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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | Well, a small kitten showed up at my house. Little male, about 6-8 weeks. I already have a older female cat who wants nothing to do with this little guy. So can't be in our home. She would kill him. Me too I think. In our town, the animal control folks, routinely kill if they aren't adopted within a certain time limit. So I won't be taking him there, and there is no one interested in a cute little kitten. So it looks like I will keep him Ned make him into a barn cat. I've never had one before. I currently have him in my Feed/tack room along with food, water, bed, heater, litter pan, lights Etc. My barn is a 6 stall, enclosed barn. Plenty of room for him to play n stay. I've let him out of the room this morning and he has full access to the center isle, not the stalls, so not able to get in with the horses which I fear might accidentally step on him. About three of my grown chickens/horses are actually scared of him. A tiny little fluff of fur....the horse killer. The wide eyes, the snorts of fear....funny. So my question is how to get him, or make him into a barn cat? If he grows up in the barn will he stay, will be actually find the barn mice, and what keeps him there and not run away? My older cat is a inside cat,rarely if ever goes out. She has missing teeth, arthritis, and puréed cat food. The queen. What actually makes a barn cat. Suggestions?
TIA |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
  
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Get him neuter when gets to be about 6 months old, so that he will stay there and not roam looking for girfriends and he wont be spraying his manhood on things, thats the thing I hate about male cats they think they have to mark everything in sight. LOl |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | janjan1 - 2016-01-01 9:14 AM Well, a small kitten showed up at my house. Little male, about 6-8 weeks. I already have a older female cat who wants nothing to do with this little guy. So can't be in our home. She would kill him. Me too I think. In our town, the animal control folks, routinely kill if they aren't adopted within a certain time limit. So I won't be taking him there, and there is no one interested in a cute little kitten. So it looks like I will keep him Ned make him into a barn cat. I've never had one before. I currently have him in my Feed/tack room along with food, water, bed, heater, litter pan, lights Etc. My barn is a 6 stall, enclosed barn. Plenty of room for him to play n stay. I've let him out of the room this morning and he has full access to the center isle, not the stalls, so not able to get in with the horses which I fear might accidentally step on him. About three of my grown chickens/horses are actually scared of him. A tiny little fluff of fur....the horse killer. The wide eyes, the snorts of fear....funny. So my question is how to get him, or make him into a barn cat? If he grows up in the barn will he stay, will be actually find the barn mice, and what keeps him there and not run away? My older cat is a inside cat,rarely if ever goes out. She has missing teeth, arthritis, and puréed cat food. The queen. What actually makes a barn cat. Suggestions? TIA
Well I just fed 20 this morning in my barn. UGH they reproduce worse than rabbits. It is my father in laws ranch and they just let them live or die. We have tom cats come in from neighbors. I haul in a couple every couple months to get fixed. I am slowly getting there. Most of that 20 is fixed already. Barn cats are just cats that aren't allowed in the house. In my experience, if you feed them too much, they will never learn to hunt (most). My father in law feeds them way too much. I started to feed 2 cups of food in the barn every morning to get them to start hanging out there vs my father in laws front steps. It worked wonders. I haven't seen a sign of a mouse in ages. If you get him fixed as suggested, he should stay put. Cats are creatures of opportunity and love the cushy life. So safe place, bed, water and food and I bet he brings back friends. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | I treat my barn cats like my house cats, lots of food and water, with a warm place to sleep. I'd have to say the barn cats do hunt judging by all the mice and birds they drag into the barn. I don't know which is the most dangerous predator to these beautiful cats, coyotes or crappy neighbor kids with pellet rifles. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Frodo - 2016-01-01 10:49 AM I treat my barn cats like my house cats, lots of food and water, with a warm place to sleep. I'd have to say the barn cats do hunt judging by all the mice and birds they drag into the barn. I don't know which is the most dangerous predator to these beautiful cats, coyotes or crappy neighbor kids with pellet rifles.
We treated our shop and barn cats like we did our house cats too, plenty of food warm place to be and sleep, and they still hunted, liked having them around for snakes and then the coyotes discovered the cats and they have wiped out all my cats, my poor cats would do all their hunting at night and so do the da* coyotes. So now I have about 4 cats out here, used to have way more.. |
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 Rebel Without a Cause
Posts: 2758
Location: Adopt a homeless pet - www.petfinder.com! | Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Frodo - 2016-01-01 10:49 AM I treat my barn cats like my house cats, lots of food and water, with a warm place to sleep. I'd have to say the barn cats do hunt judging by all the mice and birds they drag into the barn. I don't know which is the most dangerous predator to these beautiful cats, coyotes or crappy neighbor kids with pellet rifles.
Ditto, I have 6, fed and watered every morning. I have not seen a single rat or mouse in 3 years. To the op, I would get him a friend, mine snuggle with each other, he will love the companionship of a friend. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I would go to the shelter and bring him home a buddy! Like horses, cats (especially kittens) like having someone else to play with!
just do as you are doing. Food, water, shelter, and love. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | rodeomom3 - 2016-01-01 12:51 PM Frodo - 2016-01-01 10:49 AM I treat my barn cats like my house cats, lots of food and water, with a warm place to sleep. I'd have to say the barn cats do hunt judging by all the mice and birds they drag into the barn. I don't know which is the most dangerous predator to these beautiful cats, coyotes or crappy neighbor kids with pellet rifles. Ditto, I have 6, fed and watered every morning. I have not seen a single rat or mouse in 3 years. To the op, I would get him a friend, mine snuggle with each other, he will love the companionship of a friend.
I love my kittys and they do love to snuggle, we have a cat now thats pretty special shes outside but we put her on the back porch every night, my grand baby named her Hello Kitty, ,lol |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I agree barn cats do better with a buddy. We get 3-4 at a time, because not all of them survive usually. They like to sleep with their litter mates when it's cold, even after they're grown. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | Calangelo - 2016-01-01 12:33 PM Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier.
Do you know how soon you can get them fixed? |
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 Sweet Tea
Posts: 3496
Location: Home of the World Famous "Silver Bullet" | rodeomom3 - 2016-01-01 1:51 PM
Frodo - 2016-01-01 10:49 AM I treat my barn cats like my house cats, lots of food and water, with a warm place to sleep. I'd have to say the barn cats do hunt judging by all the mice and birds they drag into the barn. I don't know which is the most dangerous predator to these beautiful cats, coyotes or crappy neighbor kids with pellet rifles.
Ditto, I have 6, fed and watered every morning. I have not seen a single rat or mouse in 3 years. To the op, I would get him a friend, mine snuggle with each other, he will love the companionship of a friend.
In Florida vets will fix then at 12 weeks. If you wait much longer he will begin to roam and spray. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Southtxponygirl - 2016-01-02 7:21 AM Get him neuter when gets to be about 6 months old, so that he will stay there and not roam looking for girfriends and he wont be spraying his manhood on things, thats the thing I hate about male cats they think they have to mark everything in sight. LOl
Well that may be true for most neutered males. I have a neutered male that will spray stuff and his brother doesn't. I'm sure it's not as bad as a male would. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | skye - 2016-01-03 10:50 AM Southtxponygirl - 2016-01-02 7:21 AM Get him neuter when gets to be about 6 months old, so that he will stay there and not roam looking for girfriends and he wont be spraying his manhood on things, thats the thing I hate about male cats they think they have to mark everything in sight. LOl
Well that may be true for most neutered males. I have a neutered male that will spray stuff and his brother doesn't. I'm sure it's not as bad as a male would.
Theres nothing worse then getting that cat smell on your clothes when you pick up a bag of feed or a bale of hay, puts me in a bad mood. Just nasty... |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Cats are very territiorial when it comes to other cats other than family. A single cat is fine they are so independent.
I have two brothers in my barn and house area. They are extremely lovable, me and each other, and grateful for what they have and what I bring them to eat. They once in awhile like to share! |
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Rebel Without a Cause
Posts: 2758
Location: Adopt a homeless pet - www.petfinder.com! | Timber Creek - 2016-01-02 8:14 PM
Calangelo - 2016-01-01 12:33 PM Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier.
Do you know how soon you can get them fixed?
Our local spay and neuter clinic will do them if they are at least 2 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. They are doing them much younger than they used to! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Calangelo - 2016-01-03 11:17 AM Timber Creek - 2016-01-02 8:14 PM Calangelo - 2016-01-01 12:33 PM Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier. Do you know how soon you can get them fixed? Our local spay and neuter clinic will do them if they are at least 2 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. They are doing them much younger than they used to!
Wow that is really young, in the old days it was at least 5 to 6 months, guess I need to get with the times, lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Southtxponygirl - 2016-01-03 12:20 PM
Calangelo - 2016-01-03 11:17 AM Timber Creek - 2016-01-02 8:14 PM Calangelo - 2016-01-01 12:33 PM Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier. Do you know how soon you can get them fixed? Our local spay and neuter clinic will do them if they are at least 2 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. They are doing them much younger than they used to!
We have neutered rescues really young, but they have had problems with *I think* their urethra when they get older. I would wait until 6 months, 4 at minimum. Just my experience.
Edited by quikchik 2016-01-04 3:07 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 585
Location: Texas | I will add, my dark colored barn cats last longer than the light colored ones. |
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 Go Canada!
Posts: 2954
| I have 2 barn cats (brother & sister) and I feed and water them daily, they have a nice bed with a heat lamp in the barn. They are just over 6 months. I called a couple of vets and all of them would not spay/neuter them until 6 months old. It worked out fine. When they were really little I kept them locked up in the barn for the most part and tried to train them to respect horses (getting after them when they got too close or tried to play with tails). Knock on wood so far so good, they are respectful of them.
I still lock them up at night and while I'm at work, but will start letting them out in the mornings and bringing them in at night when it warms up and the days get longer. For now they have a decent sized barn to themselves and I try to play with them a little every evening for some stimulation and exercise. They pretty much act like dogs... follow me around when I'm doing chores and sit on the deck railing trying to sneak inside the house anytime the door opens.
The other night they killed their first mouse. Pretty proud moment! I am happy they are doing their 'job'  |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | quikchik - 2016-01-04 8:52 AM Southtxponygirl - 2016-01-03 12:20 PM Calangelo - 2016-01-03 11:17 AM Timber Creek - 2016-01-02 8:14 PM Calangelo - 2016-01-01 12:33 PM Sounds like you're doing everything right for the little guy. Like someone else said, definately get him neutered, you don't have to wait until he's 6 months old, you can get it done earlier. Do you know how soon you can get them fixed? Our local spay and neuter clinic will do them if they are at least 2 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. They are doing them much younger than they used to! We have neutered rescues really young, but they have had problems with *I think* their urethra when they get older. I would wait until 6 months, 4 at minimum. Just my experience.
Yep 8 to 12 weeks just seems way to young to be spaying are neutering, I'll just stick to the 5 to 6 months old.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | Just an update on the barn cat.....little guy is now named Mickey, because he looks like a small hairy mouse. And with the recent cold weather, DH made the decision he should be brought into the house rather than a barn.....So, in less than a week, this homeless little guy has not only gained a warm place to live, lots of food but a loving place in a nice home with a mom & dad who think he is just too cute. Our older cat doesn't share in this nor does our parrot, but with time perhaps they will accept him too. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | YAY!!!!! LOVE IT! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | janjan1 - 2016-01-06 8:59 PM
Just an update on the barn cat.....little guy is now named Mickey, because he looks like a small hairy mouse. And with the recent cold weather, DH made the decision he should be brought into the house rather than a barn.....So, in less than a week, this homeless little guy has not only gained a warm place to live, lots of food but a loving place in a nice home with a mom & dad who think he is just too cute. Our older cat doesn't share in this nor does our parrot, but with time perhaps they will accept him too.
What a lucky little guy---it's more than sad to imagine what his life would have been without you. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| janjan1 - 2016-01-06 8:59 PM Just an update on the barn cat.....little guy is now named Mickey, because he looks like a small hairy mouse. And with the recent cold weather, DH made the decision he should be brought into the house rather than a barn.....So, in less than a week, this homeless little guy has not only gained a warm place to live, lots of food but a loving place in a nice home with a mom & dad who think he is just too cute. Our older cat doesn't share in this nor does our parrot, but with time perhaps they will accept him too.
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Barn cats