Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/16/2008

Question
A very sociable, friendly stray cat has adopted my animal-loving children.  They've been feeding her and she has claimed our front yard, and a small shelter they've supplied her, as her own.  A few problems:  (1)  She is expecting a litter; (2) she absolutely HATES and is antagonistic towards our poor Standard Poodle and our indoor cat (she hisses at them through the storm door and has twice attacked the dog); (3) we can't take another animal into our house.
Do you think it is possible, once she has whelped and been spayed, that we could keep her as an exclusively outdoor cat?  We live in NJ; the winters can be cold.  It's hard for me to imagine this would be best for her.  On the other hand, with so many strays in the shelters, I question whether anyone else would take her in.

Answer
LCW,

I would put notices up with her picture around the area and at the nearest grocery store and gas station. And maybe an ad in the paper. A friendly cat may have gotten lost when someone moved in the neighborhood, she could have gotten out and got lost, or she was in heat and strayed. A family may be missing her. For good conscience I would at least try before keeping her.

If you want to try to bring her indoors, there is an introduction process you need to go through for things to work out with the other
animals in the family. She will be extra protective though with kittens.

The most important thing about introductions is to go SLOWLY! Do not try to rush it or force them or you WILL end up with behavior problems. I am including some excellent links to articles on how to do the introductions properly. They should be helpful as a guide.
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=cattocatintro...

It would be hard and her and her babies if they were to stay out in the cold. Especially if she was used to being inside someone's home.

Tabbi