Outdoor cat poisoning - report back

OK, as promised, I quizzed the vet, who was most helpful. His response:

Antifreeze poisoning simply isn't an issue in New Zealand. He has never seen
a case. That's never. However, it is an issue in the UK, where he has also
practised, and where it is the leading cause of cat poisoning. It makes
sense that this is probably a climate issue - the UK is colder, people are
more likely to have antifreeze around and use it. The leading cause of cat
poisoning in New Zealand is paracetamol, given by ignorant owners. He has
referred me to the Vet Poisoning Information Service, a British
organisation, for more info, which I shall look up when I have more time.
But he also said poisoning is not the issue with cats that it is for dogs
simply because cats don't eat everything they encounter, and that if I check
out the VPIS, I will see that cat poisoning hardly rates.

Rat poison is also not an issue in New Zealand. There are two aspects to
this. 1. Cats won't eat rat poisons. 2. The older rat poisons started having
a secondary effect only at the level of about 5 rats - ie, cats would have
to eat 5 rats in a row before they started getting any ill effects, and
those effects would not be fatal at that level of consumption. Some of the
newer poisons being developed do have secondary effects at lower levels, but
New Zealand regulations keep those poisons out of the country.

He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of
managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times.

"Ashley" wrote in message
...
OK, as promised, I quizzed the vet, who was most helpful. His response:

Antifreeze poisoning simply isn't an issue in New Zealand. He has never
seen
a case. That's never. However, it is an issue in the UK, where he has also
practised, and where it is the leading cause of cat poisoning. It makes
sense that this is probably a climate issue - the UK is colder, people are
more likely to have antifreeze around and use it. The leading cause of cat
poisoning in New Zealand is paracetamol, given by ignorant owners. He has
referred me to the Vet Poisoning Information Service, a British
organisation, for more info, which I shall look up when I have more time.
But he also said poisoning is not the issue with cats that it is for dogs
simply because cats don't eat everything they encounter, and that if I
check
out the VPIS, I will see that cat poisoning hardly rates.

Rat poison is also not an issue in New Zealand. There are two aspects to
this. 1. Cats won't eat rat poisons. 2. The older rat poisons started
having
a secondary effect only at the level of about 5 rats - ie, cats would have
to eat 5 rats in a row before they started getting any ill effects, and
those effects would not be fatal at that level of consumption. Some of the
newer poisons being developed do have secondary effects at lower levels,
but
New Zealand regulations keep those poisons out of the country.

He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of
managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times.

ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this issue
has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of you
go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls and
chains off first!).

Hugs,

CatNipped

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...

ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this issue
has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of
you
go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls
and
chains off first!).

So you're another one who really likes putting distorted words in people's
mouths, huh? Lord, this newsgroup is full of them.

"Ashley" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...

ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this
issue
has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of
you
go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls
and
chains off first!).

So you're another one who really likes putting distorted words in people's
mouths, huh? Lord, this newsgroup is full of them.

I see you snipped out the section of your post I was responding to. Here
I'll add it back so you can read it again (not that I think that will
help!)...

Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the
American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times.
"

Care to interpret that differently than the way it did???

Hugs,

CatNipped

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...


Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the
American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all
times.
"

Care to interpret that differently than the way it did???

He's not impressed. That doesn't mean he's telling you what to do - which
appears to be a concept a few posters here have difficulty with. He would do
it differently, that doesn't mean you have to.

If you're genuinely interested in reading a dispassionate debate of the pros
and cons of both indoors and outdoors, you might try reading this, which I
found while searching for the VPIS (which it appears you can't get the data
from unless you're a vet):

http://www.fabcats.org/inorout.html

"Ashley" wrote in message
news

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...


Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the
American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all
times.
"

Care to interpret that differently than the way it did???

He's not impressed. That doesn't mean he's telling you what to do - which
appears to be a concept a few posters here have difficulty with. He would
do
it differently, that doesn't mean you have to.

If you're genuinely interested in reading a dispassionate debate of the
pros
and cons of both indoors and outdoors, you might try reading this, which I
found while searching for the VPIS (which it appears you can't get the
data
from unless you're a vet):

http://www.fabcats.org/inorout.html

Ashley, I don't need to read anything on this subject. Unlike some I have
two assets which tell me what to do about my cats regarding keeping them in
or letting them out, they're called common sense and observational skills.

You can do what you like, obviously, but don't try to convince anyone with
either of those assets that letting cats outside is a good idea.
Anthropomorphize as much as you like about how cats, like humans, "need to
be free to roam". Cats are *NOT* human, can be perfectly happy inside 24/7
and certainly can *only* be safe from outside dangers if they *are* kept
inside 24/7.

Come back here, like *SO* many others have who let their cats roam outside,
and post to the group about how upset you are that you've found your
"beloved" kitty lying on the side of the road dead with his intestines
hanging out! We'll all cry with you until you get another cat to weep over.
I'm sure as your cat lays dying he'll be thinking how "lucky" he is that
you're so concerned about his freedom.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Here, counter these facts:

Indoor cats...

have a life span of 12 - 20 years
are not exposed to disease
will not get abscesses from fighting neighborhood strays
will not be threatened by dogs or wildlife
will not suffer injury or amputation from leghold traps
will not suffer from frost bite
will not be hit by cars
will not get lost
will never go hungry
cannot be abused by strangers
are safe from chemicals and fertilizers
cannot be stolen
are happy living indoors

Outdoor cats...

have a life span of only 1 - 5 years
will be exposed to leukemia, kitty AIDS, parasites, etc.
will fight - causing expensive vet bills
are maimed or killed by dogs and predators can get caught in leghold traps
do suffer from frost bite
are hit by cars and injured or killed
do stray from home and get lost
can die from starvation
are abused by strangers
are exposed to toxic lawn antifreeze
are stolen
breed, if not neutered or spayed, and add to pet overpopulation

Disagree? Which of those things above are wrong? OK, I already know, where
you live you have none of those dangers right? I think Mary has the right
of it - fingers in your ears chanting lalalalalalalalala!

Hugs,

CatNipped

On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 12:20:38 +1200, "Ashley"
wrote:


He's not impressed. That doesn't mean he's telling you what to do - which
appears to be a concept a few posters here have difficulty with. He would do
it differently, that doesn't mean you have to.


Has he lived here? Most of my vets keep their cats inside. When I told
my vet that the new cat used to be an outdoor cat, she told me she
takes her cats out on a leash.

I'm sure that a vet seeing the same problems day in and day out would
take actions to prevent their cats from the same fate.


--
Meghan & the Zoo Crew
Equine and Pet Photography
http://www.zoocrewphoto.com

In article ,
enlightened us with...


http://www.fabcats.org/inorout.html

The best of both worlds
A purpose built outdoor enclosure could provide your cat with the sights and
smells of the outside world and give his life some variety without exposing
him to many of the outdoor risks.

This is EXACTLY what I would love to do if I had a house.

I think that article has a lot of valid points, especially for the audience
it is written for (UK).
But one thing they're missing is that many of the behavior problems they
posit are the result of not going outside are actually problems due to the
cat not getting enough mental and physical stimulation. That's the owner's
fault. A cat can be perfectly happy indoors provided the owners actually take
the time and energy to enrich the cat's life. It has little to do with going
outside per se and everything to do with being bored to tears.

My 2 cents, anyway.

--
--
~kaeli~
The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and
three hundred sixty-two admonishments to heterosexuals.
That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's
just that they need more supervision.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...
"Ashley" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...

ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this
issue
has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all
of
you
go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the
balls
and
chains off first!).

So you're another one who really likes putting distorted words in
people's
mouths, huh? Lord, this newsgroup is full of them.

I see you snipped out the section of your post I was responding to. Here
I'll add it back so you can read it again (not that I think that will
help!)...

Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the
American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all
times.
"

Care to interpret that differently than the way it did???



You're going beyond the call of duty here, CN. This is exactly
what Steve G. and Alison do--and I never take the time to
back up and shove the **** back in their faces, as such blatant
sophistry just is not worth it. Just like using tactics that demonize
or discredit one's adversary, it's the last refuge of the dim-witted.