[Slings and Arrows]

Hello fellow cat lovers.

I had the most traumatizing morning but will try to sum it up. I live in a neighborhood that has some stray cats. Three siblings to be exact. I have named them Josephine, Pita and Whiskers. Our family adopted Whiskers who is an incredibly friendly and awesome cat. Whiskers has a twin who is almost identical.

I went outside this morning and found a cat that had been either hit by a car, poisoned or sick. Whiskers has a collar and this cat did not. I did not know if this cat was mine because the collar was missing. For about an hour I was distraught not knowing if it was Whiskers or Pita.

I called the SPCA to come out, and just started balling as I was talking to them.

Not knowing if the cat injured cat was mine or Pita (because they are indentical) I started walking down the street calling my own cat and after an hour Whiskers emerged. I just about fainted.

Pita got taken away to be looked at by the SPCA Vet and I told them to contact me when there is a prognosis.

So much for my shortened story.

I have cat allergies and cannot keep a cat inside. The SPCA told me that (when I mentioned that I was scared MY cat WOULD eventually be hit by a car) it was not a matter of “if” but “when”.

I have two options, find a loving home for my beloved Tabby, or build a cat home in my very very small backyard.

I don’t know what to do.

diamond6 needs some advice.

[Spktyr]

Allergies can be treated with medication and many otherwise allergic persons find they can keep their feline friends with such. Not expensive, either.

[MeshugeMikey]

If you have a reasonably sized tree a treehouse might be in order.

yes Im serious

[EBH]

Purrfect Fence is an option depending on where they live. And even if it is someplace that gets brutal cold, heated kennels can be found online as well. Example is the K and H Outdoor Heated Kitty Cottage.

Purrfect Fence is what is used at the Hemmingway House in Key West.

[Mercat]

We’ve had cats now for 40 years. They have all been indoor/outdoor cats so I don’t know whether a strictly outdoor cat is different. All but two have died of old age. Two (both Russian Blues) were we think carried off by predators. We have owls coyotes and even a raccoon can carry off a blue which are small. We’re thinking about getting a cat for our farm where we have a large shop which suffers from mice. If we get one, we’ll fit him with a collar that allows him and only him (or her) to come and go through a cat door. We’ll leave food and water and we’re out there about three times a week. There are coyotes and even bobcat but this will let him head for the shop anytime he wants. I’m thinking maybe a Maine Coon Cat. They are smart and big. So maybe if you set up a safe place for him in your garage or shop with a pet door and a radio collar. Just a thought.