outside cats and kittens???

[lexie]

i have a cat that i keep out side durring the nite,but inside most of the day. is this healthy for my cat, being outside in the cold? i am thinking of getting him a friend. is it ok for me to keep a kitten that has been inside for the first 6 weeks of it's life outside?

[wolf_Q]

If he is inside most of the day, why can't he stay inside during the night too?

[Uabassoon]

I personally don't think that cats should be outside. But it's a personal choice. I have some outdoor cats that I take care of. One came with the house, it belonged to the previous owner who died so my landlord asked that I put food out for it. I decided it would be better to leave her outside because she'd been an outside cat for 15 years and she never leaves my patio. And my roommates cat really doesn't like other cats, it wouldn't have been happy for anyone to have brought her indoors. But since I put food outside I have a few other cats that have decided to make my porch their home. I think if the kitten has only lived indoors you should keep it indoors because it's safer, and for many other reasons. But there are many people on this board who do let their cats go outside.. So I guess it just has to be a personal decision for you.

[lexie]

well when i bring him iside he is only alowed in my bedroom. why? my parents are highly ellergic(sp). i can't keep him in at nite, because he is ot litter trained. how can i litter train him? he is 6 months old.

[Uabassoon]

Keep him confined to one small room, like a bedroom or a bathroom. and make sure he knows where the litter box. PLace him in the litter box so he knows where it is. Cats are smart, and their natural instict will hopefully make him use the litterbox because he'll want someplace to dig. Just make sure you don't have a lot of clothes or junk lying around the room because he may want to dig in that. Is he neutered? that will also make litter training a lot easier.

[lexie]

no he's not neautered.will he go under my bed?

[wolf_Q]

Well, I've never had a cat.....sooo....I'm probably not the best for advice here. But I didn't think litter training was too difficult. It has to be easier then potty training a puppy!! And 6 months old is pretty young, I'm sure he'd take to it fast. Maybe you could try to litter train him during the day.....and when he's trained he could sleep in your room at night with the door closed?

My friend has a cat named Milo. For a couple of years in their old house he lived in the basement. He has been strictly an outside cat since they moved (at least 6 years). Her parents are NOT "pet people." He is allowed to go in the garage though, and he sleeps in there quite often. He is a shorthaired orange tabby cat. I don't think he's ever had a real problem with the cold (and we got alot of snow). He used to love being around people, but now he just kind of comes around when he feels like it. And he always has cuts from getting in fights with other cats. If they didn't live on a dead-end street, I'd bet he would have been hit by a car by now.

I can't have a cat because my family is allergic also. And if I did have a cat, it would live inside. I've known of too many cats killed by dogs, cars, etc. But I think it depends on the cat and the situation/place you live. Some cats are alot better at staying around then others.

[Uabassoon]

You really should talk to your parents about getting him neutered. First off you really shouldn't think about getting another cat until you get him fixed. Expecially if you let him outside to roam. Once he gets a little older he's going to start roaming (finding a girlfriend). He may not come home. There are so many unwanted pets out there that by not neutering him you are adding to the pet overpopulation problem. He may also become aggresive and when you do bring him inside he will mark his territory (pee on your stuff). He's still young, so you want to take him in as soon as possible to get neutered.

[lexie]

i am going to get him fixed,but since he's my cat i have to pay for the neauter. i have only $60.i don't know if it's enough. i used to have a white kitten that got killed by a male tabby. this cat goes around killing all the male kittens. making everybody mad.i would get him fixed oo,but i don't have enough money.i'm suprized he's han't got my cat yet.

[Uabassoon]

Check your local humane society. In Tucson they neuter male cats for $35.

[lexie]

awsome! is that for only homeless or pets?

[wolf_Q]

Yes definitely get him neutered! Milo is not neutered, and I know that is the reason he is always getting in fights with cats...and he really roams.

Look in the phone book under Vetrinarians and call every vet you find. Just ask them how much it is to neuter a male cat. I called around to find someone to neuter my dog, Nebo, as I don't have much money either. They vary a lot in price. My dog was $55 regularly to neuter (30 lbs at the time) and I know it was cheaper to neuter a cat. Some other vets wanted $85 to do him. Also check and see if there are any spay/neuter programs in your area. We have some mobile spay/neuter clinics that will do it for around $30, and you can get discount coupons on the internet. Check the Humane Society too, they are usually quite reasonable.

[Uabassoon]

It depends on your local shelter. Here in Tucson it's for pets. I had a cat that was a stray so I took her to the humane socitey to get fixed, it was a little more expensive because she was a female I think it cost around $50. And a few of my friends have taken their pets to the humane socitety too to get fixed. They said they want it to be affordable because it's cheaper for them to fix for pet at a low cost then for them to take care of all the babies an unfixed animal will make.

[lexie]

i just e-mailed my humane socioty, but i will do all the calling tomarow. thanx for the advice.

[moosmom]

You got some great advice here Lexie. Everything I would've told you is included. One thing you need to know is the longer your kitty goes unfixed, the greater the chances are he will start to spray and the smell is something that is very difficult to get rid of.

Here is a link that'll help you. Good luck.

http://www.felinerescue.net/speuter/resources.htm#in