This is Sad

[Popoki_Nui]

..... I do understand why some people elect to have outside cats.

I sure don't. Maybe someone can explain to me why they would knowingly play Russian roulette with their beloved pet's life?

Not a day goes by when I don't have to talk to, and attempt to help a hysterical cat owner who thought is was a cat's basic instinct to run free outdoors, then wonder why it was hit by a car, mangled by another cat, dog, raccoon/fox/cougar/bear/eagle/owl, shot/kicked/poisoned by nasty human. What the hell did they think was going to happen?!?!? These are not kings of the jungle, and we do not live on the savanna where they are top of the food chain. These are pets, and have virtually no defenses against city (or country, for that matter) dangers. Sheesh. Outdoor cats live an avg of 5-7 years. Indoor cats live an avg of 12-20 years. Much healthier years, too.

Those of you who keep your cats indoors, bless ya. You know your cats are perfectly happy inside. For those who think it is wise to let your cats run free, please come and work my helpline, even for one day. Listen to the calls for help from people who thought they were wise too. Listen to the preventable tragedy. Come on...just one days' worth.

Whatever your preconceptions, cats are indeed perfectly happy indoors. There is not ONE argument in favour of allowing them to free roam outdoors. Not one.

Sorry, but this is my passion, born of my own feelings for my cats, and many yeas of listening to and treating preventable suffering.

Spay and neuter. Proper diet. Keep them safe indoors (or at least leash-train or build a cat-run). And have a good, long, healthy life with your beloved cat.
/rant.

Sherry.

[Trekhawk]

I sure don't. Maybe someone can explain to me why they would knowingly play Russian roulette with their beloved pet's life?

Not a day goes by when I don't have to talk to, and attempt to help a hysterical cat owner who thought is was a cat's basic instinct to run free outdoors, then wonder why it was hit by a car, mangled by another cat, dog, raccoon/fox/cougar/bear/eagle/owl, shot/kicked/poisoned by nasty human. What the hell did they think was going to happen?!?!? These are not kings of the jungle, and we do not live on the savanna where they are top of the food chain. These are pets, and have virtually no defenses against city (or country, for that matter) dangers. Sheesh. Outdoor cats live an avg of 5-7 years. Indoor cats live an avg of 12-20 years. Much healthier years, too.

Those of you who keep your cats indoors, bless ya. You know your cats are perfectly happy inside. For those who think it is wise to let your cats run free, please come and work my helpline, even for one day. Listen to the calls for help from people who thought they were wise too. Listen to the preventable tragedy. Come on...just one days' worth.

Whatever your preconceptions, cats are indeed perfectly happy indoors. There is not ONE argument in favour of allowing them to free roam outdoors. Not one.

Sorry, but this is my passion, born of my own feelings for my cats, and many yeas of listening to and treating preventable suffering.

Spay and neuter. Proper diet. Keep them safe indoors (or at least leash-train or build a cat-run). And have a good, long, healthy life with your beloved cat.
/rant.

Sherry.

I agree with Sherry and I dont even own a cat. I dont have anything against cats but I dont have one by choice and so dont want yours in my yard chasing birds and other cats. Be responsible for your pets and where they are. If you are an Aussie cat owner then please, please, please keep them inside or make a cat run for them. Our marsupials have a hard enough time surviving with all the feral animals without your cat adding to the problem.

[abvnx]

thats really sad. once while driving DH and i saw a cat that had been hit by a car. we stopped to see if we could help it but it was already dead so we just moved it of of the road. for weeks i didnt even want to drive by that spot.

i was working at an animal shelter in IL when katrina hit. some volunteers went down to pick up some animals since the shelters there were overloaded with lost pets. we took as many animals as we had room for.my husband was volunteering and started working with a little feral kitten. eventually she would sit in his lap and let him pet her so long as there were no sudden movements. so we adopted her and named her jenga. she gradually started to trust us and would come when called. she loved to be petted and brushed(if i showed her a brush, she would run to me and nuzzle the brush).
shortly after we moved to WA, i had a window open. somehow the screen got pushed out and we havnt seen jenga since. this was 2 months ago.we are very worried about her as there are lots of coyotes in our area but i still have hope that she will come back. i miss her and think about her everyday.

[Python]

Spay and neuter. Proper diet. Keep them safe indoors (or at least leash-train or build a cat-run). And have a good, long, healthy life with your beloved cat.
/rant.

Sherry.

I'm a great believer in spaying and neutering. Our cats are better fed than we are. Our Blue (he's 14) has got opening the fridge door down to a fine art! He helped himself to my husband's chicken that he was going to make some sandwiches with!!!

I've never leash-trained a cat before. What's the best age to start harness and leash train a cat? We have two Bengal kittens (9 weeks old) and would like to train them.

[makbike]

I've never leash-trained a cat before. What's the best age to start harness and leash train a cat? We have two Bengal kittens (9 weeks old) and would like to train them.

Start them now. I would recommend a figure-8 harness.

First, just let them wear it around the house for short periods of time. As them get use to it increase the time but never leave them unattended with a harness on for bad things can happen if they get hung on something.

Next, attach a short, lightweight leash to the harness and allow them a drag it around behind them. Again, never leave them unattend for even a brief moment.

Finally, let them walk you around the house. Cats are not like dogs - you should always allow the cat to walk you - let them determine where they want to go and how fast they want to move. Good luck and have fun!

[Popoki_Nui]

I've never leash-trained a cat before. What's the best age to start harness and leash train a cat? We have two Bengal kittens (9 weeks old) and would like to train them.

Nine weeks might be a little young, but 12 weeks or so should be fine. Begin by letting them wear the harness 1-2 hours a day for a week or until they're comfortable in them, then 2-4hrs a day for a week, then longer each day until they can wear them comfortably any time. Then clip the leash on and practice leash-walking indoors a little at a time until they are comfortable. Then, and only then, take your first tentative outdoor walk. Depending on your cats' temperment, it can take from 2-3 week to 2-3 months to leash-train, but in the end it is an excellent compromise.

Let's face it; although cats are perfectly happy indoors, most cats do like the great outdoors. It's the attendant dangers they (and their owners) are unequipped for. Going for a gentle walk in a quiet back yard on a leash is a relatively safe experience for the cat, and another chance for the owner to spend some quality time bonding with their pet. The bird population will thank you too.

Good on ya, Python.

~S.

[SadieKate]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

[Lise]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

What a great image, SK! L.

[onimity]

I get really sad too when I see animals of any sort hit on the roadside; I've really been amazed at the numbers since I started cycling. The other day I saw a coyote that had recently been hit on the center line of the road. His head and mouth were positioned so that it looked like it was howling and the image sticks with me; I think that they are such beautiful animals and their habitat is increasingly taken over by highways and tract housing around here, very sad. So many beautiful birds killed by cars too, I see several new ones on my commute every day.

I agree that we are too often in a hurry and cycling has really changed my perception of that. I haven't driven since March and I don't miss it a bit.

I have a leash trained cat; she likes to go out in the yard on a leash attached to a stake (you have to watch them though, and keep them out of range of anything climbable!) She likes walks less because she always wants to climb a tree, but if you go for a picnic and give her 10 feet to roam around you she is in heaven. My other cat hates anything new. He got out once without me realizing it and I shut the door. Minutes later there was this awful howling outside and he was desperately howling at the window. He does play piano though...

Anne

[onimity]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

Very cute.

There is an act on our local pedestrian mall that involves a dog, a cat that sits on the dog's back, and a mouse that sits on the cat's back. I haven't seen it personally but my sister did recently. She talked to the guy and he said that it was relatively easy to train the dog and the cat...but he goes through a lot of mice!

[DDH]

Not only do some cat owners let their cats run wild, but dog owners do it too. In fact, in my area, I see many more dogs on the side of the road than I do cats. Plus the fact that I live in the country and out here is where everyone thinks it's okay to come and dump their unwanted pets.
I have a stray cat at my house now that someone dumped out there. She is sweet and wants to come in, but I have two dogs that have not been raised around cats and will eat her if I let her in, so out she stays.

[Python]

Over here in the UK you have to keep dogs under control - they're not allowed to run wild. Cats on the other hand are still classed as wild animals. If you run over a dog you have to report it to the police - not so with a cat.

I'm hoping my two Bengal kittens will take to the harness and leash as we have a huge woodland to the rear of our house - out through the back gate and we're right in the middle of it. It's a beautiful area with many protected species of plant - some of which only grow here and nowhere else in the UK.

There are some fields in the middle of this woodland and a stream with a small wooden bridge going across. That should please the Bengals as I believe they like water!!!

They're not going to be happy with me tomorrow - they're off to the vet for their vaccinations. I've no doubt they'll let me know what a horrible human I am - in very vocal terms. Harley especially LOVES to talk to you

Onimity - that's a great video of your cat. Very talented. Should be on the X-Factor

Just a shame one idiot's posted a rude comment.

[Jolt]

Not only do some cat owners let their cats run wild, but dog owners do it too. In fact, in my area, I see many more dogs on the side of the road than I do cats.

Good point. I once saw two little dogs (a pug and a chihuahua) running loose in the street while riding home from the grocery store. I managed to chase them into the nearest yard and then started ringing doorbells trying to find the owner--nobody was home, so I asked a lady who was in her front yard a little further down the street. She knew whose dogs they were but said the people let them run around like that all the time and didn't really care. UGH!!! With that kind of attitude, why even have pets in the first place?

[wiseowl]

So sad. That is the one thing about biking I dislike- it puts you front and center with roadkill. A tiny little fawn, still with spots, that was killed on a regular bike route put me in a funk for days.
Our two cats go on leash. I started them young, but know others who started later in life. We use a cat walking jacket (google it) and they start crying when they see it, they are so excited- even when it has been packed away all winter. They do enjoy a trip outside, which seems mostly to be for grass eating, but they are pretty content indoors, too. A well placed bird feeder and toys seems to do the trick.