Let's See Your Cats!!!

My SIL had a new cat in her back yard the other day.

 

So hot a few questions for the cat experts on here.

My two heathens I posted earlier are outside cats only, and I have done some reading on how to keep them alive in my hood (country living, owls, hawks, bears, coyotes, Fox, mountain lions, bobcats, etc). Nonetheless, we still play with the cats daily, and hang out. So it’s safe to say these will not be Farrell cats that are skittish of humans.

1) They can’t live off mice alone. We still need to feed them a good balanced diet. I like the pumpkin idea for hairballs/stomach issues.

2) Even though these are “barn cats” we still need to get them vaccinated and neutered before we let them out full time around 6 months. They are already good hunters and quite sneaky at 14 weeks old.

3) The property is fenced, and has kept most animals out except deer and elk. Mountain lions and bobcats would jump over the fence with ease.

These cats have a 8’x16’ insulated shed that have pet rated heating pads for the winter. There’s beds and little wooden boxes that have been carpeted for them to hide out in. A cat door will be installed (large dog door already is, but don’t want to use) so they can escape predators. The weather in my area can and usually does get pretty nasty. Here is a short video of March of this year at the beginning of a blizzard. We had several more pretty bad storms after this. The video shows the shed.

What I’m most concerned about is the Great Horned Owls. We have them everywhere.

Ideas or advice?

 

We have those things all over the place. Pretty cool to see them. My SIL is a little freaked out since this is a residential neighborhood.

 

Pretty much the same landscape as this high elevation desert in CO. That was always on my mind when I lived in CA.

 

Good points Bill. I do have a cover for the big dog door and it will remain like that when not in use. When in use, this is what will come in and out.

Exactly why I ride my kids asses about always closing doors and locking the deadbolts. Curious animals (4 and 2 legged) have a habit of getting where they want to.

Thanks for the advice.

 

On a side note, the exact reason I never have a dog door into a house either.