Cat 'netting'. Indoor cats advice needed.

zagfles

senileturtle wrote: »

I didn't say they did, I was making a hypothetical similar situation to make the naysayer see how their post came across.

Well done to your cats. I know some cats do figure out the look left and look right thing, but a lot do not. I've had to bury a cat that someone ran over and just chucked in the bushes at the side of the path. I've also had to take a cat to a rescue centre that had been hit by a car, luckily he only had a broken leg.

But again if you stretch the people analogy...I know of people who've been seriously injured and killed in car accidents, but it won't stop me driving or letting my kids travel by car.

As it is, it's not paranoia (there are other dangers too), as I know what my cats are like. When I lived on a quiet estate I came home to find my youngest just sunbathing in the middle of the road. So they're not the most road savvy cats, unfortunately.

But that was my point - it's a quiet road so the cat doesn't learn to associate it with danger. I've known cats do the same on quiet roads. But if the road constantly has traffic thundering up and down it, it becomes a scary place where they need to keep their wits about them! Well that's my theory anyway... I can't find any stats to back it up... but the only cats I've known who've been killed on the roads have been on quiet'ish roads.

BTW the cat we inherited was used to a quiet road but he shows very good road sense on our road. The other cats we've had I don't think ever dared to cross the road! Lots of the neighbours have outdoor cats too and not heard of any accidents on our road (we've been here nearly 15 years). Though I think it helps that the road is straight with usually not many parked cars near us to obstruct the view.

Dimey

I tried to be a foster Mum to kittens from the Cats Protection league but they wouldn't let me keep them in my house. (Normal house, not unsafe)

They said I had to keep them in cages (they provided) outside in the garden for health reasons - so they couldn't catch anything. They weren't keen on me cuddling them either.

I didn't like the idea of the cats being lonely, cold and caged outside so I didn't join up. But I'd love to have done it if they could have lived in my home.

senileturtle

iammumtoone wrote: »

Too much so, there are lots of cats that need homes but they are not willing to let them go I had a friend who had three cats and wanted another so she went to a charity, when they did the home visit they noticed her house was for sale so wouldn't give her one as they couldn't be sure she was moving to a safe area. She tried to explain she already had three cats and wouldn't move any where that would put them at risk but they were having none of it. She went out and brought one instead and said she would never try to give a rescue cat a home again as she was made to feel like she was a bad owner when she adored her cats.

Wish people like that would not bunch all charities together. I've not heard much good about CPL anyway, or RSPCA. As it is, I prefer the no-kill charities. Each charity differs to how they do things. Shame she took away a potential home from a needy mog.

zagfles wrote: »

But again if you stretch the people analogy...I know of people who've been seriously injured and killed in car accidents, but it won't stop me driving or letting my kids travel by car. But that was my point - it's a quiet road so the cat doesn't learn to associate it with danger. I've known cats do the same on quiet roads. But if the road constantly has traffic thundering up and down it, it becomes a scary place where they need to keep their wits about them! Well that's my theory anyway... I can't find any stats to back it up... but the only cats I've known who've been killed on the roads have been on quiet'ish roads.

BTW the cat we inherited was used to a quiet road but he shows very good road sense on our road. The other cats we've had I don't think ever dared to cross the road! Lots of the neighbours have outdoor cats too and not heard of any accidents on our road (we've been here nearly 15 years). Though I think it helps that the road is straight with usually not many parked cars near us to obstruct the view.

I didn't stretch it. I was making her see that is not as cruel as she makes out (if the poster is a she?) and that you wouldn't re-home a child if a change of circumstances occurred in a similar way to how mine have. The thing is, as with children, the parent is responsible for the welfare. So it is solely my decision at the end of the day, and I have to weigh the pros and cons of the area I am living in. People can call me cruel, heartless, etc all they want, but they do not know the cats I care for, nor the area I live in.

Also, humans being killed in cars is usually due to their own negligence or someone else's negligence; it's not really comparable to an animal who does not know how dangerous cars are. The noise may be scary, but they can't fully comprehend the dangers of an automobile because they don't even know what it is.

You can have your theory, but that's all it is until it's got data behind it. However the cat I found dead was on a busy A road. And I certainly wouldn't risk the chance just to get a cat to learn busy roads are scary. The risk far outweighs the gain there.

Also, I am actually a huge supporter of allowing cats outside, but only where it is safe to do so. As it is, not all cat carers have safe neighbourhoods, or their circumstances change. But unless the amount of cats needing homes suddenly drops dramatically, every carer for cats (and any other over populated domesticated species) should provide the best care they can for the situation they are in. It's not perfect, but then, nothing ever is.

Tessie_Balloon_Juice

Thanks to those who have posted links to the velcro type fly screens. I think I'll invest in some of these to use in hot weather. Has any one tried making their own?

I have 2 indoor cats. They're about a year old and have always lived inside. I signed an agreement to say that they would be kept as indoor pets only and I plan to stick to it.

Senileturtle, for what its worth, I think you're doing the right thing by keeping them away from the busy road. They'll soon get used to being indoors and it seems like they have plenty of space and toys to keep them busy.

I suppose its easier for mine to stay indoors as they've never set foot outside. They can't miss what they've never had. I feel much happier knowing that they're safe indoors, not just because they're safe from traffic but other dangers like pesticides, loose dogs or local psychos! My grandparents had a cat that they rescued as a kitten from some idiot who had his head wrapped in a carrier bag whilst burning his tail with a lighter :mad: My mum's next door neighbour keeps a washing up liquid bottle full of bleach by her door to squirt at cats who go in her garden :mad: We're not all cat lovers, sadly.

I take the point about cats learning to avoid danger, but I think it's down to each owner and their circumstances. In the end we all want to do whats best for our pets.

Spudsey

One of my cats went from outdoor to indoor after he went missing a few years back and returned terrified. I eventually managed to get him outside on a harness but he quivered for ages, now he loves going outside on his lead! I wouldn't dream of letting him out on his own now though as its been too long and he was never very aware of what damage cars could do to him, choosing to jump in front of ours everytime we came home!
I feel bad that he is an indoor cat, in some ways I feel like his life was ruined by whatever happened, but doing our best for him.

Tessie_Balloon_Juice

Spudsey wrote: »

I eventually managed to get him outside on a harness but he quivered for ages, now he loves going outside on his lead!

How long did it take for him to get used to his harness? I'd like to try taking my girls outside on harnesses. I think they'd like to explore the garden but the trauma of a harness might spoil their enjoyment! Perhaps I could just put it on for a few minutes a day so they get used to the way it feels before venturing outdoors.

Angelicdevil

I want to get a harness for my kitten, he's going to be an indoor cat but thought I could take him out supervised, as it were.

With regards to the OP, I've just bought some insect mesh from a seller on Amazon and paired this up with heavy duty Velcro.

So far, so good and a lot cheaper than the companies that sell made to order kits.

Lilyjade

We have just made a cover for our top opening windows, to stop the cats getting out. We did it by putting together a wood frame and stapling heavy nets on it. The frame slips into u shaped metal brackets on the wall so we can lift it off to shut the windows. We had the old nets already so it cost very little to make.

Several years ago we also made a large enclosure on the back of the house that the cats can get into whenever they want. It's very popular at 4am! The enclosure has lots of things to keep them amused, grass, safe plants, ledges, toys etc. We add new stuff to it periodically as well.

We do also give our cats supervised garden time every few days. They have all been used to this arrangement from kittens and seem happy. Infact the 11 year old asks to come in after 5 minutes by sitting at the back door.

Tessie_Balloon_Juice

Lilyjade, that sounds amazing!

senileturtle

Angelicdevil wrote: »

I want to get a harness for my kitten, he's going to be an indoor cat but thought I could take him out supervised, as it were.

With regards to the OP, I've just bought some insect mesh from a seller on Amazon and paired this up with heavy duty Velcro.

So far, so good and a lot cheaper than the companies that sell made to order kits.

Don't suppose you could link me to the particular mesh you bought?