Want to adopt an OLD stray cat, but NEED your opinion

Well if you get her a dog house to say warm and dry in that is an improvement over no where to sleep at all. At least she knows she's been loved.

I think that is an excellent compromise. As long as she is kept warm, has regular food and water, has a safe place to stay, and is getting care and love - she'll be happier than she's probably been in a long time.

Good on you for caring for her, and making her last days comfortable ones.

Sounds like a great compromise to me, too. She has a home, food, love, and warm place to sleep.
I understand about not wanting to risk your babies by bringing her in. We would have not let any of ours have contact with the old fellow we took in, but they were having none of it. Scooter had to go visit with him. He would sit by White Kitty's bed and they would murmur at each other like they were talking. (I tried so hard not to get attatched, so I never gave him a name) It was so cute, they would go and sit with him one at the time, like they were visiting grandpa in the hospital. He would go sun himself on the steps on nice days, and mine would go sit with him.
They were all sad when he passed to the Bridge.

That's wonderful that you are going to do all of that for her! I completely understand about not wanting to expose Rupert and Stewie (OT, Family Guy related names?). I would be nervous about it too!

Honestly? I wouldn't worry about having tested positive for the corona virus (FIP). I've lost cats to FIP who lived with 10 others and none of the others ever contracted it. FIP doesn't spread like other diseases such as FIV and FeLV. I would be worried about her kidneys.

I took in a 10 year old unneutered male stray one time (he was promptly fixed of course). He spent his first 10 years fighting with others and surviving on the street. He spent his last few years living the life of luxury inside my home and was probably one of the best cats that I've lived with. I think he was just so appreciative of having love, warmth, food and water without having to fight for it.

I'll respect whatever decision you make, but personally I would side with bringing her inside.

I'll admit I'm disappointed you won't be bringing Puffy in, but I understand you have to be comfortable with doing that. I'm sure it was a tough decision. It's great that you will be taking care of her as best you can otherwise.

I've cared for feral cats for years, so I'll pass on a few things I've learned that will help Puffy be comfortable outside:

- buy or build a wooden house for her since wood insulates better than plastic.

- get the smallest house available; small shelters help concentrate body heat and also feel cozier/safer to the cat

- If building the shelter, place the opening to the side, not in the center. A center opening allows wind & rain to come in and makes it tough for the cat inside to avoid it. Most ready-made doghouses unfortunately, will have the opening right in the center.

- The opening shouldn't be bigger than 6" in diameter or 6" across if rectangular.

- Elevate the house with wood or bricks to at least 8" off the ground to prevent rain from splashing inside.

- The absolute best thing in the world for outdoor cats is the Lectro Soft Heated Kitty Bed!!! (www.khpet.com). Put one of these in Puffy's house and she'll be a happy kitty! Even in mild climates, a cat like Puffy who is older, underweight, and has kidney disease (which can make a cat feel cold) needs a warm place. My feral cats adore these beds, and I sleep better at night knowing the litttle guys are warm and comfortable. The company also makes an Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad which I use in the cats' feeding station. It's great for the cats to have a warm surface to stand or sit on while they eat. Unlike the Kitty Bed, it has a hard plastic shell which is easy to clean. The bed and pad use very little electricity.

- get a pet mat from www.blythewoodworks.com to put under the heated kitty bed. It gives extra insulation in cold weather, and can serve as a bed in hot weather when the heated bed isn't needed. It also offers support since it is thick and made of closed-cell rubber. While you're on that site, take a look at the kitty houses for sale - they're beautiful, but expensive!

Please consider doing hydration, even outside. If Puffy is as docile as she looks in the picture, you can still do it. It'll only take 5- 10 minutes, depending on the amount of fluid she needs. You can hang the bag on a trellis or arbor, even a tree branch will do (it needs to be elevated somewhat to let the fluid flow). You can buy the fluid online at a much better price than buying it from your vet. Puffy may also benefit from potassium supplements like Tumil-K. Talk to your vet about it.

Thank you for taking this little girl into your heart. She has truly found her guardian angel.

Apologies for the long post. Please give us updates!

Originally Posted by KTLynn

...Apologies for the long post...

Click to expand...

Are you kidding? That post is overflowing with great ideas and information! I'm saving it off to my computer for the next time I rescue a kitty. Thank you so much!

Thank you for again for the support and advice, especially KTLynn for your insight.

update:

I just came back with a 10 feet long table, a large plastic container, and soft pillows. I setup the table above the container so it provides shades. I have covered the opening of the container with cardboard and left an opening on the side for her to go in. Of course, the soft pillow is inside. I am going to Home Depot to buy some waterproof tarp and cut them to cover the table this weekend to make it a bit more weather proof.

I am giving her clavamox for her now and also hydrating her. Oh, I also got senior food for her as well. She seems happy now.

As long as she is here, I will continue to take care of her and bunch of our neighbor cats, Magix, Baby Popcorn, Bob, Krispy, Mr.P (it is possum). Yes, we named all the neighborhood cats and the possum. Mr. P comes over and eats the cat food we leave outside, funny.... Anyway, Puffy gets our special attention. I hope she will live a long time.

Thanks again and pics tomorrow.

Aww, I am a bit disappointed you can't take her in, but at least you are taking care of her outside. Food wise, a special diet would be better than senior food for her kidneys, and senior food has less calories, so might not help with her being underweight. As her kidneys aren't too good, it is extra important to keep an eye on her water, as it will make her drink a lot more. Good luck.

Thank you for taking care of this angel

It's so wonderful to know you are taking such good care of Puffy. She looks like an angel of a cat. So adorable.

Give her lots of affection and good medical attention in her last years. You will always feel good about doing this.

You're her savior! What a wonderful thing to do for her!!

Thanks again! I did not have time to take pics yet. I will take some soon.

Update: She is very happy. I spent about 1- 1-1/2 everyday with her outside, giving her meds, water, food, pet..etc. The rest of time she is just sleeping in her new home which is great. She only leaves our patio to go use the bathroom. I bought a litter pan but she does not know how to use it. She licks the litter.... I am thinking of getting a "pan of dirt" and see if she will go there. Then she will never have to leave our patio. Pics soon!

Thank you for the wonderful update!! And I think that it is so cute that you have named all of the neighborhood kitties and Mr. P....Still looking forward to those pics - that first one of Puffy is precious I am so happy for you all

UPDATE: I have updated the picture in the photo section. Here is the thread.

http://thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163486