Can mature outdoor cat be taken in?

[elbob101]

I have been feeding an outside cat for about 8 months, she had a litter of kittens about 8 weeks ago, I have found someone who is willing to take the 2 remaining kittens and the mother, after being an outside cat for so long can she be trained to use a litter box and become an inside only cat? The family has 5 children and I don't want any problems for them.

[FP]

Yes, with plenty of patience and understanding. I have reservations about whether five children would be a good idea. I don't think the cat would harm the kids, but the parents would have to make sure that the kids did not pester the cat and her kittens.

[Hippy]

My heart goes out to that poor cat. Being plonked into the unusual Bedlam of a household with five children - wow! It would reduce many a seasoned adult human to a gibbering wreck. Puss needs a calm and caring place if she is not just to do a shoot and leave the little ones to fend for themselves. Cat mothers can leave their kittens if in traumatic circumstances, and they forget them completely within a few weeks. Even if they come across them later there is no recognition or bond.

[FP]

Actually, after reading Hippy's answer, I would say that I definitely WOULD NOT rehouse the cat and her kittens in any family with 5 kids. However, hard the parents try, the kids would upset the cat. However, I stick to my original answer that it is possible for an outside cat to become an inside cat with plenty of patience and understanding perhaps in a more adult environment.

[elbob101]

My first time using this site, hope this goes to the right place. I really want to thank Hippy and Fakeplastic for their input. I am so torn, mother cat is searching all over for the missing kitten which the family took today. (I could only get one of the kittens, Mama hide the other and I couldn't get it) I have never met a family like this, the children are so well behaved and the parents so loving to even offer to take the adult cat as well as the kittens.

[Ouisch]

If mama cat is not feral, there should be no problem adopting her. When I was younger, our family took in a mother cat and her three kittens. The cat had been hanging around our house for a year, and then she had kittens in our garage. My dad finally said we'd better bring them all in the house, and we did with no problem. Mama used the litter box when we showed her where it was, and adapted nicely to living indoors.

[FP]

elbob, why don't you give the family a chance to try it out, if the children are very well behaved. The cat should be given her own quiet space initially until she learns to trust her new family. They sound a very nice family, and I wish you and the cat family lots of luck.

[elbob101]

Thanks again to all for your input. I lay awake this morning imagining all kinds of terrible things. I only wish I could have taken in the mama and kittens myself. I think I will talk to the family and explain my reservations and let them make the decision themselves. God Bless you and have a great day!