Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate

The Indoor/outdoor Cat Dilemma

BlessedMommy
 Share

Recommended Posts

BlessedMommy Rising Star
BlessedMommy
Posted

Our first kitty that we got, we adopted as a stray last year. He just stopped by our house....and never left! :) We checked around and after being unable to locate his owner (placed ads, checked for microchip, etc.) decided to keep him.

 

He is a fantastic cat, very loving and good with the kids. He's been microchipped and rabies vaccinated now (plan on doing the feline leukemia shot and distemper shot soon as well) and he's a very loving and cherished part of the family. He goes outside frequently but is allowed inside as much as he wants and I try to always bring him inside for the night. We live out in the woods on a large acreage about 1/4 mile from the road, so risk of getting hit by cars is lower. He loves stalking the edge of our property and seeking what he may devour. That's one reason why I hesitate to make him an indoor only cat, because our mice problem out here is BAD, and it's gotten a lot better since he's joined our family!

 

But I'm reading and frankly the statistics about cats being outdoors frightens me. It seems that the odds are, that a cat who's outdoors is likely to die a premature violent death. I kind of experienced that growing up, because my parents lived on a farm and had cats that were pretty much strictly outdoors and almost solely there for control of the mice population. I never ever had a cat that lived to old age. All were eaten by dogs, coyotes, drank anti-freeze, etc. It was very traumatic for me to see my pets get killed so often. I suppose that my cat's odds are a bit better than that, considering that I make him sleep indoors, but I'm pretty concerned still. 

 

Does anybody know if the presence of cats in a house makes mice less likely to enter?

 

The kitty gets very restless if we make him stay indoors for a long time though. He will start pacing around, looking out the windows, and standing by the door meowing. So I'm also worried that we would drive him stir crazy.

 

I suggested adopting a feral colony to keep in our barn to help with rodent control, since those cats can never be tamed anyway, and by feeding them, vaccinating them, and giving them an outdoor shelter, we'd be helping to improve their quality of life, but I don't think that my husband really likes that idea.

 

Anyway, any thoughts on this subject are welcome, including how to acclimatize any indoor/outdoor cat to staying in, if that's the route we end up going.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I had indoor/outdoor cats for most of my life. Then I moved into the home I am in now and have a neighbor that detests cats. After one was almost killed by him with a bat they became strictly indoor. It did take both of the kitties a while to get used to not going outside but they did accept it after a time. I made sure they had plenty of toys and that did seem to help. I don't have a big mouse problem but have on occasion had them in a spare room. Kitties kept wanting to get in there and I couldn't figure out why until I saw the tell tale signs.  I have never had any mouse issues in any other part of the house so I do think a cat in residence helps. 

I did find that my kitties have had a much longer life when kept inside. I rarely had a cat live more than 7 or 8 years when they were indoor/outdoor kitties. Once I started keeping them inside most have lived to at least 16 or 17.  The 2 I have now have never been outside since I got them as kittens although one would love to go outside and chase the birds. She sits in the window and chatters at them but has never tried to sneak out.

I think the barn kitties idea is a good one. Many shelters can lead you to some or may have some there. They are not always feral and some may enjoy a pet along with their food. If you do decide to get barn kitties do make sure that you spay or neuter them as that also will increase their lifespan.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

My cat has been indoor only all her life. I have a screened in porch where she can go to THINK she's outside. Maybe you could install a kitty door that leads to an enclosed "run". If it opens on the outside too, you could put a litter box at the far end with a gate you could open to take care of cleaning it.

 

Having a cat indoors will definitely cut down on the mice indoors. And adopting a feral colony is a WONDERFUL idea!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nene212 Newbie
Nene212
Posted

I believe that indoor/outdoor cats don't live very long because of the elements outside. My cats are indoor cats but i have a screened in pool area and they go out there. but they can't go really outside its almost like they are looking out the windows with a screen. I feel if the cat is tame you should keep the cat inside away from the elements. Barn feral cats is a great idea you are saving cats from being killed and they are solving your rodent problem. its a win win situation.Just make sure you fix them you don't need any more babies. I LOVE your idea....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

adopting a  feral family  is wonderful.  Make  sure  they are fixed  & given  shots. Rabies  shot  is  so important  when  cats  are killing & eating  rodents....We  lost  the last  feral cat  at  age 18 , we  started out  with 8....we  did  supplement  their  rodent  lifestyle  with  feed  but  not so much they wouldn't  hunt...also  they  need  some interaction..we  could only touch 2  of the 8  but  we  talked to them  daily  &  let  them  see our  presence  so  in a  way they  did know us....We  live trapped them  every two years for  shots...

We  have  an indoor " king"  that  goes  outdoors  & does some hunting  but does not eat  the kill...it's just a gift  to us!!!!!! 

 

If  you decide  to get  feral's  keep them  in the closed  barn  for  awhile  so they get used  to the  area or  else  they will just  take  off & run  away\........I will say I still cried  when  everyone  passed  on.....I'm a member of trap/neuter release....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 years later...
Zenith Explorer
Zenith
Posted

Does clay cheap cat litter contain gluten?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. BluegrassCeliac
      - BluegrassCeliac replied to lasthope2024's topic in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut
      7

      This forum might be the last hope I have in my life. Please I beg you

      Hi, Not saying Thiamine (B1) couldn't be an issue as well, but Mg was definitely the cause of my problems. It's the only thing that worked. I supplemented with B vitamins, but that didn't change anything, in fact they made me sick. Mg stopped all my muscle pain (HCTZ) within a few months and fixed all the intestinal problems HCTZ caused as well. Mom...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Nacina's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      14 year old with Celiac & EOE still suffering...

      It sounds like you've been through a lot with your son's health journey, and it's understandable that you're seeking answers and solutions. Given the complexity of his symptoms and medical history, it might be beneficial to explore a few avenues: Encourage your son to keep a detailed journal of his symptoms, including when they occur, their severity...
    3. Nacina
      - Nacina posted a topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      14 year old with Celiac & EOE still suffering...

      Hello, I am a 45 year old mom, who was diagnosed at 29 with Celiac. My now 14 year old son was diagnosed just before his 4th birthday. Needless to say, we are old pros with the diet. He was experiencing some issues, overall health took a major plummet a year ago, and through a bit of work, was diagnosed with EOE. Tried diet alone, but his follow up endoscopy...
    4. trents
      - trents replied to Fluka66's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Waiting for urgent referral.

      But if you have been off of wheat for a period of weeks/months leading up to the testing it will likely turn out to be negative for celiac disease, even if you actually have celiac disease. Given your symptoms when consuming gluten, we certainly understand your reluctance to undergo the "gluten challenge" before testing but you need to understand that the...
    5. Fluka66
      - Fluka66 replied to Fluka66's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Waiting for urgent referral.

      Thank you very much for your reply. I hadn't heard of celiac disease but began to notice a pattern of pain. I've been on the floor more than once with agonising pain but this was always put down to another abdominal problem consequently I've been on a roundabout of backwards and forwards with another consultant for many years. I originally questioned this...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      121,067
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    myneckmybackmyceliac
    Newest Member
    myneckmybackmyceliac
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • BluegrassCeliac
      This forum might be the last hope I have in my life. Please I beg you

      By BluegrassCeliac · Posted

      Hi,   Not saying Thiamine (B1) couldn't be an issue as well, but Mg was definitely the cause of my problems. It's the only thing that worked. I supplemented with B vitamins, but that didn't change anything, in fact they made me sick. Mg stopped all my muscle pain (HCTZ) within a few months and fixed all the intestinal problems HCTZ caused as well. Mom has an allergy to some sulfa drugs (IgG Celiac too), but I don't think I've ever taken them. Mg boosted my energy as well. It solved a lot of problems. I take 1000mg MgO a day with no problems. I boost absorption with Vitamin D. Some people can't take MgO,  like mom, she takes Mg Glycinate. It's one of those things that someone has try and find the right form for themselves. Everyone's different. Mg deficiency can cause anxiety and is a treatment for it. A pharmacist gave me a list of drugs years ago that cause Mg deficiency: PPIs, H2 bockers, HCTZ, some beta blockers (metoprolol which I've taken -- horrible side effects), some anti-anxiety meds too were on it. I posted because I saw he was an IgG celiac. He's the first one I've seen in 20 years, other than my family. We're rare. All the celiacs I've met are IgA. Finding healthcare is a nightmare. Just trying to help. B  
    • Scott Adams
      14 year old with Celiac & EOE still suffering...

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It sounds like you've been through a lot with your son's health journey, and it's understandable that you're seeking answers and solutions. Given the complexity of his symptoms and medical history, it might be beneficial to explore a few avenues: Encourage your son to keep a detailed journal of his symptoms, including when they occur, their severity, any triggers or patterns, and how they impact his daily life. This information can be valuable during medical consultations and may help identify correlations or trends. Consider seeking opinions from specialized medical centers or academic hospitals that have multidisciplinary teams specializing in gastrointestinal disorders, especially those related to Celiac disease and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE). These centers often have experts who deal with complex cases and can offer a comprehensive evaluation. Since you've already explored alternative medicine with a nutrition response doctor and a gut detox diet, you may want to consider consulting a functional medicine practitioner. They take a holistic approach to health, looking at underlying causes and imbalances that may contribute to symptoms. Given his low vitamin D levels and other nutritional markers, a thorough nutritional assessment by a registered dietitian or nutritionist specializing in gastrointestinal health could provide insights into any deficiencies or dietary adjustments that might help alleviate symptoms. In addition to routine tests, consider asking about more specialized tests that may not be part of standard screenings. These could include comprehensive stool analyses, food intolerance testing, allergy panels, or advanced imaging studies to assess gut health.
    • Nacina
      14 year old with Celiac & EOE still suffering...

      By Nacina · Posted

      Hello, I am a 45 year old mom, who was diagnosed at 29 with Celiac. My now 14 year old son was diagnosed just before his 4th birthday. Needless to say, we are old pros with the diet. He was experiencing some issues, overall health took a major plummet a year ago, and through a bit of work, was diagnosed with EOE. Tried diet alone, but his follow up endoscopy didn't show the improvements his DR. wanted to see, so I tried the medication. (Steroid). He became extremely backed up, and they had him taking Miralax daily. His health plummeted. He is a straight A honor's 8th grader who plays club soccer very competitively. His health continued to decline and at 13 had a colonoscopy and another upper gi. (He was still compacted even with the prep). I finally pulled him off all meds and mira lax, after reading much negative literature online, and put him on a gut detox diet and took him to a nutrition response dr. Finally things have improved. However...over a year later and he is having relapse stomach pain, debilitating stomach pain. Missing a day of school a week, to three this week. This is where we downward spiral with him. He says it doesn't feel the same as when he has gotten backed up before. He is eating prunes, taking his supplements, drinking water...all of the things. Yet, he is feeling horrible. Pain is abdomen, headache, lethargy, diarrhea . He is on a strict gluten dairy, egg free diet. He has adapted well in regards to diet. But I feel like we are missing something here. He is too active, too outgoing to be feeling sick all of the time. His Bilirubin is constantly high. His white blood count always runs slightly low. His vitamin D was very low last time he ran tests, (last month) when he was sick for a week. His celiac markers show negative, so it isn't that. His last endoscopy showed no Eosinaphils in his esophagus.  I have taken him to multiple Ped. Gastro specialists. They run tests, and we get zero answers. I meticulously go through labs, hoping to make some sense and maybe catch something. Any thoughts or ideas would greatly be appreciated. 
    • trents
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By trents · Posted

      But if you have been off of wheat for a period of weeks/months leading up to the testing it will likely turn out to be negative for celiac disease, even if you actually have celiac disease. Given your symptoms when consuming gluten, we certainly understand your reluctance to undergo  the "gluten challenge" before testing but you need to understand that the testing may be a waste of time if you don't. What are you going to do if it is negative for celiac disease? Are you going to go back to merrily eating wheat/barley/rye products while living in pain and destroying your health? You will be in a conundrum. Do I or do I not? And you will likely have a difficult time being consistent with your diet. Celiac disease causes inflammation to the small bowel villous lining when gluten containing grains are consumed. This inflammation produces certain antibodies that can be detected in the blood after they reach a certain level, which takes weeks or months after the onset of the disease. If gluten is stopped or drastically reduced, the inflammation begins to decrease and so do the antibodies. Before long, their low levels are not detectable by testing and the antibody blood tests done for diagnosing celiac disease will be negative. Over time, this inflammation wears down the billions of microscopic, finger-like projections that make up the lining and form the nutrient absorbing layer of the small bowel where all the nutrition in our food is absorbed. As the villi bet worn down, vitamin and mineral deficiencies typically develop because absorption is compromised. An endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to microscopically examine this damage is usually the second stage of celiac disease diagnosis. However, when people cut out gluten or cut back on it significantly ahead of time before the biopsy is done, the villous lining has already experienced some healing and the microscopic examination may be negative or inconclusive. I'm not trying to tell you what to do I just want you to understand what the consequences of going gluten free ahead of testing are as far as test results go so that you will either not waste your time in having the tests done or will be prepared for negative test results and the impact that will have on your dietary decisions. And, who are these "consultants" you keep talking about and what are their qualifications? You are in the unenviable position that many who joint this forum have found themselves in. Namely, having begun a gluten free diet before getting a proper diagnosis but unwilling to enter into the gluten challenge for valid testing because of the severity of the symptoms it would cause them.
    • Fluka66
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By Fluka66 · Posted

      Thank you very much for your reply. I hadn't heard of celiac disease but began to notice a pattern of pain. I've been on the floor more than once with agonising pain but this was always put down to another abdominal problem consequently I've been on a roundabout of backwards and forwards with another consultant for many years. I originally questioned this diagnosis but was assured it was the reason for my pain. Many years later the consultant gave up and I had a new GP. I started to cut out certain food types ,reading packets then really started to cut out wheat and went lactose free. After a month I reintroduced these in one meal and ended screaming in agony the tearing and bloating pain. With this info and a swollen lymph node in my neck I went back to the GP.  I have a referral now . I have also found out that acidic food is causing the terrible pain . My thoughts are this is irritating any ulcers. I'm hoping that after a decade the outlook isn't all bad. My blood test came back with a high marker but I didn't catch what it was. My GP and I have agreed that I won't go back on wheat just for the test due to the pain , my swollen lymph node and blood test results.  Trying to remain calm for the referral and perhaps needed to be more forceful all those years ago but I'm not assertive and consultants can be overwhelming. Many thanks for your reply . Wishing you all the best.
×
×
  • Create New...