I have been taking care of a feral cat for the past 10 years. He was an older cat when his colony was disbanded and he first came to my yard. I got him neutered and I have given him some other medical attention through the years, but overall he has kept his independence. However, he has become fond of me.
For three of the past four winters, he has slept in my barn in a feral cat shelter. His health started to go downhill this past fall so I moved him down to my cellar for the winter. He seemed very relieved to be out of the cold and to have a warmer place to live. I have shelters, beds, and a heated house down there and although it is not finished off, it does have a concrete floor and painted rock walls. There is a window in the cellar so he gets more than artificial light.
He is getting very frail and keeps losing teeth, but he still eats three times a day and drinks a lot of water. I think his kidneys may be going due to his age. Anyway, spring is here and I don’t know if I should make him go outside when he seems so happy in the cellar. I know when he wants to go out because he showed me when he had to spend a whole winter in the barn because we had so much snow I could not shovel him out (I am disabled).
I have asked questions of local shelters and humane societies, but have been basically left to fend for myself as they are overloaded with cats. I am vegan and I am not comfortable with euthanasia although I had a home euthanasia for one of my indoor cats who had cancer. I took care of him with pain management and the help of my vet but relieved him when his pain was no longer controlled and he was ready to go. I don’t think this old fellow I have now is ready to go although I keep telling him it is OK. I am hoping that he will die naturally.
Can anyone help me with a bit of advice?
Thank you.
For three of the past four winters, he has slept in my barn in a feral cat shelter. His health started to go downhill this past fall so I moved him down to my cellar for the winter. He seemed very relieved to be out of the cold and to have a warmer place to live. I have shelters, beds, and a heated house down there and although it is not finished off, it does have a concrete floor and painted rock walls. There is a window in the cellar so he gets more than artificial light.
He is getting very frail and keeps losing teeth, but he still eats three times a day and drinks a lot of water. I think his kidneys may be going due to his age. Anyway, spring is here and I don’t know if I should make him go outside when he seems so happy in the cellar. I know when he wants to go out because he showed me when he had to spend a whole winter in the barn because we had so much snow I could not shovel him out (I am disabled).
I have asked questions of local shelters and humane societies, but have been basically left to fend for myself as they are overloaded with cats. I am vegan and I am not comfortable with euthanasia although I had a home euthanasia for one of my indoor cats who had cancer. I took care of him with pain management and the help of my vet but relieved him when his pain was no longer controlled and he was ready to go. I don’t think this old fellow I have now is ready to go although I keep telling him it is OK. I am hoping that he will die naturally.
Can anyone help me with a bit of advice?
Thank you.
