barn cat just had kittens--questions!!!
claraserena
15 years ago
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posy_pet
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Worming barn cats?
Comments (17)Giving cats garlic is so dangerous it's extremely toxic to them especially raw. Using garlic is a human deworming remedy but it still doesn't get rid of all the worms. Please do not try to give cats garlic If You were somehow able to get them to eat it you'll cause them a lot of unnecessary suffering and possibly a vet bill. And please make sure that the DE you're getting is for human consumption.. if it's not you're feeding them the type that would really harm them. There's DE for killing bugs and for other uses and then there's DE human grade for human consumption that can be eaten by humans, cats, etc, in small doses to help CONTROL parasites DE it's not an effective dewormer, but it's good to be given in between deworming doses. You should deworm your inside and outside animals twice a year. Especially if you don't have your indoor animal on a monthly flea and worm topical solution, they'd be at risk of contracting parasites (flea's tic's mites\lice and worms) viruses, bacteria, just by you tracking in stuff on your shoes when you're taking care of the outdoor animals. Always wash your hands after dealing with you before interrupting with your indoor animals....See MoreWhat's your take on barn cats?
Comments (27)well I ended up with another barn cat on saturday...I swear I must have "sucker" tattoed across my forhead. My neighbor came over and said come to the house I want to show you something...so what do I do??? I go...and he brings out this little kitten covered in burrs and he had all of this green goop coming out of his eyes and he was coughing. SO what do I say? yes I will take him??? My neighbors have what I call the intensive care for cats...they have 5 cats all of wich have severe medical problems...like....diabetes/liver problems they even give one cat an IV twice a day....they had just put down their oldest cat who was 19 and didnt want another one. So 60 bucks poorer from going to vet's this morning I have another barn cat. He's about 4 months old he weighs 3.2 pds and is relativly healthy. No feline lukemia or aids and is now on upper respitory meds/eye drops/and the vet wormed him........he's eating and drinking and seems to be feeling much better today/guess a antibiotic plus vitamin shot has him feeling better......kg...See Morehad to give up my cat
Comments (14)I hate to be the wet blanket, but this isn't necessarily a kind thing. Euthanasia isn't the worst thing that can happen to a pet. Have you met this woman? Have you seen the "farm"? What happens when your cat gets another urinary tract infection? Is she actually a client of your vet, or did she just give him her phone number? So many times people who "take in" cats are just replacing barn cats that don't last long due to predators or untreated health problems. I once repossessed a kitten, actually called the vet & told her she better get my kitten back, because I found out the true circumstances about the 'good home in the country'. Maybe this situation really is good, & I hope it is, but if it were my cat, I'd check....See MoreBarn cats -- do farmers really value them?
Comments (18)Well, you'd have to call us more ranchers than farmers these days. But we still have more animals than most people, and yes we have a population of barn cats. I refer to them as wild cats and they are distinct from feral cats, which show up now and then at mating season. The wild cats are born on the place, stay close to buildings and are quite content to have humans near as long as you don't try to touch them. We provide food, shelter, and water. (I'd be happy to provide medical care also if I could find a way to manage it.) Also have created a fenced area away from dogs where they can bring their kittens to play and eat. This happens to be right out our large bedroom window so we enjoy quite a show during the birthing season. To answer your question: yes. We value our barn cats. Like every other thing on the farm/ranch, they serve a purpose and must earn their keep. They are distinct from "pets". Just as the donkey's job is to keep calving cattle safe from coyote attacks while they are down birthing, and the livestock guardian dog's job is to keep predators and vermin away from the homestead as well as the livestock, the cat's job is to keep the place snake and rodent free. They are very good at it. It's a kind of 'circle of life' thing where each species helps with the care of others. The chickens are kept for flea and tick control, cats for mice and snake control, dogs protect the cats and chickens from wildlife that would eat them etc. Chickens also keep the ground scratched up so we can see rattlesnakes if they come on the place. Ground cover around the home can be deadly here on the short grass prairie. It works well if you have the right animals and right breed of dogs, particularly. We do everything we are able to do for our wild cats. And many of them live a good long life. I've been here for 29 years and I can still see replicas of our first cats in their many-times great offspring. We do get the inherent problems of inbreeding now and again (dwarfism) but have had no bad disease run rampant in our cats. But I agree with the person who said you can't determine a mindset by an occupation. It's an inherent thing: you either 'steward' your charges or you exploit them. We see ourselves as stewards... though I fully understand that not everyone would agree with this assessment. I know that a couple hundred years from now those of us who made our livelihood providing meat for consumption will be looked upon as we now look upon slaveholders of old. We will be considered the worst of barbarians. *sigh* j...See Moreclaraserena
15 years agohenhilton
15 years ago
annpat
15 years agosoteriagal
15 years agobatgirl25
14 years agomsmitoagain
14 years agobatgirl25
14 years agoclaraserena
14 years ago
Lexi Thompson
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
sylviatexas1
9 years ago
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