Cats and Kittens

[Truthy]

Another question - what's the protocol for letting new cats outside? How long do you acclimate a new cat to your home before letting them out to roam freely? How do you make sure they come back? I think it's best to let your cats roam outside if that's what they want, but my mom is very fearful (as am I, though to a lesser extent) Lucy won't come back, will get hit by a car, or will get killed by a raccoon or coyote or something (some context: my parents live in a fairly rural area, so I don't think traffic is a threat, but wildlife could be). Is it possible to teach your cat to return home by nightfall?

Kittens are less controlled in using their claws and humans have to adjust their thinking as they move from dogs to cats. Older cats generally, keep their claws to themselves unless they are entranced with kneading and purring while on their human pets.

This cat's something like 9 months old according to the shelter. I'll tell my mom she'll likely become more restrained with her claws as she gets older.

 

[Zardnaar]

Another question - what's the protocol for letting new cats outside? How long do you acclimate a new cat to your home before letting them out to roam freely? How do you make sure they come back? I think it's best to let your cats roam outside if that's what they want, but my mom is very fearful Lucy won't come back, will get hit by a car, or will get killed by a raccoon or coyote or something (some context: my parents live in a fairly rural area, so I don't think traffic is a huge threat, but wildlife could be). Is it possible to teach your cat to return home by nightfall?

This cat's something like 9 months old according to the shelter.

We adopted kitties if similar age from shelter. We let them out at 7-10 days and went out with them.

Only thing here is cars. They'll come home by themselves generally. I think a week is the recommended minimum. They bond with you and like the whole feeding thing.

One of the cats slept under the blankets with us the first night.

They generally return home at night by themselves although the male likes to go do cat stuff.

Treaty bags help and he comes running for pats with the bathroom light.

Female ones surgically attached to us at night on the bed.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Another question - what's the protocol for letting new cats outside? How long do you acclimate a new cat to your home before letting them out to roam freely? How do you make sure they come back? I think it's best to let your cats roam outside if that's what they want, but my mom is very fearful (as am I, though to a lesser extent) Lucy won't come back, will get hit by a car, or will get killed by a raccoon or coyote or something (some context: my parents live in a fairly rural area, so I don't think traffic is a huge threat, but wildlife could be). Is it possible to teach your cat to return home by nightfall?

This cat's something like 9 months old according to the shelter. I'll tell my mom she'll likely become more restrained with her claws as she gets older.

We keep new cats in for at least a week to adapt to us and being fed etc. We also have a cat door that allows all three of our cats to go in and out at will. The cat door is keyed to a collar tag they each wear. Cars, and coyotes can be a problem. Over the 50 years we've had cats, none have been run over. Some have disappeared and never returned, some were gone 3 weeks and came back. A hawk got one. We have raccoons in our neighborhood and hope our cats are smart enough to avoid them. Cats are certainly faster than raccoons. Coyotes are around but we haven't seen any in our backyard, which is walled (6' high).

Cats are general nocturnal and do go out at night. Rural areas are tricky. We had lots of cats in rural NC for 20 years and never had any go missing.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Cats that are allowed to roam free have as little as 50% the average lifespan of those that aren't due to parasites, diseases and car accidents among other things. So mine stays indoors 24/7.

 

[Zardnaar]

Cats that are allowed to roam free have as little as 50% the average lifespan of those that aren't due to parasites, diseases and car accidents among other things. So mine stays indoors 24/7.

Bullcrap.

Yes there is a risk, some cats do get killed. In 30 years we lost 2 to cars. Sucks but if you get cats let them be cats IMHO.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Cats that are allowed to roam free have as little as 50% the average lifespan of those that aren't due to parasites, diseases and car accidents among other things. So mine stays indoors 24/7.

Our cats have been indoor outdoor always and most have lived to be 12-18 years old.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

They also kill all the birds.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Bullcrap.

Yes there is a risk, some cats do get killed. In 30 years we lost 2 to cars. Sucks but if you get cats let them be cats IMHO.

No it is not. I happen to have personal contact with a number of vets that work primarily with house pets as well as the broader veterinary community due to family connections. And you wouldn't believe the crap animals can catch. I am not talking about things that will kill them right now here. Well mostly not. Some times they just get run over by a car and that's that.

But most of the time there are just a lot of things that diminish their quality of life and lifespan in the long term. Things that you go to your vet and fix without thinking twice but that can shave off years off their lives.

 

[Truthy]

Cats that are allowed to roam free have as little as 50% the average lifespan of those that aren't due to parasites, diseases and car accidents among other things. So mine stays indoors 24/7.

I do see these as risks to take into account. But I learn towards letting them out if that's what they want. I've seen cats who the owners won't let out and the cat seems super neurotic, spends all its time staring out the window, is constantly trying to escape, and so on.

They also kill all the birds.

For my parents' area, I'm frankly not concerned about this. It's a low density area and I think the deaths inflicted by cats are probably negligible.

 

[Zardnaar]

No it is not. I happen to have personal contact with a number of vets that work primarily with house pets as well as the broader veterinary community due to family connections. And you wouldn't believe the crap animals can catch. I am not talking about things that will kill them right now here. Well mostly not. Some times they just get run over by a car and that's that.

But most of the time there are just a lot of things that diminish their quality of life and lifespan in the long term. Things that you go to your vet and fix without thinking twice but that can shave off years off their lives.

Maybe in America. Cat paradise here it's just cars and other cars are the big danger.
We list one who fought another day and got renal failure via infection.

 

[Birdjaguar]

They also kill all the birds.

Only the slow ones. And btw, my wife was telling me the other day that glass buildings kill more birds than cats.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Maybe in America. Cat paradise here it's just cars and other cars are the big danger.
We list one who fought another day and got renal failure via infection.

I am not american.

I do see these as risks to take into account. But I learn towards letting them out if that's what they want. I've seen cats who the owners won't let out and the cat seems super neurotic, spends all its time staring out the window, is constantly trying to escape, and so on.

Only if they have been raised outdoors. Kittens born and raised indoors don't tend to care. I should know, I have one. And he the only time he stares out the window is when one of us is leaving the house.

 

[Zardnaar]

I am not american.


Only if they have been raised outdoors. Kittens born and raised indoors don't tend to care. I should know, I have one. And he the only time he stares out the window is when one of us is leaving the house.

Keeping a cat indoors is a gilded cage IMHO. Should only be done due to a lack of choice or there's things like Coyote's.

By that I mean if you have an apartment for example and you rescue a cat from a shelter or living rough in the street it's better.

 

[Cutlass]

They didn't want to let me strip the bed and throw the bedding in the laundry.

 

[Zardnaar]

They didn't want to let me strip the bed and throw the bedding in the laundry.

Looks familiar. They have you outnumbered.

 

[Kaitzilla]

Friend's cat again.


Helping to make a bed


Waiting to be fed


Grooming herself like Jabba the Hut

 

[Zardnaar]

Can someone explain this.

Went to the SPCA to adopt two cats. Anything apart from black and white (b/w tuxedo kitteh RIP).

Was after a silver tabby or maybe a calico. Black perhaps or a Tortie. Pure tabby perhaps.

Ended up with two Tabby's with white aka most common cat ever. Passed over a friendly silver tabby as well (she also got adopted). Went for the pity vote.

 

[emzie]

My wife really digs taking pictures of me when I'm asleep, it seems.

 

[Zardnaar]

My wife really digs taking pictures of me when I'm asleep, it seems.
View attachment 549215

Awwe true wubs. Partial to Tabby's.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Keeping a cat indoors is a gilded cage IMHO. Should only be done due to a lack of choice or there's things like Coyote's.

By that I mean if you have an apartment for example and you rescue a cat from a shelter or living rough in the street it's better.

A gilded cage is better than an early grave. Or the sort of health complications they can get up to. I have seen way too many cats and dogs with things I'd rather not talk about come by. Most of them lived. Too many regret it.