outside kitty

**lexie** · 01-03-2003, 01:24 PM

my black cat has been outside his whole life. i did bring him in for a month or so,but would always put him out at night. he is about 8 months old now and it is very cold out there is snow everywhere. i am worried about his health. is it too cold for him? what about frost bite? it never really goes below maybe 20 degrees. should i find him a new INSIDE home or will he be fine outside? he seems to be doing fine. i just wanted to know.

**jenluckenbach** · 01-03-2003, 01:34 PM

I do not want to automatically say that he will not be fine outside, I suppose that he might. But there are so many dangers and not only the cold that if he could have an indoor home he would be so much better off. Outdoor cats have a much shorter life span than indoor cats. The most important thing is to have him neutered especially if he is outside or he will get all the females in the area pregnant and think of all those unwanted kitties that could be born. Also if he is not neutered and he is outside there will be fights with any neighbring males and that could be harmful to his well being, also.

**Cataholic** · 01-03-2003, 03:57 PM

Bring him inside! Keep him close to a litter box for a few days...and I think your kitty will be just fine. Please try to keep him inside..and don't give him up!

**babolaypo65** · 01-03-2003, 10:08 PM

can you transition him? its not impossible? and in the mean time does he have a warm-ish place to sleep?
i found a cat recently. he was a total outside cat. now he's about half and half. he still wont use a cat box. he's sorta like a dog. BUT he's sleeping inside and is in and out (in the backyard) during the day.

do you WANT him inside?

**shais_mom** · 01-04-2003, 12:04 AM

His 'whole life' is a span of only 8 mos. I think now would be a great time to transition him to INDOORS!!!

**lexie** · 01-04-2003, 12:38 PM

i would keep him inside but everyone in my family has allergies exept me. yes i want him inside. i got him fixed. i put him in our sawna at night(it is broken) i would give him to another home exept i'm afraid that they will take him to the shelter. he never leaves my ack yard,but when he does he only goes to the neighbors house to sleep on her porch.

another thing...we are moving in about a month and i'm afraid that when we move him he will not stay where we put him. will he try to run back to where we lived before? will it help that when we move put him in my garage and keep him in there until he gets used to the new area? or what????

**shais_mom** · 01-04-2003, 01:18 PM

Is there anyway you can keep him in your room? That is what Tonya did with her new Kitty.

**lexie** · 01-04-2003, 02:28 PM

i tried that. i guess whatever my family is allergic to flowed through the house.

**Randi** · 01-04-2003, 04:11 PM

If you do get him inside and then take him to your new place, make sure to keep him indoors for at least 2 weeks and let him get used to the smells etc. Sit queitly with him and let him come to you! I've done that with a male cat who was living with a couple who spit up. after those 2-3 weeks, he'll probably have got used to the new surroundings and you can let him out. But keep a close eye on him to begin with!!

I take it he's neutered and has had his shots!? Please keep us updated! - And good luck!

**lexie** · 01-04-2003, 04:26 PM

yes he has all his shots and is fixed.

if i did re-home him. would it be hard for him to adjust to his new family and hide from them or will he be friendly? i have had him sinse he was about 2 weeks old. he thinks i'm him mom. he hates everyone but me. but after a while he likes other people. would it be a good idea to split us up?