RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (Full Version)

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JudasButcher -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 12:16:44 PM)

A few years ago we had someone move out of a house close by, they had 12 (TWELVE!!) cats that were indoor/outdoor and left them all behind. Before too long, that 12 was 30, then more and more. The humane society wouldn't do anything, the local game warden wouldn't come out because we were in a township and not within the city limits of their jurisdiction. We got curious and made some phone calls. The county said cats are considered wild animals and don't have to be registered or licenced. The game comission said cats are pets. It turns out that cats are a complete loophole in the laws around here. We had to take care of the problem ourselves. Did we "like" it?? Of course not.
When I had a large pack of hunting dogs, they had to be licensed the same as the ones in the house,and I had to have a kennel licence for having over 5, but you can have 25 cats and no one cares until you're on the news as the crazy cat lady.



pahunkboy -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 12:26:31 PM)

Alot of people wont bother to nueter or spay.  Of course that will make for lots of litters.

But when someone is irresponsible with a pet- they should not be shocked when things go arye.



soul2share -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 12:35:23 PM)

My sister did adopt the one exception to the indoor/leashed cat.  Her name was Paco, and her and her sister were born in the wild at the campground my parents had their trailer in for the summer.  Before they pulled out for the season, the owner said he was going to poison mom and both kittens.  They were all very lovable, and lived in the hedge right by my parents site.  Sis took Paco in, the other two went home with a couple of others...anyway, Paco literally stripped the wall paper off the mud room the week she had to be kept inside after being spayed.  They had two dogs with a run in the barn, once Paco was again out in the world, she spent the long cold nights curled up with the dogs.  She was a sweetie, she never developed the feral instincts, but she did hunt her own food, even tho she got the "good stuff".  She'd sit in the barn when my bro-in-law was working and talk his ear off!  As she got older, she'd come inside the house, but not for long.

One day, we were at my sis' house celebrating her birthday and their wedding anniversary....it was a nice warm sunny day in June, so we were BBQing.  Well, when everyone sat down to enjoy dinner, Paco came out of the woods with her own dinner....a nice warm, freshly killed mouse.  She joined us women sitting at the table and proceeded to enjoy dinner with us.  I thought Chuck's mom was going to lose it right there, but Mom, Sis, Kath and I just kept right on eating.....guess it's the farm kids in us.....but Paco ate it all up, just left the tail.  She cleaned her face and paws up and just joined in the conversation.  To this day, Chuck's mother thinks there is something wrong with us!  [8|]



Llyren -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 12:51:18 PM)

I don't.  I think that's a great story. I never minded mice that much, but I hated when they'd bring in bats, but because they were awful at hunting, they'd still be alive, and flying around.  It's illegal to kill bats in Illinois, and besides, I think they're cute.  But they do carry diseases, and so I'd have to figure out a way to get them safely out of the house.  I became pretty good at it, eventually.



LadyPact -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 1:04:57 PM)

Both.  Yep, that more than one thing is just a theme in My life.

We moved here with FOUR.  Yes, all of the way across the country, meowing all the way, with our four indoor cats.  None of them are indoor/outdoor type.  In fact, the littlest (Nermal, just like the Garfield comic strip in every way) got herself scared the one time she went past the patio door.  She was immediately afraid of the big, bad, outside world and ran straight for cover.  Once back indoors, she cowered under My desk for the rest of the day. 

On top of this, it seems that the male half of the old couple who used to live here had a fondness for stray cats.  One of the neighbors told us that before he had passed away, he had taken a number of cats over the years to the vet to have them fixed.  Even though he's gone and we've moved in, there are two outdoor cats who have more or less adopted us and live on our back patio.  The male is quite friendly and the female is terribly skittish. 

I'd honestly be afraid to let our indoor cats out.  All of them are rescues in one form or another and not one of them would know how to handle themselves if they were confronted with any of a dozen things that live on a wildlife preserve.  None of them are even brave enough to look at the raccoons through the glass when they come to visit.  However, the indoor ones do play with the outdoor ones through the patio doors and the blinds.


(crazy cat) Lady Pact





Llyren -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 1:13:51 PM)

Beatrix (see avatar) was afraid of the outside at first. But when she saw her brothers going outside, she wanted to as well.  Orion is scared of outside, but hates being alone, so he tries to sneak out with Malachi and Ysaeran. 

I have three male black cats, and one female who looks like a miniature Maine Coon.  She still sometimes tries to struggle for dominance with me, but is accepting that I'm the Alpha 'Kat'.

(edit:  I only have three male black cats, not four.)



fadedshadow -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 1:15:06 PM)

spook is an indoor kitty, but cats can be both imo



Lashra -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 1:27:35 PM)

Indoors to protect them from getting killed or hurt, but also to protect them from fleas and other parasites. When I lived in the city I read too many articles about cats being maimed or tortured to death by people so I allow them to stay indoors.




daintydimples -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 1:41:07 PM)

I have two cats.

The oldest is a small black cat named Trilby. Trilby was born in a sheep barn, other than that, Trilby has never been outside ( there are no snacks there). Plus he's unsure of the people. Will they pet him?

The other one is Spooky, a pure white cat with blue eyes. Spooky holed in my basement one winter, stray, starved, and freezing. It took a couple days for him to trust me enough to come inside. At the time he was about 6 months old and skeletal. Now he is a huge fat white cat (all on dry food kibble). He does go out on occasion. Since he's been fixed, he rarely stays out all night.





JudasButcher -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 2:25:45 PM)

I have no idea why I didn't think of this when I made my comment, but we now have one cat. Rune was a "freebie" from a yard sale at my moms neighbors. Someone's free-roaming cat got pregnant and had her kittens in this person's shed. Perfect example of why to keep them indoors.



LadyEllen -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 2:35:36 PM)

Mine are in/outdoors - try keeping the little devils in! I used to; but they got to learn that the return of the car (they would wait in the window) meant that the door would open shortly. Upon coming through the door, an avalanche of cats would come towards me, impossible to stop.

So I got a catflap so they could come and go as they wanted, since they wanted. When the kittens were born (planned) the cat flap (I thought) would be ideal - the adults could go out, the babies couldnt. Well, until they were a few weeks old that is, when they learnt that if they followed mom closely enough, they could keep the flap open long enough for them to spill out. But they couldnt get back in of course, so it was then a matter of propping it open myself so they could.

Cats arent as clever as dogs its true; more like monkeys.

E



tornaway -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 2:51:28 PM)

   I have three exclusively indoor , blissfully happy felines .    All their needs are met , they have exercise, things to chase ( sometimes each other ) and play with , lots of views of the outdoors,  receive annual vet care ,  and all kinds of edible indulgences.
  I chose to adopt them,  and love them .  That makes me responsible for their well-being and safety  - no different than if I had young children who cannot possibly deal with all the dangers they might encounter outdoors .

  These are some of the dangers outdoor cats are exposed to - no matter where you live :

     Cars ,   other people's loose pets  that are bent on killing ,   other diseased cats , severe wounds from cat fights ,   if not spayed - pregnancy  ,   being tortured/killed by screwed-up humans ,   deadly encounters with wildlife  ( which also exists in cities )  ,  deliberate poisoning  ( not everyone likes cats - especially when they kill birds ! ) ,   falling off high places ( they DO NOT always land on their feet ! ) ,   becoming lost ,   being picked up by folks that scoop up any loose dogs and cats to sell to lab suppliers  ( I worked in a research lab - and know this to be true )  ,  being lured into traps and then used to train dogs to fight and kill  ,  and on and on.

   SO - either this matters to you - or not .




soul2share -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 3:17:36 PM)

Lady P,  I did the drive from NY to AZ w/3 5 years ago, and just completed a week long journey from AZ to FL with 4.  The first day of the trip, Squeaks figured out how to unzip the soft carrier, so I pulled over and moved her into the hard one and put Smooch in the soft one.  He figured out how to open it the NEXT day.....so reather than trying to stuff them in repeatedly while driving, I just let them loose in the cab of the truck.  They actually rode better...no whining, bitching or complaining.....they all just picked out their spots in the truck, Boo and Smooch did the race for the underside of the passenger seat...Boo beat her there one day, and didn't come out for nuttin!

<-----S2S, who is the president of the Crazy Cat Ladies Association!  Everyone is welcome to join us!



thornhappy -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 3:24:50 PM)

already asked...



Icarys -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 3:37:51 PM)

quote:

Have you lived in rural areas before, by chance?


I know where this is heading but I'll bite..

Yes and no...

Yes I have lived in rural areas..probably most of my life..No I don't at the moment..Yes all of that is irrelevant as was the question. I'm sure you've thought of something clever to say to back up a point you'd like to make but all of that is irrelevant as well..

I was just surprised that she didn't try anything else before killing them..No amount of anything is going to change the fact that a person could and they may have not.

If she's okay with it it's fine..I'm sure she did all she could.



Llyren -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 4:08:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: soul2share

<-----S2S, who is the president of the Crazy Cat Ladies Association!  Everyone is welcome to join us!


Even in high school, I was claiming that I'd end up the crazy cat lady.  But honestly, five is my cat saturation point for indoor cats, and to truly be the crazy cat lady, you need at least eight or more.



zephyroftheNorth -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 4:17:37 PM)

quote:

At the risk of starting flaming, have you =ever= tried keeping a cat in the house when it's determined to be outside?


Yes. It takes a lot of effort but it's possible  All my cats have been indoor cats and that's the way  it's going to be



GYPSYMAMBO -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 4:25:17 PM)

Cat stuff and this n that from other posts...[:D]
** MAMA [:)]CAT PICS now on my profile
** STORY from That Time of Year thread..
LEGLESS MAMA CAT ) 
plus the BAT
 
WHen I had 15+ cats I had an acerage and a 60'pole shed that was converted for rescue..we also had dogs..and 1 horse that had been shot and lived.
IN town I had 15 in the house and it was unfair to neighbours to let them out and unfair to  keep some of them  in.

..I actaully ended up in the newspaper WITH the neigbour with the headline
Neighbours Hissing,,,
I made the msitake of moving RIGHT NEXT to the main person lobbying for cat bylaws..and husband #2 (POLY) and the 15 (poly) let the neesmen in the house,,oh dear..
Needless to say I took most of them to a friends acerage to roam again.
It was unfair to have them shitting in beautiful yards..being in danger etc.
Had the newsmen gone 4 blocks over to my friends E's house they would have found 83 there..I kid you not..most concerned there..."hoarding" perhaps.

RE: the bat...word must have got in the animal world..about me..2 little wounded bats came to me in the day time in a 3 week period( I shuffled up on hte sidewalk)..1 made it..I did not..awwwwwwwwww

GM



kanina -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 4:28:27 PM)

a have many cats, indoor and outdoor and also a cat on a leash... so it depends on the cat and what is best for him... if, like me, live near a road they may die but if in a flat they sometimes jump out of the window...



BKSir -> RE: Cats - indoor/outdoor? (11/19/2009 4:29:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: soul2share


<-----S2S, who is the president of the Crazy Cat Ladies Association!  Everyone is welcome to join us!


Even if we're not "ladies", we're allowed to join?



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