Neighbour Keeps Her Cats Permanently Outside Now

[Treacle71]

Since my neighbour and her husband had a baby, they keep their two cats permantently outside, when they never used to.  They have made a cat flap in their shed for them to take food from, but when it rains I see them huddled together under the shed outside under the shed roof which forms a partial shelter.  I feel sorry for them.  What were both indoor and outdoor cats are no longer and they're left to roam aroud outside 24/7.  Is this OK for them to live like this?  

[Smowball]

Oh that's a shame, especially since they used to be allowed indoors - they must feel rejected. Don't suppose you've any idea whether this is just a temporary thing whilst baby is little, or whether it's permanent? A lot of brand new mums n dads get paranoid about cats and babies.

[Redhelen72]

They have shelter, they have food and no doubt they have beds in the shelter.  They are doing what is required by the RSPCA.

If you feel bad from them why not offer to home them?

 

[Treacle71]

Thanks guys.  Good advice already. xx

[nicebloke1]

I would have thought it would have been a better idea for the cats to get used to having a baby in the house, but not knowing the nature of these cats? If the cats do get in the house at some point they could well change from what was once a nice natured cat / cats to one with bad feelings. But like you say they appear to being looked after and summer is on the way ( I think) so by end of summer the owners may feel more at ease to let them in and feel less nervous about doing so.

[Smowball]

Exactly - probably with a newborn they're worried about cat hair etc...... 

[nicebloke1]

It can be very difficult sometimes to bring a baby into an animals home, and very worrying. My guess is they don't at this moment want that worry so there was only one option open to them.

There are two types of cats, one who is totaly independent and only requires from you food and a shelter when it suites them, then you have the cat that will live on your lap 24/7 if you allow it too, but both will be territorial, maybe one more than the other, the one who's happy to live on your lap could well be the one who would show jealousy when you are attending to the baby. So you have to work at giving the cat more fuss when attending, or holding the baby, with 2 cats not easy. Plus you do really need to be on the ball 24/7 if you are slowly bringing the three together in the same living area, and remembering to close the bedroom door without fail is a MUST.

Although its a good idea to

[nicebloke1]

^ Last line not intended.

[calmck]

They have to learn how to use the cat flap. It should be propped open for them to get used to it. One of mine can go out but still has not figured how to get back in again after 2 weeks

[Old_Geezer]

They have a fur coat on. They should be ok. Unfortunate time of year though.

[barry1010]

Unfortunate for the garden birds

[DarceyK123]

I suppose they will be ok physically if they have food and shelter but i would think they must be feeling pretty rejected when a few weeks ago they had all the love and attention from 'mummy & daddy' and now they are giving it all to the new kid on the block.

I really couldn't do that myself as my animals are part of the family,  but then i am a big softie! 

[Canary42]

My niece has 2 cats and over a year ago she had a cat flap istalled.

One cat took to it straight away, the other still avoids it.

[Canary42]

*installed

[Smowball]

We have 2 cats - sisters - and when we got them we assumed that they would be 'lap cats' like all of our previous cats - always wanting cuddles and fuss, curling up on our laps as soon as we sat down in eve to watch tv etc, but they are the complete opposite! One will sit on floor near our feet and let us occasionally stroke her, and will sit on the bed at the very end, but will NOT sit on us, even after 2.5 years. The other one will sit on end of sofa if we are watching tv, and has just started to sit on me only in the past month, and again that's after 2.5 years. They really have a mind of their own lol.

[barry1010]

When you get to kittens - or puppies - from the same litter they often bond with each other and not the owner.  When my friend wanted to puppies he was advised to get them from two different breeders, a few months apart.

[Treacle71]

Lovely reading; so interesting all xx