The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Cats => Topic started by: lord flynn on November 29, 2013, 02:06:30 pm
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I had an indoor/outdoor cat at one time but have never had a solely outdoor cat before. OH is allergic but I think we can provide a good home for a yard cat-there will be various outbuildings for a cat as well as a hay/feed shed that can be completely closed in, weather proofed with beds etc put in. OH is already allergic to hay and won't go in there if he can help it anyway!. We also have a big 'utility' room which is a basically built conservatory which we have no immediate plans for (in case said cat needs to come in for any reason).
there's a possibility of rehoming one/pair of semi-feral farm cats. I would like the cat(s) to be good mousers as we have the poultry.
anyone done this? got any advice?
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I think many cats would be suitable for the type of set up you have and would be grateful - well, as grateful as any cat would be for anything ;D
Cats Protection rehome feral cats - neutered and vaccinated. My chum got two - Ronnie and Reggie ::) - but they soon became house cats (by the owners' choice).
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If they are semi feral they probably are used to catching prey. Young cats, regardless of being semi feral, tend to look for toys to chase, rats and mice being ideal ;)
All of my cats have been hunters. I have found boys to be more eager but it may just be the temperament of the individuals I've had.
I don't know if it's also the fact my cats have a morning meal and evening meal of cat food but nothing in-between (anything left from meals is free grabs for the dogs ).
You have a great set up for semi ferals which the Cats Protection have difficulty finding homes for. I'd go for it :thumbsup:
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Ideal set up for a farm cat :thumbsup: . My two came as 4 month old kittens from a farm. We nominated a shed next to the chicken houses as their territory and confined them in there for a week - cat beds, litter tray, scratching post and food twice a day. Then we opened the window and they have been free to come and go ever since. Has worked well so far (5 years).
Over time they came in the house but are out 95% of the time. Another cat arrived as a stray and she took up residence in the garage. We always feed them together in the same place and they have never brought presents into the house - but line them up by the garage ;D . We also keep a couple of cat beds in the hay store. None of the cats have ever messed near the hay but they are always on vermin patrol and sleep in there too.
What really amazes me is that they have never attacked any of the free range hens or chicks, even the bantams, but patrol around the houses.
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we rehomed a "feral cat" from Cats Protection about 3 years ago. We, like you were looking for a cat that would cope with living outdoors, sleeping in the barn etc. partly for pest control and partly because our terrier, although fine with the cats outside was not going to accept a cat in the house. We were offered a kitten from a litter that had been found with mum in someone's garage. The mum, though very friendly was accompanied by 5 of the wildest balls of fluff imaginable. As we entered the run where they were being kept the kittens all hung from the wire mesh roof, yowling and hissing in fury. Slightly more feral than we had planned but we agreed to give a very pretty tabby a go provided we could take mum too. Several weeks later we were the wrong side of £160 in "donations and spaying costs, I had turned up at the vets with blood pouring down my face and half blind as the little bleeder knocked out my last remaining contact lens and stuck a claw in my eyelid, barely a millimetre from my eye as I tried to catch her to take her to be spayed. mum disappeared the night the little kitten was in being spayed. We then discovered that the cats had actually been found in village less than 2 miles away from home, which annoyed us as we hadn't been told this before. Mum never reappeared although we drove often through the village looking for her. The little wild cat ( Mouse as we called her) became less savage but still very wary. a couple of months on cats protection rang to see how things were going with her, by then she was more settled and almost tame ( only with us though).
"oh great" she said.
"we've found it almost impossible to house the others. seeing as you have done so well and obviously lost mum, would you consider another.
" yes " said I, "
but as we currently have without doubt the most expensive wild moggy in Devon we'd be reluctant to part with more money, but we'll take one if it helps"
She hung up !!,
and although I'm sure cats protection do lots of wonderful work we would never get a cat via that route again. There's charity and there's taking the mick. More recently our very old cat died and we replaced her with a "FREE" cat who was from a more conventional and tame background. although we intended her to join Mouse out in the barn, "Fish" is not a permanent outdoor cat- she has slowly worked her way into the house and as I'm sat writing this is sat on top of my printer looking at me and purring away. Mouse is gorgeous, 3 years old, totally devoted to us ( she hates "Fish") but scarpers if anyone other than us appears. occasionally she peers in the door curiously but has never set foot indoors. she is the perfect outdoor cat and a fabulous ratter and mouser, and rabbitter.- maybe she was worth £160- but I very much doubt it.
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thanks everyone :)
CPL are currently offering a pair for £80-thats jagged, wormed, neutered, flea treated. I could get a 'free' cat but would then have to pay for the aforementioned. not sure I could do that for £80 for one, let alone a pair. Maybe their prices have come down? I could also buy a kitten from Preloved/Gumtree-but would then be encouraging people to not neuter their pets by giving them £40 profit for not health checking/flee treating/worming/jagging their kittens. It's no coincidence the amount of 5/6month old cats for sale on these sites that aren't yet neutered. so quite prepared to put my money where my mouth is when it comes to paying for animals that have been properly done. we have some building work being done in the new year and will will have to wait until after that and hope nothing else goes wrong with the house lol, but its quite exiting :excited:
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we had 2 old feral cats from cpl, when we moved first here. we wanted them to sleep in the haybarn but as soon as their lockdown was over they moved into the garage, and hardly moved from their beds for years. i dont think they caught a single mouse tho. :roflanim:
our 2 shy house cats now sleep in the garage as they couldnt cope with the noise of the children/dogs. they are 18 and 20 and never been ill so it cant be a hard life.
the only thing with feral cats is catching them for the vets etc - one of ours had cancer in his ear canal - so a trip to the vets was a bit of a hassle, plus he needed clipping as he wasnt keeping his coat clean and it got matted, and he wouldnt let us brush him.
our ginger cat was an outside cat but since we got the new kitten, he is inside by choice. he loves the house, whereas the older cats want the peace away from the kids / dogs and dont come near the house at all.
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I got two from the Cats Protection League young brothers in September. The CPL had named them both from Shakespeare plays, they are now named Bill & Ben. They were neutered and microchipped and ready to prowl. I kept them closed up in the barn for two weeks and they have settled in fine. Had a few items of vermin left around the barn floor for inspection, and they sleep all day and disappear at night. Well worth the donation.
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Reading this with interest, as have too many rats about the place!
However. My two house cats are indoor-cats only, for the following reasons:
We re-homed three kittens, from the local animal shelter, two tabby sisters (Kai and Kizzy)and a little black one (Kira) that was the same age so got put in with them - well we couldn't leave her behind as well, could we.
Once they were old enough they were indoor-outdoor cats, with a cat flap into the kitchen. I called them in for food, and they were 'about' all the time, in the house and garden and would come up the fields with me when I went up to the sheep. I loved it.
But despite living on a B4numbers road, (with acres and acres to roam behind the house) the road immediately past my house is straight and the idiots drive it faster than their brains operate and the two tabbies were killed, one after the other :'( Kira was much more of a homebody and we hoped she'd survive. We rescued two additional kittens, brother and sister (Jethro and Jinx) so that Kira wasn't alone. But before the two kittens were of an age to go outside, Kira was killed too :'(
So that was it, Jinx and Jethro never did go out. They have the run of a big farmhouse and catch plenty of encroaching wee beasties indoors!
So my worry about barn cats obviously, is that they would also be killed on the road. The dilemma is - would a possibly short, happy life be better than a life in captivity in a shelter
Other than that, I have outbuildings, a conservatory if they needed to come indoors for any period of time....
What do people think?
And could I get my head round it too?
And if I did go ahead, what do you do about 'hefting' them to your place. Shut them in the barn? For how long? In a cage, or just in the barn (I think an enterprising cat could get out of all my outbuildings). How much contact do you make with them? I tend to 'tame' all my animals to the extent that I can handle them a bit more easily when I need to.
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I suspect you just have to accept a rather high failure rate to get one or two that stay and live.
I can't answer the 'is it better' question - but will be interested to see what others say, as it is one on which I ponder similarly for similar reasons.
For the moment, there is a cat who says she is our farm cat, and only takes food from us in the worst of weathers, who is very very shy and doesn't like other cats, so I don't need and couldn't get another one at the moment anyway.
Otherwise, jaykay... time for a terrier to add to the pack? :D
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I lost my old cat to an RTA, always said I would get another-that was nearly 20 years ago! we are now 3 miles from the nearest B road, there is obviously a single track road up to us and the neighbouring farm but its pot holey and windy, not a speedy road-although there is always the risk.
I am surrounded by sheep though-anyone know the latest thinking on the risk to sheep from cats?
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There's a tolerance level of putting any animals with other animals and I don't think a couple of cats would cause a real problem to your sheep health and safety wise.
I'd get a cat couple or a couple of cats which are related or used to each other so they have someone cosy to snuggle up to and keep themselves warm in the cold nights. Unrelated cats may cause you sleepless nights singing christmas carole's at your bedroom window. Feed in the morning so they're hungry at night and hunt more eagerly and don't expect them to be grateful of course, you're the 'staff' - and not just for christmas :D
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When we first got our cats we made the decision to let them be indoor/outdoor. We knew there was a risk from cars but we wanted them to live full lives. Whenever we moved we took proximity to roads into consideration. 4 years later our boy cat was killed in an RTA in broad daylight in a 30mph zone by a park. I was distraught, but he had loved being outside, I thought about keeping his sister inside but she wouldn't hear of it.
We got 2 feral farm kittens from our local rescue, one of them died at neutering and I was glad that she had been able to have little snippets of outside under supervision before her time was up. We ended up getting two more feral farm kittens from the rescue, including one they called Satan that no-one can get near. We intended for them to be very socialised and they have all turned into lapcats, although you still can't pick Satan (Gems) up and she is still flightly sometimes. They all seem to hunt though and we've had lots of presents.
I worry about what will happen when we eventually move to a smallholding if it is a near a road. If Giles, a 4 year old, can be killed in a 30mph zone by a children's park then there's no guarantee of safety for young cats by a national speed limit road. But on the same hand they can die from other things at other times, like the kitten we lost to routine surgery. Are the cats better off taking a chance with us, with access to roads, than living in the rescue? In my opinion they are. The rescue is a great place, but it is stressful for cat to be surrounded by so many others. It also takes up space, preventing cats that are in worse condition, starving, sick and unsheltered, from being taken care of by the rescue. I would say re-home them and give them their chance at life. But again that is my opinion, and if I lost another to RTA I'll no doubt be caught up in guilt about it for a while like I was with Giles.
Dans
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We live miles from any sizable road but our neighbours tom cat still got run over. Our usual lovely postman waz on holiday and it was his stand in driving like a fool up our narrow track. As Child we lost a succession of boys to cars. Our girl lived to be ancient. As a result I always have girls believing them to be more road savvy. Cats and sheep ? My boss had several ewes abort in late pregnancy las year. Following tests it was suspected to be cat poo related
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I think it's worth taking the risk with adult feral cats. They don't have the chance of a life otherwise.
We currently have an adult stray semi-feral who is not handled at work. Her destiny is not good come tomorrow as we cannot take the risk of rehoming her to a 'pet' home. She has attacked all staff who get to close but she has no escape route in a cage. I'm sure she would be fine on a farm but we have filled all vacancies several times with past strays. Cat rescues are bursting with unwanted cats so if anybody has space for a feral, give them a chance.
jK it's worth keeping them locked in for 10-14 days so they get to know the sounds and smells of their surroundings and that they have a bed and regular meals so they know where home is. After that time if they are happy with the accommodation they will stay around. :cat:
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I think it's worth taking the risk with adult feral cats. They don't have the chance of a life otherwise.
We currently have an adult stray semi-feral who is not handled at work. Her destiny is not good come tomorrow as we cannot take the risk of rehoming her to a 'pet' home. She has attacked all staff who get to close but she has no escape route in a cage. I'm sure she would be fine on a farm but we have filled all vacancies several times with past strays. Cat rescues are bursting with unwanted cats so if anybody has space for a feral, give them a chance.
jK it's worth keeping them locked in for 10-14 days so they get to know the sounds and smells of their surroundings and that they have a bed and regular meals so they know where home is. After that time if they are happy with the accommodation they will stay around. :cat:
I'll second all that. There is a place for semi-wild/'working' animals :cat: :dog: not suitable for pet homes, often a farm or rural home :fc: . My stray was evil for the first 2 years but now she sits on my lap. And our neighbour has fed 3 ferals for 8 years without ever touching them - still cheaper than rat poison.
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Cats and sheep ? My boss had several ewes abort in late pregnancy las year. Following tests it was suspected to be cat poo related
As an aside to the main topic, I believe this is backed up by scientific research. There is sometimes something in cat and dog poo that can cause abortion in sheep and cattle. I rarely take my dogs in fields anyway but if I do i lift any messes for that very reason.
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As an aside to the main topic, I believe this is backed up by scientific research. There is sometimes something in cat and dog poo that can cause abortion in sheep and cattle. I rarely take my dogs in fields anyway but if I do i lift any messes for that very reason.
Toxoplasma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Transmission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Transmission)
Cats only shed for a short while after infection and the cysts in the faeces are only contagious after they have been sitting for a while. Cats are the only animals that shed the infectious cysts though pretty much all mammals can be infected.
With dogs it's echinoccocus (tapeworm) that makes thier faeces dangerous to sheep (and humans).
Dans
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Going to meet three wild cats tomorrow - sounds like she's wanting all three to come together, so I'd better get some organising doing.
So - I have two outbuildings available. One houses the goats, and is insulated and is much the warmer and drier of the two places to live. But cats and goats?
Decision made, in with the goats. As well as the (very big) cage they'll live in to begin with, I've built a high sleeping platform, so they can get out of the way if they want to.
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Cats and sheep ? My boss had several ewes abort in late pregnancy las year. Following tests it was suspected to be cat poo related
As an aside to the main topic, I believe this is backed up by scientific research. There is sometimes something in cat and dog poo that can cause abortion in sheep and cattle. I rarely take my dogs in fields anyway but if I do i lift any messes for that very reason.
this is my main concern. My house sits within a 100 acre field that houses the neighbours cattle and/or sheep. All of the surrounding area is cattle and sheep grazing.
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We don't keep cats for precisely that reason. Toxoplasmosis is just too big a risk. Also, we've done everything we can to encourage wild birds, bank voles and so on over the years. A cat, even a well fed one, will wipe out that hard work in a single season.
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I think even three cats would struggle to wipe out all the voles on my land!
Thought about the bird tables, think I'll wrap them in wire mesh so the birds can still get in but the cats can't.
And although I'll be adding to the cat population, there are feral cats around anyway, so I don't know that I'm bringing in toxoplasma where it wasn't before.
I wonder why no-one has created a vaccine against it?
What I do know is that I'd rather have cats sorting out the rat population about the place, than put down poison.
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I wonder why no-one has created a vaccine against it?
its really not always that easy lol.
re the birds-I would never have had a cat at the last place, even if the roads weren't a problem as the bird life was amazing. out here, there really isn't that much, its pretty bleak. I am worried about the toxo though, don't want to affect anyone's livelihood or obviously, upset the local land owner. hmmm.
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I wonder why no-one has created a vaccine against it.
It's really not always that easy, lol
It's an intra-cellular protozoan - why not easy?
ETA: The Moredun Foundation info says there's an effective vaccination to prevent toxoplasmosis in sheep. I wonder why you can't vaccinate your cats so they don't shed the stuff in the first place?
ETA2: It seems there are experimental vaccines that do the job in cats, but they aren't easy to scale up to commercial production. Plus they're live vaccines so not considered safe for use in people. Work continues to find something cheaper and easier to produce.
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i wasnt really aware of the risk of toxoplasmosis with dogs and cats ref - sheep.
my cats do however also poop close to the house, either in the garage amongst the sawdust or outside on the gravel. iv always cursed them for not pooping further away but maybe it was a blessing if their is a health risk.
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I wonder why no-one has created a vaccine against it.
It's really not always that easy, lol
It's an intra-cellular protozoan - why not easy?
ETA: The Moredun Foundation info says there's an effective vaccination to prevent toxoplasmosis in sheep. I wonder why you can't vaccinate your cats so they don't shed the stuff in the first place?
ETA2: It seems there are experimental vaccines that do the job in cats, but they aren't easy to scale up to commercial production. Plus they're live vaccines so not considered safe for use in people. Work continues to find something cheaper and easier to produce.
like I said, not always that easy.
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Generally the cats will only shed when they are first infected, after that it isn't really an issue.
Just googling and this came up on here a while back. May be worth a read.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=1391.0 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=1391.0)
Dans
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thanks Dans, will do a little research before I decide. The cottage is odd as it is literally a sort of island in a huge field-there's no other place for the cats to go if/when they go off of my property-which really isn't all that big.
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It's when they first get it that they are infectious, so a feral that has already spent some time out hunting should be well past the stage of shedding. There's some information here on when they shed. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/toxoplasmosis.cfm (http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/toxoplasmosis.cfm)
If I remember rightly they can start to shed again if they become immuosupressed, but a healthy cat, once it's been exposed and shed cysts, shouldn't shed again even though it will be continually infected through the prey it eats.
Dans
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If anyone is looking for some ferals I know a lovely lady that runs a small rescue in Cardiff & is always looking for homes for ferals & semi ferals.They are always neutered wormed etc she never asks for a donation just glad to get safe homes for them
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Three extremely wild cats installed in the pen in the goat byre.
No idea what I've got - whether male or female. Pretty, two black and white, one grey and white. They've all 'gone to ground' - it's going to take them a while to get used to all the new sounds and living companions (the chooks are often in there too during the day, idle beasts.
I can see a couple of black splodges which is someone's side, one is behind the sleeping boxes and one must be completely under the piece of duvet as I can see neither hide nor hair of him/her.
Yep, researching into toxoplasma, they only shed oocysts for a fortnight or so, during their first infection. So the chances are that these are over that, as they are feral captures and I'd guess are around a year old.
They'd been in the shelter for months apparently. So I'm feeling that even if they don't have long lives here, their lives will be happier for coming here.
Hope they settle in due course and become a bit friendly :cat:
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:fc: your trio of tigers settle and get to work JK
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well there is something to be said for indoor cats too. iv just found mouse poo in the kitchen cupboards for the first time so hoping the cats will sort it out for me. left the cupboard doors open.......but they are sat on the couch at the minute :roflanim: :roflanim:
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I keep directing my house cats towards the 'dog-room' cupboards which are full of sacks of dog food and mouse poo.
Said cats just roll over to have their tummies rubbed, and yawn :D
Outdoor cats haven't moved an inch in 8 hours. :o
I hope the poor scared babies come out overnight and eat at least.
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my feral cats were terrified when they first came here. they did calm down after a while. would come for their food but would hate being stroked, til the end.
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Good luck with them. My Gems was so scared of people that when we brought her home she would visibly shake if you just looked her way. She likes belly rubs now. Give them time and food is your friend. They soon learn where it comes from!
Dans
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Thanks all :cat:
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very interested in this thread, we are just in the process of moving to a new house with lots of outbuildings and rats! so are looking for a couple of outdoor cats to keep their numbers down, the decision i have to make is do i get a couple of adult cats from someone trying to rehome locally who are already spayed but are wild and i am worried that they will just run away when they are let out or do i get a couple of kittens from a local farm who are friendlier but will obviously need speyed?
Silkiechick - i am in mid wales so might be interested in what your friend has available to rehome?
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If they lived in the area previously then they very well may try and go back home.
Generally keep the cat in for a week or so, feeding it and changing the litter tray. Then expose it to the outdoors. With mine I always make sure the first trips outside are shortly before dinner time, as then they come back for the food (which by now they are used to). I tend to do that for a few days then give them free rein.
Dans
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I've been told to pen these ones for three weeks, and they don't come from the local area.
AJ, if you contact your local rescue place, they'll snap your hand off at the offer to rehome two barn cats, since feral cats are very hard to rehome. And they'll be neutered.
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[quote author=
Silkiechick - i am in mid wales so might be interested in what your friend has available to rehome?
just message me when you are ready I,ll pass you her number.You need to have a secure shed or outbuilding something to keep them in for 3/4 weeks with a litter tray & food & water available & then just leave them alone after then you can just leave the door open & they will venture out & usually stay put as long as you have food out for them.I have an open window in a shed with dry cat food in a dish & they come in & out for food
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Outdoor cats haven't moved an inch in 8 hours. :o
They will :cat: ;D :cat: - but not when you are looking :cat: :P :cat: !!!
Patience and time, patience and time :-* :cat: :-* :cat: :-* :cat:
Thanks for giving them a chance :thumbsup: .
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I went and had my cup of tea with them last night - just sat and chatted quietly. #1 and #2 came out a bit and listened.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/414ea9232f9e911a8c36eda4a2e1aca3_zpsa8b28e6c.jpg)
#3 watched me milk this morning. They are all very pretty, and also I can tell them apart.
They are eating and using the litter tray, when I'm not there. I think they're doing really well, bless them :cat:
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awww, sounds like good progress
Dans
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They'll be on your knee in no time :excited:
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They look just like my 2 black and white farm cats :eyelashes: , lucky little scallywags ;D .
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The one at the bottom looks just like my Max. :)
I'm sure they'll settle in very quickly. Food, warm duvet, someone talking to them quietly...they'll soon decide you're okay. Wait till they notice there's a nice warm kitchen too.
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pretty cats, congrats :)
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Just catching up (been away for a few days) - your wee ones look gorgeous jaykay! :love: :cat:
If the info about toxo only being shed for 2 weeks is right, then if everyone kept all new cats in quarantine for at least 2 weeks, would that do the trick? (And jaykay's doing 3 weeks, so hers would be fine.)
Our farm vet always advised to avoid kittens, as that was when the risk of shedding viable infectious agent was at its highest - so rehoming part-grown or adult cats would be ok.
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If the info about toxo only being shed for 2 weeks is right, then if everyone kept all new cats in quarantine for at least 2 weeks, would that do the trick? (And jaykay's doing 3 weeks, so hers would be fine.)
Our farm vet always advised to avoid kittens, as that was when the risk of shedding viable infectious agent was at its highest - so rehoming part-grown or adult cats would be ok.
That would work *if* they had been infected, so they would need to be exposed to the parasite first then kept in for a while. If they were new kittens and kept in then they would still get infected when they start going out and hunting and then be shedding for a few weeks.
Dans
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Well, we have moved into our new house and gained some new additions to the family. We have 2 lovely cats, one tabby and one tortoiseshell and white currently living in the shed whilst they get used to their new surroundings. They came from a home (via a small local rescue) where they were predominately outside cats but did come into a conservatory every night. They are very friendly, came already neutered and were absolutely free! Whilst looking for them I also came across 2 long haired Persian cross sisters who I couldn't resist and they have taken up residence next to the fire, they definitely are not outside cats - far too posh for that!! My question is - how long do I leave the outside cats in the shed for - they have been in 3 weeks now with a big window to look out of in order to get used to their new home, is it safe to let them out yet? Also the 2 indoor cats have been here 2 weeks, how long would you all suggest for them before I let them out to explore?
Jaykay - how are your new arrivals doing?
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Excellent :thumbsup:
I was told to keep mine penned for 4 weeks before letting them out. Are you able to keep them secure whilst letting them see outside, so they can work out how to get back to the shed?
Mine are doing well thank you, they appear morning and evening for feeding, and I sometimes see them about the place when I'm here during the day. They curl up in a heap in the hayshed on wet nights. The rat and mouse population has shrunk considerably :thumbsup:
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finally got our outdoor cat :) been here a couple of weeks-on his first evening out on sunday, he caught two mice in under an hour (he brought them to me ;D )
He's 3, was found straying and Lothian Cat Rescue took him in. After being given the run around by three different CPL branches, I can recommend Lothian-realistic people and a lovely place. He's pretty laid back, friendly and not at all bothered by our setter. We've named him Syrio (Game of Thrones fans will understand).
As an older cat thats been straying and hunting, he's been exposed to toxo in the past (and a friend tested him for me to check he's seroconverted) so the chances of him still shedding are extremely low to negligible.
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He's a beauty :love: :cat:
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He does look like a strapping chap. I saw the layout and wondered if it was LCR, I'm just down the road from them and volunteer there occasionally. Can certainly vouch for them being great people to get a cat from.
Dans
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Very nice. I'm impressed that he's so friendly he brings you the mice!
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Lucky Syrio :cat: and lucky you too ;D . Our outdoor pair leave their presents at the front door - shocks the visitors a bit though :roflanim:
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thankyou :) he's obviously been a pet at one point-he seems to be part cat and part dog as he comes to call and jumps up onto fence posts/counters etc seemingly on command. Was also out hunting on the rain yesterday morning so very impressed!
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We are looking for a couple of cats and initially tried the local CPL. After three emails I have given up with them. Zero response to any enquiry and we are now looking for a couple of kittens through Gumtree. Even with the initial neutering costs etc. it'll be cheaper than the CPL donations (if they bothered to respond) :innocent:
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RSPCA also rehome... advertise in various magazines with feral cats to rehome.
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I have found CPL very good. I don't have cats ( keep sight hounds) but called them a few years ago about a very poorly colony of feral cats. They went miles to provide traps, spaying, vaccinations all free of charge to me and I wasn't asked for a donation (though I gave one). Now I see only one or two little cats in the lanes, though I've see a stranger or two in the last few weeks so will keep an eye.
So, Marlin45, it may be better to telephone or visit your local CPL not email. Any animal you take on is going to cost you money, they have to be neutered, vaccinated and tested for FELV, it all costs, vets don't do it for nothing and, unlike the RSPCA all donations are spent on the cats welfare.
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Could try a local charity.
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I have found CPL very good. I don't have cats ( keep sight hounds) but called them a few years ago about a very poorly colony of feral cats. They went miles to provide traps, spaying, vaccinations all free of charge to me and I wasn't asked for a donation (though I gave one). Now I see only one or two little cats in the lanes, though I've see a stranger or two in the last few weeks so will keep an eye.
So, Marlin45, it may be better to telephone or visit your local CPL not email. Any animal you take on is going to cost you money, they have to be neutered, vaccinated and tested for FELV, it all costs, vets don't do it for nothing and, unlike the RSPCA all donations are spent on the cats welfare.
I agree on the RSPCA comment, not a group I deal with if I can avoid it but that's for another thread, and like dogs I have dealt with the Dogs Trust several times and donated for many years. I know where there money goes and agree with what they are trying to do.
Yep we have no problems with the costs but it does annoy me when organisations, charitable or otherwise, suggest means of communications....and don't ??? We may resort to the old string and bean can :thinking:
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Syrio has gone missing, we are both really bummed out-he is/was such a dude. He just wasn't there for breakfast yesterday morning. Have searched the local roads/verges and ditches, searched everywhere on site, trudged around the neighbouring sheep fields, alerted neighbours but there's no sign. Such a laid back cat and a brilliant mouser-remember now why I don't usually do cats.
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Syrio has gone missing, we are both really bummed out-he is/was such a dude. He just wasn't there for breakfast yesterday morning. Have searched the local roads/verges and ditches, searched everywhere on site, trudged around the neighbouring sheep fields, alerted neighbours but there's no sign. Such a laid back cat and a brilliant mouser-remember now why I don't usually do cats.
He may still turn up. One time, after having her for 3 years already, one of my cats went walk about for a week. My boy cat will, every couple of months or so, go away for 2 or 3 nights leaving me a wreck, but he turns up again.
Your boy may just be on a wander. Fingers crossed he comes back to you.
Dans
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thank you, I really hope so-it is foul up here atm so I hope he's skulking around the farm somewhere up the road out of the weather-I know he can feed himself and he's very cautious with cars and strangers (although will gallop full pelt across the gardens and jump up into my arms!).
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Yes outdoor cats can go missing for sometime in my experience, one important thing, check all out buildings that are shut....it's easy for them to go exploring when shed doors are open or even have a nap, next thing they are shut in. I actually have cat holes in all my out door sheds so that they don't get shut in and so that they keep rodents at bay.
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when my cats have gone missing, its because they have followed me to the tack room and got locked inside. they just cant resist an open door. they also make a bee-line for delivery vans, especially tescos :innocent: the driver did tell us sometimes they drive off with cats, who then jump out in a completely different area.
hopefully he will be back soon.
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he's not back yet :(
Shygirl, he has done the tack room thing before but I was carrying him when I locked it up on friday night-the other outbuilding is open fronted. There are lots of outbuildings on the neighbouring farm though and I am hoping he's holed up there out of the weather for now.
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:hug: hope he is home soon. Whether indoor or outdoor living, it must be a worry for you not knowing where he is.
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Could you ask your neighbour to just open the doors of his barns for a couple minutes? That tends to be all they need to make a dash out if they have been shut in somewhere.
Dans
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he's back :) I got a couple of texts from neighbours on monday saying they'd seen him at a farm further away (although not that far as crow flies) on sunday. He's have to cross a burn to get there so maybe the weather caught him out. he turned up yesterday morning demanding food (I've been to Mull for work).very pleased he's back, thanks for all your encouraging words :thumbsup:
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Great news :cat:
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Glad he is back.
Our cat has disappeared for 3 or 4 days a couple of times recently, timing his return just as we are starting to get worried and demanding his favourite food as a treat that we 'owe' him as we are so glad to see him back.
I have my suspicions that he is cynically manipulating us by spending a couple of days in a neighbours house (probably eating their food and sleeping infront of their fire) until we start to worry about him starving and freezing in the rain so that he can manipulate us into giving him treats when he gets home!
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Very glad to hear that the wanderer has returned.
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:relief: . He got you going though ;) . I hate when ours go walkabout, I'm glad he made it home.
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:relief: . He got you going though ;) . I hate when ours go walkabout, I'm glad he made it home.
yes he did (and thanks :) )! last cat I had that broke his routine was killed in a RTA so I need to learn not to panic. He's very wary of cars and is now microchipped at least, which he wasn't before we got him. He's stuck very close to home this week as far as I can tell-he's a little sneezy and eating us out of house and home.
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I have a farm cat who adopted us, i have no idea who she belongs to but she is an excellent mouser and feeds herself, we do feed her milk every time she asks for it though, she tells us when she's hungry. :)
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I have a semi feral cat, who lives outside all the time. He seems to enjoy being outdoors although he does like to get cuddles to but strictly only on his terms. He is a good mouser but we also feed him as well.
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I have seen this cat eat three mice within 90 mins, 2 before his dinner and one after! feeding him does not seem to affect his want to hunt, he's a very good mouser :)
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I have seen this cat eat three mice within 90 mins, 2 before his dinner and one after! feeding him does not seem to affect his want to hunt, he's a very good mouser :)
Our boy is the same. Still comes home for food despite eating part of his rabbit catch half an hour earlier. Or kills a couple of mice or rats for later. If the hunt instint is there they will kill. Tinned food is 75-80% water so they aren't getting a large meal, merely well hydrated. Cats are interesting creatures. I'd love to know their thoughts :thinking: :cat:
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how often do you tapeworm your hunting cats? mine are getting re-infected a lot but are also hunting daily.
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every two months-he was done three weeks ago. He is only fed wet food though-think I will look for one with a better protein content.
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I worm monthly during high killing times of summer.
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yes he did (and thanks :) )! last cat I had that broke his routine was killed in a RTA so I need to learn not to panic. He's very wary of cars and is now microchipped at least, which he wasn't before we got him. He's stuck very close to home this week as far as I can tell-he's a little sneezy and eating us out of house and home.
Check with your local authority about if they scan for chips. We microchipped ours, was told by a neighbour that someone had seen a cat meeting his description who had been a RTA victim and taken by council. We thought it couldn't be him as we didn't get called. Called the council, they don't scan cats. Mine now all wear little tags with our details.
Very glad he is back with you. Cats are so rewarding, I think the worry they put us through is the cost.
Dans
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He is only fed wet food though-think I will look for one with a better protein content.
If he's hunting and eating his kills, I doubt if he'll need more additional protein than is in the tinned food ;) Cats have a high-protein diet and are therefore prone to kidney problems in later life, I've been told, so it's best not to give them too much extra protein, as long as they're getting enough.
Eating their kills is a great way of keeping their teeth and gums healthy too ;). The only cat of mine that had gum problems was the one that was too impatient to be a good hunter. ;) Even though I fed him chunks of raw meat (that he had to chew) and dog biscuits (that he had to crunch), he still didn't have such good gums as the others, who hunted.
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He is only fed wet food though-think I will look for one with a better protein content.
If he's hunting and eating his kills, I doubt if he'll need more additional protein than is in the tinned food ;) Cats have a high-protein diet and are therefore prone to kidney problems in later life, I've been told, so it's best not to give them too much extra protein, as long as they're getting enough.
good point :D but he's on really cheap food mostly (he'll eat anything) and I feel a bit guilty about it when you see whats actually in it, and I'll not feed dry food. His teeth are in excellent condition according to vet-they certainly are very long and pointy..
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Eating their kills is a great way of keeping their teeth and gums healthy too ;). The only cat of mine that had gum problems was the one that was too impatient to be a good hunter. ;) Even though I fed him chunks of raw meat (that he had to chew) and dog biscuits (that he had to crunch), he still didn't have such good gums as the others, who hunted.
When I volunteered at a vet surgery the vet was very much in favour of raw food for healthy teeth and gums. She explained to me that a combination of the different textures from raw skin, flesh and bone, gave the best clean than any on their own, but that raw bones were particularly good.
My lot are certainly hunting (4 cats, and getting 3 mice in a day some days), they've got as far as killing and skinning but not to the eating *sigh*
Dans
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mine scoff a lot of mice but bring them inside to eat. I usually have some remains on my bath mat every morning...how pleasant.