LaTigresse
Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006 Status: offline
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I grew up with indoor outdoor cats. Six kids in and out......I think it would have been impossible to keep them in. But it still wasn't right. Last summer, my son trapped over 30 cats that the crazy cat lady across the street from his shop had attracted to the area. She was all about feeding them but would never imagine doing any vet care like spaying and neutering. Over the years of her kindness, the population grew and grew. My son builds cars with a final value that can be over a quarter of a million dollars. Having cats sneak in and piss and shit where ever they want, accidentally getting locked into the shop.......it was time to fix the problem. The local shelter became over whelmed with the number of cats they were trapping and delivering. They finally told my son, no more. A 22 took care of the problem I live in the country with no close neighbours. I have a cat that was a feral kitten, or a dumped kitten (we get that A LOT), that just decided to move in. For the first few years I was easily able to keep him indoors. He was neutered as soon as the vet would do it. He is vaccinated as needed. He is also determined to spend most of his time outdoors during good weather. He will hide near the door, wait for the dogs to be going outdoors and sneak out underneath them. I am quite certain there are people, that live in town, that have a similar situation. BUT.....if I lived in town and I cared about him at all, I would find a way to keep him indoors, regardless. Sadly, the truth is, I didn't want a cat and accept that a coyote, owl, or eagle might end his life earlier than otherwise. Traffic isn't a problem. He is has been here 10 years. When I am dealing with his litterbox I feel like it's 10 years too long. If I lived in town and the neighbours cat were coming into my yard pissing and shitting, or if feral cats or dumped cats had any sort of life expectancy and here hanging around, I would have no problem disposing of them. I adore my pets and understand I am not the only one. But I am not arrogant enough to expect that my neighbours want my pets hanging out at their house. I do everything possible to keep my dogs contained. The cat doesn't travel the distances the dogs would to get to the neighbours property so I know the only issue for him is wild life. Long blah blah blah cut short. If you have pets and do not contain them, expect that your neighbours might not find them as lovable as you do and might be well within their legal rights to get rid of them if they are on their property and possibly doing damage.
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My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one! Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!
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