Keeping a cat outside

[notasausage]

Is it realistic to to have a cat that lives outside but is still friendly? We live rurally with plenty of outside space and a warm dry outbuilding. I've never had a cat before as always had dogs but am really keen to have one as are the DC. Would a kitten settle to this lifestyle or should I re home an older cat? DH is allergic hence need for it to live outside.

Where in the country are you? Celia Hammond Animal Trust often has feral cats looking for outdoor homes with shelter and food. Obviously they won't be friendly like a pet cat but over time some do get friendlier.

Definitely don't get a kitten though!

But why wouldnt you want it in the house?.

We are in Scotland

Yes homes are needed for feral cats and your space sounds fine as long as you can feed and water them and provide veterinary care when needed. Not sure if it's best to keep them in pairs or not. Contact your local rescue for advice.

Keeping a feral cat outside would be fine, as long as they had adequate shelter.

Keeping a domesticated cat, especially an older one, outside would just be cruel.

If someone in your family is allergic, then maybe a cat is not the right pet for your family.

Exactly what SurburbanRhonda said. Feral cats always need homes, but you would need at least two really for company for each other.

What if the cat decides it want to be an indoor cat? what about when it's old or sick?. Would you leave an ill animal in an outbuilding?.

I don't think you should be considering having a kitten/cat in your circumstances.

I know someone who has two cats that live outside. They got them as kittens from a farm and they were effectively semi feral. They lived inside for about the first year but were always happier outside and now they hardly ever come in. They come in to the kitchen to eat and they occasionally let the kids play with them when they are in the garden but as far as I know they sleep in the summerhouse, which has a cat flap in it. They are amazingly healthy looking animals and are probably perfectly happy but I don't think the family get an awful lot back from them. If you want to rehome some feral cats for altruistic reasons then great but if you want an actual pet then I think you would be disappointed. If you want an animal that can be kept outside but you can still interact with in some way then maybe consider a rabbit instead?

A rabbit is definitely not the right pet for small children.

Depending on the severity of your DH allergy you might think about a Siberian cat. They are supposed to be much more tolerable to allergy sufferers. We have just acquired one who gives DH no trouble. He also has a wonderfully friendly temperament which I understand is quite usual for the breed, and makes him very happy to receive affection from the kids (9 and 7). Most breeders will offer an 'allergy sitting' where you can cuddle a cat for a couple of hours, and get an idea of whether you react.

My family has tamed a few ferals over the years. I think the difficulty may be that either they are happy to live outside, but you won't get near them, or they will decide they're coming in which will give you the allergy problem.

How does Poltercat fake a sore eye?.

Fake sore paw is awesome.

Won't it be terribly cold for them in winter if they stay out all the time.....?

Polter - brilliant pic! Do you have to give his paw a rub so that he puts it down again?

Someone round here must think they're doing that. I
n reality, the cat is in our home a lot of the day, and in our garage during the night in a box with a cushion.

PolterCat is so cool

You can get petal cleanse to put on cats for allergy's