Cat proof backyard indeed!

Only one way though. I was pretty sure that my cats cannot get out of
my backyard due to the fence tops sloping inwards, but they don't try
very hard either. I was not at all sure that a cat cannot get IN my
backyard though. But none had for two years. Until yesterday.

Last night I hear a really loud cat screech and I run downstairs to
find out which cat is in agony. Jackie is upstairs and Espy and Nipsy
are on the windowsill staring into the backyard, where another,
undoubtably evil, cat is on the outside of the window staring in. Oh
no. What now?

I put on long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, and head out into the
backyard. Turn on the floodlight. Take the flashlight. Sure enough,
there is the cat. I approach. It runs around trying to get out of the
yard. Over here. Over there. Up the fence, down the fence. Still in
the yard. Catproof yes.

Twenty minutes later I give up trying to get close enough to carry it
out and tie down two parts of the fence so it can get out during the
night. My backyard now smells of cat ****. I just watered so I know
that there is some water for it to drink. Should I feed it? NO, the
last thing I need is a fourth cat. It won't leave if I feed it.

Was it gone this morning? I didn't see it from inside. I wasn't going
in the backyard to find out for sure because I don't want to argue
with my cats about going out today and I don't need to find out that
it is still there and what can I do about it anyway?

If the THING in the backyard (post from a few months ago - the possum)
could find it's way out once I made sure there was an opening in the
fence, the cat sure should be able to.

I REALLY do not need another cat.

"dgk" wrote in message
...

Only one way though. I was pretty sure that my cats cannot get out of
my backyard due to the fence tops sloping inwards, but they don't try
very hard either. I was not at all sure that a cat cannot get IN my
backyard though. But none had for two years. Until yesterday.

Last night I hear a really loud cat screech and I run downstairs to
find out which cat is in agony. Jackie is upstairs and Espy and Nipsy
are on the windowsill staring into the backyard, where another,
undoubtably evil, cat is on the outside of the window staring in. Oh
no.


This is what worries me about outdoor enclosures--the nightmare of
sweet little puddytats being out there and something mean getting in!


What now?

I put on long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, and head out into the
backyard. Turn on the floodlight. Take the flashlight. Sure enough,
there is the cat. I approach. It runs around trying to get out of the
yard. Over here. Over there. Up the fence, down the fence. Still in
the yard. Catproof yes.

Twenty minutes later I give up trying to get close enough to carry it
out and tie down two parts of the fence so it can get out during the
night. My backyard now smells of cat ****. I just watered so I know
that there is some water for it to drink. Should I feed it? NO, the
last thing I need is a fourth cat. It won't leave if I feed it.

Was it gone this morning? I didn't see it from inside. I wasn't going
in the backyard to find out for sure because I don't want to argue
with my cats about going out today and I don't need to find out that
it is still there and what can I do about it anyway?

If the THING in the backyard (post from a few months ago - the possum)
could find it's way out once I made sure there was an opening in the
fence, the cat sure should be able to.

I REALLY do not need another cat.

Oh, I know, but four is a nice round number!

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:44:17 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:



Oh, I know, but four is a nice round number!


Five is rounder. Six even more so. Eight is the roundest.

Last night I hear a really loud cat screech and I run downstairs to
find out which cat is in agony. Jackie is upstairs and Espy and Nipsy
are on the windowsill staring into the backyard, where another,
undoubtably evil, cat is on the outside of the window staring in. Oh
no. What now?

I put on long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, and head out into the
backyard. Turn on the floodlight. Take the flashlight. Sure enough,
there is the cat. I approach. It runs around trying to get out of the
yard. Over here. Over there. Up the fence, down the fence. Still in
the yard. Catproof yes.

Around here, rule #1, the most unbendable rule of all and they know it,
is "No cats out after dusk." I think that ought to apply to enclosures,
also. Possums and coons and worst of all skunks are notorious for
prowling around after dark In fact, probably even the neighborhood
strays are more active at night.

Sherry

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:44:17 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:



Oh, I know, but four is a nice round number!


Five is rounder. Six even more so. Eight is the roundest.

I do understand. You can't take every one you want to take.
Maybe he has a home?

On 18 Apr 2005 09:59:12 -0700, wrote:


Last night I hear a really loud cat screech and I run downstairs to
find out which cat is in agony. Jackie is upstairs and Espy and Nipsy
are on the windowsill staring into the backyard, where another,
undoubtably evil, cat is on the outside of the window staring in. Oh
no. What now?

I put on long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, and head out into the
backyard. Turn on the floodlight. Take the flashlight. Sure enough,
there is the cat. I approach. It runs around trying to get out of the
yard. Over here. Over there. Up the fence, down the fence. Still in
the yard. Catproof yes.

Around here, rule #1, the most unbendable rule of all and they know it,
is "No cats out after dusk." I think that ought to apply to enclosures,
also. Possums and coons and worst of all skunks are notorious for
prowling around after dark In fact, probably even the neighborhood
strays are more active at night.

Sherry

Yes, my cats are never out at night.There are a few free cats in the
neighborhood, but they do not enter my yard normally and certainly not
when the boys are out there.

I have never seen this cat before. No collar either. But he looked too
well maintained to be a stray from what I could tell.

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:44:17 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:

This is what worries me about outdoor enclosures--the nightmare of
sweet little puddytats being out there and something mean getting in!


None of mine are allowed out in the enclosure after feeding time in
the evening. The cat door is locked to admit only incoming cats after
six. Mine don't even try the door if it's dark out. I've had maybe
three break-ins in two years by a panicked squirrel, a possum and a
neighbor's cat. The poor squirrel almost bought the farm as he dashed
from tree to tree followed by nine gallumping cats.

BarB

"BarB" wrote in message
. earthlink.net...
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:44:17 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:

This is what worries me about outdoor enclosures--the nightmare of
sweet little puddytats being out there and something mean getting in!


None of mine are allowed out in the enclosure after feeding time in
the evening. The cat door is locked to admit only incoming cats after
six. Mine don't even try the door if it's dark out. I've had maybe
three break-ins in two years by a panicked squirrel, a possum and a
neighbor's cat. The poor squirrel almost bought the farm as he dashed
from tree to tree followed by nine gallumping cats.


Sounds like a good set-up. I really want to do something for my kitties
so that they can be outside safely. We have a fenced yard but the fence
as it stands is not high enough.

On Mon 18 Apr 2005 05:59:38p, BarB wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav
.earthlink.net):

I've had maybe
three break-ins in two years by a panicked squirrel, a possum
and a neighbor's cat. The poor squirrel almost bought the farm
as he dashed from tree to tree followed by nine gallumping cats.

My enclosure is fully covered - top included - because Shamrock was
climbing the mesh. The only things that have gotten in are birds, but
not when any of the cats were out there. Lucky for them!

--
Cheryl

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited
breath."
- W.C. Fields

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 18:10:59 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:


"BarB" wrote in message
.earthlink.net...
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:44:17 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:

This is what worries me about outdoor enclosures--the nightmare of
sweet little puddytats being out there and something mean getting in!


None of mine are allowed out in the enclosure after feeding time in
the evening. The cat door is locked to admit only incoming cats after
six. Mine don't even try the door if it's dark out. I've had maybe
three break-ins in two years by a panicked squirrel, a possum and a
neighbor's cat. The poor squirrel almost bought the farm as he dashed
from tree to tree followed by nine gallumping cats.


Sounds like a good set-up. I really want to do something for my kitties
so that they can be outside safely. We have a fenced yard but the fence
as it stands is not high enough.


Make sure it bends in at the top. It sure proved effective.

Well, here I am back home. The evil puddy is gone. The fence is closed
again. The boys and girl were out for half an hour but I have to go
out now so everyone is inside eating.