Outdoor Cats now need to be indoors ??
Mon Sep 14 2009 - 11:17 am
Hello Goddesses :)
I really need some advice on a touchy subject.
I live in an older neighbourhood with mature trees, wide lots, older houses.
I have 4 cats in total:
Three are black, one is beige – he is very old at 17years old and isn’t a nuisance to anyone.
One black cat adopted us when we moved into the house.
Two black cats I adopted a year ago from a local animal shelter.
I let all the cats outside because I thought that was best, and besides the crying and scratching at the door was driving me crazy :) (I'm a single mom of 3,had enough on my plate without the cats driving me crazy LOL)
A neighbor came to me last night and said that all the neighbours are fed up with my cats going onto their property. She said one was peeing on her deck (can’t confirm it was one of mine, but she brought it up) She said 1 cat was locked in her shed for 3 days – yes, I was missing a cat for 3-4 days, so I can confirm that this cat was definitely mine. She said a black cat is lying on her chair cushions outside all the time.
There is a black / white cat that comes around, even onto my property, and that definitely is not mine.
I can’t say concretely that all of the peeing or nuisance can be tied to my cats (all my cats are fixed !) , but the neighbours think all of the cats around are mine.
I feel horrible that the neighbours are fed up. Call me naïve, I just didn’t realize that people were being bothered by my cats, and maybe other strays as well.
The lady said she will start taking pictures. She was even hinting that if there is any damage etc… that I will have to pay !
I have kept all the cats inside today, and told the kids to let them out when they get home from school for a few hours. I will make sure they are in by 8pm everyday for now on, despite all the crying at night that happens :(
I am at a loss what to do beyond the above.
These cats are outdoor cats !!
Isn’t it cruel to all of a sudden keep them inside full time ?
Giving the cats away would break my children’s hearts :( so that is not an option. These wonderful cats are like family to us.
Please don’t berate me for allowing my cats outside in the first place. I have really never had a problem with this until recently.
It’s a tough call, being a cat owner.
I know the war about cats roaming free vs. being tied up like with dogs has been going on for awhile.
I just need some advice as to what to do. I don’t want the neighbours resenting me, or feeling bad towards me, and I sincerely don’t want them to be bothered by my cats, if this behavour can be tied to my specific cats. I didn't realize that some people hate cats on their property !
I have to balance this neighbourhood feeling with being humane and kind to my cats I consider pets. These cats are all very loving and friendly.
Any advice ?
~Saucy~
Mon Sep 14 2009 - 12:47 pm
Speaking as someone who, at one time in my life, couldn't let my children play outside for all the cat feces in my yard from a neighbor's cats (she had over 40 and I had none) I vote with your neighbors. I had trouble with them using my vegetable garden beds as their personal litter box as well and that is actually potentially dangerous for the humans who plan to EAT those vegetables. It has nothing to do with how friendly or loving the cats are or are not. I'm sorry but outdoor cats simply do not stay in their appointed yard. They wander. It is the nature of cats. They are no respecter of persons or home and will pee and poop anywhere they please including a neighbor's yard. And there is NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING worse than the smell of cat urine.
My advice is to keep the cats indoors. I'm sorry if this seems cruel after their being allowed outside until this time but it is dreadfully inconsiderate of your neighbors to allow the animals free reign of the neighborhood.
Mon Sep 14 2009 - 02:14 pm
I have one cat and he was indoor outdoor, but I had few neighbors. I moved to a condo and had to make him mostly indoors because my neighbors did not like him walking on their cars. I still let him out a few times a day, but now have to deal with the dreaded litterbox. Cats don't bother me, but I guess they bother others. I am not sure what you can do. My cat does not mind lying around in the air conditioned house, he also lies around on my deck a lot too. He is 10 and has been fixed, and he is fat and lazy.
Tue Sep 15 2009 - 12:11 am
Sounds like Garfield! ;)
Tue Sep 15 2009 - 05:26 pm
He looks like Garfield too! lol
Wed Sep 16 2009 - 06:39 pm
Saucymom,
I had an outdoor cat that my neighbor's loved. He would sit all day by their pond, reclined on the warm paving stones and keep the herons away from their koi. They used to give him treats and sometimes I thought they had adopted him. He also rid the neighborhood of moles and voles (which he would line up on my doormat...used to drive me crazy!)
But, then again, he did not EAT the neighbor's koi. If he had, I could not have stopped him. And as far as I knew he did not disturb the neighbors flower beds. He used to go regularly in a corner of my yard back behind the compost box where we had an old pile of mulch that was not being used. I only heard good comments about him.
When he died the neighborhood was infested with an overpopulation of voles and moles and bunnies. We even had foxes come in from the woods because there were so many. This was in a fairly suburban area too! The neighbors said they missed him.
Cats are individuals and cannot be taught or trained. If your cats are bugging your neighbors you will have to bring them inside. They do make repellents for your flower beds that perhaps would work on the neighbors yards. And maybe making a spot in your yard by piling litter or sand might help train them. But for the most part, cats will do exactly what they want and to h3ll with the rest of the world.
SZ
Thu Sep 17 2009 - 01:21 am
it's so funny when my kitty lays spread eagle on her back when it's warm!! lol too cute.
Tue Sep 22 2009 - 09:03 pm
I can't be sure that my cats are the ones bothering the neighbours. I have NEVER had any of my cats pee on my property, other than on mulch in my garden perhaps. But pee on a deck ? or on the driveway or chair? Never.
I have limited their outside time. In the morning, they come in, get fed, and stay in all day until the kids get home around 3pm. Then they are allowed outside.
It's a compromise, I guess. You are right SZ, how do I train a cat ? So I am hoping this compromise soothes the neighbours feelings.
Should I tell the neighbours I have brought the cats inside for more extended time ?
Thu Sep 24 2009 - 08:46 am
I don't think your neighbors will be satisfied with that. If they don't like cats they won't like them just as much after 3. But perhaps they won't see them as often and will forget about the drama for now.
See what happens. Maybe if you stretch out the indoor vs outdoor time you can ease them into being indoor cats, if they decide that is a better deal. Maybe winter will help you. Don't know.
Tue Sep 29 2009 - 01:09 am
Well I am a lover of cats (as my nickname suggests!!!) and I am sorry to hear of your troubles with your neighbours. Unfortunately there are people out there who just dont understand cats and never will.
I myself have never had any more than two cats at any one time and my cats have always been indoor cats so not sure that I can be of any help except to say that you can train cats - I trained my cats to use the toilet (so I could stop using the dreaded litter trays) and I also train them to go on a leash like a dog (I did have one cat that didnt like the leash but I used a harness on her). With the leash training it means you can take the cats outside for a walk just like you would a dog. I know that is not for everyone but it can be done believe me.
However, I suspect that your cats may be a bit old to be changing things too dramatically but I would certainly be keeping the cats indoors - painful though it is with the cat litter and all. And I would be letting the neighbours know that you are keeping them indoors and then if the "indescretions" continue you will know it is not your cats.
There are also things you can do to ceate an "outdoor area" for the cats and some of the ones on the market are relatively inexpensive. Several people I know have enclosed their gardens (with wire mesh) so that their cats stay in their garden. Other people purchase the custom built cat enclosures (but these can be expensive).
I do think though that you might find the cats will end up preferring to be around the house - especially if they are older cats. They sleep most of the time anyway.
Not sure if I have really helped but Good Luck.
Sun Oct 04 2009 - 05:33 pm
I feel for you Saucy. This is a tough genie to put back in the bottle. However they will be better off indoors. Indoor cats are less liable to disease. They don't get run over or get into fights with the neighborhood strays. They don't get lost as often. They don't get stolen.
In my city it is illegal to let cats roam free. Good luck enforcing that but citizens are allowed to purchase cat traps from the city and bring cats to the pound.
My cats were outdoor cats for 1 summer when I was staying with a friend who had 3 kids and it was impossible to keep them in. Then I moved into an apartment. The cats griped a bit but they adjusted. Most vets and Humane Society personnel will tell you that cats do not need to be outside.
Inspiration Story:
Connect w/ Paige
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Replies