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thanks for the advice, I am now handling the cat on a regular basis but I still can't let it in. If I hold the cat too long, my eyes get real red and swell. I took it to the vet and I got to get the cat a number of shot which will cost me a few hundred dollars. Jeez, I never thought taking in an wild cat would cost me so much.

I personally dont understand why people claim "allergies" dont allow them to keep pets.

You might not want to generalize too much. As your allergist probably let you know there is levels 1 to 4 to describe your level of reaction as well as different kinds of reactions ranging from a simple sniffly nose to an anaphylactic reaction (extremely rare).

I have an anaphylactic reaction to several known substances and drugs. Nothing to be taken lightly.

In my case I am allergic to cats but only a level 3 allergy, which since it is non-life threatening, I don't even hesitate to interact with them. Slept with one last weekend.

Just making the point that no ones allergies should ever be discounted and medication does not help all allergy sufferers.

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Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

again a big thanks to everyone who offered advise. I have decided to keep the cat and make it an outdoor cat. If it ever gets too cold outside, I have made arrangements to bring it indoors for a night or two.
Bathing the cat has done wonders for my allergies. I can actually play with the kitty for a hile before my eyes swell. I still don't see how it would be possible for the cat to live indoors with me and I really don't think it cares to.
I too am big into the environment, but I don't have to worry about feral cats breeding out of control in this case. The cat is surrounded by almost 150 acres of forrest and if there are cats thrown out in the area, I think they will be eaten by coyotes, hawks, etc. This one is sticking right by the house and has growns a lot since I had him. He was literally skin and bones and now he is getting a bit of a kitty belly. We feed it well but it also eats large insects (moths, grasshopers, crickets).
I contacted the former owner of the house and word has it that they were renting the house to a eccentric couple and that the reason she sold it was because the couple would say they would do some renovation on the house (in exchage for lower rent). They would get started and never finished. She said with this attitude she would not be suprised if they bought the kitten and decided against taking care of it after they bought it. They told her at one point they wanted cats but were worried that their dogs would not accept them. This makes some sense, there are a few other odd stories about this couple and the house that I currently live in but that would make for some long stories. Sorry for the ramble and thanks again.

we have a severe "feral" cat problem around here. they have eliminated all of the quails, the majority of the larger lizards, and scared away 100% of the roadrunners. what do outdoor cats supplement their human supplied kitty chow with? do humans' pets have a right to eliminate native species because their owners believe they should be kept outdoors?

what galls me is when a coyote pack consumes an outdoor pet cat, and the owner blames everyone but themselves for their pets death.

granted, depending on where you live, an outdoor cat may not have a severe ecological impact. however, where i live, cats have almost become an introduced nuisance species.

show responsibility and consider any negative aspects prior to keeping a cat outdoors. and before anyone flames me, i am not anti-cat. i am just of the opinion that thay should be kept iindoors.

Last edited by mariosim at 16-Oct-2004 01:43

HI there,
I know exactly your situation! This happened to me and my boyfriend as well. A little orange cat started coming round our old place. This will be 2 years ago christmas. We started putting out food for him, and after about 3 months, he started letting us pet him. Well, when we moved, we managed to catch him, and took him with us. We had him get his shots, and kept him inside for around 3 months to get used to us. He has been with us now for a whole year.
I However, though also being highly allergic, DO NOT believe in having INDOOR cats. In my Experience with many many indoor cats, they have warped personalities and never develop proper "Cattitudes". If you live in a highrise in a city, thats ok, but if you live in a rural place, why not let them out to be normal, well adjusted, happy indoor/outdoor cats??
Just pay the 100 bucks and get em spayed or neutered.
I personally dont understand why people claim "allergies" dont allow them to keep pets. Both I and my Boyfriend are allergic to all animals, dust, pollen , etc, and we happily keep 2 cats and a dog. We just keep on taking them allergy pills, and brush the animals regularly and all is well! And our animals all have longer fluffy fur!


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Well, it seems I know some people on this thread...hi guys...remember me...I'm the crazy lady with 7 cats...all indoor/outdoor cats!

Indoor cats live longer, happier lives.

Sorry, but I must take exception to that statement. One of my Magnificant Seven is 17, one is 15, one is 13, and one is 12...then we have the three spring chicks...oops...wrong critters! My cats are all indoor/outdoor (via a pet door) cats; however, I do live far out in the country away from traffic. In the past 10 years or so since we have been living here, I have only lost one 10 year old cat to rattlesnake bite, one 19 year old persian to diabetes and one 14 year old to bone marrow cancer.

People are not allergic to cats...we are allergic to an enzyme that is in their saliva...which they spread about freely because they are always busy grooming. If you bathe your cat at least once a week (or have someone bathe it for you,) that will cut down on the build up of cat spit on their pretty fur. That will help with your allergies, along with a Benadryl or two...if you want to keep the little monster in the house that is. I am also allergic to cat spit, from 5 of my cats, but not the other two...go figure! The ones that 'take my breath away', I just keep out of my face.

Now, in order to get Kitty, Kitty to become comfortable with its new little house, the next time you hold it, stroke it with, or carefully wrap, a small hand towel or washcloth about its body and especially swipe the towel along the sides of its head and under its chin near its little scent glands. Before you rub Kitty, Kitty with the towel (remembering that allergy thing) swipe it on your hands and arms a bit (to get your scent on it). Tuck that newly scented towel into the Kitty, Kitty house and Kitty, Kitty will adapt much faster because it smells familiar.

Now I have to go add more water to one of my betta bowls, cause Kitty Tom just drank about half of it! I hate cats!

To all of you who know me and love me I'll try to hang about more. I'm on oxygen 24/7 and I really haven't felt like hanging out on FP, picking fights, rescuing dragons, and slaying fair maidens!

Sorry to have hi-jacked the thread!

He is allergic, he CAN'T let it in.

I am an indoor only person, but i'd rather it was looked after outdoors than left to its own devices.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

thanks for the advice, I am now handling the cat on a regular basis but I still can't let it in. If I hold the cat too long, my eyes get real red and swell. I took it to the vet and I got to get the cat a number of shot which will cost me a few hundred dollars. Jeez, I never thought taking in an wild cat would cost me so much.

So are you keeping the cat? If so, please PLEASE make it an indoor only cat (I know this is contreversial).

Indoor cats live longer, happier lives.

I, myself just took in a 2 year old farm cat, and she's happier here than on the farm. Just look in her eyes, and you'll know.

Now, if you aren't going to keep the cat, please find a no-kill shelter to put it in.

Thank you for careing. Look in your phone book for friends of animals. They will sometimes help people with the cost of shots etc.

Hello,
I recently moved to a house that is surrounded by a forrest. Even though I have only moved a few miles from where I used to live, I have seen all sorts of wildlife that I have never seen before.
About 3 weeks ago I was working in the yard and heard this little meow. It was a tiny kitten. I tried to approach it but it ran away, I started feeding it and it would eat when I was not around. After about a week, I was able to pet it, it was famished skin and bone but I could tell that my feeding it was plumping it up. The cat is still 'wild' but as the summer ends and the nights get cooler, I have noticed him coming closer to the house. Last night we had our first 'frost' warning, it was not that cold but it was bad for the plants. The cat was 'knocking' on the doors and windows of the house. He wanted to come in. I cannot let him in because I am allergic. I thought cats could hang outside in the winter. Other animals do it and this cat is a FUR BALL. I bought him a house but he is scared of it and will not go in. Does anyone have experience dealing with something like this? Does anyone here have outdoor cats? Can they survive the winter? I always thought they could but after seeing my cat trying to come in last night, I don't know. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance

if you do bring the cat in, dont forget to take it to the vet. it will almost certainly have worms if it's been living wild and these'll need to be dealt with, as well as vaccinations and a general checkup

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

My cat is an inside cat...but if it has to be outside, move the "cat house closer to your house so it might get some heat, add a couple of cheap blankets to it...honestly if you can bring him in (unless you are deathly afraid) you might need to vaccume more often, and all...or at least if you have one let him move into the garage first, so there is some shelter, but don't forget a "cat/dog bed" or a couple of blankets...Best of look with your allergies...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Slowly, slowly move the food closer to your house.

Perhaps catch the kitten in a HavaHeart trap (non-deadly) and bring it to a non-kill shleter where they can fix 'em up, and get it adopted to a nice family.

I, myself, am in the process of reporting a farm with neglected cats before winter. As much as some shelter may help the animal, a small, malnourished, prehaps ILL cat will certainly die over the winter months.

If the cat has shelter, you should be fine.

As they others said, moving the food closer will help. It probably looks like a cage, cats are wary of enclosed areas. They like them, but they arent dumb, and they are aware that they could be trapped in there if you or a wild animal chooses to attack.



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

also, your allergies will go down after you've been around cats for long enough (unless you're *deathly* allergic anyway ) if you are careful about not touching your face after touching the cat you might even survive winter

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I agree with Tim... start putting the food closer and closer to the house. As he gets used to it you can put it in the house.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Cats are very resourceful creatures, and will find shelter when time comes for it. Be it under your porch, a neighbors garage, something.. it will find a place to stay. As long as you leave food out for it (put the food in the little house, maybe it will lure it in) it will be fine