Outdoor cat owners, I need your advice!

[Sussex19]

One point, is having a bell on the collar does seem to help the birds but not the mice and rats.

 

[Folly's place]

Also, this queen will come in heat and be pregnant shortly after weaning this litter!
I agree that having this kitten with mama and her litter longer would be best, but here you are.
Kittens have very poor survival rates outside, sadly. Having her inside somewhere, at least at night, will improve her odds. Maybe in a coop annex? Garage? Vaccinations, worming, flea and tick protection, and neutering are minimum health care, along with good food and water.
Our best barn cats arrived unexpectedly as adults, and stayed because we fed them and offered shelter at the barn. One lived to be nineteen! Others didn't, it's a dangerous world outside.
Mary

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Also, this queen will come in heat and be pregnant shortly after weaning this litter!
I agree that having this kitten with mama and her litter longer would be best, but here you are.
Kittens have very poor survival rates outside, sadly. Having her inside somewhere, at least at night, will improve her odds. Maybe in a coop annex? Garage? Vaccinations, worming, flea and tick protection, and neutering are minimum health care, along with good food and water.
Our best barn cats arrived unexpectedly as adults, and stayed because we fed them and offered shelter at the barn. One lived to be nineteen! Others didn't, it's a dangerous world outside.
Mary

We have a catio that he will be in during the day until he's old enough to completely live outside.
His current name is Chonk until I figure out a better name but I'm sure you all can tell why he's temporary named that

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have already learned a lot from what's been posted here, but I have two cats so I'll just share what I know from my own experience. One of our cats is a pretty good hunter. Not just a mouser, she takes everything from tiny moles to voles to mice to rats to young rabbits and occasionally birds. She does not always eat her kill, but often brings it into the house, I guess to show it off. Sometimes she brings it in alive, which makes for some interesting activity. Fortunately one of my dogs is willing to take her prey from her, take it outside and dispose of it. I don't know details: I don't ask. This cat is small; she weighs about 8 lbs. It's important to protect her from fleas as well as worms. I don't know how long she was with her mother / litter; she was an adult when we got her. She is over 10 years old now.

The other cat, who weighs over 12 lbs., seems to have no interest in hunting whatsoever. She will occasionally take down a dragonfly but that's about it. We got her at about 7 weeks of age. Her main activities are sleeping, snoozing and napping.

Want to add: almost 100% of the birds she brings in are released unharmed. She seems to just want to show them to me.

 

[Suzz]

I have 6 outside/garage cats started as kittens the garage is their home I locked them in for about a week so they knew where their meals came from then set them free and lock them up at night I tempt them in with Fancy Feast I have lost a couple cause outside life can be rough but some are mousers and some aren’t it just depends on their personalities over all they have earned their keep its a successful living situation

 

[StinkyAcres]

Domestic cats kill about 2-4 Billion song birds each year in the U.S. The are responsible for at least three songbird extinctions.

I'm a bird person, not a cat person, not sorry.

 

[Paradisewife]

The well- fed domestic cat is a great hunter. Having regular meals gives it the energy to hunt. And they rarely hunt to eat. They hunt to keep their skills sharp. And bring it home to feed its 'family'. Average lifespan is 6-8 years because it is dangerous out there. Cars, dogs, other cats, wild predators, dangerous chemicals, and creepy people. Parasites, infections, barbed wire.

It's hard to be a cat.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Well if posted about kittens on our state thread I would have taken one .. We lost all but one of our outside kitties to old age.. I have been looking for friend for Bob.
He is 9 now best a female I think. We would alter her.

 

[Paradisewife]

Black cat warning:

Creepy people will steal black cats around Halloween.

Keep your baby safe!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well if posted about kittens on our state thread I would have taken one .. We lost all but one of our outside kitties to old age.. I have been looking for friend for Bob.
He is 9 now best a female I think. We would alter her.View attachment 3211524

Bob's a handsome feller, Penny!