What Are Ways To Keep An Outdoor Cat/Kitten Safe?

Question

I am planning on getting a kitten. Since my wife is allergic, we could only have it outside. what are some ways that it can remain safe outdoors? Somehow alot of people have outdoor cats that dont leave their property. i was hoping my new cat could do the same thing. its just that im worried that my cat is going to run away or fight with my neighbors cats.(PLEASE GIVE SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS IN DETAIL) THANK U.

Answer 1

Make sure that your cat has a name tag with your phone number... Your cat has to stay indoors for a while.. just put her in a room away from your wife.. Then take your cat outside... stay with her and play with her and then bring her inside.... Teach her that your house is home... Also bring her in at night.. Feed her outside regularly so that she associate you as her owner and make sure she has all her vaccines updated against Feline AIDS, Rabies, Heart Worms, ect...... Also neuter your cat... Male cats tend to roam more... Good luck...

From another cat owner...

Answer 2

Keeping An Outdoor Cat

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

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RE:
What Are Ways To Keep An Outdoor Cat/Kitten Safe?
I am planning on getting a kitten. Since my wife is allergic, we could only have it outside. what are some ways that it can remain safe outdoors? Somehow alot of people have outdoor cats that dont leave their property. i was hoping my new cat could do the same thing. its just that im worried that...

Answer 5

A small "kitten" will not be safe outdoors no matter what you do, short of keeping it in a cage, which to me is cruel. Cats are roamers and hunters. When he gets older, he will learn how to defend himself. There will be fights and tussles with everything from dogs, other cats, and predators. If he is outdoors, unprotected, be prepared to lose him...either by predation or he will wander off and get lost. Bottom line, you just can't leave a kitten outdoors. Plus you have the elements of the weather to worry about...snow, heat, rain, etc.

Cats are very adaptable. Why put one in such jeopardy? I have 2 strays that were feral when I brought them back from California. I kept them in the house for a couple of weeks until they learned that this was their home. They learned to depend on me...for love and food. I have since moved 4 times in 9 years. Each time they were kept inside until they knew where their home was. They are outdoors during the day, and in at night...because this is what THEY want to do, not because it's what I want them to do.

So, because your wife is allergic, I would find another pet...maybe a goldfish. I find it inhumane to keep a kitten outdoors all the time, and never receiving the love and attention it deserves.

Answer 6

first, a kitten is simply not ready for the out of doors. They are too vunerable to just about everything. And there are no guarantees when you are allowing your cat outside. All of my cats are indoor outdoor cats - all 3. But, you have a problem. You would be best to adopt a cat old enough to survive the great out doors, but you need to let a cat have time to get used to the idea that you and your home is now it's home. It is highly recommended that if you intend on letting your new cat outside, that you keep it inside for 6 weeks before hand so that it knows this is where it belongs. If you get a cat, bring it home and open the car door and say welcome home, it will be gone in a flash. It's going to be scared and unsure, and you are not going to be able to keep it inside to let it bond with you so that it won't want to leave. As for my cats, they all pretty much stay around the front yard, they all have refective collars on them, with a name tag, and they all know there names and come when called (another benefit to the inside only period). They are allowed in and out as they please. My only suggestion to you, is that you dedicate a room in your home or maybe the garage (if it isn't too hot where you are in the summer) to your new cat for sometime until it would be safe to let the cat out doors. If you use the garage, you could put in a cat door (after the 6 weeks inside only) so that it has a place of refuge when needed, plus keeping food & water in there will encourage it to come home. Good Luck

Answer 7

1 - spay/neuter your cat! This is the most important thing you can do.
2 - definetly don't declaw.
3 - a female will probably want to leave less
4 - you could create a run
5 - most fixed outdoor cats are content to stick close around and won't fight. however, this is supposing that you live in the country. City... hmm, you need a run then.

- after reading the above posts- I know there is huge controversy about outdoor cats. I think it's fine. Our cats are (not by my choice) declawed and they go in and out as they please. They would HATE to be cooped up. Then again, we have a 140 acres with no nearby busy roads. So, I think you should be fine - unless you're in the city.

Answer 8

I have cats that occassionally stay outside, but for the most part they live in the garage. Don't leave the food outside if you have to keep the cats out, keep it close/in the house, otherwise other animals will come and eat it. We have coons that come to the back yard and eat the cat food. Get a fence (if you don't have one already) cats climb fences, but if you get a baby kitten they won't start climbing until they get bigger. If you have neighbors with dogs... don't get a kitten. Go to the pet shelter and find a larger one, that's friendly, the person there should know the best cat. The friendlier, the better, that means, if you're nice to them, they'll be nice to you, they'll always want to come home.
My neighbors got a kitten, and they hardly ever played with it, the kitten spent more time at my house than theirs, long story short, she's our cat now (she grew up). A long time ago my mom taught me that cats choose their owners, not the other way around.

Answer 9

There is really no reason to get a cat if you're just going to leave it outside -- or any other pet, for that matter. You're adopting a member of the family, and it's going to require a lot of time and attention. If you can't give it that, it's not fair to the animal. And you CANNOT adopt a little kitten and then stick it outside alone!

Outside cats are always in dangerous situations. some cats will stick close to home, and others will roam, but there's virtually no way to protect them other than having a securly fenced yard to keep out as many other animals as possible, and HOPE the cats stays inside the fence.

Answer 10

It's really not safe. I had an indoor cat that always ran outside. She would usually come back home a few hour slater after wandering around. But one day she just never came back and we assume coyotes got her, which is common in CA.

My parent's have half cat half bobcats that they keep outside (a female cat of their's bred with a bobcat apparently). So these cats are half wild and even they vanish and come home with sores from fighting. Coyotes have gotten a lot of them.

One option is to get a cat fence. This only works if you have a fenced in yard, and it usually works best in the back yard.

It goes along the top ofthe fence and the way it is made makes it impossible for the cat to climb over.

There are lots of different types, at different prices. But honestly this is the only way you can keep a cat outside safely and it's only fair ot the cat if you have a large yard.

A lady Iw ork with has one and it works perfectly. She's had for a few years. She has indoor cats that are allowed to go in the backyard because of this fence.

Some cat fence links:

http://www.catfencein.com/brochure2.php
http://www.purrfectfence.com/
http://www.catfence.com/pictures.htm
http://www.5catgallery.com/Pages/CatFence/CatFence.htm

Answer 11

Build a totally enclosed area. 8' x 10' x 8 foot high.

Aside from the obvious dangers of car fan belts and tires, toxic plants, dogs and cruel people, there are many hidden dangers to cats allowed outdoors. Life-threatening dangers include:

Diseases for which we currently do not have vaccines for (Feline Aids),
or vaccines that are not reliably effective
(Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis).


Heartworm. Yes, it is true that a cat can get heartworm, through mosquito bites. Shorthairs are at higher risk than longhairs.


Antifreeze. Its sweet taste is irresistible to cats, and a cat who has walked through a small pool of antifreeze and cleans its paws has ingested a fatal dose.


Skin cancer. Light colored kitties (especially white) are at risk for skin cancer of the ears due to exposure to direct sunlight.


Hanging/choking. Those neat little cat collars which do not provide breakaway or stretch releases have killed many a cat.


Fighting among outdoor kitties not only spreads disease, it can result in painful abscesses which require medical attention (an untreated abscess can kill a cat). Unaltered tom cats are prime candidates for such fighting, not to mention they will impregnate any and all receptive females they come upon.


Toxoplasmosis. A single celled organism that cats can ingest while eating prey that has been exposed. Not only can it kill a cat, it is contagious to people and can result in severe birth defects to human babies whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Wearing rubber gloves while handling litter pan duties and gardening is highly recommended for pregnant women. Finding another home for your cherished pet is NOT necessary.