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#1
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
I'm cat sitting again. Actually, I've been cat sitting since 5/3 except the
neighbor came home for one day before leaving again. I love her cats. They're really sweet boys. But I've said before she lets them out during the day and would prefer they be inside at night. Trying to get them inside in the evening is exactly like trying to herd cats. Granted, they have gotten much more used to it being me who is coming and going. They recognize I'm the one who is feeding them when she's gone. For the most part this time they've been fairly cooperative. This time, however, things were complicated by the fact that she had me taking care of the cats and the neighbor on the other side of her bringing in the mail and watering her lawn & plants. So the first evening I went over and Schwartzie was already inside. Huh? I didn't know if Fedders was or not. I searched the house, only found Schwartzie. I found Fedders outside and got him to come in. I guess Schwartzie came in with the other neighbor when she brought in the mail. This happened a couple of times and it got confusing. So I asked her to please have the other neighbor leave me a note if one (or both) of the cats come in when she's bringing in the mail. [Frankly, I know how to water plants and turn on a sprinkler system and I can certainly bring in her mail so I don't know why she divided up the chores this way.] Then a couple of nights ago I couldn't get Fedders to come in at all. (Previously we'd agreed I could leave the sliding door open just a tad but there are way too many creepy-crawly things this time of year so I couldn't do that.) Well, I couldn't stay up all night going over there calling for her cat. She'd told me not to worry about it if I couldn't get one or both of them inside, but of course I DO worry. This evening Fedders came right in. I couldn't find Schwartzie. It was still light out. I went over an hour later, still no Schwartzie but Fedders was ready to run outside again. Sorry, boy, you're in and you're staying in! I went over again an hour later. By this time it's pitch black outside. You have to understand, there are no street lights on this island. And porch lights only shed so much (or should I say so little?) light. You can't see your hand in front of your face, much less a black cat. (I had a flashlight but it sucks.) I heard Schwartzie meowing at me from her back patio door. The patio where the lightbulb is burned out. (sigh) I opened the door but Schwartzie hesitated and Fedders tried to run back outside! I stepped outside. I saw Schwartzie by the beam of the rather weak flashlight. He meowed at me but wouldn't come to me. I tried coaxing him. He sat down under the patio table and meowed at me. If I tried to approach he ran to the other end of the patio. If I tried to "herd" him back towards the door, he'd run in the other direction. This went on for about 10 minutes. (BTW, all you folks who have been talking about snow.... it was still 85F when I was trying to herd Schwarzie at 9PM... a dose of snow would have been a blessing at that point!) I finally said screw it. I shut Fedders in the master bedroom and walked back to my house. At 10PM I went back over, opened the back door, called to him and sat down on the couch. After a few minutes I heard him... MEOW! Saw his eyes shining at me through the open door. I called to him again then went into the kitchen and rattled the bowl of kibble. Then I ran some water in the sink. He finally waltzed inside. I shut the door. I let his brother out of the bedroom. Gave them each scritches and said, "See ya tomorrow!" This will go on until Monday evening. It's just as well. I'm flying back to TN on 5/18 and she'll be cat-sitting for Persia for the first time. I can guarantee you, however, Persia will not be any trouble. She stays indoors. She'll hide, sure. Chances are she'll never even SEE Persia (more's the pity). I'll clean Persia's Drinkwell fountain the day before I leave. She won't have to do anything with it other than make sure it's topped off with fresh water in the morning. I just picked up a new bag of her R/x food; all she has to do is give her a 1/4 c. scoop in the morning and a scoop in the evening. I bought a new container of kitty litter, too. I'll wash out the box and put in a new liner before I go, too. Persia doesn't require herding Jill |
#2
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
"jmcquown" wrote in message
... I'm cat sitting again. Actually, I've been cat sitting since 5/3 except the neighbor came home for one day before leaving again. I love her cats. They're really sweet boys. But I've said before she lets them out during the day and would prefer they be inside at night. Trying to get them inside in the evening is exactly like trying to herd cats. Granted, they have gotten much more used to it being me who is coming and going. They recognize I'm the one who is feeding them when she's gone. For the most part this time they've been fairly cooperative. This time, however, things were complicated by the fact that she had me taking care of the cats and the neighbor on the other side of her bringing in the mail and watering her lawn & plants. So the first evening I went over and Schwartzie was already inside. Huh? I didn't know if Fedders was or not. I searched the house, only found Schwartzie. I found Fedders outside and got him to come in. I guess Schwartzie came in with the other neighbor when she brought in the mail. This happened a couple of times and it got confusing. So I asked her to please have the other neighbor leave me a note if one (or both) of the cats come in when she's bringing in the mail. [Frankly, I know how to water plants and turn on a sprinkler system and I can certainly bring in her mail so I don't know why she divided up the chores this way.] Then a couple of nights ago I couldn't get Fedders to come in at all. (Previously we'd agreed I could leave the sliding door open just a tad but there are way too many creepy-crawly things this time of year so I couldn't do that.) Well, I couldn't stay up all night going over there calling for her cat. She'd told me not to worry about it if I couldn't get one or both of them inside, but of course I DO worry. This evening Fedders came right in. I couldn't find Schwartzie. It was still light out. I went over an hour later, still no Schwartzie but Fedders was ready to run outside again. Sorry, boy, you're in and you're staying in! I went over again an hour later. By this time it's pitch black outside. You have to understand, there are no street lights on this island. And porch lights only shed so much (or should I say so little?) light. You can't see your hand in front of your face, much less a black cat. (I had a flashlight but it sucks.) I heard Schwartzie meowing at me from her back patio door. The patio where the lightbulb is burned out. (sigh) I opened the door but Schwartzie hesitated and Fedders tried to run back outside! I stepped outside. I saw Schwartzie by the beam of the rather weak flashlight. He meowed at me but wouldn't come to me. I tried coaxing him. He sat down under the patio table and meowed at me. If I tried to approach he ran to the other end of the patio. If I tried to "herd" him back towards the door, he'd run in the other direction. This went on for about 10 minutes. (BTW, all you folks who have been talking about snow.... it was still 85F when I was trying to herd Schwarzie at 9PM... a dose of snow would have been a blessing at that point!) I finally said screw it. I shut Fedders in the master bedroom and walked back to my house. At 10PM I went back over, opened the back door, called to him and sat down on the couch. After a few minutes I heard him... MEOW! Saw his eyes shining at me through the open door. I called to him again then went into the kitchen and rattled the bowl of kibble. Then I ran some water in the sink. He finally waltzed inside. I shut the door. I let his brother out of the bedroom. Gave them each scritches and said, "See ya tomorrow!" This will go on until Monday evening. It's just as well. I'm flying back to TN on 5/18 and she'll be cat-sitting for Persia for the first time. I can guarantee you, however, Persia will not be any trouble. She stays indoors. She'll hide, sure. Chances are she'll never even SEE Persia (more's the pity). I'll clean Persia's Drinkwell fountain the day before I leave. She won't have to do anything with it other than make sure it's topped off with fresh water in the morning. I just picked up a new bag of her R/x food; all she has to do is give her a 1/4 c. scoop in the morning and a scoop in the evening. I bought a new container of kitty litter, too. I'll wash out the box and put in a new liner before I go, too. Persia doesn't require herding Jill That's Adventures in Babysitting! I can't deal with having to pet sit an indoor/outdoor cat. Have a safe trip and Persia will be fine. |
#3
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
jmcquown wrote:
[snip] Schwartzie was already inside. Huh? I didn't know if Fedders was or not. I searched the house, only found Schwartzie. I found Fedders outside and got him to come in. I guess Schwartzie came in with the other neighbor when she brought in the mail. This happened a couple of times and it got confusing. So I asked her to please have the other neighbor leave me a note if one (or both) of the cats come in when she's bringing in the mail. [Frankly, I know how to water plants and turn on a sprinkler system and I can certainly bring in her mail so I don't know why she divided up the chores this way.] She probably just didn't want to ask too much of you. I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a friend or neighbor to do all that unless I was paying them, or unless I did a comparable amount of favors for them. Those cats are a handful! They sound nice, but they certainly like to do whatever they want. -- Joyce ^..^ To email me, remove the XXX from my user name. |
#4
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
On May 9, 1:20*am, wrote:
She probably just didn't want to ask too much of you. I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a friend or neighbor to do all that unless I was paying them, or unless I did a comparable amount of favors for them. Those cats are a handful! They sound nice, but they certainly like to do whatever they want. My neighbour would water my plants and collect my mail for me when I am out of town. But she refuse to cat-sit as she is worried that Rusty would get sick in my absence, especially since Rusty has a history of urinary blockages. She likes Rusty and was there to help me get Rusty home from Humane all those years ago. Winnie |
#5
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
jmcquown wrote: I'll clean Persia's Drinkwell fountain the day before I leave. She won't have to do anything with it other than make sure it's topped off with fresh water in the morning. I just picked up a new bag of her R/x food; all she has to do is give her a 1/4 c. scoop in the morning and a scoop in the evening. I bought a new container of kitty litter, too. I'll wash out the box and put in a new liner before I go, too. Persia doesn't require herding Jill You hope! Haven't you discovered yet that, whatever you state categorically about ANY cat, the contrary critter will promptly do the opposite? If you have a cat who bites if one picks it up, and you warn someone about it, you can be sure the cat will be right there BEGGING that person to pick it up, and doing its best to imitate a fur neckpiece! (With nary a hint of teeth or claws.) |
#6
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Cat Herding, er Sitting
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