Hello -
I am looking to set up some outside shelter for a cat that I have been feeding for a while now. Normally I would trap the cat but I have no place to put him and I feel terrible saying that. If I trap him and he's feral I won't put him back outside, that doesn't feel right to me, I would want to give him a chance to see if he can come around to us... I have 9 cats and a dog - 4 of the cats are ferals of varying degrees. One feral has his own bedroom, I trapped him in my back yard - it's been just over a year and he has come so far (I can pat him and he's being introduced to the other cats very slowly). I also have another I trapped in my back yard and neutered and is in my basement - he is FIV positive, I'm trying to find a home for him because he's friendly but we're working on his manners. My kids share a room because we needed the space for the cats we've taken in over the years. I will trap the cat at some point but he hasn't been interested in eating in the trap (even at the end) yet. So, I'm trying to do the best I can and I worry that he will be out in the winter.
I was hoping that someone could offer some advice on what to do and how to set it up. I have a relatively open back yard and it's not fenced in yet, the plan is to fence it next spring. I could put the house in the woods but there are coyotes back there (I've seen them). I'm trying to put it somewhere that's still on my property but where there isn't a lot of traffic with the dog or neighbors walking by (even several feet away). I was thinking I could put it towards the side of my house and put some barriers / privacy fence or rain barrels around it so it would seem a bit more tucked away. Or, I could tuck it behind my small shed but there's a groundhog that's laid claim the beneath the shed so I wasn't sure if they would be happy being neighbors. And my neighbors on that side walk their dogs within about 6 feet on occasion. I was also worried I would scare him if we went in there for tools or the snowblower.
I was looking at the feralvilla cat house. It's kind of expensive once I tack on the shipping but those seem to be a good option. Any suggestions or advice would be great.
Thank you,
Amanda
I am looking to set up some outside shelter for a cat that I have been feeding for a while now. Normally I would trap the cat but I have no place to put him and I feel terrible saying that. If I trap him and he's feral I won't put him back outside, that doesn't feel right to me, I would want to give him a chance to see if he can come around to us... I have 9 cats and a dog - 4 of the cats are ferals of varying degrees. One feral has his own bedroom, I trapped him in my back yard - it's been just over a year and he has come so far (I can pat him and he's being introduced to the other cats very slowly). I also have another I trapped in my back yard and neutered and is in my basement - he is FIV positive, I'm trying to find a home for him because he's friendly but we're working on his manners. My kids share a room because we needed the space for the cats we've taken in over the years. I will trap the cat at some point but he hasn't been interested in eating in the trap (even at the end) yet. So, I'm trying to do the best I can and I worry that he will be out in the winter.
I was hoping that someone could offer some advice on what to do and how to set it up. I have a relatively open back yard and it's not fenced in yet, the plan is to fence it next spring. I could put the house in the woods but there are coyotes back there (I've seen them). I'm trying to put it somewhere that's still on my property but where there isn't a lot of traffic with the dog or neighbors walking by (even several feet away). I was thinking I could put it towards the side of my house and put some barriers / privacy fence or rain barrels around it so it would seem a bit more tucked away. Or, I could tuck it behind my small shed but there's a groundhog that's laid claim the beneath the shed so I wasn't sure if they would be happy being neighbors. And my neighbors on that side walk their dogs within about 6 feet on occasion. I was also worried I would scare him if we went in there for tools or the snowblower.
I was looking at the feralvilla cat house. It's kind of expensive once I tack on the shipping but those seem to be a good option. Any suggestions or advice would be great.
Thank you,
Amanda