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Old August 19th 12, 01:39 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.misc,rec.pets.cats.rescue,alt.pets.cats,rec.gardens,misc.consumers.house
Bill Graham
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Posts: 1,065
Default Fences - Cats - DIY?

Brooklyn1 wrote:
On Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:21:27 -0700, "Julie Bove"
wrote:


"Brooklyn1" Gravesend1 wrote in message
...
dgk wrote:
Brooklyn1 wrote:
Gas Bag wrote:

She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting
in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid
of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her
suburb.

Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out.

Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being
outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be
happy. Safe counts but so does happy.

What good is a "happy" cat flattened with tire tread impressions...
cats are happy indoors... you're an imbecile.


Yes. I saw a bumper sticker online that said, "I'd rather be inside
and fat than outside and flat."

I am sure that my momma cat was probably outside at some point in
her life. She and her babies were found in an abandoned house and
they had to get food from somewhere. But now she never tries to get
out. Never. She is perfectly happy as a house cat.

Now the baby? Well she isn't actually a baby any more since she is
over a year old but... She is the one they named that phrase after
about how curiosity killed the cat. She is very interested in the
garage for some reason. I don't want her out there because there
are all sorts of little hidey holes and some are up high. She can
jump up high. We did once have a rat get in there during the winter
and it died somewhere in the wall. Would be horrible if she were to
suffer the same fate. So I will walk her out there in my arms and
show her around. Nothing of interest to her, I wouldn't think.
Just some canned goods, soda pop, Christmas lights, a few tools...
But one day she came very close to getting to the outside!
Apparently I did not shut the door from the laundry room fully and
she pushed it open. She was walking very slowly and cautiously
towards the opening of the garage. Mom was in the laundry room
looking very worried and calling to her. Luckily I was able to pick
her up and bring her back inside.


Domestic cats live happily indoors, they do fine with a window but
mostly they need cat companionship so always have at least two,
preferably from the same litter. Contrary to what many believe cats
are not loners, they are very social, moreso then dogs. Cats live a
shortened life outdoors, they are more likely to become road kill than
wild animals as domestic cats don't possess nearly the same level of
survival skills. Feral cats have excellent survival skills outdoors
but they don't live long due to poor diet and disease. There are many
types of outdoor cat enclosures but none protect against deadly
parasites and poisonings (cats will catch and eat insects that contain
insectide), and outdoor animals of all kinds are very susceptible to
overspray from thoughtless gardeners, you won't know until it's too
late. I can go on but bottom line is giving a cat a good home means
keeping it indoors. The pinheads who put cats outdoors are simply too
lazy and cheap to deal with cat litter, with the low IQ rationalizing
about cats are happier outdoors, BULL****, the morons are happier with
cats outdoors because the cheap lazy *******s don't need to buy and
deal with cat litter. Cats are very happy indoors, even in a small
apartment, again all they need is a window and a playmate. Many of my
neighbors let their cats out, invaribly I'll see them flattened on the
road. My cats never go out... however I do have a feral cat living in
my barn, can't get close enough to know if Newt is a boy or a girl, I
bring it food and water every day and eventually plan on capturing and
bringing it to a Vet. This is Newt heading back home to his barn a
few minutes ago for breakfast, Newt runs off when I approach to put
out food, photographed at 600', a very good looking cat:
http://i48.tinypic.com/nwzmf9.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/o074ub.jpg
Earlier this morning, the twins:
http://i46.tinypic.com/zmqf4.jpg
http://www.vetinfo.com/indoor-outdoo...xpectancy.html


If you live in a dangerous environment for cats, then either keep them
indoors, or don't keep them at all. But there are some other people in the
world (like me)that live in a very safe environment for cats, And these
people keep outside cats. I wouldn't presume to tell others how to keep
their cats, and I resent it when others tell me how to keep mine. All of my
cats were aquired by me as grown cats, who just wandered onto my property
and liked the cut of my jib, and decided to stay. I wouldn't lock them up
any more than our local police station makes a habit of apprehending people
on the street and locking them up.

I don't force feed my cats either. I offer them something to eat. They have
the option of eating it, or not.....