From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Help! Any Farm Cats Out There?
Date: 10 Apr 92 03:39:49 GMT
Organization: Purdue University

In article <49560005@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM> julieu@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM (Julie_Unruh) writes:
.......
>the time.  I'm moving to a place where she couldn't go outside, and a
>friend has offered to take her on his farm.
>
>I need some reassurances here!  How well do cats adjust to farm living?
>She would have a constant supply of cat food and water, but she would
>live in the barn.  I've never lived on a farm, so I don't know if that's
>good or bad.  I do know we would both be miserable if she had to stay
>inside a small apartment all the time. 
>

All of my cats are "farm" cats.  My parents hate them in the house and
so the cats stay outide all the time (especially when I'm not there to
keep them in my room with me -- the only place they can be in the
house without mom griping at me).   My parents are rather "anti-cat"
people right now.  (too much paw-prints on the car, meowing at the doors,
getting on the furnature.....:(  parents! )
As long as they have a lot of shelter from the elements (like a barn
with some hay or straw).  Also, it is critical that they are neutered.
They should also have complete sets of claws for protection.
Our dogs do a very good job of keeping them near the house and barn
(we have to collies that think the cats are their flock).  The
collies are also great at keeping strange animals away from the cats and
off the property.  The cats have no fear of our collies, but they 
instantly hit the top of the first high spot, when a strange animal
comes into the yard.

>Does anyone have farm cats?  Can you tell me a little bit about what
>they do and if they have fun?  Do they chase and eat mice?  Is that ok?
>Are they healthy and happy?
>
>OK, I'm a worried mommy.
>
>Help!  Julie

Cats are natural survivors.  They catch mice and birds and rabbits
and shrews and snakes and rats and bugs and.....   They have a
great time catching little critters even if you don't like them to.
Well, two of my cats (brother and sister -- Simon and Cleo) are
going to be 16 this June and Mildred (unrelated) is going to be about 13
this spring).  They are happy and healthy.  Simon is deaf now (suddenly
from age I think) and Cleo is a bit scruffy looking (but she's always
looked scruffy) and Mildred looks like she could be just 6 or 7 years
old.  They are all very very active (Cleo still hunts -- she's our
Cheeta cat -- acts just like one).  Simon will still jump from
chair to chair through my "hooped" arms on command (well hand
signal now), and Mildred is still her "hot-Headed" all red-tabby
self (she is my sister'c cat).  Simon is MY black and white cat, and Cleo is
my mom's (supposedly) grey, orange and white calico. 
They sleep in the sun on the
tractors and in the straw.  They climb trees and scratch-up all
kinds of trees, wood pile cords, and boards.   As long as they
can come in when the temps go below zero they are fine.  In cold
weather, they all cuddle up in their house (cat box that I build for
them and stuffed with straw, ceder chips, and an old feather coat)
and are just cozy.  

The only bad part about being outside (especially in cold weather)
is that they like to climb-up into the warm engines of equipment.

All three of our cats have gotten chopped a bit in the engines of
the cars.  Simon got it the worst when he was a kitten, (I was about 6
at the time) and my parents figured he'd die of it.  He was really bad
looking.  (He got into the fan of our car).  He got alot of facial
scars, a broken nose, a broken foot (now it looks club footed because
my parent's didn't think "barn" cats needed vet care at that time),
and I can feel many broken ribs.  He lived through that and is still going
strong.  Cleo was luckier and only got a large patch of skin and
fur pulled off her side.  Mildred got caught across the back and the
side of the face.  She never looked bad, but I can see a blood
spot in one eye and as she has gotten older, her back has begun to
bother her a bit if you pet her too hard or she goes to sit down square.
After that, they NEVER go near the car's engine, but now they sit on
the hoods and my parents are getting crabby about this.


Other then that, cats do just fine outside or in barn yard situations.
As long as your friend keeps an eye out for them.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf (1leg CD) CGC TDI CERF   tri-color collies
and the cat pack -- Simon, Cleo, and Mildren (the barn cats).