February 15th, 2010 → 12:20 pm @ admin // 7 Comments
I always stop to stroke a cat I meet when out I’m walking. On Saturday I stopped to say hello to a very friendly elderly looking cat. As I was doing so the person living in the house we were outside popped his head out of the door to say I could have him if I wanted. I was quite surprised and he explained that the cat’s owners had left him and his mother behind when they moved house 4 years ago (how could they?!) and that he had been living in their front yard ever since. Apparently he is very sensible and never goes near the busy road that runs outside the front of the house. This is largely due to the fact that his mother was run over a few years ago. The guy said that the cat has a shelter and that they feed him but that he is not allowed in their house because they have a cat who gets very upset by him. The house is part of a large terrace so other than the front yard there really isn’t much place he can go!
At first I totally discounted the thought of taking him on because in a few weeks I will be moving (with partner) to a flat 9 stories up but the more I think about it the more I think I could take him on. We will have a large balcony (6m wide by 1.5m deep) and as he doesn’t really move from the front yard he currently lives in I think he would probably be quite happy to bask in the sun on the balcony while having somewhere cosey to sleep during the cold weather. The guy I spoke to thinks he’s about 13 but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was a bit older.
Does anyone have any advice? I now walk past the house on a regular basis and he is always out in the garden. If he’s going to move with me to my new flat then I probably need to start to thinking about insurance. My main concern is how happy and safe he will be in a flat with up with a balcony? Incidentally it is only over the road from where he currently is so it won’t mean a big journey for him.
Any advice of things I need to consider would be greatly appreciated!
Tags: Balcony., Cat., Considering, Elderly, Flat, Large, Live, Taking, With, Would
michele_
1 year ago
Older cats are a lot less physically active, so I don’t think he would have too much trouble adapting to an indoor only lifestyle. If you can find a way to cat proof your balcony, that will be ideal for enabling him to sunbathe and get some fresh air. The article below has lots of advice on ways in which you can keep an indoor cat happy, which you may find helfpul.http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl…
You sound like a really kind person, so I hope that you are able to take him. After being abandoned by his previous owners, he deserves to spend his golden years in a home where he is treasured.
Good luck.
Sybil
1 year ago
I think you will enjoy you new cat, and I think he will love his new family!
Squishy
1 year ago
i say take him.. y not?
he likes u, u like him.. he has no official home and u would feed him and take care of him..
go for it..
stace!
1 year ago
Most everyone wants a kitten. For you to take on this older cat would be more than wonderful. He could have a real home. My only concern is the cat jumping on the ledge of the balcony. But if he doesn’t do that then ya he could bask in the sun & then come in at his leisure. They have cat doors for sliding doors if that’s the kind of doors you’d have.
Ken S
1 year ago
Hi
Thanks for caring.
I would consider taking him now so he gets use to you and living in the inside a bit again. You can let him in and out for now to gain trust
Get a litter box of course.
No other advice to give except I hope you will consider feeding him canned foods no gravy for his health.
Very best to you and your partner
tiggsy
1 year ago
Sounds good. Just a little worried about the balcony – is it solid walled or does it have railings? Some railings have a gap at the bottom that a cat could get through, and 9 stories is a big drop. From the sound of it he may not have a concept of heights like that, so If you could maybe block that off somehow, it would be safer for him.
♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥
1 year ago
Aww, poor guy. Definitely take him in. It’s so sad to me when a cat has had a family and known the good life just to be tossed aside and made to survive on his own. As for the balcony, don’t let him out immediately. Keep him inside for a few weeks till he establishes the new place as home. You can then go out on the balcony with him and supervise till you’re sure he won’t try to escape. Thanks for being such a sweetheart and giving him a new chance at life. I’m sure he will be very happy having a friend who loves him and a safe place to live with plenty of food and creature comforts.