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#11
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Preparing cats for the big move
Please come up with a different alternative. If there is any possibility
that a cat could come into contact with an electric fence (which is your reason for installing one), it could be dangerous and painful. Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. I was once riding a horse which touched an electric fence with his nose. The moisture on his nose probably intensified the sensation, and he literally went crazy (with me on his back!). An enclosure such as what Sherry described could work very well. Actually, small animal fence chargers wouldn't present a risk of harm. And getting a sting on the paw *is* the whole idea. Once a kitty gets bitten by touching the "magic wire", said kitty will avoid touching it again. |
#12
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Preparing cats for the big move
Please come up with a different alternative. If there is any possibility
that a cat could come into contact with an electric fence (which is your reason for installing one), it could be dangerous and painful. Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. I was once riding a horse which touched an electric fence with his nose. The moisture on his nose probably intensified the sensation, and he literally went crazy (with me on his back!). An enclosure such as what Sherry described could work very well. Actually, with a small animal fence charger there would not a risk of harm. They do sting when you touch them, but that's the idea. Once a kitty touches the "magic wire" and learns that it bites, said kitty remember that and avoid the wire in the future. |
#13
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Preparing cats for the big move
"Pat" wrote in message .. . "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. Electric fences are in fact used to contain all kinds and sizes of animals. I wish I could afford the type shown on this page: http://www.sureguard.com.au/cat_electric_fence.html The neighbor across from us has an electric fence. It is just there to keep his dogs from attacking the fence every time they see anyone. There is no way he would risk hurting those dogs or his cats or his grandchildren. Since he wired it the dogs still charge the fence but come to a screeching halt and shut up just before they hit it. Jo |
#14
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Preparing cats for the big move
Dan M wrote: Actually, with a small animal fence charger there would not a risk of harm. They do sting when you touch them, but that's the idea. Once a kitty touches the "magic wire" and learns that it bites, said kitty remember that and avoid the wire in the future. I may be wrong, but I got the impression this is a fence charger rated for livestock. Fence chargers aren't created equal; and a charger designed to keep in a half-ton bull is going to deliver a hell of a bite to an 8-pound cat. The chargers marketed for small animals delivery a very low charge. Not to mention what is going to happen if the thing gets wet and malfunctions. I can see we are becoming divided on this issue; and first I want to make clear I don't think Pat would deliberately harm her cats in a million years. But I don't think she has thought this through. A cat who is accustomed to free roaming, who is displaced into a strange, new, unfamiliar territory is going to be upset already. Then to receive an electric shock every time they try to do what's been coming naturally to them all their lives is going to make them downright neurotic, and manifest behavioral problems. Cats just don't respond the same way dogs/cattle/horses do. They're such a different critter. It's not that hard to re-train most cats to stay in an enclosure. I have free-roaming cats, too. They've been indoors for the last month or so since the skunk incident, and quite honestly, after the first week, they adjusted very well. Sherry |
#15
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Preparing cats for the big move
wrote I may be wrong, but I got the impression this is a fence charger rated for livestock. Fence chargers aren't created equal; and a charger designed to keep in a half-ton bull is going to deliver a hell of a bite to an 8-pound cat. The chargers marketed for small animals delivery a very low charge. Not to mention what is going to happen if the thing gets wet and malfunctions. My charger is very small ($20 at the feed store). The charge it delivers depends to some extent on the length of wire being charged. It has been adequate to charge a wire about 20' long to keep horses back. After I move, it will be charging about 400'. It hasn't gotten wet in five years because it's kept inside! I use insulated wire going through the wall. I can see we are becoming divided on this issue; and first I want to make clear I don't think Pat would deliberately harm her cats in a million years. But I don't think she has thought this through. A cat who is accustomed to free roaming, who is displaced into a strange, new, unfamiliar territory is going to be upset already. Then to receive an electric shock every time they try to do what's been coming naturally to them all their lives is going to make them downright neurotic, and manifest behavioral problems. Cats just don't respond the same way dogs/cattle/horses do. They're such a different critter. I've weighed the options carefully. The cost of building an enclosure would be higher than what I have planned. I am sure the cats will be much happier having the whole yard available rather than just a small area. Although they have roamed free, they mostly stick very close to the house except on rare occasions Abelard wanders off, or one of the others goes down to Gloria's barn. If I was staying here I would also be doing something to keep them in the yard because it's too upsetting when Abelard stays out too long. It's not that hard to re-train most cats to stay in an enclosure. I have free-roaming cats, too. They've been indoors for the last month or so since the skunk incident, and quite honestly, after the first week, they adjusted very well. I wouldn't want to force them to live indoors permanently unless it was the only option available (like if I lived in a high-rise apartment or something - which I will NEVER do). Cats who get outside to run around are healthier and happier, so as long as they are safe out there, so I want them to go out and stay out as much as they want. |
#16
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Preparing cats for the big move
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#17
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Preparing cats for the big move
On Thu, 9 Feb 2006 10:50:23 -0600, "Pat"
wrote: "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. Electric fences are in fact used to contain all kinds and sizes of animals. I wish I could afford the type shown on this page: http://www.sureguard.com.au/cat_electric_fence.html I was concerned when I read about your proposed electric fence, like other posters, but I assumed that you knew to check that the output was safe for smaller animals - like out furry ones. Actually, I goggled electric cat fences, and saw the one you posted the link to. If I were to get an electrical system, I would lean toward those wireless fences which come with a collar which sounds a beep to warn the cat away from the fence, but doesn't actually produce a shock unless they get closer. Of coure, looks like they're more expensive, and it would require all your cats to actually wear the collar. This type sounds a lot like clicker training, but it's still negactive feed back, and I've always heard that cats learn faster through positive feedback. I guess that would mean you stay by the fence line 24/7 and hand out treats whenever they turn back from the fence. The best option I saw (other than an roofed enclosure) would be some of the flexible cat fencing. The problem with all the cat fences would be that cats seemed to have trained with houdini, and if there's any way possible to get out they'll find it. -- Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html |
#18
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat wrote:
My charger is very small ($20 at the feed store). The charge it delivers depends to some extent on the length of wire being charged. It has been adequate to charge a wire about 20' long to keep horses back. After I move, it will be charging about 400'. It hasn't gotten wet in five years because it's kept inside! I use insulated wire going through the wall. Ok, if it is adequate to charge a 20' wire it is going to be adequate to charge 400' feet of wire and still provide a useful charge so that it remains to be an incentive to not touch it or escape your yard? |
#19
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Preparing cats for the big move
"rrb" wrote Ok, if it is adequate to charge a 20' wire it is going to be adequate to charge 400' feet of wire and still provide a useful charge so that it remains to be an incentive to not touch it or escape your yard? I think so. I tested it with a 200' length of wire and it still gave me a pretty good "bite", and that was 10x the distance of the original wire used to keep the horses off my driveway on the farm. So, doubling it one more time it should still work for the kitties. If not, there are other chargers I can check into. |
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