't' you go to a rescue centre instead and get an older moggie - one that is also used to the outside - i couldn't bare the thought of a wee kitty outside - even though it is the summer - my cat is like one of my kids - she is queen of the house - she is a rescue moggie got her 7 months old. maybe a route to look into?
Reply:In my experience male cats go out more than females although Lucy(Who lets me share her hse at the moment) is a very good mouser/bird catcher. I think it depends on the cat moer than anything as they are quite alot like humans as in their characters/behaviour is impossible to predict!
Reply:Sorry Kittens should be kept inside and I strongly believe in having cats indoors. I believe this for the health, safety of the cat and for neighbours and wildlife in the area.
My old cat Pepi was indoors and outdoors and he was at the vets all the time with injuries due to fights and he was an older cat (never outside as a kitten). Was shot too and survived, probably annoyed a neighbour etc.Tom cats would rip young cats to shreds.
I can only suggest that if you insist on an outside cat get an older cat rather than a kitten. That way it is more likely to survive outside!
Try a local shelter...yes you'll have to pay but youll get an older cat and usually they are desexed wormed vaccinated etc. Or try ads in you local paper.
***Also just another thought an older cat would help with your mouse problem better than a kitten***
Good luck!
Reply:I would start the kitten off as inside. This may not be what you want but it wont be to long until you never see your kitten because it will be to busy catching your mice. While the kitten is young it is best to have it close to you. As it grows it will naturally be drawn to the outside and it will adapt by it self. Let it sleep in the laundry if you dont want it in the house and keep it out of the bedrooms during the day so it doesn't become accustom to the finer things in life.
Reply:I'd advise having the cat be able to be indoors if it wants. Especially with the tom around, that's enough to scare the cat. Why not have the cat indoors/outdoors? Perfect solution.
The Tom would probably at least have a go at the kitten, and if it cannot get inside the house, it will either get hurt or run away.
Kittens are like babies, they need at least some protection.
When the cat is older, that's another story, but this is a small kitten...he won't last long, rather get an older cat at the shelter.
Reply:Remember u can have a house cat, (indoor cat), i did.Thn sumone let him out nd he got killed by a BOY RACER! (the twat down the road!!!!)
Reply:Hi there,
You cannot actually allow your kitten outside until he is 12 weeks old. This is because he will not have had his full course of injections until this time. He will have the first course at about 8 weeks, and the second at 12 weeks - he will not be fully vaccinated until you have given him both courses. Of course, you need to take him to the vet as soon as you get him to talk about all these things, get him treatment for worms and fleas, and get him checked over in general. You should also get him microchipped, even if he has a collar, as collars come off very easily.
Ideally, you should keep him in until he is neutered (6 months old). I say 'he', but obviously if you get a female cat, the same applies. I don't just say this because it's the buzz word of all Yahoo cat answers, but because I really genuinely mean it. Every kitten that your cat creates takes a home, and in some cases a life, from shelter kittens who have to be destroyed if there is no room for them.
An 8 week old kitten, in my opinion, is way too young to live alone outdoors. If you could get two kittens, it would be even better because they could protect each other and keep each other company outside.
I really don't think you should let your kitten live outside until he is at least 6 months old. Until that age he will be physically and mentally too little to be able to protect himself. You definitely should not even let him outside until he's 3 months old and has had all of his injections.
Incidentally, I believe that cats should live indoors, perhaps with access to a garden.... but it is your choice to keep your cat mainly outdoors. Your stray coped well because he had already been coping on the streets for a while by himself. But even this streetwise cat got killed on the road.... honestly, a kitten wouldn't stand a chance.
A kitten is a baby and honestly cannot be left to fend for himself. He will need you to control his feeding, play with him, give him love and attention and teach him how to use his cat skills. This is why I think that 2 cats would be better than one if you really want to keep them outdoors - they will be able to teach and look out for each other outside. But again, NOT until they are at least 6 months old.
So keep him in until you've taught him all the skills he needs - until at least 6 months old. Then gradually introduce him to the outside world. And of course take advice from the vet on this when you take him in for his first injections at 8 weeks old.
If essentially you want the cat as more of a guard-cat than a pet, and you want to use him to control your pest problems straight away, I'd skip getting the kitten and rescue a cat from a shelter. Many of them are strays and therefore will be very used to the outside. This may actually be a much better option for you and I'm wondering if you should do this instead.
http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.ht...
I've included some really useful links for you below.
xx Emmie
Reply:I don't think you should let the kitten out until it has completed its full course of injections and then only for short periods to begin with. I know it is stating the obvious but it will be very little and just a baby - it won;t be able to defend itself against the other cats defending their territory.
Whether a cat is a good hunter will depend on its character - my friend has two cats one of whom is always presenting her with mice, frogs rabbits etc - I have three cats and never get anything left for me, thankfully.
I think you will know what to do when you see the kitten because they are so small and helpless that you will see how they need protection - I'm sure you will be fine! Just enjoy the kitten!
Reply:the kitten should be fine, just as long as you let it go inside when it wants too, atleast until its older, if you are really worried, see if you can get two to keep eachother company
Reply:let the little kitten grow up inside, but if u dont like that idea keep him outside in the day and inside at night,
Reply:Let the kitten grow up a little indoors with you, if your worried about it's well-being. Let it outside frequently with you, but take it back in when you go in. Eventually you will get a feel for when the kitten is ready to be outside alone. In the meantime, prepare yourself and your house for a wild time. Kittens are high energy and love to test out their claws. You will have so much fun laughing at your kitty you will wonder why you never had one before. Good luck!
Reply:its crul to make a cat a indoor cat let it in an out wen it pleases
Reply:Do not put the kitten out till it is at least 5 or 6 mnths old it will not be happy or safe the tom may attack it as well as a little kitten needs a lot of love and affection....get a good mousetrap instead.
Reply:You should keep the kitten indoors for the first 6 months of its life and then slowly introduce it to the outdoors. Maybe you should consider getting an older cat if this isn't an option. Kittens can't go outside until its been vaccinated and really spayed/neutered.
Reply:Both of the above are great answers. You need to introduce your kitten to his or her new home slowly. Let them bond with you first so that they know they can come to you for comfort and help.
By having a kitten outside after you take it from it's mum you are essentially abandoning it to natures grip.
By doing as the first lady suggested - taking out the kitten and then bringin it back in you are slowly introducing it to the big wide world. Our kittens never go outside alone and when they do they are always under constent supervision. As we live near a main road, they are not enoculated for outdoors pests and they are still young they face a lot of risks that Mum or Dad normally help them with.
By stating that it will be an outdoor CAT your are really answering your own question - wait till he or she is a cat and can hold it's own. Before you become her companion she is being trained by her mother for the world to come. This will include mice and bird hunting, when to come out of hiding and when to stay in. Let the mother train her (or him) until they are more the 8 weeks old, start a bond and continue the outdoor excursions
Have fun and give it lots of love because they will show their affection and love in return.
______________________________________...
In Canberra and some other states of Australia cats and kittens must be inside from dusk anyway. It reduces the threat to protected species in the wildlife. It also reduces the risk of Mr or Miss Kitty being hit by a car.
No comments:
Post a Comment