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Cat Forum / General Topics / January 2005Fighting cats :( HELP!!!
We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have stopped by now but she continues to go round there and give the other cat a good clawing. I'm getting tho the stage where I don't want to let her out as she is terrorising next doors cat. If anyone has any ideas we'd gratefully receive them. TIA Ian & Val > We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no > actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > If anyone has any ideas we'd gratefully receive them. Keep your cat inside. Why don't you keep your cat indoors? Problem solved.  SignatureCat Galaxy: All Cats! All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of Your Computer Needs! www.panthertekit.com > We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no > actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Ian & Val simple. KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE! -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no > actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > If anyone has any ideas we'd gratefully receive them. Why should you? If your neighbour doesn't want their cat getting battered they should buy a catflap with a magnetic or infra red door so your cat can't get into their place. You can't train cats not to go next door and have a fight, if they do this then their cat can run inside away from yours and be safe. We had a similar situation in that a new cat in the neighbourhood kept going into next door's house and mine & getting severely battered by the resident cats of both houses (strange cat, maybe it was into S&M). We both fitted programmed catflaps and it doesn't get beaten up as much anymore. SignatureI.P.Freely > We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no > actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have > stopped by now but she continues to go round there and give the other cat a good clawing. I'm getting tho the stage where I don't want to let her out as she is terrorising next doors cat. Have you met the owners next door? It might be good for you to establish friendly relations with them and let them know you're working on the problem. How much time did your cat spend outdoors at your old home? How large was her territory there? This might be a temporary problem, till she learns the boundaries between her territory and the other cat's territory. But you need to avoid contact that might cause injury or stress to the other cat. You might research ways of showing your cat the boundaries without involving the other cat. Is the other cat always outside, or only at certain hours? Maybe you could keep yours inside when theirs is out. Margaret -------------- Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. Our cat is going over onto their drive. Their cat is out quite a lot and has been out all night on some occasions. It tends to go under their car but ours goes straight after her. Last night I had to separate them, mine had fur in her claws and a bloody nose!! They are both females, ours is 8yrs old, she used to be able to come and go as she pleased at the old house as we had a cat flap, we are intending to do the same here. Her mother was feral, and from what I can remember of where we used to be she had no fear of other cats in the main. We have met next doors and they know we're onto it, but how long can one tolerate ones cat being done in every day?? Ian >> We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no >> actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Margaret > -------------- > Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > We have met next doors and they know we're onto it, but how long can one > tolerate ones cat being done in every day?? Much as I'm a person who, when it's safe, advocates letting cats come and go, it sounds like yours just might have to be contained somehow. > Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > as she pleased at the old house as we had a cat flap, we are intending to do > the same here. Has she fought this much where you lived before? Does she fight other cats in this new home? Margaret SHe's had one or two fights but in the end she claimed her own territory. I think that this is the way this one's going to go too but I really don't know. As for letting her out, I don't believe in making cats stay in all the time, cats should be allowed to come and go as they please, well IMHO. >> Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Margaret > SHe's had one or two fights but in the end she claimed her own territory. I > think that this is the way this one's going to go too but I really don't > know. As for letting her out, I don't believe in making cats stay in all > the time, cats should be allowed to come and go as they please, well IMHO. Make sure you repeat this mantra after you find your cat dead. yeah right? many people have told this person what you just said, yet that person insists on letting the cat out. i dont care if you live in a city where there are no cars, ACCIDENTS CAN STILL HAPPEN. this person fails to grasp that apparantly. maybe s/he needs to go back to school? -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D once again, SIMPLE SOLUTION: keep your bloody cat INSIDE. do i need to spell it out for you? your cat belongs I N S I D E. -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > once again, SIMPLE SOLUTION: Since you like simplicity so much here is a simple idea for you: if you include a snippet of the post to which you are replying, somebody might know who the f.ck you are replying to. whats that word? oh yeah *plonk* -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > whats that word? oh yeah *plonk* > > -agent smith Since nobody knows who you are "plonking" (if anyone cared in the first place) why do you bother? Moron. > once again, SIMPLE SOLUTION: > > keep your bloody cat INSIDE. do i need to spell it out for you? your cat > belongs I N S I D E. > > -agent smith I am allfor indoor cat keeping but with this attitude Agent Smith, you will only anger theOP and make him even more resentful to your suggestion. So pls chill and if you wanna give good advice do it in a way they wont resent it.We all needed to learn at one point or another. Oh and pls dont refer to cats as "bloody"cats in the future, its insulting,and I know you love cats really. insulting? only to you perhaps. i add bloody to lots of phrases and nouns. no insult was ment. the only way youre going to change someone, especially in these situations, is to consistantly reiterate the same thing to them. maybe when his/her cats turn up dead from a hit and run or poisoning, maybe then s/he will get the point and keep his/her cat indoors. -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > SHe's had one or two fights but in the end she claimed her own territory. I > think that this is the way this one's going to go too but I really don't [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >>Margaret Does your vet have any clever ideas on this or maybe even a animal behaviourist could advise you? If you have a good relationship with your neighbour you could perhaps let the cats out at different times. If they are fighting could you not spray your cat with water as a detterent? You need to help them decide who is boss without too many injuries, by pulling the apart you are stopping them from determining who is boss so that they will definatly fight again next time they meet. They are doing a natural thing by trying to determine who is head female. Are they both neutered? If I was you I would first contact my vet for advice, while letting them out at separate times(if possible) and if they still manage to meet use water on your own cat(especially when she is on areas that are clearly covered by the other cats family smell eg. their car) to try and make her back down. Does your neighbour know whether their cat has also been in a lot of fights in the past? SignatureBadger Badger Badger /snip/ > You need to help them decide who is boss without too many injuries, by > pulling the apart you are stopping them from determining who is boss so > that they will definatly fight again next time they meet. They are doing > a natural thing by trying to determine who is head female. Mm. My reading was that the OP's cat was already winning all the fights ("bullying", "terrorising") since the neighbor's cat is retreating under the neighbor's car (probably the core of her own territory, her last sanctuary). "Our cat is going over onto their drive. [....] It tends to go under their car but ours goes straight after her." Also he said it's getting worse, iiuc. Ime the 'boss' or 'head female' (alpha female) thing applies when cats are compelled to share a territory, or are part of the same family (fed by the same owner, etc). If there are two houses with driveways, the usual thing would be for each cat to have a separate territory. It might be dominance ('head female') or it might be territory (much more common). If it is territory, then maybe the OP should observe whether his cat is trying to establish a reasonable boundary (somewhere between the two houses) or is trying to annex the neighbor cat's core territory (the drive and car area) or the whole next door yard (driving the neighbor cat away altogether). It would be much less likely ime for the OP's cat to want the neighbor's cat to remain in the OP's conquered territory as a subordinate (beta female etc). In any case, if the OP's cat is clearly winning all the fights but the situation isn't winding down, then some intervention might be needed. Margaret > /snip/ > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > In any case, if the OP's cat is clearly winning all the fights but the > situation isn't winding down, then some intervention might be needed. Definatly, my reasoning to thinking that they had not yet discovered who was alpha female was because the OP's cat was still being injured, something I would not expect to see if the other cat had given in. It was a very interesting OP but we could still do with more detail on this one. We do not have any idea how the other cat is getting on etc. Or whether the house had a cat in previously. Like I said, personally I would get some advice from my vet and keep my cat in till a new plan of action was devised. SignatureBadger Badger Badger > > /snip/ > > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > was alpha female was because the OP's cat was still being injured, > something I would not expect to see if the other cat had given in. Good point. But if it's territory rather than dominance, then the only way the neighbor's cat could 'give in' when attacked in the core of her territory (ie under her own car :), would be to leave the neighborhood. Suppose it is dominance and the OP's cat doesn't know when to stop, wouldn't the other cat eventually defend herself? But I think the OP said his was several years old and this problem hadn't come up before. > It was a very interesting OP but we could still do with more detail on > this one. Oh, yes. Unfortunate that the OP is having internet problems as well. > We do not have any idea how the other cat is getting on etc. Well, the OP indicated he'd talked to the neighbor, so if they aren't concerned yet, maybe it is not too bad. > Or whether the house had a cat in previously. Which house do you mean? > Like I said, personally > I would get some advice from my vet and keep my cat in till a new plan > of action was devised. Certainly consult the vet. Hm, a longshot, but if the OP now uses the same vet as the neighbor, perhaps the vet might remember the history of the neighbor's cat and have some light to shed. Margaret ----------- >>>/snip/ >>> [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] > the other cat eventually defend herself? But I think the OP said his was > several years old and this problem hadn't come up before. I had read that their cat had had a couple of fights in the past which had sorted themselves out. The post(according to my stupid computer, so probably wrong) was on the 15th jan in the afternoon. >>It was a very interesting OP but we could still do with more detail on >>this one. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Well, the OP indicated he'd talked to the neighbor, so if they aren't > concerned yet, maybe it is not too bad. thats what I was thinking, either that or they dont care! >> Or whether the house had a cat in previously. > > Which house do you mean? Sorry, the house which they have moved into. Was wondering whether there was another cat there before they moved in. >>Like I said, personally >>I would get some advice from my vet and keep my cat in till a new plan [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > vet as the neighbor, perhaps the vet might remember the history of the > neighbor's cat and have some light to shed. Quite possible :-) > Margaret > ----------- SignatureBadger Badger Badger > Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > We have met next doors and they know we're onto it, but how long can one > tolerate ones cat being done in every day?? If you continue to allow you cat to go outside, you deserve whichever heartbreak is coming your way. right? not to pour salt on the wound, but if you let your cat out, whatever happens to s/he, you deserve. -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D >> Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > If you continue to allow you cat to go outside, you deserve whichever > heartbreak is coming your way. "Professor" <vze3vvj2@verizon.net> wrote in message news:Rf9Gd.2687 > If you continue to allow you cat to go outside, you deserve whichever > heartbreak is coming your way. No he doesnt. And definitly the cat doesn;t, so pls chill and calm down the attitude. Me and you may not agree with letting the cats out, but many people strongly believe in it and if you do want them to change their mind you will NOT succeed in it by being MEAN to them! You catch more flies with honey. > "Professor" <vze3vvj2@verizon.net> wrote in message news:Rf9Gd.2687 > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > believe in it and if you do want them to change their mind you will NOT > succeed in it by being MEAN to them! You catch more flies with honey. If the cat's owner cannot absorb common sense then why sugar-coat it? I live with the regret of having allowed a beloved cat outside and subsequently hit and killed by a car. Who else will the owner have to blame for the cat's untimely demise? yes, s/he does. end of story. domesticated cats are INDOOR pets, not outdoor pets. end of bloody story. -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > yes, s/he does. end of story. domesticated cats are INDOOR pets, not outdoor > pets. end of bloody story. For the last time, nobody knows who you are talking to, dickweed. > For the last time, nobody knows who you are talking to, *&^%^&* Is the namecalling relevant, I mean really... As I described on another newsgroup, most people *DO* know who he is talking to.... In the response you are talking about, I can plainly see that he is replying to the remark made by "Gee." It is because most newsreaders show replies as a heirarchy, the reply being directly below and indented to the one someone is replying to. > yes, s/he does. end of story. domesticated cats are INDOOR pets, not outdoor > pets. end of bloody story. > > -agent smith Don't you think it would be cruel and confusing to suddenly confine an 8year old cat that is used to going outdoors? Some domesticated cats are outdoor cats. SignatureBadger Badger Badger >> yes, s/he does. end of story. domesticated cats are INDOOR pets, not outdoor >> pets. end of bloody story. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Some domesticated cats are outdoor cats. I don't see why they can't make an outdoor enclosure if it is their own house. Even if it is rented, you could make some type of structure that could be taken down upon leaving. Put some ornamental bushes in it, a log and some platforms. Best of both worlds. > Sorry I haven't replied but my news server is causing me untold problems. > > Our cat is going over onto their drive. Their cat is out quite a lot and > has been out all night on some occasions. It tends to go under their car > but ours goes straight after her. If your cat is trying to claim territory within the neighbor's driveway and under their car, she's not likely to succeed. Cat territories and human property lines don't always coincide, but a car-parked area probably has a lot of owner-traffic and scent and may seem like a last refuge for the neighbor's cat. The neighbor's cat retreating this far before making a stand doesn't sound good for the usual sort of boundary settlement. How far is the neighbor's car from where you usually let your cat out? Could you try letting her out on the far side of the house, further away from the neihbor's drive, so she might go in other directions to make her territory? Is there any sort of fence or hedge between the drive and your area? Add some cat repellant? > Last night I had to separate them, mine > had fur in her claws and a bloody nose!! This is really a long shot, but what about some of those booties or whatever that some people use to keep their cats from scratching furniture? Or get her a manicure so her claws won't be so sharp (_not_ declawing). Maybe it would help get them through this temporary situation without your cat injuring the other. Also if she's not fighting as effectively, she might back off at a more realistic boundary line. As a last resort, what about some temporary tranquilizer? Margaret why doesnt this nimrod KEEP THE CAT INSIDE? why does s/he not respond to any comment about keeping the cat inside? i think this 'owner' should just take the cat to a rescue group and not have cats anymore, as s/he has proven to be irresponsible. -agent smith SignatureBe sure to check out http://home.satx.rr.com/satxcichlids for information on my fishies! also, sign up for a *FREE* ipod here: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9570045 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewootech/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daewoolanos/ http://www.geocities.com/daewoolanoshatchback/ contact info: agentsmith@UNDIES.the-c0re.tk agentsmith2011@UNDIES.punkass.com remove UNDIES to reply :D > why does s/he not respond to any > comment about keeping the cat inside? > Perhaps because between your refusal to include a snippet of the post to which you are responding, your laziness in using your gd caps key where it is needed, and your asinine signature, you appear to be a total moron. > We've just moved, well end of Nov and our cat is constantly fighting, no > actually, she's bullying the cat next door. We thought it might have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Ian & Val My neighbour has a local bully Barney. I took my Charlie over inside their house and of course Barney started his attack mode straight away by cornering Charlie and yowling progresively. Charlied screamed back, as he is an ex-stray so can fight for himself, but I knew he'd back up when confronted with Barney. I set couple of meters away with the water bottle and watched them. Every time barney came to near to Charlie I sprayed the water on him. It took good 3 sprays for him to back off. I didnt say a word. After a few seconds he started coming at Chalie again. I sprayed again. This time took 2 sprays. Then one. Then finally after at least 10 min Barney figured out that Charlie is not the good news and is clearly a God of water :) Thus he should be avoided and he left him alone. What I am trying to say is that this may be the best and quickest option, do it cold turkey, and if you can do it couple of different times, just in case your cat forgets what happened. So once he associattes your neighbours cat as "water God" he;ll keep away from him. This of course involves good neighour's relations and explanation that in a long run this is better for THIER cat . You must not talk during this process cos you don;t want either of them to create negative association with you. Let us know how it goes :) Bo Of course the neighbor's cat would enter attack mode. Your cat was in his territory. You should have kept your cat at home and also the squirt bottle. SignatureCat Galaxy: All Cats! All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of Your Computer Needs! www.panthertekit.com > My neighbour has a local bully Barney. I took my Charlie over inside their > house and of course Barney started his attack mode straight away by [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Bo > Of course the neighbor's cat would enter attack mode. Your cat was in his > territory. You should have kept your cat at home and also the squirt bottle. No. YOU don't know Barney. Barney doesn't come inside my place. But he does go out and he IS a local bully, which means he attacks any cat locally. EVERYTHING is his territory. The point of the exercise is to teach him not to attach Charlie for many reasons. And it did. If I had listen to you, and kept my Charlie at home as well as the squirt bottle, without Barney, what would be the point of exercise!!Honestly. Yes of course we were on HIS territory. But Barney just like the OP's cat thinks EVERYTHING is his territory. Other cats in his place do not attack, even tho its THEIR territory as well. So cats should be thought NOT to attack regardless of weather they are! I don't like violence full stop. PS, the original post from Bo is actually mine but posted from my mate Bo's PC, in case you are confused that I'm answering someone else's post. You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat over to your neighbor's house to meet the other cat inside the home. Bad move on your part and it will do little to solve the problem. Both you and your neighbor keeping the cats indoors will solve the problem and also be safer for the cats. SignatureCat Galaxy: All Cats! All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of Your Computer Needs! www.panthertekit.com > No. YOU don't know Barney. Barney doesn't come inside my place. But he > does [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > even tho its THEIR territory as well. So cats should be thought NOT to > attack regardless of weather they are! I don't like violence full stop. > You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat over > to your neighbor's house to meet the other cat inside the home. Bad move > on your part and it will do little to solve the problem. Both you and your > neighbor keeping the cats indoors will solve the problem and also be safer > for the cats. I'm guessing that Gee is from the UK. Things are different there and cats are normally let in and out. Apparently they have much less traffic and predatory wildlife. Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG >>You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat over >>to your neighbor's house to meet the other cat inside the home. Bad move [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > are normally let in and out. Apparently they have much less traffic and > predatory wildlife. Things are very different here! We do have a few places with lots of traffic, but nothing compared to some parts of America, and people who live in such busy areas don't tend to keep cats. Mind you cats that have always lived near traffic do grow up to be very streetwise. We also don't have any Natural predatory wildlife, their are a few rumors about foxes attacking cats, but I have spent time in urban areas (where I saw foxes everynight walking my old dog), but none of the local cats were ever attacked. I also spend alot of time in the country(i own a pony) and see a lot of foxes in the fields and have never seen or heard of any foxes attacking cats there. Their are a few escaped large cats, but as far as I know there have been no reports of cats being killed by them. SignatureBadger Badger Badger > >>You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat over > >>to your neighbor's house to meet the other cat inside the home. Bad move [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > > I'm guessing that Gee is from the UK. Things are different there and cats are normally let in and out. Apparently they have much less traffic and predatory wildlife. The US is a big place. :) Some areas have more traffic than others. Indoor-only-cat people seem to be more vocal, but there are plenty of outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats and people in the US also. :) The majority, I'd expect. > Things are very different here! We do have a few places with lots of > traffic, but nothing compared to some parts of America, and people who [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > but as far as I know there have been no reports of cats being killed by > them. Sounds like many parts of the US. :) Well, in some areas we have coyotes and a few more wild animals, but attacks on cats and dogs are rare. Margaret ["Followup-To:" header set to rec.pets.cats.health+behav.] On 2005-01-14, Margaret penned: > The US is a big place. :) Some areas have more traffic than others. > Indoor-only-cat people seem to be more vocal, but there are plenty of > outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats and people in the US also. :) The majority, > I'd expect. Oscar is my first cat. Most of the cats I've known have been indoor/outdoor, but I was living in an apartment near a lot of busy streets, and frankly I was as worried about neighbor kids as I was about the cars. I definitely think about whether it's unfair to keep Oscar indoors, but she's been indoors since she was 8 weeks old, and also, her reflexes seem pretty slow. I just don't think she'd adjust well to the outdoors at this point. > Sounds like many parts of the US. :) Well, in some areas we have coyotes and > a few more wild animals, but attacks on cats and dogs are rare. We have coyotes, foxes, and mountain lions where I am, just to name a few. I don't think the mountain lions would come into the suburban neighborhood where I live, but I'd bet you'd find them within ten miles. All of our recreational areas are actually mountain lion territory. When I first moved to the area, I was astounded by the number of "lost cat" posters up ... and unfortunately, it's pretty clear to me why there are so many =/ Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat over > > to your neighbor's house to meet the other cat inside the home. Bad move [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > are normally let in and out. Apparently they have much less traffic and > predatory wildlife. Unfortunately yes, people do let the cats out here, but I am against that,and mine 5 are indoor, with outdoor harness+leash only access . But we do share the common hallway with other cats, and I need them to get on. And no there is no much less traffic here.Trust me! :) >>>You specifically stated in your original post that you took your cat > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > And no there is no much less traffic here.Trust me! :) I know you lost a kitten to a traffic accident. Can I ask how old the cat was when it was very sadly killed? Personally I would not own a cat if I lived on a main road or in the centre of a city. I have also not let my own kitten out yet( he will be six months old on mon) for three reasons, I wanted him to be microchipped and neutered first(which is happening next friday), and also because my vet pointed out that cats are less cocky and playful the older they get and therefore more likely to avoid cars when they are kept in for longer. So his big day of freedom should occur next month! It sounds from your previous posts that you excersise your cats a lot, which is great. I am personally not against indoor cats as long as they are excersised regularly, but do not honestly see the need to keep them in, in this country. But then I personally would never keep a cat in a busy area. There are risks in everything we do, sometimes bad things happen, but that is life, as long as you do your best to avoid any serious dangers you are doing your best. If people keep their cats in, that is fine , if people let their cats out that is also fine as long as you are doing the best thing for your cat and not for yourself. SignatureBadger Badger Badger "BC" <BC@fake.com> wrote > > > I know you lost a kitten to a traffic accident. Can I ask how old the > cat was when it was very sadly killed? > > Personally I would not own a cat if I lived on a main road or in the > centre of a city. Bet you would, if you really love cats. :) "BC" <BC@fake.com> wrote in message news:HQXFd.2797$Pp4.1198@newsfe6- > I know you lost a kitten to a traffic accident. Can I ask how old the > cat was when it was very sadly killed? Thank you for remembering :) Yes QT was tragically run over in front of my eyes 5 years ago. He was three weeks before his 1st b-day. And I am in no way still over him :( He was just the most amazing guy I 've ever met.Loosing him was the worse day of my life and I have become nervous wrack worrying about the other 5 I have now :) They are only allowed outside on harness and leash. > Personally I would not own a cat if I lived on a main road or in the > centre of a city. Its acommon misconceptin Im afraid. Although admitingly traffic IS much worse in London then on countryside, the cars tend to drive much faster outside London. Some freinds moved to a countryside few years back from London and took their outdoor cat with them.She was run over on a pretty much deserted country road within a week. So the risk is always there Im afraid, neither is safe. >I have also not let my own kitten out yet( he will be > six months old on mon) for three reasons, I wanted him to be > microchipped and neutered first(which is happening next friday), and > also because my vet pointed out that cats are less cocky and playful the > older they get and therefore more likely to avoid cars when they are > kept in for longer. So his big day of freedom should occur next month! I spoke to a number of people whos cats got run over and it turned out most of them were under 1 yrs old.So Id go with your vets suggestion, and if you really really do want to let him out, dont do it till he has calmed down and grown up a bit, so not before hes one. Also do show him the territory, dont let him out cold turkey.Walk him aroudn on leash and harness for a couple of weeks and just show hime where he can go. Try and scare him when cars are coming, so he possibly associates them with negative feelings and runs from them. > It sounds from your previous posts that you excersise your cats a lot, > which is great. its not so much the excercise,as is that they are used to outdoors and I had to teach them slowly to become indoors. Also inside the have 3 floors for them (and one for me :)) as I put the cat stairs on the walls and made access to all the tops of the cupboards which cats love. I also have 3 scratching posts, and they are allowed to go anywhere they want.Finally there is 5 of them so they always have company. Going out is really just a special treat which they may or may not get every day. > I am personally not against indoor cats as long as they > are excersised regularly, but do not honestly see the need to keep them > in, in this country. I felt the same til I lost my QT. And only when I lost him I realised NOTHING was worth as much as him. Was the 2 months of him going out worth his early death? Not in my opinion. He could've had much more fun to day with us and his 5 brothers and sisters. Instead he's gone and taken a huge chank of my heart with him :( > "BC" <BC@fake.com> wrote in message news:HQXFd.2797$Pp4.1198@newsfe6- > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > much deserted country road within a week. So the risk is always there Im > afraid, neither is safe. I lived in a cul de sac up intill a couple of years ago where there was about 20 outdoor cats to the 50 houses. Out of the two cats we had one, Rupert was hit by a car, but luckily pulled through. Our neighbour lost one of her four cats to a traffic accident and another broke its leg but lived. None of the other cats in the road were ever hit. And the two that survived were were both let back out when they recovered, unfortunatly Rupert has since passed on but our neighbour cats still goes out. >>I have also not let my own kitten out yet( he will be >>six months old on mon) for three reasons, I wanted him to be [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > go. Try and scare him when cars are coming, so he possibly associates them > with negative feelings and runs from them. I bought him a harness and lead back in October for him to go in our garden(or to drag me under the hedge only for him to get scared and then drag me back in the house!), and my intention as you have suggested is for him to go for walks round the house with me to familiarise him with his surroundings first. >>It sounds from your previous posts that you excersise your cats a lot, >>which is great. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > there is 5 of them so they always have company. Going out is really just a > special treat which they may or may not get every day. From what I have read in other peoples post not everyone who has a cat gives them as much freedom as you do, some seem to keep their cats locked constantly in one room. >>I am personally not against indoor cats as long as they >>are excersised regularly, but do not honestly see the need to keep them [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > with us and his 5 brothers and sisters. Instead he's gone and taken a huge > chank of my heart with him :( My kitten will never be a completely free outdoor cat as my other ones have been as he is pure white and I have been told that I should not let him out at the hottest part of the day in summer and that he will need to wear sun lotion when he does go out! I also have two young children who dont always remember that Kiwi has to stay in, and I have only just managed to grab him on his way out the front door when they have let him out a couple of times, There is no way I would be able to keep him locked in forever, especially in the summer and as the kitchen is the only place I can lock him in so that he doesn't escape when a door opens when I go out but is too hot to be constantly locked in in the summer so he really needs to learn to go out.(he has free access to the entire house when I am there which is most of the day) Yes there are risks to him going out, but then on the other hand no house is completely safe either and I will be absolutly devastated if anything happens to him, but it is a quiet open road with lots of other cats waiting to meet him! All the houses are set a long way back with long drives so any car driver can easily see a cat waiting on the side of the road from a long way, their are also never any cars parked down the road for him to hide out of sight under. I would rather he gets used to being let out than my kids suddenly letting him out the door one day and him being so excited that he just runs straight out into a car, or even dare I say it us getting burgled and Kiwi escaping out into a world he does not know. SignatureBadger Badger Badger >Yes there are risks to him going out, but then on the other hand no >house is completely safe either and I will be absolutly devastated if >anything happens to him, but it is a quiet open road with lots of other >cats waiting Hi there, I'm having the same dilemma myself, about our two. I think they're around the same age as your little guy - possibly a bit younger. They're due to get snipped & chipped at the end of February, and they've had their vaccinations all done now... So strictly speaking, they're okay to go out once they've recovered from the op in March. But I'm so nervous about actually letting them out. Our older cat, Macavity, has never had any problems (touch wood). We started off very slowly, letting him out in the back garden (we have high fences) a few times, then teaching him to use the catflap and taking him round on a harness a few times. Then we'd let him out of his own accord through the catflap at the weekends when we were both in. When we were out at work during the week, he was kept in the house, and I think we kept this up until he was about one year old. Now, he's convinced us that he's big enough and clever enough to have the catflap open all the time, so he can come and go as he pleases. He's just over two years old now, and he spends most of his time asleep on our bed, and spends relatively little time outside. Since we got the little ones, we've had to set the catflap to in-only so that Macavity can come in, but Ella and Lou can't get out. They're starting to show a big interest in outside - bashing the catflap to see if they can get out, and staring longingly out the windows for hours on end. I can tell they're going to love being outside - they're already very predatory, and their mum brought them live prey as kittens. Your point really pinned it down for me - a big part of me wants to keep them safe indoors, but that isn't foolproof either. We actually had Ella & Lou's sister from an earlier litter - Jess. Jess was born in the spring and we had her in the summer. We had absolutely NO idea that lillies were poisonous to cats (they do the same damage as drinking antifreeze does) and she died at 3 and a half months from acute renal failure after eating some of the lillies. I was absolutely devasted, and it left a big hole in my heart. My husband is really pushing me to let them out as soon as they've had the operation, when they're six months. But I have this huge internal dilemma going on. To be honest, I'm putting off the decision until after the operation - I'm hoping they're going to grow a fair amount in the next month as they're still quite small. Hard, isn't it? Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk /snip/ > But I'm so nervous about actually letting them out. Our older cat, > Macavity, has never had any problems (touch wood). We started off very [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > end. I can tell they're going to love being outside - they're already > very predatory, and their mum brought them live prey as kittens. /snip/ > To be honest, I'm putting off the decision until > after the operation - I'm hoping they're going to grow a fair amount in > the next month as they're still quite small. > > Hard, isn't it? I'd feel the same way. Yet another intermediate stage might be some kind of temporary enclosure in the yard just outside the cat flap. They could get fresh air and sun and begin getting used to the outdoors without being able to wander too far or make a dash for somewhere dangerous. I've seen posts in other cat groups about some sort of readymade netting enclosure. Margaret >I'd feel the same way. Yet another intermediate stage might be some kind of >temporary enclosure in the yard just outside the cat flap. They could get >fresh air and sun and begin getting used to the outdoors without being able >to wander too far or make a dash for somewhere dangerous. Hi Margaret, We have had an offer from a friend who has a dog cage (for a rather massive dog!) - Which we may well take him up on. Definitely a good idea. Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > In message <HIuGd.481$8G4.78@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net>, BC <BC@fake.com> writes > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > failure after eating some of the lillies. I was absolutely devasted, > and it left a big hole in my heart. Thats terrible. I must say I never realised they were poisonous either. I can't even begin to imagine how horrible that was for you. I had always thought that animals were pretty good at realising which plants were good or bad for them. > My husband is really pushing me to let them out as soon as they've had > the operation, when they're six months. But I have this huge internal [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Hard, isn't it? VERY HARD! My husband is the same, he thinks I am far too soft on Kiwi. Thankfully the vet telling him that the longer he stays in the better has shut him up for now. When we had our other cats I was living at home so mum always had the final say so it never bothered me, but even then she never let any of ours or the ones she had in the past out til they were "done". Kiwi is off to be neutered and chipped on friday (hes 6months old today!)and I am so worried about my little baby being operated on. :-( (ok, I am now holding the keyboard up in the air as Kiwi has decided I am not paying enough attention to him and keeps standing on it!) Thing is he is gonna have to go out before the summer, as the twins go in and out all the time then so he will definatly manage to escape and our house gets so hot that I could not bear to stay in with the windows shut. We live in a rented house and the garden is easily escapable for a cat as it is mostly hedges, its enough to keep our pet duck in but would be a doddle for Kiwi. You are really fortunate to have good fences. You also have another advantage-an older wiser Macavity to show them the big wide world! The other thing that worries me bout Kiwi is that he is such a tom, nothing really scares him, he is soo bossy! My mate brought her dog round Christmas day, a full grown boxer and Kiwi who hasnt seen a dog since he was a baby went mad, he didnt run away but spent the entire hour blown up like a bog brush hissing, swiping and growling while the poor dog who is used to cats was stuck on the other side of the room unable to come near!!!All we could do was talk above him as he wouldn't let me pick him up! I think the only thing I can do is introduce him to the outside world slowly and cross my fingers! Walk him round in his harness, probably at night so I dont have the neighbours in hysterics :-). We are just gonna have to be brave one day. If you get them used to the big wide world in the same way you did with Macavity you will have done your best. SignatureBadger Badger Badger >> Hard, isn't it? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >out til they were "done". Kiwi is off to be neutered and chipped on >friday (hes 6months old today!) Yayy! First big milestone! >and I am so worried about my little baby being operated on. :-( Oh god, I was *awful* when Macavity came in - I had to drop him off on the way to work and I was in floods of tears! I worried about him allll day, then picked him up on the way home. Our vets are absolutely fantastic here - they look after the owners as well as the pets! When we got him home we opened the door to the catbox to let him out. He stepped out, wibbled, corrected himself, wibbled some more and fell over. It was quite funny, but I was so worried about him. He was fine though - felt a bit sorry for himself for a couple of days, and then was as right as rain. Sounds like Kiwi is quite a plucky little thing, so I have absolutely no doubt that he will take it in his stride. >(ok, I am now holding the keyboard up in the air as Kiwi has decided I >am not paying enough attention to him and keeps standing on it!) Hehe.. This made me giggle -Ella and Lou do this all the time - except it's a bit harder with a laptop! >Thing is he is gonna have to go out before the summer, as the twins go >in and out all the time then so he will definatly manage to escape and >our house gets so hot that I could not bear to stay in with the windows >shut. We live in a rented house and the garden is easily escapable for >a cat as it is mostly hedges, its enough to keep our pet duck in but >would be a A duck! How cool! Yeeah, there's no doubt that Kiwi will find his way out of the garden pretty quickly... Does your garden back on to a road? > doddle for Kiwi. You are really fortunate to have good fences. You >also have another advantage-an older wiser Macavity to show them the >big wide world! Urk, I think he will spend most of his time trying to escape. I'm sure they'll just embarass him in front of all his pals! :o) >The other thing that worries me bout Kiwi is that he is such a tom, >nothing really scares him, he is soo bossy! My mate brought her dog Typical tom cat. :o) >round Christmas day, a full grown boxer and Kiwi who hasnt seen a dog >since he was a baby went mad, he didnt run away but spent the entire >hour blown up like a bog brush hissing, swiping and growling while the >poor dog who is used to cats was stuck on the other side of the room >unable to come near!!!All we could do was talk above him as he wouldn't >let me pick him up! 'Cavity is pretty expressive when he feels threatened or is annoyed by something. He doesn't seem to mind dogs though... Which is a funny story in itself... When we first let him out he immediately made friends with next door's cat, George. The two of them used to go around together constantly, and be in and out of each other's houses - it was soo cute. George was much bigger at the time (although i think 'cavity has overtaken him now) and George was very confident and quite dominant. So 'cavity got a reputation for being a tough cat because he hung around with George, and I think because there were two of them, he thought dogs were something to be chased and bullied, rather than feared! Now he doesn't really pay them any attention at all. >I think the only thing I can do is introduce him to the outside world >slowly and cross my fingers! Walk him round in his harness, probably >at night so I dont have the neighbours in hysterics :-). We are just >gonna have to be brave one day. If you get them used to the big wide >world in the same way you did with Macavity you will have done your best. Yeah, it's a slow process, but worth it. My worry was that 'cavity would think "wahey, I'm outside, I don't need to go back", so when you do let Kiwi out on his own, make sure it's just before his normal dinnertime so he comes back for food!! Also, I think supporting them along the way will certainly help, as I think it strengthens their trust in you. Let me know how the op goes - is it this week? Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk /snip/ > >You > >also have another advantage-an older wiser Macavity to show them the > >big wide world! > > Urk, I think he will spend most of his time trying to escape. I'm sure > they'll just embarass him in front of all his pals! :o) LOL. Might be best, as the older one might lead him too far astray, er, afield. :) Margaret S. >/snip/ > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >LOL. Might be best, as the older one might lead him too far astray, er, >afield. :) True!! And don't male cats have larger territories, generally, than female cats? I just hope they don't get into any scraps - there's one house round the corner with five cats, and there are several cats at the back of our house too. Macavity has never strayed onto the main road as far as I know; the one time I had to walk to the vets with him in the catbox (rather than taking the car) he was really frightened of all the traffic going past. I'm hoping these two will stick mainly to the gardens! Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > In message <DaNGd.24$3I2.5@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net>, BC <BC@fake.com> writes > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Sounds like Kiwi is quite a plucky little thing, so I have absolutely no > doubt that he will take it in his stride. when I was in argos last week buying Ki his cat loo the cashier and I got talking, she said when her boy kitty was "done" he was fine, but a few days later he was washing himself on the sofa when he realised something was missing, apparently he kept parting the hair with his paws looking! I couldent stop laughing, especially as the woman was showing me with her hands what he was doing! >> (ok, I am now holding the keyboard up in the air as Kiwi has decided I >> am not paying enough attention to him and keeps standing on it!) > > Hehe.. This made me giggle -Ella and Lou do this all the time - except > it's a bit harder with a laptop! Ki also has this very cute but annoying habit of jumping on my lap whenever I go to the loo! I have so many scratches on my legs from this! > A duck! How cool! His name is Abby(the girls chose the name)He's white as well. He was the only surviving duckling after my uncles incubator packed up, we had to get him out of his egg! He has this massive cage which is the same length as my dads estate car(designed for about 8 chickens!) follows us round like a dog(making the neighbours think I'm nuts) and he hates rain!!! > Yeeah, there's no doubt that Kiwi will find his way out of the garden > pretty quickly... Does your garden back on to a road? No. about 20ft of grass then back gardens of the houses behind us. We are right on the outskirts, at both ends of our road there are fields, this housing estate is like a strip through the middle of the country. 2mins walk to the country, 10 mins drive to the city! > Urk, I think he will spend most of his time trying to escape. I'm sure > they'll just embarass him in front of all his pals! :o) They might make him more popular with the ladies! > 'Cavity is pretty expressive when he feels threatened or is annoyed by > something. He doesn't seem to mind dogs though... Which is a funny [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > were something to be chased and bullied, rather than feared! Now he > doesn't really pay them any attention at all. Funny how cats pair up. My old cat Rupert was tiny, but he became best mates with the neighbous abysinnian, Willow(both now passed on). They were the bosses of our road, always together in each others houses Rupert made the noises, Willow had the size! >> I think the only thing I can do is introduce him to the outside world >> slowly and cross my fingers! Walk him round in his harness, probably [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Yeah, it's a slow process, but worth it. My worry was that 'cavity > would think "wahey, I'm outside, I don't need to go back", I also worry when they are still kitten like that somebody might feel sorry for them and take them in, especially if he wriggles out of his collar. so when you > do let Kiwi out on his own, make sure it's just before his normal > dinnertime so he comes back for food!! Had read that somewhere before. I think thats gonna be the worst thing for me on thurs evening/friday morning, not being able to feed him. Also, I think supporting them > along the way will certainly help, as I think it strengthens their trust > in you. At the moment Abby has to just flap his wings and Kiwi runs back in, with me on the end of his lead. SignatureBadger Badger Badger /snip/ > I also worry when they are still kitten like that somebody might feel > sorry for them and take them in, especially if he wriggles out of his > collar. Isn't some kind of microchip ID available over there? We use Avid here. Of course we use collars as well. I take flat elastic and write it full of phone numbers. It's comfortable and they can slip out if they get tanged in something. Margaret S. > /snip/ > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > in > something. Wow..! Someone else who does this..! I thought I was the only one..! Ivor >> /snip/ >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Wow..! Someone else who does this..! I thought I was the only one..! I've got little round, brass name tags for them - it has their name, address and phone number on it. They'll all be microchipped too, but it's just in case someone doesn't think to go to the vet with them. Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk >/snip/ > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >phone numbers. It's comfortable and they can slip out if they get tanged in >something. We get them microchipped - well, it's not compulsary, but I think it's a wonderful idea. Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > >/snip/ > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > >Isn't some kind of microchip ID available over there? We use Avid here. Of course we use collars as well. I take flat elastic and write it full of phone numbers. It's comfortable and they can slip out if they get tanged in something. > > We get them microchipped - well, it's not compulsary, but I think it's a wonderful idea. Me too! I phoned the local Animal Control and Humane Society and some vets and they all said they scanned for Avid chips, so that is the kind I got. I wish there were some outward and visible sign of an inward chip, tho. :) Maybe eventually some volunteers could set up chip-scanning services for people who can't easily take a found cat to a vet or shelter for scanning. Maybe a mobile service.... That could save a bit of trapping, too. Margaret S. > /snip/ > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Margaret S. Microchipping is widely used over here as well. Very effective as long as the person who finds the cat takes it to a vet/RSPCA etc. Oh, and as long as the owner keeps their address records up to date! Never thought of writing on elastic, I just use a barrel id, as you can write far more numbers on a piece of paper than a brass disc. SignatureBadger Badger Badger > > /snip/ > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > > Margaret S. > Microchipping is widely used over here as well. Very effective as long > as the person who finds the cat takes it to a vet/RSPCA etc. Oh, and as > long as the owner keeps their address records up to date! Never thought > of writing on elastic, I just use a barrel id, as you can write far more > numbers on a piece of paper than a brass disc. I like the numbers large and visible at a glance on the collar. I use elastic about 1/2 inch wide and a laundry marker (Sharpie "fine point") to make numbers just nearly 1/2 inch high. Anything dangling, disc or barrel etc, would increase hazard of getting caught in bushes, and if someone took the barrel off to read the information, the cat might get away without it. Margaret S. >when I was in argos last week buying Ki his cat loo the cashier and I >got talking, she said when her boy kitty was "done" he was fine, but a >few days later he was washing himself on the sofa when he realised >something was missing, apparently he kept parting the hair with his >paws looking! I couldent stop laughing, especially as the woman was >showing me with her hands what he was doing! Awww that's hysterical!! Poor little guy! Must have been really puzzled. It was my hubby that insisted on me having Macavity neutered - I didn't want to put him through an operation, but could also see the benefit in it too. Anyway, for ages Steve would use it as a threat: "Oooh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, remember what MUMMY did the last time you were naughty? Who knows what she'll get chopped off next time." He made me feel really, really guilty with that! >Ki also has this very cute but annoying habit of jumping on my lap >whenever I go to the loo! I have so many scratches on my legs from >this! Wow!! I thought that was just my two!! They have a really gross habit of wanting to crawl inside my trousers too! Especially Ella, as she loves burrowing under things - duvets, blankets, cushions - you have to be REALLY careful to check whenever you sit on the sofa! >> A duck! How cool! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >length as my dads estate car(designed for about 8 chickens!) follows us >round like a dog(making the neighbours think I'm nuts) and he hates rain!!! Cute!! He sounds delightful - bet he has loads of character. >> Yeeah, there's no doubt that Kiwi will find his way out of the garden >>pretty quickly... Does your garden back on to a road? >No. about 20ft of grass then back gardens of the houses behind us. We >are right on the outskirts, at both ends of our road there are fields, >this housing estate is like a strip through the middle of the country. >2mins walk to the country, 10 mins drive to the city! That's fantastic!! Plenty of wild stuff for him to roam in - he'll have a whale of a time. >> Urk, I think he will spend most of his time trying to escape. I'm >>sure they'll just embarass him in front of all his pals! :o) > >They might make him more popular with the ladies! I think he has a little girlfriend. There's a little white cat across the road - bless her, she's absolutely beautiful, pure white, but completely deaf. We have to be very careful pulling into our little carpark, as she doesn't hear the cars coming. We've spoken to her owner, as the first time we saw her, Macavity was bullying her and chasing her round the carpark and she looked so small. Turns out it was the first day she'd let her out - and she'd had a real dilemma over whether to or not, given that she is deaf. Anyway, I think she came to the conclusion that nature should take its course, and it would be a shame to just keep her indoors. Aaaanyway, I digress. Macavity was a bit miffed at having another cat on his turf at first, but he's really come to accept her now - the two of them curl up together in the sun - it's really sweet. >> Yeah, it's a slow process, but worth it. My worry was that 'cavity >>would think "wahey, I'm outside, I don't need to go back", > >I also worry when they are still kitten like that somebody might feel >sorry for them and take them in, especially if he wriggles out of his >collar. Yeah, I worry about that too. To be honest, I'm sure that someone else is feeding Macavity. He's so overweight and we're trying to control his diet, but he just doesn't seem to be losing any weight at all. In fact, I'm sure he has a collection of old ladies that he's charmed. :o) >Had read that somewhere before. I think thats gonna be the worst thing >for me on thurs evening/friday morning, not being able to feed him. Ohh, I'll be thinking of you both tomorrow.... >Also, I think supporting them >> along the way will certainly help, as I think it strengthens their >>trust in you. >At the moment Abby has to just flap his wings and Kiwi runs back in, >with me on the end of his lead. Funny kitten. Ella and Lou are scared of my hairbrush! I'm not sure what it is - maybe it smells of me and they're really confused by this, or maybe they think that the hairbrush is attacking Mummy, but they sit next to me while I'm doing my hair in the mornings, and bash the hairbrush. But as soon as I show it to them, they jump back from it - it's soo funny. I bought them both collars yesterday. They're NOT amused at the concept at all - but thought I'd get them used to them before they go out, and they've got bells on them, so Macavity gets a bit of warning when they're about to pounce on him! Good luck tomorrow! Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > It was my hubby that insisted on me having Macavity neutered - I didn't > want to put him through an operation, but could also see the benefit in > it too. Anyway, for ages Steve would use it as a threat: "Oooh, I > wouldn't do that if I were you, remember what MUMMY did the last time > you were naughty? Who knows what she'll get chopped off next time." He > made me feel really, really guilty with that! And so you should, you mean mummy! :-) Husbands are very good at passing the blame for such things! >> Ki also has this very cute but annoying habit of jumping on my lap >> whenever I go to the loo! I have so many scratches on my legs from this! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > loves burrowing under things - duvets, blankets, cushions - you have to > be REALLY careful to check whenever you sit on the sofa! I'm glad your two do the same! It was one of those things, that as I typed it I felt for sure nobody else's would do the same and that everyone who read it would think I was mad! He has been known to fall asleep on my lap because I have felt too guilty to move him the minute he has sat down, even though I have wanted to get back up! He also thinks he is an andrex puppy when it comes to toilet roll! Cant believe they like to crawl inside your trousers, hope thats not as you are trying to put them on! Kiwi never catches me out on the sofa but he is always getting under me mothers backside when she is trying to sit down, much to the amusement of me and my kids!:-) > >>> Urk, I think he will spend most of his time trying to escape. I'm >>> sure they'll just embarass him in front of all his pals! :o) [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > on his turf at first, but he's really come to accept her now - the two > of them curl up together in the sun - it's really sweet. Awww! I think thats another good reason for cats to go out, it gives them a chance to make friends. I hope the other two dont put a spanner in that relationship, would be even cuter if all four of them curled up together! We were quite worried about Ki being deaf when we first got him as he didnt react to anything, turned out he was so used to noises coming from a house with three kids and ten puppies that nothing apart from fizzy pop bottles or plastic bags would make him react. He also no longer has the blue eyes that go with most white deaf cats, they changed to green and now to amber. >>> Yeah, it's a slow process, but worth it. My worry was that 'cavity >>> would think "wahey, I'm outside, I don't need to go back", [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > diet, but he just doesn't seem to be losing any weight at all. In fact, > I'm sure he has a collection of old ladies that he's charmed. :o) Quite likely, good for Macavity that he has other people looking out for him but definatly bad for his waistline! Rupert had a reputation for going round everyone elses houses and nicking food rather than being given it, he once pulled a whole chicken off a table! My mum felt so guilty when the neighbour told her! >> At the moment Abby has to just flap his wings and Kiwi runs back in, >> with me on the end of his lead. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > hairbrush. But as soon as I show it to them, they jump back from it - > it's soo funny. And you call Kiwi funny!!!! :-)Thats really strange, Do you keep showing them it for the amusement value of them jumping back? Maybe its just that its prickly? > I bought them both collars yesterday. They're NOT amused at the concept > at all - but thought I'd get them used to them before they go out, and > they've got bells on them, so Macavity gets a bit of warning when > they're about to pounce on him! As if they would pounce on Macavity! Kiwi has been wearing his since he was about 10 weeks as I was terrified the kids would let him out, hes so stupid though that it he just shook a couple of times then forgot about it, he was the same with his harness and anything the kids put on him! > Good luck tomorrow! Thanks, already feel guilty for taking his food away :-( SignatureBadger Badger Badger >> It was my hubby that insisted on me having Macavity neutered - I >>didn't want to put him through an operation, but could also see the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >And so you should, you mean mummy! :-) Husbands are very good at >passing the blame for such things! Aren't they just? They're "our" kittens when they're nice, "yours" when they're not. >> Wow!! I thought that was just my two!! They have a really gross >>habit of wanting to crawl inside my trousers too! Especially Ella, as [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >everyone who read it would think I was mad! He has been known to fall >asleep on my Actually, Steve was talking about it to our friends last night, saying that whenever he sat on the loo Ella would burrow in his trousers, and then Lou would see the trousers moving, so she's start bashing Ella through the trousers, and before he knows it, he's got kittens fighting in his trousers. Our friends were wetting themselves with laughter. >lap because I have felt too guilty to move him the minute he has sat >down, even though I have wanted to get back up! He also thinks he is an >andrex puppy when it comes to toilet roll! Cant believe they like to >crawl inside your trousers, hope thats not as you are trying to put >them on! Arrr! Ours just LOVE to shred toilet roll. Through the bag. Before we've opened it. They managed to completely demolish a WHOLE BAG of 12 toilet rolls in one day, leaving tiny, tiny bits of shredded bog roll allllllll over the house. We were both working, so by the time I came home from work the house was just a pigsty! >Kiwi never catches me out on the sofa but he is always getting under me >mothers backside when she is trying to sit down, much to the amusement >of me and my kids!:-) Hehe.. How old are your twins by the way? >> Aaaanyway, I digress. Macavity was a bit miffed at having another >>cat on his turf at first, but he's really come to accept her now - the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >in that relationship, would be even cuter if all four of them curled up >together! We They're dead friendly - I suspect they may have to toughen up a bit. They'll go out thinking that all cats are friendly (their real Mum lived with three other cats, so they got used to them from when they were born). >were quite worried about Ki being deaf when we first got him as he >didnt react to anything, turned out he was so used to noises coming >from a house with three kids and ten puppies that nothing apart from >fizzy pop bottles or plastic bags would make him react. He also no >longer has the blue eyes that go with most white deaf cats, they >changed to green and now to amber. Aww!! Do you have any photos? Macavity has the most beautiful brown eyes, Lou has funny eyes - can't quite figure out what colour they are - somewhere between grey and green I think. Ella, though, has the brightest yellow eyes I've ever seen - all the more noticable because she's pure black. Sometimes it's the only way to spot her if she's hiding in a corner! >Quite likely, good for Macavity that he has other people looking out >for him but definatly bad for his waistline! Rupert had a reputation >for going round everyone elses houses and nicking food rather than >being given it, he once pulled a whole chicken off a table! My mum felt >so guilty when the neighbour told her! When I first moved down here, Steve's sister was staying with him, along with her four cats Merlin, Toodles, Buttons and Oliver. Sadly, she only has Toodles left of the four, but now has Macavity's brother, Biggles. Anyway, she got all three, except for Merlin, from a local cat sanctury. Oliver had been taken away from his Mum far too early - about 4 or 5 weeks old. He'd been dumped in the middle of nowhere and left to fend for himself before being found and taken to the sanctury. As a result, he was very predatory, and he would grab food at every available opportunity, as this is how he'd learned to survive. He was always stealing food from our neighbours, and once dragged a live pidgeon in through the catflap! >> Funny kitten. Ella and Lou are scared of my hairbrush! I'm not >>sure what it is - maybe it smells of me and they're really confused by [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >showing them it for the amusement value of them jumping back? Maybe its >just that its prickly? I'm just at a loss as to why they react the way they do. I've usually got my hair straighteners on at the time, and they're constantly trying to get on to the table, so I sometimes show it to them to keep them away from the hot hair straighteners. But I make sure I talk softly to them when I do it, to try and teach them that it's not a threat. <Shrug> No idea! >As if they would pounce on Macavity! Kiwi has been wearing his since >he was about 10 weeks as I was terrified the kids would let him out, >hes so stupid though that it he just shook a couple of times then >forgot about it, he was the same with his harness and anything the kids >put on him! Bless! Ella seems to be used to hers now, but Lou has managed to get hers off somehow - thing is, she's not just got it over her head, she's actually ma |
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