outdoor only cat/kitten??? advise please

[mklanch]

hi,
about 2 years ago i brought a ragdoll kitten. i adored this kitten with all my heart, but my husband found out he was very allergic to cats! after 6 weeks of trying everything our doctor told us our only option was to rehome the kitten or have him as an outdoor only cat. we chose to rehome as he was far to friendly and trusting to be an outdoor cat.
it was one of the most heart breaking things i have had to do as i had a real connection to this cat.
since then we have moved to a bungalow with 2 acres where i am running my smallholding. we have some brick outbuildings and it got me thinking that perhaps i can get an outdoor cat. i would insulate the outbuilding and the cat would get alot of attention as i'm outside all the time anyway.
i have spoke to my husband and he is fine with this, as he knows as long as he doesn't touch the cat his allergies will be fine.
the problem is i do not want a feral cat. i have 2 children (10 and 13).
i would like to hear peoples views on this.
has anyone got a friendly outdoor only cat? etc
thank you

Please don’t get a kitten and leave it outside. Most cat shelters have ferals or semi ferals and it’s lovely giving such cats a home. By the sounds of your hubby’s allergy, having a cat cuddling into you would mean you’d have to disrobe and shower before you came into the house - not worth the risk. Dealing with an allergy is very debilitating and it’s not fair on him. Get some ferals. You sound like you’ve the perfect set up for them

I just can’t see the point of getting a cat that will not be allowed in your home. As your dh is so allergic, he may well also react just by you carrying cat fur on your clothing into the home.
Get a different pet - dog, rabbit, bird. Not a cat though.

Don't be so bloody stupid!!! Just...NO 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

All the cats in this photo were originally feral. Some are now properly tame and friendly, some are now more or less tame, and some are still properly feral. But I bet you can't tell which are which. Feral cats are still cute, lovely cats with individual personalities. And if they eventually start to trust you the satisfaction you feel is incredible.

@thecatneuterer

All the cats in this photo were originally feral. Some are now properly tame and friendly, some are now more or less tame, and some are still properly feral. But I bet you can't tell which are which. Feral cats are still cute, lovely cats with individual personalities. And if they eventually start to trust you the satisfaction you feel is incredible.

❤️

What are those pod beds you've got stacked please?

@Yarnivore www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Not-Disturb-Cat-Donut/dp/B009YXCPUM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=PQFGITV1D4HU&keywords=cat+pod+bed+plastic&sprefix=cat+pod+be%2Caps%2C445&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1644527329&sr=8-6

There you go. I stick them together with double sided velcro

Why not chat to your local rescue place and describe what you've said here and then when the right animal comes along they can let you know. There are cats for whom this set up would suit really well.

@Soontobe60

I just can’t see the point of getting a cat that will not be allowed in your home. As your dh is so allergic, he may well also react just by you carrying cat fur on your clothing into the home. Get a different pet - dog, rabbit, bird. Not a cat though.

^ this

I was a horsey teenager & my nan (who I lived with part of the time) was allergic.
My grandad collected me from the stables a couple of times, I had to change clothes before getting in the car, double bag everything & have a shower as soon as I got in.

How would you manage that with a cat who wants to rub round round your legs or sit on your lap?

There are plenty of different pets that could be an option; why not investigate those?

In your shoes I would get a couple of young semi feral cats, make an outbuilding really comfy for them and hope that at least one turns out to secretly love people.

@TopCatsTopHat

Why not chat to your local rescue place and describe what you've said here and then when the right animal comes along they can let you know. There are cats for whom this set up would suit really well.

Yes, and the right cat will be a semi feral one, which the OP has said she doesn't want.

[quote thecatneuterer]@Yarnivore ]]

There you go. I stick them together with double sided velcro[/quote]
Thank you, out of stock but I'll keep an eye out now I know they exist.

This is a classic example of someone not considering the welfare of the animal.

This lady likes to idea of a pet cat. She doesn’t care that the lifestyle she can offer would only suit a certain type of cat.

Please don't get a kitten and make it sleep outdoors on its own, it would be cruel. Look for an older feral cat that is used to living outdoors and would be pleased to have a barn to sleep in.

My ex was extremely allergic to cats and was on a prescribed high dose of antihistamine. I still could not touch a cat and then go anywhere near him because the cat 'dander' was on me.

If your

Pressed post too soon!

@Floralnomad

Have you considered a Sphynx cat for indoors as your husband may be able to tolerate one of them ( with anti histamines ) .

Absolutely not true, it's not the hair that causes the allergies.

If your DH is that allergic he will react to the fur and dander and spit on your clothes and hands from where you've fussed the cat.

And what happens when the cat gets sick or needs surgery and has to be inside to recover?

What happens when it's old and blind and deaf and needs to be indoors for its own safety?

What about when it needs its annual vaccinations and has to travel in your car?

You need a different pet. It's not fair on your husband otherwise.

@Undecicive , I know , it’s the protein that causes most allergies but Sphynx cats shed less protein than a usual hairy moggy so may be more tolerable .

I don't think anyone who lives in a house (as opposed to a flat) should have a sphynx. (Of course I'm opposed to all breeding of pedigrees but, leaving that aside), sphynx's die from hypothermia outside. And it's almost impossible to keep a cat inside if you live in a house - doors and windows will be open, particularly in summer. And cats that go outside can get lost. Cats often go missing for a few days. Generally they just turn up again. If a sphynx goes missing, unless it's in the middle of a heatwave, then it won't be coming back alive.

Catneuterer, I have indoors only cats in the house and they don't go outside. The windows and doors are obiously never left open. This is what the 'flat cat' system was designed food but safety chains can also be used.

@Undecicive Yes of course it is possible, but it's bloody difficult and I would go as far as to say impossible if you have a back door to a garden and children.

I have both those, the children were 9 & 10 when I got the cats.

I wouldn't bother getting a pet you would hardly see. It's not much of a life for it. As others have said maybe you could adopt a cat that is already feral. Still doesn't solve the DH issue.

Another option might be to find a cat rescue and volunteer there, so you get your fix of cats without bringing one home? My local one has some volunteers who spend time socialising cats and kittens, which is both useful and fun!

thank you for all your replies. my main concern with a feral cat was that it wouldn't be happy with kids running around and me being outside all the time as i thought generally they don't like human contact to much.
i will look into this further and have a look at some rescues. (i'm Lincolnshire based)
i do however think that perhaps i have to give up the idea of having a cat.