(no subject)

[turps]

Happy birthday meninaiscrazy I hope you have a fantastic day!

As I'm firmly of the belief you can find anything out from your flist, I need advice about cats. Moffet has been going crazy to get out lately and in fact has slipped out of the window a few times now, luckily only on the first floor. So really I'm asking about the outdoor v indoor cat thing. We live next to a busy road so I'm frightened that she'll get knocked over but at the same time seeing her jumping at the windows isn't much fun either. I'm still learning about cats, so any advice will be gratefully taken.

I'm actually sitting here in my pjs just now after having a cool shower. It's just that kind of day, lazy and relaxing. Though it wasn't relaxing this morning. James was on an early shift so I was online much earlier than usual and of course new Sucker which I had to read. What a way to start the day, angst, pain, sex, craziness, denial and a huge does of crackfic. I was thinking on the story earlier and realised that my opinion of O Town is totally based on this story, which means Dan is a good guy, Trevor okay, Erik Michael a slimy creep who deserves everything he gets, Ashley a nymphomaniac and Jacob an annoying skinny smelly bad haired opinionated selfish insensitive irritating nasty bitchy closeted unseeing jerk. Why didn't Justin hurt him more? Why!? Basing my opinion on one crackfic story is wrong I know, because I hate when people characterise people in Nsync and BSB like that. But it's the only point of reference I have, so yeah. O Town = okay guy, good guy, creep, slut, annoying irritating skinny unfeeling idiot. I have issues about Jacob, I really do. When he's in a scene with Brian ( who's my other major hate. He's Satan! No, he's like one of those creepy dolls, you know the ones with the fixed smile that never leaves their faces even though you know in the middle of the night they come to life and pull the hidden axe out of their clothes to come and murder you in your bed. That's Sucker!Brian ) I feel the urge to slap them both, repeatedly and with force.

Ahem, yes. Moving on. There was drama of the family variety last night, but for once on James' side and not mine as his sister and parents argued, ending with his mam crying down the phone. I told him not to get involved because it leads to trouble but he did anyway. What I was pissed at was the timing. How was I supposed to watch the eviction on Big Brother with all that drama? It's so inconsiderate.

And now I'll go do something to fill the hours before new Dr Who. Which reminds me. I saw a link on friendsfriends to a Captain Jack archive. Captain Jack and his flexible dancing ways! Woo!

Comments

[ravenbat.livejournal.com]

*wanders into your journal*

Hi.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Raven, honey!

How are you? I haven't seen you post in ages.

*hugs tight*

[hammerhead22.livejournal.com]

Indoor cats are safer and healthier. Mine was an outdoor cat when we found her but she adapted quickly and well to being an indoor cat. Outside, cats are in danger from disease (esp. from other cats), predation, vehicles, stupid people and all sorts of other dangers. Indoor cats have a live expectancy almost half again as long as outdoor cats.

I would highly recommend an indoor only cat.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that about the life expectancy. Just reading that has convinced me that she'll be an indoor cat. We'll just have to find a way to stop her sneaking from the house.

Thanks so much for the advice.

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

i wuz not here

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Where wuz you then? In JC's pants? Are they gone? Not JC's pants but the others XXX

[nopseud]

If you live very near a busy road, then there's a pretty good chance that she'll get knocked down eventually.

On the other hand, we've always had outdoor cats, and my parents have alway had outdoor cats. In my opinion, cats are animals which enjoy and need to be outdoors. If I didn't live somewhere I could let my cat out, then I wouldn't buy a cat. That's me, personally.

Incidentally, while I'm sure that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats, I've never been able to find a reliable source of information for what the difference is, and what the risk factors are. (For example, in the US the wildlife is a lot more dangerous than in the UK.) I'd love to see a reliable reference with actual figures and the details of the study which produced them.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You have good points too.

Our estate is on a hill, so the set up is: our house, a path, a railing, then down a big bank to the road. Of course none of that would stop Moffet if she decided she wanted to go that way.

I have to admit that I thought cats were indoor animals, I never suspected that she'd want to be out to roam. Which yes was short sighted I know.

I guess the decision isn't as clear cut as I thought.

Thank you :)

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those people who thinks it's cruel to keep cats indoors, so there's my bias straight up. *g* We've had cats forever, and we too live near a busy road. They quickly learn. And, honestly, unless you live in the middle of nowhere? There's always a road.

As long as you have a garden it should be fine. My advice is take her out on a lead a couple of times so she knows where she belongs before letting her roam wild. Also, if you spend more time in the garden she'll probably be less inclined to wander off, because she'll want to play with you. Or Corey. *g*

Oh! She'll probably get hit with a few sticks for crapping in gardens, but she's a cat, and that automatically makes her tough. People spray our animals with hosepipes. It's funny when they come back all wet. Hee!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

We do have a garden and the few times she's been out she's enjoyed lying in the grass for a while. Then of course she springs up on the fence and goes to the neighbour's garden.

I never thought of a lead, that's a good idea. Taking a cat for a walk would be something new anyway *g*

Thanks for your opinion, you've given me more to think about.

[patchworkdragon.livejournal.com]

I am also in the "cats want to be outdoors" camp. My family had outdoor cats growing up, and mine are all indoor/outdoor. Plus the one we got when a neighbor moved that won't willingly come inside at all.

The disease problem is not a problem if your cat if fully vaccinated, which I know gets expensive.Some cats fight, and there is not really a way to know if your cat is a fighter ahead of time - sometimes it's the sweet cuddly ones that keep coming home all scratched up. So then I could see trying to keep a cat indoors.

Be warned even if you think there are no mice/lizards/giant bugs in your yard, the cat will find them. If she didn't start hunting young she probabaly won't be any good at it.

[patchworkdragon.livejournal.com]

oh, and about the living less, Max is 20 and has never been in a car, to a vet, or held inside against his will.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Moffet's vaccinated so there's no problem there yet. I've no idea if she's a fighter though.

Thanks for letting me know what you think and about your own cats. It does help :)

[meninaiscrazy.livejournal.com]

These links might help.

http://www.sdnhm.org/exhibits/cats/indoors.html

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/catinside.htm

Also, according to this site over one million cats are killed a year in the US do to various reasons. Also, outside cats live less than five years and indoor cats live an averge of 12 years. So, it's a matter of how long you want them to live.

http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/bf_kitty_09.cfm

I let mine outside in my backyard under supervion, give them lot's of toys, and lot's of love. ^___^

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the links.

They're really helping :)

Moffet gets lots of love and toys too, which is why I was surprised when she stared to want to get out.

[meninaiscrazy.livejournal.com]

Also, thank you for the b-day wishes. ^__^

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You're more than welcome :)

[xoverau.livejournal.com]

I have heard (and witnessed) horrible, horrible outdoor cat incidents. The worst was when one of my friends opened the door and discovered that her outdoor cat had climbed the telephone pole, hit an electrical transformer with its claw, and blew off much of its tail and body fur. Kind of funny? No, we're talking tail-that-was-nothing-but-bone-and-blood, black tongue and gums, and brain damage. The cat was still alive and staggering.

I love cats, so much so that I read cat how-to books when I'm in an apartment where I can't have them, and everything I've read supports my instincts. Outdoor cats live shorter and more dangerous lives, bring home fleas and ticks and other bloodsucking insects, get intestinal parasites from eating vermin, learn aggressive and antisocial behavior, sometimes develop "bathroom" problems, are a danger to motorists, and (if you don't neuter/spay them) increase the population problem.

The stuff I've read does suggest that if you do want an outdoor cat, you definitely shouldn't tie him or her because of strangulation and tourniqueting of limbs, you should neuter/spay, and you shouldn't declaw because it's dangerous for the cat to try jumping and climbing that way.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

That's horrific and not funny at all.

Moffet was spayed before we got her and I've never even considered de clawing. That sounds horrible.

Thanks so much for telling me what you think.

[kaethe.livejournal.com]

My cats seem to have no desire to *go* outside, but they do like *looking* outside. Do you have windows that she can use as cat TV?

Also, not that you need another one, but two cats often seem to solve the boredom problem that one cat has.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Moffet hasn't wanted to go out until recently and in fact used to lie on the windowsill sunning herself and watching the world go by. Which is why I was so surprised when she suddenly started to try and get outside.

I'll keep the two cats thing in mind for a last resort I think *g*

Thank you :)

[abishag.livejournal.com]

Well, I have a dear LJ friend that has three indoor cats, but I have to say that the whole idea seems to be very much a US thing, and all these statistics and horror stories I think come more from there. As someone said we don't have the same wildlife that might attack a cat,nor ticks and leeches and things. Fleas can be prevented easily- there are various methods- Midi gets a dose of flea contraceptive once a month on her food.
Yes she'd need spaying unless you want to be overrun with toms and kittens, but you'd probably want to do that anyway, or she'll drive you mad every time she comes into season, even if she were to stay an indoor cat. In fact it will probably make her more placid and less likely to roam.
I take your point about the traffic- if you can encourage her to go out the back way and adopt the gardens (if they're there) as a wandering territory, that'd be good. Ariel lives mostly in Alice's walled back garden, though she could get out if she wanted to. Midi hates any engine noise (including the hoover) and voluntarily never crosses the pavement even onto the grass verge.
Cats like people can survive housebound, but obviously they enjoy fresh air and sunshine and a change of scene and new things to sniff, climb and scratch, and the chance to take exercise.
De-clawing I think is an invented procedure necessitated by the existence of indoor cats, whose claws would just keep growing if not worn down outside, and who'd scratch the furniture, and possibly their humans to boot!
I'd be very reluctant to do it to any cat I was responsible for.

Loads of outdoor cats live to a good, even great age- I know one who lived to 21- but of course some do get run over.
But the worst of all possible worlds would be if she eventually managed to escape, not being prepared for the outside world, nor having built up a mental map of the area so she could find her way home. So I would certainly take her out for walks on a lead round the garden and so on, at least.
Anyway, good luck with your deliberations.

[abishag.livejournal.com]

PS. I've never heard of a cat developing bathroom problems because of going outdoors- in fact the advantage is precisely no more litter trays, which I view as a necessary evil for very small kittens, days of deep snow, and I suppose also the aged cat who can no longer go out.
Of course you shouldn't tie a cat up- never heard of a such a thing. They are independent creatures not be treated like dogs, goats or horses. Cat collars are made with an elastic insert to avoid strangulation, and of course if a cat is an outdoor-going cat it should have an identity tag at least, and ideally be microchipped.

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere that whether a cat wants to go outside depends on if they were in or out during the first 6 months of their lives. We've had a comination of indoor/outdoor cats over the years, and the ones I've had in apartments where they couldn't go out totally freaked when we moved into a house and they had a choice. Tiki used to cower on the front stoop until I let her back in. One of our current cats, Gizmo, was born in a barn, and she's always tried to sneak out, although not so much now that she's getting older. Over the years we've lost two cats that were outside, they just disappeared and we never saw them again. I still have no idea what happened to Missy, but we've always suspected an owl took Butterscotch. After he disappeared, I decided on a firm inside-only policy for any future cats. Lucy has never been outside and doesn't seem to want to go. I just, losing two was enough for me.

People have very strong opinions on all things cat-related. Things like declawing (I'm not against it) or inside/outside (I vote for inside) can stir up very fervent emotions.

I love your description of O-Town, based soley on seeing them through Sucker NSYNC's eyes. Your Jacob, particularly. What a putz.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Just thinking of you losing your cats is horrible. That's horrible and something I'd hate to happen to Moffet.

She's a rescue cat who lived on the streets for the first months of her life but she's been content to stay indoors since we had her. I don't understand where this need to escape came from.

I see what you mean about people having strong opinions cat related. I'm glad people have remained calm on this post despite clearly disagreeing.

I love your description of O-Town, based soley on seeing them through Sucker NSYNC's eyes. Your Jacob, particularly. What a putz.

Thanks. I just know if I ever see O Town I'll be shocked that they're nothing like my mental image *g*

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

As a family, we've always had outdoor cats - or rather, cats with unrestricted access to outdoors - and while Tibs did loose a leg in a road accident, I will continue to let my cats out - IMO they're happer with the access. Arial had to be indoor only for 9 months in one flat that we had, and even with constant human company and lots of playing and toys, she wasn't happy, and made that known though some behavioural problems. Also had the only bouts of illness she's ever had, which might be coincidence, but I think probably was diet and stress related [too much dry food can lead to urinary tract problems, and she was basically comfort eating]

My parents house [where Tibs lived] is two wide verges and a service road away from a major road, and i don't think Midi's ever stepped over the edge of the front garden. Ours is at the end of a culdesac, and while the road at the end is technically accesible to Ariel and fairly major, in practise she keeps to our garden or the immediate surrounds. Until the day she goes out the back door and turns up at the front waiting to be let in, i won't let her out the front though, but that's because she's crap at being a cat and would get lost ...

Good advice above about acclimatising her to the new part of her territory - a leash if she'll let you for her first explorations, etc. Yes to preventative flea treatments, vaccinations, and being spayed, Microchipping is also a good idea, but a collar with elastic section so she can slip it if she does get caught, and an address tag is the key ID element [our vet had a special offer on chipping, which is when we got Ariel done] The only thing I don't think anyone said is that the fisrt few times you let her out, do it not=long before her regular feeding time to get her in the habbit of coming when you call her in for dinner, which re-enforces the route home for her.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

Oh, and it's generally conisdered to be a bad thing to shut a cat out overnight - catflaps are the way to go if you decide to, and if it's at all possible.

[tallories.livejournal.com]

Speaking from a U.S. perspective, some areas are quite safe to have outdoor cats, but the closer you are to suburbs or cities, the more dangerous it becomes. Whether or not you let your cat explore the outdoors is up to you -- I'm sure the cat would love it, but there's no doubt that it's safer for the cat to stay inside. I saw that someone recommended buying a harness and a leash for "walks;" great idea, and in fact what my parents used to do with their indoor cats quite often.

One thing to note: if your cat isn't spayed/neutered, or if your cat has been declawed, it will need to stay indoors.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking in investing in a harness for her to try out walks. It wouldn't hurt to do that I think.

She's been spayed and isn't de-clawed so that shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for your opinions :)

[trickyjazzer.livejournal.com]

It almost sounds like your kitty might be in heat and that's why she wants out so bad. She's looking for a man. lol
I guess if I were you, I'd keep her inside. Far to many house cats that are indoor/outdoor end up getting killed, poisoned and totally disappear all together when they're left outside.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

She's been spayed so I don't think she can go into heat. At least I think that's what it means. Though she still could want a man ;)

Thanks for telling me what you think, I appreciate it a lot.