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-   -   Indoor cat..quality of life? (http://www.catbanter.com/showthread.php?t=19396)

blair thompson September 3rd 04 12:53 AM

Indoor cat..quality of life?
 
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.

Karen Chuplis September 3rd 04 12:56 AM

in article , blair thompson at
wrote on 9/2/04 6:53 PM:

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.


Well, I DEFINITELY recommend two. I think they can be quite happy if they
can look out windows. If you own your own place, I would definitely also
build an enclosure or if you have a porch screen it in. That is the best of
all worlds.


Karen Chuplis September 3rd 04 12:56 AM

in article , blair thompson at
wrote on 9/2/04 6:53 PM:

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.


Well, I DEFINITELY recommend two. I think they can be quite happy if they
can look out windows. If you own your own place, I would definitely also
build an enclosure or if you have a porch screen it in. That is the best of
all worlds.


Karen Chuplis September 3rd 04 12:56 AM

in article , blair thompson at
wrote on 9/2/04 6:53 PM:

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.


Well, I DEFINITELY recommend two. I think they can be quite happy if they
can look out windows. If you own your own place, I would definitely also
build an enclosure or if you have a porch screen it in. That is the best of
all worlds.


Sherry September 3rd 04 01:08 AM

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.


Oh, sure it can be a great life for a cat. It's easier when you raise them as
kittens indoors--although I have a former street cat/stray who refuses to even
sniff the outdoors. . Most important, I think, is having at least a pair of
cats. Secondary, but still important, is additional stimuli like you mentioned;
toys, cat trees. Harness training I hear can be very successful if you choose
to let your cat have supervised time outdoors. I think an enclosure is an
excellent compromise, too.

Sherry

Sherry September 3rd 04 01:08 AM

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.


Oh, sure it can be a great life for a cat. It's easier when you raise them as
kittens indoors--although I have a former street cat/stray who refuses to even
sniff the outdoors. . Most important, I think, is having at least a pair of
cats. Secondary, but still important, is additional stimuli like you mentioned;
toys, cat trees. Harness training I hear can be very successful if you choose
to let your cat have supervised time outdoors. I think an enclosure is an
excellent compromise, too.

Sherry

Sherry September 3rd 04 01:08 AM

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.


Oh, sure it can be a great life for a cat. It's easier when you raise them as
kittens indoors--although I have a former street cat/stray who refuses to even
sniff the outdoors. . Most important, I think, is having at least a pair of
cats. Secondary, but still important, is additional stimuli like you mentioned;
toys, cat trees. Harness training I hear can be very successful if you choose
to let your cat have supervised time outdoors. I think an enclosure is an
excellent compromise, too.

Sherry

Cathy Friedmann September 3rd 04 01:27 AM



"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.


My cats are indoor-only cats; has been that way since the 1970's. In my
case, because of traffic. Sorry to tohear of your cat's demise, due to the
local coyotes. That would also lead me to trethink the inside-outside
issue, in your case. I'm lucky in that this house has a floor-to-ceiling
screened porch, which the cats can access whenever I open the door that
leads to it. In the summer, that's daily, but they also go out for short
amounts of time in the winter. My apt. where I first lived did not have
that amenity, but still, there are always windowsills which cats always
enjoy, for safe viewing of the great outdoors.

Cats still get their exercise - whether playing w/ toys - things to bat
around, empty boxes - esp. if they have some tissue paper in them!, running
up & down the stairs, whatever...

Cathy



Cathy Friedmann September 3rd 04 01:27 AM



"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.


My cats are indoor-only cats; has been that way since the 1970's. In my
case, because of traffic. Sorry to tohear of your cat's demise, due to the
local coyotes. That would also lead me to trethink the inside-outside
issue, in your case. I'm lucky in that this house has a floor-to-ceiling
screened porch, which the cats can access whenever I open the door that
leads to it. In the summer, that's daily, but they also go out for short
amounts of time in the winter. My apt. where I first lived did not have
that amenity, but still, there are always windowsills which cats always
enjoy, for safe viewing of the great outdoors.

Cats still get their exercise - whether playing w/ toys - things to bat
around, empty boxes - esp. if they have some tissue paper in them!, running
up & down the stairs, whatever...

Cathy



Cathy Friedmann September 3rd 04 01:27 AM



"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.


My cats are indoor-only cats; has been that way since the 1970's. In my
case, because of traffic. Sorry to tohear of your cat's demise, due to the
local coyotes. That would also lead me to trethink the inside-outside
issue, in your case. I'm lucky in that this house has a floor-to-ceiling
screened porch, which the cats can access whenever I open the door that
leads to it. In the summer, that's daily, but they also go out for short
amounts of time in the winter. My apt. where I first lived did not have
that amenity, but still, there are always windowsills which cats always
enjoy, for safe viewing of the great outdoors.

Cats still get their exercise - whether playing w/ toys - things to bat
around, empty boxes - esp. if they have some tissue paper in them!, running
up & down the stairs, whatever...

Cathy




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