Can house Cats be made into Outdoor/Barn Cats?

Question

We presently live in a suburban home, but we may be moving to a 7 acre non working farm. Would it be possible to take our indoor cats and turn them into outdoor cats? They have all of their claws. There are two big barns for them. The house and barns are situated quite far from the road. We would bring them in at night during the colder weather (Upstate NY).

Any experience with or advice on doing this? Also, how would we prevent other animals (squirrels, rats, raccoons) from eating their food if we kept it in the barn?

Sometimes I would like to make my children barn children! And my husband too! Ha!

Thanks most everyone, for kind and understanding answers. They are young cats-about 4 years old, and I actually think they will be fine. I am a very compassionate person and that is why I am considering doing this at all-because I don't think they are happy as indoor cats.

Answer 1

Many of the answers you have gotten suggest that putting them outside will be fine. Speaking from what I have learned from many people who have tried to care for outdoor cats,ie, mostly cats that have been dumped by their original owners, it is a really bad idea.

We have a farmer who refuses to neuter his cats. This has been what he has practiced for many years. Did you know that an unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing 2 litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter, in just nine years can total 11,06,077. Yes, that's over
eleven MILLION cats. So, can you tell me why this farmer has perhaps 50 (or less) cats? And why you never see an older cat? He does try on a small scale to take care of their health. But what is wrong with the number of cats he has? After all these years he should have many, many cats. Could it be the coyotes or the raccoons or other wild animals that live in large open areas?

Another lady living in the city fed stray cats and allowed them to live in her garage. One cat had a litter on her back porch. A male cat tried to kill her kittens and the poor mother fought tooth and nail to protect them. The lady said her porch was in shambles, but the mom saved her kits and moved them. Why should any cat have to fight so desperately for its safety? There are always marauding cats who are fighters. Your cat could get in a fight and get bitten and the wound could get infected and you may not even notice it. This could kill it.

Another party living further out put up boxes covered with rugs and filled with bedding so the feral cats could get out of the bitter cold. She loved animals. Imagine how she felt when she went out with food and found one dead cat and parts of another. No matter how you look at it outside is not a good place for cats. The average lifespan of an indoor cat is around 15+ years as opposed to the average lifespan of a cat that lives it's life entirely outdoors which is one and one-half to two years.

You expose them to diseases that no vaccinatin is available for, to fleas which cause tapeworms, other parasites, heartworms, ringworm, toxoplasmosis, etc., etc. And to put them away from what and who they are used to is terrifying at first. Maybe they will get used to it in time, but why should they? If your family suddenly dumped you how would you feel?

If you feel you need barn cats believe me there are many, many feral cats, used to being on their own and who never would be able to live in harmony with people who are destroyed every day in this country. You can save some lives by taking in some of them, having them spayed or neutered, and giving them the run of the barn.

Please don't do this to your cats. It is frightening and it hurts fo be dumped.

Answer 2

The only way to kep other animals from eating the cat's food is to have the barn not have any way for the animals to get in-no cracks,holes and so on. You do not give the age of the cats but if they have been indoor cats living with their family all their life they will not understand and will feel banished(cats, animals have feelings-my cat is always happy when I return when ever I leave the house-husban says goes to the door and meows as soon as she hears my car Plus they are not used to being outside and will be scared, frightened-at first they'll explore due to curiosity but they'll start looking for "family".They may even attempt to find their home again for the farm to them is not home and beong put outside and "family" gone they will attempt to find their home,the familiar. Usually when you move to a new place it is not a safe idea to let cat or any pet roam unsupervised for if something scares pet will run and since no familiar scents there often the pets get lost never to be found. Also I'd be worried since this is in the country and other animals there than in the suburb-coyotes for example and they will think of the cats as food-coyotes moving into suburbs due to loss of their habitat and the first signs are missing cats and mall dogs. You are also exposing the cats to rabies(rats and racoons esp are known carriers of rabies)You do not mention why you are doing this . Is it necessary and esp if these are older cats you will be making their life scary,hard --will not be used to cold for its cold there even in the day. I for one would never do this for love my cat-Sweetie and she'd be heartbroken were I to reject her and banish her like this. Won't you reconsider?

Answer 3

As long as they have their claws they may adapt, try it.
As far as the food, there is no way to have food out that other animals won't go after. I let the cat go after rodents in the barn and keep food I give by the house. Still, other animals come during the night and eat whats left, and that is just life in the country.

Answer 4

You can do this by simply slowly introducing them to the outdoor area.Please make sure that all their vaccinations are up to date.Place their food in a open area where it is easy to find and very accesible to them.As for the wild animal problem I do not know it is not a battle I have won yet.But I do know that when the food gets low the cats will "hunt" more and your mice will live in fear lol!!!!Soon you will find that your cats really enjoy the area and the hunt and thrill of the roam.That is what their nature and instincts call for.

Answer 5

Yes, this is possible. I turned an apartment cat into a farm cat! =0) The first few days she cried, and tried getting inside constantly, but when she finally befriended the other outside cats, she did fine. As for food, we brought some out every morning for all the cats, and they had it eaten in no time... so there was no way other animals stood a chance at getting into it! =0) But she learned to catch mice and birds with the rest of them.

Answer 6

I think it would be up to the cat! If it wants to even go outside, and stay outside. If it is not used to going outside at all, you are taking a risk having it subjected to wild varments, etc. As for the cat food..I wouldn't try to keep the food in the barn for when the cats decides it's time to eat....you are inviting those wild varments to come and help themselves, and your cat might not welcome them! Just let the cats out, and watch them for a while, then call them in "here kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty"! Then, give them their food....they will associate "here kitty" for DINNER TIME! ....and you won't have to worry about leaving the food in the barn. I don't know what else to suggest, I'm starting to ramble on here. Good luck!

Answer 7

If you plan to keep their food in the barn, life will get very exciting (other animals, rats, etc), but I think you will find it very interesting to see how fast your cats adapt to their new freedom of living in the barn. I'm sure these cats will be in heaven.

Answer 8

yes take them out side with food and water a cat can make it own their own.You cant keep squirrel and rats ect..from eating their food but they will turn into cat food the cats will eat them.Make sure to take cat to vet.to get shots and check up before them go outside and they will be happy out side.Feed them often they will ge find.If you give them something warm like hay or beding they dont to come in side for cold weatherthey have a thick fur coat on.

Answer 9

yes, you can put them outside, but the only thing about that is that they will no longer want to be inside a house coup up, so make sure the barn is warm. As far as the food put it in a high place where other animals cannot get to them. Keep up their rabies shots, and give them the tablets for heart worm. In case of mosquitoes in the summer. They will probably enjoy that.

Answer 10

Not wise to do. Your cats have been conditioned to not fend for themselves nor to hunt for their own food. They are use to the regular temps of the indoors and their bodies are accustomed to it all.

To put them out in the barn to live would be like taking you from the home and putting you out in the Arctic and saying....survive.

Sure its not cold out, etc but the cats have no skills to defend themselves, to hunt, to know what dangers are out there and what to stay clear of. All this is normally learned as a kitten when outside.

And to put food out there no matter how well hidden, high up, etc will not stop animals from getting it. They will be drawn to it by the smell alone and out smart anything you attempt. Not to mention they might take the cats as food as well. Cause the cats won't run away cause they won't realize the danger they are in.