out cat

[jo61]

There's an outdoor cat in my neiborhood who's been outside for 15 years.  Her name is baba and she's a calaco.
The name died that feed her, so another neighbor and myself feed her.  She lives on his roof.

The cat and I became attached.  she's let's me pet her and she wait's for me.  I sit on the ground and she runs to sit on my lap.  I feel in love with her.  Now I will be moving and I want to take her with.  Can she become an indoor cat after living outside for 15 years.

Also I have 2 dogs that would not be friendly,  I would have to keep them seperated,  What should I do.  I don't want to leave her.

Jo61

[meggers570]

i had one that adopted me! the cat had been in the neighborhood for awhile, and i had taken to putting out food with some wormer in it. i was worried that with how skinny it was it might have worms. well one day it stopped to let me pet it. a few days later it came looking for me. the screen door was broken at the time as the dog had been too excited and had burst through the screen! the cat just walked right into the house through that spot in the screen and wandered into the living room for me to pet it. weirdest thing. after that it was my new cat. it just decided i was it's person! the crazy cat slept infront of my bedroom door and hissed at anyone that came down the hall to my room. very funy really.  i took it to the vet and got it cleaned up gave it some flea medication, and a good bath. no fuss over any of this! a week or so later the cat's fur started to get it's sheen back, and it started to look healthy. once it had been nursed to good health i had to take it to an adoption place as i really did not have the space for it, and my other cat was not too terribly fond of it. the other cat unfortunately was with me for far longer. i did get an update on the one that adopted me. they said he was adopted by another family, and his health was great from my efforts.

[Canuckchick]

how will you keep her separate from the dogs?

[lindasp62]

Yes, great idea for jo61.  Why didn't I think of that?!?!!? generally, I think it is safer for cats to be indoors, especially as this cat is getting up there in age, but I also have experience with barn cats, and 2 "neighborhood" cats.  I think as long as there is a community of people to look after these feral/outdoor cats, try to get them fixed, provide food and shelter, etc, it can work out very well for them to be outdoor cats.  

jo61...I hope the best for your kitty.......I have a weak spot for calico cats!!  :-)

[jo61]

That's a great idea.  I think that is a much better idea to test the waters.

[Ghilly]

Why not try bringing her into your house now, before you move, to see how she will adjust to being an indoor kitty?  I just adopted another one last week, and he had been an outdoor-only cat, but since he has been in my house he doesn't even want to look out the windows!  All he wants to do is sleep on the bed in the air conditioning!  LOL

If you bring her in and she does OK with you in the house, then take her with you.  I wouldn't move and then put her outside at your new house because she might try to find her way back to her old neighborhood, and be hurt or killed in the process.  Cats should not be allowed to run loose outdoors anyway, in my opinion.  It is dangerous for them and they can end up getting into trouble with other animals, cars, and the many, many people in this world who don't like cats.  They are much safer in the house.

Ghilly

[jo61]

The neighbor that the cat lives on there roof will and does feed the cat with me.  He wants me also to take the cat because he see's what a bond she has with me.

I will not do anything to hurt my baba.  I just know she loves and waits for me..

jo61  

[lindasp62]

Given that the cat has been outside for 15 years, and that she is probabbly older than 15 anyway, I really think a huge move would totally un-do her.  Cats are very terrritorial and sometimes don't adjust well to new surroundings....especially if they are older.  And, especially since you would have to keep her separated from the dogs, etc. I think it would be more fair for her to leave her providing you can line up other neighbors who would be willing to take the responsibility to look after her and feed her.  Have you spoken with the other nieghbor who also feeds her?  Or with others in your neighborhood?  I honestly think that would be the best option for the kitty....