Outdoor Cat

[idigTexas]

We have a cat that was born in the wild, but reluctantly became a house pet for a few years, albeit a very skittish one. Upon the death of our older cat, we allowed the younger one to return to the outdoors, where she seems to be generally more content and well adjusted. She knows this is her home, and she doesn't stray very far if she leaves the property at all.

We have not set up any specific place for a shelter, and her feeder, which is on our back patio, is keeping the neighborhood birds well fed. Our owl decoy does not appear to be much of a deterrent.

Does anyone have any ideas for keeping the food accessible for the cat, but not for unwelcome feather clad interlopers?

 

[OrangeChipper]

if I were your neighbor... I would hate you.

For one, I'm not a cat person.
Two, when your kitty "Strays" What it really is doing is making "Kitty Litter" out of your neighbors flower beds.

Seriously, we had a neighbor with two cats and they were ALWAYS digging up our flower beds to piss and poo. Good fertilizer, but rather annoying

OH... and to your question.. Your kitty is GOING to find birds... if not in your yard... then in your neighbors courtyard or at your neighbors bird feeders.

You just can't take that instinct out of them.

 

[idigTexas]

We know all this, which is why we kept her inside for several years. Since our other cat died, she won't even come inside willingly anymore, and it's not worth it to us to force the issue. We have told our neighbors to take whatever measures necessary to get our cat off their property.

Her birding prowess has not discouraged the flocks from eating her food. I'm assuming this is because she prefers to hang out in the front, and her food is in the back. Maybe a relocation of her food is in order.

 

[OrangeChipper]

I've heard that Owl's are the best bet along with Snakes.

Try hanging one of those rubber snakes around.

Hey, they are cheap.

 

[BigXIIHorns]

Outdoor cats do not live long. Excpect to find her lying next to the road someday. I would try again to domesticate her.

 

[horniegrl14]

I would just put the food outside when you see the cat if you don't want others to eat the food. I had an outdoor cat for about 9 years, since I'm allergic to cats.

You can keep the food out there all the time if you want, like in a special spot for the cat, which is what we did.

Keeping your cat outside isn't bad just make sure it has a collar on with a name tag.

 

[jmatt]

...And up on it's shots.

 

[grinder]

I have two cats, one almost always stays outside and the other almost always inside. Food and water is inside the house, but I have cat doors to the backyard which allows the outdoor cat access to food/water whenever she pleases. There are downsides to this setup, as I've had to deal with a raccoon coming inside the house for food late at night and the outdoor bringing prey inside. When it's too cold outside, the outdoor cat usually sleeps inside.