Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:58 am Post subject: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
Hello. I recently had a stray older kitten (definately not full grown, I am not sure of age though) take up residence in my shed and my yard. I have never owned a cat, much less an outside one. If it turns that no one is missing her (flyers are out) then she might be able to stay here (depending on how the dog acts with her here and how she acts with him). However, I am not sure to what extent do outside cats need care and attention? Do I buy food, put out water, a bed? Can she come and go as she pleases and be fine? Basically, what do I do if she stays? Thanks.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:08 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
If you want to keep the cat as a pet, he/she needs to be neutered or spayed (definitely). Also, provide fresh food, water, and shelter. The cat also needs to be given shots for distemper, rabies, etc. by the vet. Gail "MauiJNP" wrote in message
Quote:
Hello. I recently had a stray older kitten (definately not full grown, I am not sure of age though) take up residence in my shed and my yard. I have never owned a cat, much less an outside one. If it turns that no one is missing her (flyers are out) then she might be able to stay here (depending on how the dog acts with her here and how she acts with him). However, I am not sure to what extent do outside cats need care and attention? Do I buy food, put out water, a bed? Can she come and go as she pleases and be fine? Basically, what do I do if she stays? Thanks.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:10 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
"MauiJNP" wrote in message
Quote:
If you want to keep the cat as a pet, he/she needs to be neutered or spayed (definitely). Also, provide fresh food, water, and shelter. The cat also needs to be given shots for distemper, rabies, etc. by the vet. Gail thanks for the help. If it comes to all that, she will need a new home. is all that really necessary?
Yes Absolutely , would you give a dog any less than this ? I would also ring all the local shelters and vets and also have her checked in case she's beenmicrochipped Alison
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 10:17:30 -0400, "MauiJNP" <jmh1116@ptd.net.NOSPLAM> wrote:
Quote:
If you want to keep the cat as a pet, he/she needs to be neutered or spayed (definitely). Also, provide fresh food, water, and shelter. The cat also needs to be given shots for distemper, rabies, etc. by the vet. Gail thanks for the help. If it comes to all that, she will need a new home. is all that really necessary?
Spay/neuter is not really optional ... unless you actually want an uncontrolled exponentially increasing population of cats (if the kitten is female) or the stink, noise, and fighting that goes with male cats. The shots can be considered optional on the basis of calculated risk: the less the probability of coming into contact with other cats, the less likely that the cat will get one of the diseases. However, if not neutered, such contact is certain. If you are very attached to the cat so that a fatal disease would have a major impact on your family, the shots are necessary; on the other hand, if the cat just lives there and isn't important to you, then they the shots are less important to you. There are also financial concerns: ideal is one thing, affordable is another (I have a dozen cats and could never afford the $1200+ a year it would cost to keep them vaccinated, but I would id I could afford it because they are all pets, though some of them aren't pets very often ... or even around all that often). Flames to /dev/null -- T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu.NOSPLAM)
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
[quote]"MauiJNP" wrote in message ( I hope someone claims her. If she is young she might have a better chance being rehomed than an older cat . Do you have any local no kill shelters that could take her if you can't find her a home ? I don't think she would runaway just because she is outside, many people keep ferals and AFAIK they stay put but she might want to start coming inside when it gets cold. It snows where you are , I remember you saying about Maui not liking it or not wanting to go out;) Alison
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
"Ted Davis" wrote in message unless you actually want an uncontrolled exponentially increasing population of cats (if the kitten is female) or the stink, noise, and fighting that goes with male cats. ----snipped--- >8[/quote] no other cats are around.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
Quote:
We live in the middle of nowhere and this is the only cat I've seen since we moved here 12 years ago. I don't she'd have a chance to mate.
Oh yes she will! There was obviously a cat nearby that mated and resulted in her birth, and believe me, when she goes into heat, which she is at the right age to do, Tomcats WILL find her and you will have a much bigger problem when she gets pregnant and has a litter. Or two. Or three. PLEASE, at the very minimum, catch her and get her spayed and vaccinated for rabies and distemper. If you don't it is guaranteed you will be back here asking what to do about her kittens and the resulting population explosion of cats. 1 intact male and female and their offspring can produce as many as 420,000 cats in just seven short years. You can make a huge difference by the one simple act of getting this kitten spayed ASAP. Megan
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 1:35 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
"MauiJNP" wrote in message
that's what I was hoping. ----snipped--- >8[/quote] start doing some calling around. If nothing else get on a waiting list with a rescue group and continue to feed and water the cat . They should be able to advise you on low cost spay/neuter in your area.
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
ok guys, how long do you wait for someone to claim the cat after putting out a flyer? the cat is still hanging around, still skinny except for the food we give her she doesn't appear to be eating and still wanting attention (meowing outside my bedroom window). She is scared by the dogs we have and I keep having to go up and fetch her from the tree (she comes right to me though when I call her so I can grab her out of the tree). I got a crate for her today and I am going to put her in it tonight so that tomorrow she can go to a shelter or shop or something (she only comes around at night because of the dogs being out all day). "MauiJNP" wrote in message
Quote:
Hello. I recently had a stray older kitten (definately not full grown, I am not sure of age though) take up residence in my shed and my yard. I have ----snipped--- >8
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Crosspost--stray outside cat question
Quote:
ok guys, how long do you wait for someone to claim the cat after putting out a flyer? the cat is still hanging around, still skinny except for the food we give her she doesn't appear to be eating and still wanting attention (meowing outside my bedroom window). She is scared by the dogs we have and I keep having to go up and fetch her from the tree (she comes right to me though when I call her so I can grab her out of the tree). I got a crate for her today and I am going to put her in it tonight so that tomorrow she can go to a shelter or shop or something (she only comes around at night because of the dogs being out all day).
ok, the little bugger found a way to escape from the crate last night so I have to try again tonight I guess. maybe the crate can go in a closed garage after she's in it instead of just an open shed.
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:27 pm Post subject: ShowYourPets.com - Show your pets for Free
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:13 am Post subject: ShowYourPets.com - Show your pets for Free
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