We're moving into a basement...

But hey, if you
want to send me money or the cat towers that I've seen (that run $100-200)
feel free, you won't get any argument from me.

Yeah, I'll do that for sure. You asked for advice. I didn't flame you.
Sheesh, you're a guy, make some cat trees, it's not very hard.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

That's ok. We had seen similar doors at PetSmart and wished they were
cheaper...same with the really cool play towers. There are the small half
windows in the basement. However, they don't have any ledge. However,
we'll see what we can do. If not, then as "Iso" has pointed out, it may not
be necessary, but it's fun...I guess sunlight to cats is like
birth-controlled sex is to humans...may not be necessary, but it's fun! :-)


"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"No1" wrote in message
...
I will apologize in advance for any "snippiness" in my writing. This
isn't
easy for us, let alone the cats too. There are MANY places we could
rent
for cheaper, but all of them don't allow pets. So we have to make due
with
what we have. Again, I apologize.



I can readily understand that you have to be careful of your expenditures
(and didn't even think of that when I mentioned the two cat gates from
Drs.
Foster and Smith). However, the idea of giving them a place to look
outdoors is a good one. Do you have any of those high windows in the
basement? If so, a sturdy stepladder (if one is already available) would
give your cats easy access to the windows. The stepladders with wide
steps
are more stable than the ones with narrow steps. At any rate, the cats
will
be with you most of the time, so this isn't like locking your cats into a
dark basement and leaving them there alone.

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

That's ok. We had seen similar doors at PetSmart and wished they were
cheaper...same with the really cool play towers. There are the small half
windows in the basement. However, they don't have any ledge. However,
we'll see what we can do. If not, then as "Iso" has pointed out, it may not
be necessary, but it's fun...I guess sunlight to cats is like
birth-controlled sex is to humans...may not be necessary, but it's fun! :-)


"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"No1" wrote in message
...
I will apologize in advance for any "snippiness" in my writing. This
isn't
easy for us, let alone the cats too. There are MANY places we could
rent
for cheaper, but all of them don't allow pets. So we have to make due
with
what we have. Again, I apologize.



I can readily understand that you have to be careful of your expenditures
(and didn't even think of that when I mentioned the two cat gates from
Drs.
Foster and Smith). However, the idea of giving them a place to look
outdoors is a good one. Do you have any of those high windows in the
basement? If so, a sturdy stepladder (if one is already available) would
give your cats easy access to the windows. The stepladders with wide
steps
are more stable than the ones with narrow steps. At any rate, the cats
will
be with you most of the time, so this isn't like locking your cats into a
dark basement and leaving them there alone.

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

We'll take this under advisement. We haven't consulted a Vet yet, so we may
ask them their thoughts too.

Thanks.

"Iso" wrote in message
m...
No1,



The question of whether or not cats need sunlight has been asked
repeatedly.
I found the most logically sound post regarding the question. So don't
feel
bad by not having any windows in the basement. They are not necessary.



Animals get vitamin D from the sun as it is synthesized when UV rays react
with the precursors in the skin. D is also needed for efficient Calcium
absorption, and to prevent rickets. Most cat foods should have enough
Vitamin D supplements that sunlight is not necessary. Very little D is
necessary to be healthy. You can supplement with a few drops of fish oil
mixed in the cat food once a week. Too much can be toxic (as with too much
of many vitamins). Indoor cats are likely not synthesizing any of their
own
vitamin D as UV is blocked by standard window glass. So ultimately, cats
do
not need sunlight to survive although most cats do like sunlight. You can
supplement not having windows with flood lights. The cats won't know the
difference.

We'll take this under advisement. We haven't consulted a Vet yet, so we may
ask them their thoughts too.

Thanks.

"Iso" wrote in message
m...
No1,



The question of whether or not cats need sunlight has been asked
repeatedly.
I found the most logically sound post regarding the question. So don't
feel
bad by not having any windows in the basement. They are not necessary.



Animals get vitamin D from the sun as it is synthesized when UV rays react
with the precursors in the skin. D is also needed for efficient Calcium
absorption, and to prevent rickets. Most cat foods should have enough
Vitamin D supplements that sunlight is not necessary. Very little D is
necessary to be healthy. You can supplement with a few drops of fish oil
mixed in the cat food once a week. Too much can be toxic (as with too much
of many vitamins). Indoor cats are likely not synthesizing any of their
own
vitamin D as UV is blocked by standard window glass. So ultimately, cats
do
not need sunlight to survive although most cats do like sunlight. You can
supplement not having windows with flood lights. The cats won't know the
difference.

We've considered those too. We'll see how the baby gates work out since
those are available at no cost right now (they have two) Then when we have
the money, we may purchase two of our own and attach them together to move
as one unit. We also plan to get an air purifier to get the "basement"
smell out.


"Justin Case" wrote in message
.. .
No1 wrote:
I have a question, but have looked at some of the flaming that seems to
go
on here, so I am trying to quell any issues with a little background.

My wife, myself and our two cats are moving into my parent's house.
However, we're moving into the basement. It's a partially finished
basement
that has heat and A/C. We will be living and sleeping down there,
coming up
only to eat and use the bathroom. We're going to install a door to the
laundry room to keep them from the sump pump and washer/dryer.

Now on to the issue.

My parents are not "cat people" and would prefer that the cats stay in
the
basement with us. We have no issues with that, but we are trying to
figure
out the best way to keep them there. My thought is to try and have some
"two door" system...meaning they would have to get past two doors to get
upstairs. I thought of this because I know how they get sometimes when
in a
smaller room and bolt past when a door is opened. They did have a door
at
the top of the stairs that was removed while remodeling. I believe the
door
will be going back on. So our thought is to find or construct something
to
put at the bottom of the stairs that we could easily move...something
w/wheels perhaps? The stairs have walls on both sides, so I guess you
could
say it's less of a basement and more of a "lower level" of what would be
a
two level house.

Any thoughts? Please, please do not flame or ask us to get rid of the
pets.
We are just trying to find a happy compromise.


Sorry about your situation.

Get a folding (accordian style) vinyl door for the bottom of the stairs.
The kind that is normally used sometimes on closets. You should be able
to get something fairly cheap.

--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck

We've considered those too. We'll see how the baby gates work out since
those are available at no cost right now (they have two) Then when we have
the money, we may purchase two of our own and attach them together to move
as one unit. We also plan to get an air purifier to get the "basement"
smell out.


"Justin Case" wrote in message
.. .
No1 wrote:
I have a question, but have looked at some of the flaming that seems to
go
on here, so I am trying to quell any issues with a little background.

My wife, myself and our two cats are moving into my parent's house.
However, we're moving into the basement. It's a partially finished
basement
that has heat and A/C. We will be living and sleeping down there,
coming up
only to eat and use the bathroom. We're going to install a door to the
laundry room to keep them from the sump pump and washer/dryer.

Now on to the issue.

My parents are not "cat people" and would prefer that the cats stay in
the
basement with us. We have no issues with that, but we are trying to
figure
out the best way to keep them there. My thought is to try and have some
"two door" system...meaning they would have to get past two doors to get
upstairs. I thought of this because I know how they get sometimes when
in a
smaller room and bolt past when a door is opened. They did have a door
at
the top of the stairs that was removed while remodeling. I believe the
door
will be going back on. So our thought is to find or construct something
to
put at the bottom of the stairs that we could easily move...something
w/wheels perhaps? The stairs have walls on both sides, so I guess you
could
say it's less of a basement and more of a "lower level" of what would be
a
two level house.

Any thoughts? Please, please do not flame or ask us to get rid of the
pets.
We are just trying to find a happy compromise.


Sorry about your situation.

Get a folding (accordian style) vinyl door for the bottom of the stairs.
The kind that is normally used sometimes on closets. You should be able
to get something fairly cheap.

--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck

That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things, but my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the "handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)

"MacCandace" wrote in message
...
But hey, if you
want to send me money or the cat towers that I've seen (that run $100-200)
feel free, you won't get any argument from me.

Yeah, I'll do that for sure. You asked for advice. I didn't flame you.
Sheesh, you're a guy, make some cat trees, it's not very hard.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye
other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things, but my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the "handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)

"MacCandace" wrote in message
...
But hey, if you
want to send me money or the cat towers that I've seen (that run $100-200)
feel free, you won't get any argument from me.

Yeah, I'll do that for sure. You asked for advice. I didn't flame you.
Sheesh, you're a guy, make some cat trees, it's not very hard.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye
other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

"No1" wrote in message
...
That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things, but
my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the
"handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a
how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)


Here are a few wites with plans for do-it-yourself cat furnitu

http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html#build-it

http://www.cat-tree-plans.com/

http://www.flippyscatpage.com/furniturediy.html

MaryL