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"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? They have great lives! No danger, plenty of fun with toys and each other, lots of food. YES get another cat, a litter mate would be perfect or a mother and kitten! |
"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? They have great lives! No danger, plenty of fun with toys and each other, lots of food. YES get another cat, a litter mate would be perfect or a mother and kitten! |
"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? They have great lives! No danger, plenty of fun with toys and each other, lots of food. YES get another cat, a litter mate would be perfect or a mother and kitten! |
"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Your decision must be made very carefully because your cats' lives depend on it. The risk-to-benifit ratio must be carefully evaluated. Maybe these will help you decide: http://maxshouse.com/Healthy+Happy_Indoors.htm http://maxshouse.com/outdoor_risks.htm Phil |
"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Your decision must be made very carefully because your cats' lives depend on it. The risk-to-benifit ratio must be carefully evaluated. Maybe these will help you decide: http://maxshouse.com/Healthy+Happy_Indoors.htm http://maxshouse.com/outdoor_risks.htm Phil |
"blair thompson" wrote in message ... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Your decision must be made very carefully because your cats' lives depend on it. The risk-to-benifit ratio must be carefully evaluated. Maybe these will help you decide: http://maxshouse.com/Healthy+Happy_Indoors.htm http://maxshouse.com/outdoor_risks.htm Phil |
On 2004-09-02 19:53:54 -0400, blair thompson said:
But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Growing up, we always let our cats out. After I had a cat disappear, a second cat suffered an unknown injury (or poisoning) that caused seizures, blindness and partial paralysis, and found out that my half grown cat had killed a rat that was as big as he was, I decided I couldn't take it any more. My present cat has never been outside except in a carrier. We live in a large, three story Victorian with a basement which has lots of great hiding and climbing places (due to the fact that we accumulate stuff). My housemate also has a cat so they have each other when there's no one at home (which is rare). I think my cat seems pretty happy. I don't think that she would even like the outside very much as she hates uneven surfaces, won't even walk over a pile of laundry on the floor, she'll walk around it instead. They have toys, multiple scratching surfaces, multiple litter boxes. The other cat is a bit neurotic but it mostly revolves around his extreme attachment to his person. He was neglected as a kitten and was rescued. I don't think his occasional weirdness has anything to do with his being an indoor cat. The other cat used to be an indoor/outdoor cat and occasionally tries to get out, succeeds once in a great while, then panics and hides under the nearest porch. As we live on a busy street, in a neighborhood were lots of people do let their cats run lose and there has been a small colony of ferals nearby, I wouldn't ever consider letting my cat out here. If I were you, I probably wouldn't be able to bear the thought of losing another cat to a coyote. But you have to make your own choices. Good luck, Meg |
On 2004-09-02 19:53:54 -0400, blair thompson said:
But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Growing up, we always let our cats out. After I had a cat disappear, a second cat suffered an unknown injury (or poisoning) that caused seizures, blindness and partial paralysis, and found out that my half grown cat had killed a rat that was as big as he was, I decided I couldn't take it any more. My present cat has never been outside except in a carrier. We live in a large, three story Victorian with a basement which has lots of great hiding and climbing places (due to the fact that we accumulate stuff). My housemate also has a cat so they have each other when there's no one at home (which is rare). I think my cat seems pretty happy. I don't think that she would even like the outside very much as she hates uneven surfaces, won't even walk over a pile of laundry on the floor, she'll walk around it instead. They have toys, multiple scratching surfaces, multiple litter boxes. The other cat is a bit neurotic but it mostly revolves around his extreme attachment to his person. He was neglected as a kitten and was rescued. I don't think his occasional weirdness has anything to do with his being an indoor cat. The other cat used to be an indoor/outdoor cat and occasionally tries to get out, succeeds once in a great while, then panics and hides under the nearest porch. As we live on a busy street, in a neighborhood were lots of people do let their cats run lose and there has been a small colony of ferals nearby, I wouldn't ever consider letting my cat out here. If I were you, I probably wouldn't be able to bear the thought of losing another cat to a coyote. But you have to make your own choices. Good luck, Meg |
On 2004-09-02 19:53:54 -0400, blair thompson said:
But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Growing up, we always let our cats out. After I had a cat disappear, a second cat suffered an unknown injury (or poisoning) that caused seizures, blindness and partial paralysis, and found out that my half grown cat had killed a rat that was as big as he was, I decided I couldn't take it any more. My present cat has never been outside except in a carrier. We live in a large, three story Victorian with a basement which has lots of great hiding and climbing places (due to the fact that we accumulate stuff). My housemate also has a cat so they have each other when there's no one at home (which is rare). I think my cat seems pretty happy. I don't think that she would even like the outside very much as she hates uneven surfaces, won't even walk over a pile of laundry on the floor, she'll walk around it instead. They have toys, multiple scratching surfaces, multiple litter boxes. The other cat is a bit neurotic but it mostly revolves around his extreme attachment to his person. He was neglected as a kitten and was rescued. I don't think his occasional weirdness has anything to do with his being an indoor cat. The other cat used to be an indoor/outdoor cat and occasionally tries to get out, succeeds once in a great while, then panics and hides under the nearest porch. As we live on a busy street, in a neighborhood were lots of people do let their cats run lose and there has been a small colony of ferals nearby, I wouldn't ever consider letting my cat out here. If I were you, I probably wouldn't be able to bear the thought of losing another cat to a coyote. But you have to make your own choices. Good luck, Meg |
"blair thompson" wrote in message
... I recently lost my guy to the coyotes. I live adjacent to a forested area where they are active, so I am thinking my next best friend should be confined to quarters I have been reading the many compelling arguments in favour of keeping a cat inside---the safety angle, longevity cf to the free-rangers, etc. I know there is much one can do to make indoor living tolerable to a cat, such as cat tree, cat grass munchies, toys, etc. But I am still wondering what the consensus here might be to just how pleasurable life really is for an indoor cat, Or am I just anthropomorphizing human traits onto a cat, and they really don't need as much stimuli in a day as we do, especially when they sleep 15-plus hours out of every 24? :) What about the second-cat-to-keep-the -first-one-company option? Thanks for your input. Blair Thompson North Vancouver, B.C. I think that keeping a cat inside is OK if the cat has always been an indoor only cat and doesn't know any different. I would also suggest getting two cats rather than one as they will then keep each other company when your not there. I do find that if you read this newsgroup regularly, you will find a higher incidence of things like, cats on Prozac (??), inappropriate illimination issues, stress related behavior, e.g. fur biting, among indoor only cats. I would like to stress that this is my perception and it may just be because there are a high proportion of Americans who post here and they are more likely to keep their cats indoor only. Having said that, there are also the obvious risks for an indoor / outdoor cat too so neither situation is perfect. I would say that if you have already had one cat killed by coyotes it's probably not such a good idea to let any future cats outside, or at the very least, not between dusk and dawn, which I have been led to believe is when coyotes are most active. Could build some kind of outside enclosure for you cat? That could be an option. Jeannie --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 22/07/04 |
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