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Post by zack&buffysmum on Dec 23, 2013 10:05:55 GMT 1
I think it really depends on the individual cat. We had two Abyssinians, one male, one female. Hobie-Cat, the male would wreck the house if he was shut in for any reason. He would jump on my desk, or a table, and deliberately push things off the edge- a pen, a phone, a knife, anything. He would also inflict random acts of violence on innocent dogs and humans! When given his freedom, he reverted to pussy cat! Unfortunately, having his freedom led to an early death, as he was only eight when he was involved in some sort of accident which ultimately killed him. This is exactly what Oscar was like when we first got him - to the point that we almost named him Asbo! We got him at 5 months from a rescue who said he had been brought in as a stray. They left us alone in a room with him to have a little play with him to see if we liked him etc but all he was doing was LITERALLY climbing the walls trying to get out of the windows! There is no way on earth he would ever have been a house cat. The more I think about it the more I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of keeping a cat in 24/7
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Post by laddiesmum on Dec 23, 2013 10:23:57 GMT 1
I have two cats. One is 17 who used to go out a lot but he stays in most of the time at the moment due to heart problems. My other is 2 years old. She was absolutely petrified of the outside world! We tried to encourage her but she panics and runs back indoors. She is very happy being a house cat and even in the summer, with some windows open, she never ventures out but then I guess its her choice.
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Post by julz on Dec 23, 2013 11:36:23 GMT 1
Both of mine were ill as kittens so weren't allowed out, til they were back to being healthy, in those months, Salem did all he could to see what was on the other side of the door, whereas Kendra didn't care. I started taking them for a walk round the shared back garden (was huge) and they'd follow me in the shadows lol, til they were both confident at being out... I think Kendra started to think being in was the place to be, all warm and cosy and comfortable... Salem much prefers the outdoors and taking on the wildlife (dogs). Salem is 12 now, and only goes out for the necessary, but goes out for longer in the warmer months. Kendra was a lady of leisure, and preferred it that way, only going out when the temp was above 20 degrees for a sunbathe, unfortunetly she decided to go a wander and we (vet and I) think she was caught by a Staffie. She died a week later. She was 10.
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 24, 2013 1:18:41 GMT 1
RIP Kendra xx
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Post by Karon on Dec 24, 2013 8:55:13 GMT 1
Kendra's sad tale, and us losing Gussie at just 16 months old, are two reasons why I don't have a problem with people keeping cats as house cats any more - it just takes a lot more thought to how to do it than having an in/out cat. If we could enclose our garden (we can't - shared pathway and access) I'd do that so there'd be no chance of Bingo going on the road at all.
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Post by clipclop on Dec 24, 2013 14:48:08 GMT 1
If you get a kitten and keep it in, it's never going to miss being out. But surely this quote and your last post are the same as saying that if someone has had a horse pts due to a broken leg in the field, it would be acceptable to get a foal and keep it alone as it wouldn't know any different? Horses naturally are in herds. Cats naturally hunt. If I were to want a house cat, I would choose either a senior citizen moggy or one with feline aids from a rescue. It's not fair imo to expect a kitten not to tear your house, curtains and legs apart by not being able to roam and hunt. Even with my boy cat who is a useless hunter and doesn't venture far, he is so much more chilled in the house if he's been out. If the weather is bad and he's chosen not to venture out of the cat flap, he gets cabin fever pretty quickly despite having plenty of toys in the house. Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by donniedarco on Dec 25, 2013 19:26:05 GMT 1
Julz - I am sorry to hear about Kendra However I agree with Karon and we here in the UK seem to be the only nation where outside cats are the norm. In America (and Australia) most cats are house cats (Google Jackson Galaxy the Cat Whisperer - I loved his series My Cat From Hell) the outside world is just to hazardous for them - and also by nature they are predators therefore can have an affect on on the local wildlife. However if you do keep a house cat, it must have the stimuli - hunt (play)., eat sleep. I would SERIOUSLY love a housecat, I live in a small flat along a very busy road but it's in the flat deeds no dogs or cats (although as I own in-mortgage- I have considered appealing along the lines of "it's against my human rights", but not sure if am up for that sort of battle, and will have to be content fussing my friends cat when I see him) So all of you lucky enough to have a cat - give them a cuddle from me
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Post by donniedarco on Dec 25, 2013 19:28:44 GMT 1
If you get a kitten and keep it in, it's never going to miss being out. But surely this quote and your last post are the same as saying that if someone has had a horse pts due to a broken leg in the field, it would be acceptable to get a foal and keep it alone as it wouldn't know any different? Horses naturally are in herds. Cats naturally hunt. If I were to want a house cat, I would choose either a senior citizen moggy or one with feline aids from a rescue. It's not fair imo to expect a kitten not to tear your house, curtains and legs apart by not being able to roam and hunt. Even with my boy cat who is a useless hunter and doesn't venture far, he is so much more chilled in the house if he's been out. If the weather is bad and he's chosen not to venture out of the cat flap, he gets cabin fever pretty quickly despite having plenty of toys in the house. Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards yes, but you have to initiate play it's the same as taking the dog for a walk
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Post by julz on Dec 26, 2013 11:58:33 GMT 1
I think if a cat does not choose to go out, only then can it be happy as a house cat.. Neither of mine are natural hunters lol.. Kendra caught and killed one mouse in her entire life, and only because it was in the house lol. Salem... I had to rescue a mouse from him, as (again it was in the house) and he just wouldn't stop patting the poor thing on the head.... It almost climbed into the box so I could let it go outside lol.
My previous cat though, was a Mighty Hunter lol
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Post by zack&buffysmum on Jan 11, 2014 22:04:45 GMT 1
Well after much thought and discussion we have decided to re-home a cat from a local rescue. He is being collected tomorrow He is 4 years old and is FIV positive and the rescue have stipulated that he MUST be a house cat. We went to view him on Wednesday and he is actually the friendliest cat I have ever come across in my life He is white with 3 black patches on his head and a black tail and he is enormous! I will try to post some pictures when we have got him home. I'm very excited and looking forward to bringing him home
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Post by cookie on Jan 11, 2014 22:19:37 GMT 1
Sounds well suited, lucky cat, wishing you all the best Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards
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Post by ladyndibs on Jan 12, 2014 2:06:58 GMT 1
Well after much thought and discussion we have decided to re-home a cat from a local rescue. He is being collected tomorrow He is 4 years old and is FIV positive and the rescue have stipulated that he MUST be a house cat. We went to view him on Wednesday and he is actually the friendliest cat I have ever come across in my life He is white with 3 black patches on his head and a black tail and he is enormous! I will try to post some pictures when we have got him home. I'm very excited and looking forward to bringing him home That sounds like a great outcome to your search, looking forward to lots of pictures.
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Post by portiabuzz on Jan 13, 2014 14:38:42 GMT 1
lovely, look forwards to hearing more
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Post by zack&buffysmum on Jan 19, 2014 20:37:09 GMT 1
Well here he is! (if I can post the pictures )
He spent the first evening hiding in the airing cupboard and most of the next day hiding behind the telly but he has found his feet now and is getting his slaves trained to the required standard.
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Post by ladyndibs on Jan 19, 2014 20:56:31 GMT 1
He looks pretty relaxed now either than or worn out from all the training his slaves have needed Has he got a name yet and is that a little black toe he has too?
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