Adopted Farm cat

mshelsbels

Hi there,

Wondered if you could give me some advice please? We moved into our farmhouse 4 years ago, and inherited the resident ginger tom who lived in one of the outbuildings. From various neighbours we have deduced that he's about 10 years old, and seems pretty fit, though has half of an ear missing and a broken tail!

We had a burglery in one of the outbuildings this summer and have had to put locks on the doors and mend broken windows etc (i.e the cats route in and out). I'm really concerned about his welfare over the coming winter, as he's been sleeping in an open barn since which must be so much colder than his original choice.

He wont come into the house as such, however, he will jump up into the open kitchen window (its low!!), and come onto the windowsill (inside) for some food and water, even though he's usually out and about with the remnants of something cute and fluffy in his mouth! I'm not a cat person at all, but he seems to be relying on us for food more that ever before, and doesnt seem as agile as he was? He likes to be petted (a bit), but will run a mile if anyone tries to do anything more.
I've managed to worm him and have put anti flea stuff on him, but really wish he had somewhere warm to sleep at night.

Am I worrying unnecessarily? I just want to make sure he's ok throughout the winter - I really wouldnt mind him coming into the house, but I'd rather not if its going to make him miserable.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Hels

kazwookie

Can you not make a cat flap on hinges in the door of his original barn outhouse?

mshelsbels

kazwookie wrote: »

Can you not make a cat flap on hinges in the door of his original barn outhouse?

Possibly, if the wood is not too thick (think 200 year old 3 inch sliding old doors). Scuse me from being thick, but would he know how to use the catflap? Would he still be warm enough too now hes getting on a bit?

McKneff

Well, all I have got to say is bless you for caring. ..............

Hope you sort it.

Lobell

He'll probably be fine in the barn...cats are very good at finding warm sheltered spots to sleep. You could make him a cosy bed out of a sturdy cardboard box lined with a fleece blanket or similar and put it up somewhere it'll be sheltered from any draughts but still be easy for him to get in and out of.

Good on you for thinking of the old boy

lostinrates

We're going through similar ATM....having brought one of them in against her will for health reasons I can confirm they do learn cat flaps quickly, but you can make the hole and leave the flap off for a few days to help acclimatise him to the new official entrance

BTW our ''12 year old tom'' as the neighbours told us, turns out to be a girl under five. Apparently 10 is very old for a barn/stray...so he might well be finding life tougher.

dizziblonde

Awww - a cat flap into his old spot would be amazing, but I'm sure he'll be ok, and if he's at the stage of sneaking into yours for food anyway, you might find he comes round in time.

Tripod's an ex semi-feral farm cat and looking at her now you'd never think she'd had a wilder history behind her.

925dancer

You could also get a little outdoor cat house (basically a dog kennel with a smaller entrance to let in less draughts). Straw is a brilliant insulator, you can get flectabeds which use the cats own body heat to reflect back off the bed and you can get microwaveable sort of hot water bottles. Feral he may be but they do like some home comforts, especially in their old age. Perhaps you could give him one or all of these things with the cat flat and he'd be in heaven

Bless you for caring, not enough people do think of all the ferals and strays out there.

Sagz_2

I think a catflap in the barn sounds the best option. You could put him a little house in there and if there is an electric supply you could get him a heated pad for extra comfort.

aloise

Our cat sleeps in the garage at night, we lock him out because of all the creatures he brings in, dead and alive. WE have a hasp to keep the door open enough to let him in and a padlock to keep burglars out. He loves it in there and will often sleep there during the day when he isn't on my bed. His own little domain. I also have a kennel we have built for a stray we have had coming for 8 years who will not come in but lets us feed him.

deedardingle

When we moved into this house there was a young cat who slept in a sheltered spot under the hedge. The neighbours didn't know who she belonged to and she never strayed far from our garden. We began to feed her and she would come to us and allow us to fuss her a little but would not be enticed into the house, even in winter. We made a cosy shelter for her to sleep in but she she wouldn't use it and preferred her spot under the hedge even in winter with snow on the ground.

We have lived here almost 15 years now and she is still going strong and seems to be in good health although she must be at least 16 years old, if not older. We think she must have belonged to some one at one time and probably been spayed as she has never had any kittens.:)