Expert: Jessica - 12/21/2009

Question
Dear Jessica,

I recently adopted a six-month old homeless cat (Ian) whose mother was definitely feral. I witnessed the mother hissing at Ian to make him go his own way. A homeless man befriended Ian who used to sleep between his legs. Happily, the man was selfless enough to want the cat to have a loving home.

Ian is a "pussycat"; he mildly submitted to bathing, nail trimming, etc. Although he hid for a few weeks, he soon was up on the bed playing happily with my Chihuahua and seeking human love and attention.

PROBLEM: I have a new baby in the house and want Ian to pee, etc. outside in order to avoid germ associated with litter boxes. Of course, I want him to remain indoors as much as possible (although he would probably enjoy the some play in the lush foliage outside). QUESTION: Can Ian develop a sense of home while inside the house? I believe he loves it here, but I don't want him to get lost. How can I help him learn that this property is his home, and can it be done from the inside? PLEASE ADVISE!

Thank you.

Ann

ANSWER: Hi Ann.  Cats do develop a homing instinct even from inside the house.  A magnetized cluster of cells in the brain is responsible for this.  Neutered cats rarely stray more than a few blocks from their home once they have been established at a residence for at least a couple of months.

However, indoor cats can get very spooked when they go outside, hiding in bushes or drains, too afraid to come out during the daytime.  These cats tend to sneak out of their hiding spots only under the cover of night in search of food, and hence, most of them are never found.  There are also many dangers outdoors that could prevent him from getting home, even if he wanted to.  

For his safety, it would be best if you kept the litter box on the other side of a baby gate where the baby could never reach it, and you could use rubber gloves while scooping the litter box to avoid coming into contact with any possible germs.  However, if you are really set on getting him to go outside, I would strongly recommend that you have him microchipped, and also have him wear a collar with a visible ID.  Microchips tend to run about $60, and most companies are offering free lifetime registration these days.  The grain of rice sized microchip is inserted under the skin between the shoulders by a vet in a regular office visit, with a needle not much larger than those used for vaccinations.  Vets and shelters carry scanners to read these microchips, which will be linked to your contact information.  Your pet is far more likely to be returned if lost if he has a microchip or is wearing an ID (but ID's can fall off, and a microchip is a good back up).

Additionally, I would recommend investing in a Cat Locator.  The collar is equipped with a transponder, and you use a handheld radio device to locate him if he’s lost.  You typically need to be within 400 feet of the cat for the radio to work, so it will take some walking around to try to find him.  Some companies are also selling GPS collars, but these tend to be too bulky for the average-sized cat.

Good luck with all!

Jessica




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My real concern is whether Ian's paws -- de to daily contact with the litter box -- will infect the baby when he sleeps and plays on the bed.

Answer
I understand your worry.  But this is generally of no concern.  Diseases that come from cat feces really require direct contact with contaminated feces to become a threat to children.

In reality, having a cat who goes outdoors tends to pose more of a health risk than keeping a litter box inside.  Outdoors, your cat will come into contact with parasites such as roundworms.  While human infection with these worms is quite rare and does require placing the hands in the mouth after contact with infected feces, outdoor cats are much more likely to be chronically infected with these pests, increasing the risk.  

The bigger threat is the fungal infection, ringworm.  Spores of this fungus are found in large amounts in soil.  Some spores are found in the air, and people and pets alike can become infected at any time.  However, a cat who is digging around in the dirt to cover his waste is at immensely higher risk.  And the infection is extremely contagious (fortunately, it is also treatable and causes no serious harm).

Additionally, outdoor cats are at risk for contracting bartonella henselae, the bacteria that causes Cat Scratch Disease in people.  This disease is picked up by the cat when he's bitten by fleas.  It can spread to humans by a scratch or a bite, which probably will never occur, but it's best for all if the cat never contracts the bacteria.

As long as you scoop his litter box for solid waste daily, there is not really any reason to worry that he'll track anything around the house that could harm your baby.  Most cat owners keep litter boxes in the house today, and despite this, there are very few illnesses associated with the litter box that are reported.  The children who do get sick nearly always have direct contact with the cat's feces, as playing with the cat litter can be tempting for a little one!

Hope that helps!