Getting an indoor/outdoor kitten but need advice

[Pugwinkle]

Hi there, I am planning on getting at least one or possibly two kittens. They will be indoor/outdoor cats eventually and I'm wondering if a female (spayed) cat would tend to stay closer to home than a neutered male cat would?

I live in the country on 10 acres of land. The road is well travelled but not a freeway by any means. However, the traffic goes by our property at high speeds.

Unfortunately, I'm quite sure the cats will eventually learn how to use our doggie door (we have 10 small dogs so we definitely need the doggie door functioning). Of course the doggie door leads to a fully fenced yard but the cats will certainly be able to jump the fence unlike the dogs.

So again, I'm wondering what your experiences have been. Do you think we have a better chance of females staying close to home or males?

I will appreciate you input.

 

[thebritt]

How about one of each? As long as they're fixed before full-blown sexual maturity (6 mos old), they should stick reasonably close. We have 6 indoor/outdoor (spayed & neutered) cats, and they stay pretty close. They tend to get along pretty well when there's one of each as well. We've always kept them in the house, able to look out the windows, for several weeks before they get to take short supervised jaunts outside. Once they know their area they're fine. Have fun!

 

[teach1rusl]

Hi. I'm no expert by any means, but I grew up with lots of cats around the house, and have always kept cats myself. My knowledge base stems from having a mom who has been involved in feral cat organizations (spay/neuter and release) for years, and from my own personal experience in working with a neighbors' barn cats (trapping/spaying/neutering).

If spayed/neutered, it really depends on the personality of the cat as to whether they tend to stay close to home or not. Some females are quite adventurous, while some males enjoy the comfort of home much more than roaming. My older female cat is my worst roamer; she will be gone for more than 24 hours sometimes in the warmer months. My young male cat (all fixed) will only roam far if he's walking with the dogs and us, but he does dissappear for hours at a time on occasion. My young female stays really close to the house, preferring the indoors mostly.

In my opinion, you have a better shot of getting them to stay close if they're inside a LOT at first, only out when you are with them. I didn't get my older (roaming female) until she was about 6 months, so her habits had been formed already.

Good luck and have fun with your new addition(s)!!

 

[AK Michelle]

I have 3 cats. The neutered chooses to almost NEVER go outside.

My 2 females are both spayed, sisters, about 18 months old now. One is a totally fearless hunter, lives for the chase, brings me all sorts of lovely dead things.

I have seen her about 1/2 mile from home (we live out in the country).

The other, likes to hunt but also likes her siesta. Every afternoon you will find her sacked out somewhere (usually on the back of the couch). They do hunt as a team if the target is big enough or tricky. It's fascinating to watch.

I did introduce them to MY chicks, and they got to watch, smell and investigate the chicks when I held them out to them. Now, I can relax with a book while my 2 favorite Mille Fleurs nap under one end of my lounge chair while the cats nap under the other end. They don't see the chickens as prey but they do terrorize any non-chicken birds that dare to investigate my yard.

I think it totally depends on the cat. My old neutered male used to stay out, hunt lots and beat up the nieghbors German Shephard everytime it ventured into our yard. He had a large area he patroled, we lived in a suburb then and I would see him in neighboring yards and beyond.

 

[gaited horse]

what about a cover over the dog pen

 

[patandchickens]

Honestly my bet (very low wager though) would be on a neutered MALE being more stay-at-home, on average.

However there is SO much variation among cats, I don't think it's smart to bet one way or the other. Just pick a kitten(s) you like, and tkae your chances

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[cafarmgirl]

We have lived in the country many years and owned quite a few cats. Every one is different. They were all spayed and neutered and I've had both females and males that roamed. I currently have 5 indoor/outdoor cats and my solution has been to allow them out in the daytime and keep them in at night. They stick close during the day but night time seems to be when they get into the most trouble and that's when we have lost cats in the past.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I have 3, 4 if you count the ferel cat. I don't do indoor pets so all mine are outdoors and they all hang around. The males tend to wander further than the females, I think.... Cats are pretty good about hanging out at their own home. I have never seen a mouse at my house so they are doing a great job!

Something to look forward to in cats that will hunt.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I agree with cafarmgirl above, I have three indoor/outdoors, two male, one female all fixed - I keep them in at night, out all day, and they are the BEST hunters. Rabbits, mice, frogs, anything with a tail. I have another female that stays in all the time, and she is much sweeter dispostioned than the others, but I choose to have at least one indoor cat. My outdoor cats are wonderful, can handle themselves on our 10 acres and get along well with the dogs, I've had them all since they were young, and they use a doggie door more than the dogs.
Good luck

 

[raroo]

I had a kittie who was neutered well before sexual maturity. He loooooved to roam, he used to go pretty far, too. My poor Gussie got hit by a car last May, had him for 8 years.

My mom also had a cat who was neutered by the SPCA when he was 6 weeks old. He like to roam too, and went missing. So, neutering early doesn't always mean they won't roam.