Should I keep a howling stray cat indoors when it's freezing?

An adult feral cat may have a difficult transition to being an indoor cat. If she is intact, the vocalizations and nighttime behaviors could indeed be heat related. Having her spayed may decrease those behaviors but may not completely eliminate them. Try a pheromone collar, spray or plug in diffuser to decrease any anxiety she may be experiencing. If that doesn't help, an exam with your veterinarian to diagnose any underlying cause would be recommended. If you think she would be happier back at the barn, have her spayed (if she isn't already) to prevent accidental or unwanted litters. Some cats prefer living outdoors and that's may be the case here.

The most common reason that a male cat will howl throughout the night is that there is a female cat in heat, and he wants to get outside. From the information that you posted, you did not list Winston as being neutered. If that is the case, then neutering him may solve the problem. If Winston is already neutered, then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him to make sure there isn't anything abnormal on examination. Sometimes we will see howling at night associated with high blood pressure in cats. And finally, if Winston was previously an outdoor cat, he may be used to being allowed to go outside and roam at night (which is certainly not safe). So, you may need to find ways to keep him occupied at night. One option may be to have him "hunt" his food at night using a product like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) or a feeding ball. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

How lovely of you to look after these kittens! Your first option is to take them into the SPCA. They can get them checked out by a vet and find them a home for them. You could bring them inside when it's cold at night, but keep them in their own room separate from your dog. Make sure they have a litter box, food, and water in their room. Finally, you can make a shelter for them outside with blankets to help keep them warm at night. I hope this helps :-)

Thank you for your questions about Patio Cat. Certainly providing a warm bed and a place to get out of the wind/weather will help. Many people will use a styrofoam cooler with a hole cut out to hold in the heat. Provide fresh food and water. Make the food a high quality such as Royal Canin, Purina ProPlan or Iams. Certainly you can have this cat vaccinated, treated for parasites and even spay/neutered. Outdoor cats can produce many kittens, they can also act as a source of fleas and intestinal worms, cats who are not fixed can also be more prone to fighting and getting injured. Many cities offer programs to help spay, neuter and vaccinate homeless cats and I recommend to look into one of these. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would set up a warm bed for them, and put in something like a hot water bottle covered in towels. They are just over four weeks old, and while it's time for them to wean, they are probably better with their mother. If the temperatures keep dropping, however, I would move them indoors.

It sounds like she's a little scared, which is understandable given it's a new place. It's good on you to look after her, and be concerned about her sleeping outside. You can try leaving a trail of treats into the home, so she has to venture into the house to get the next one. Be sure to move slowly and quietly around her, and once she is inside the house, you can shut the door. You can try getting her inside with a collar and leash as well. If she allows you to carry her, you may be able to pick her up and carry her inside. Finally, you can lead the garage door open a little, and make a bed inside there for her. Leave out food and water next to the bed, and she may be tempted to go inside the garage. I would do that as a last option, as I realize you may not want to leave a door open at night. In the morning, I would recommend taking her into the vet to scan her for a microchip to see if she does have an owner.

Hello, cats are hardy pets and very loving. You may start by making sure they are all vaccinated, dewormed, and tested for FIV/FeLV. You may then bring them inside small amounts at a time to get them acquainted to your home. If they are doing ok while inside, you may extend the time spent inside so that they get can experience the indoors. While inside you should feed them wet food and give them love so that they know that it is ok to be inside. This usually gets them liking their new home and makes for a smoother transition. Hope this helps