I have 4 indoor cats. 100% indoors, never go outside.
I also care for a feral that lives in my back yard. This cat is 100% feral, but I've been caring for him (food, water, shelter) for almost a year now. He never comes inside.
One of my indoor cats, my oldest (13 year old) is leash trained and I used to take him out on walks a few years ago. However, since I've been caring for the feral that lives in my back yard (and some of his friends too come over for snacks) I've been afraid to take any of my indoor cats outside.
I used to volunteer at a local shelter and learned how diseases are passed mainly from cat hair and possibly from their waste (litter). So I'm scared that my indoor cats could catch some sort of disease from being so close to where the feral lives so I never take them outside anymore on the leash.
The feral is scared of people, and I'm not worried about him attacking my cats, he'll run away if I go out there. I'm only worried my indoor cats could catch some disease or get sick from whatever the feral(s) may carry.
One feral basically lives in my back yard, and 3 others frequently visit just for food.
Am I just paranoid? Or is this a valid concern? I also don't want to open my windows in the back because I'm worried the cats could come into contact through the screen and pass diseases or whatever...
Here are some pictures.
Everyone likes pictures.
Here is my yard and the cat that now lives back there.
The insulated shelter I built him for cold nights (not THAT cold here in Atlanta)
One of his buddies over for lunch,.. while he keeps watch on the fence
My oldest indoor cat on his leash before the other cat(s) moved into my back yard..
The rest of my indoor cats... First are the kittens (Maine Coons, 8 months old)
And my other indoor kitty we adopted from the shelter I used to volunteer at.
I also care for a feral that lives in my back yard. This cat is 100% feral, but I've been caring for him (food, water, shelter) for almost a year now. He never comes inside.
One of my indoor cats, my oldest (13 year old) is leash trained and I used to take him out on walks a few years ago. However, since I've been caring for the feral that lives in my back yard (and some of his friends too come over for snacks) I've been afraid to take any of my indoor cats outside.
I used to volunteer at a local shelter and learned how diseases are passed mainly from cat hair and possibly from their waste (litter). So I'm scared that my indoor cats could catch some sort of disease from being so close to where the feral lives so I never take them outside anymore on the leash.
The feral is scared of people, and I'm not worried about him attacking my cats, he'll run away if I go out there. I'm only worried my indoor cats could catch some disease or get sick from whatever the feral(s) may carry.
One feral basically lives in my back yard, and 3 others frequently visit just for food.
Am I just paranoid? Or is this a valid concern? I also don't want to open my windows in the back because I'm worried the cats could come into contact through the screen and pass diseases or whatever...
Here are some pictures.
Here is my yard and the cat that now lives back there.
The insulated shelter I built him for cold nights (not THAT cold here in Atlanta)
One of his buddies over for lunch,.. while he keeps watch on the fence
My oldest indoor cat on his leash before the other cat(s) moved into my back yard..
The rest of my indoor cats... First are the kittens (Maine Coons, 8 months old)
And my other indoor kitty we adopted from the shelter I used to volunteer at.