Any Ideas On How To Keep Outdoor Cats Safe?  |
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 June 30, 2008 a group of kids chased one of my long time outdoor cats into the road in front of an oncoming vehicle, needless to say the poor cat was struck down by the car and though the veterinarian tried her best to save my cat, I had to make the choice of humanely euthanizing him. I am still much heart broken over his death, but I also have my other outdoor cats to think about.
I have a fence around my property with many no trespassing signs put all over and in view, but with this all to recent occurrence I feel this is simply is not enough to protect the life of my outdoor cats. I've thought about adopting them out to good homes, but I know that with as attached as I am to them, my heart would feel a certain kind of void, and would feel that I have given my own children away.
I've racked my brain and can't come up with any other options, please can someone help me? It has to be something that is not to restrictive and will still allow my outdoor cats to have the freedom they are use to.
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1.  Debs_place (5542) | 4 weeks ago |  I hate to say this but none of my animals are outdoor animals. If they go outside, we go with them. Right now I only have dogs, but when it was cats, we were with them. I had a cat that walked well on a leash (I don't think he new he was a cat since he acted like a dog) but my remaining cats were indoor cats.
I have seen too many dead cats and dogs and I love my pets too much.
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | As much as I would love to bring them all in, I can't. I already have seven cats indoors and the last time I counted I had 10 outdoor cats. Seems the number grows daily, since I put food and water out twice daily for them. Me and my soft spot for cats eh? lol | |
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| Debs_place (5542) | 4 weeks ago | Wow, you have a menagerie. With 17 cats you must spend a fortune on food and vet bills. I would try to find them good homes. Are they all spayed and neutered so the group is not constantly growing? | |
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | I have had all the cats spayed and neutered, if a new cat happens to come along and is not "fixed" I will take it down to have the procedure done. Since I've known my cat's veterinarian for quite some time now, she gives me small discounts for basic care of the cats, so the bill usually isn't to high. Plus she's always giving me coupons for the 20lb. or larger dry cat food items, so those usually help keep the food bill reasonable.
it is a lot of work caring for so many, but I enjoy doing it. I've talked with my husband and we are going to build a large enclosure in the back yard to keep them in, cause though I've really thought long and hard about giving them all away, I really have grown too attached to each of them and would feel horrid letting them go after caring for some of them for 6 or more years. | |
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| Debs_place (5542) | 4 weeks ago | You are a wonderful person for being so caring and humane. The world needs more people like you and a whole lot less of the people who have animals and don't care for them. | |
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| 2. spalladino (2671) | 4 weeks ago |  Wow, that's a tough one because it's almost impossible to restrict a cat's movements once it's outside. Is there any way that you can make friends with these kids so they don't do something so mean again or talk to their parents? In this case the key to keeping your outside cats safe would be to remove the dangers, which are these kids.
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | I've already talked with the parents of these kids, and the parents are making them repay me for the vet bill, however, though these kids may not chase another cat into the road, that does not stop the countless other individuals that come into this neighborhood from doing the same thing. So unless I make friends with everyone that comes this way, I still have the possibility of losing another cat. Ugh!
How an individual or group of individuals can think of such a heartless thing to do is beyond me, but we all aren't built the same. Just a shame that those who would do such a thing can't also respect the rules and property of another individual. | |
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3.  irishidid (797) | 4 weeks ago |  Other than building a kennel to keep them in there is no way to assure a cat's safety.
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | Since I have abig portion of land out in back of my house, I may just enclose it all and turn it into one big cat sanctuary. They'd still have the space to roam and stake out their own territories, but would remain safe from incidents such as what I mentioned.
Just a thought I came up with and is something I would have to talk over with my husband, but well to me a life saved is a life saved. | |
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| irishidid (797) | 4 weeks ago | I live in a townhouse with the spawn of Satan running freely in the streets, so I keep my cats inside for safety. I have had that same idea as you on making an enclosure for them whenever I'm able to get a house.
I'd say go for it. | |
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | My husband and I spent three hours discussing about turning the back yard into a safe haven for the cats. Thankfully he has agreed and tomorrow I will be going shopping for supplies to create an enclosure that they can't escape from, but will have free reign inside to do as they please. Would have loved to gotten started today, but most the hardware stores in this area close around 3pm and my husband don't get home until around 5 so it was really hard not to just go ahead and do it...lol | |
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4.  ocean4 (227) | 4 weeks ago |  My cat was always an out doors cat. I never really had to worry about anything because I lived in a quite neighbourhood and my cat knew enough to stay away from moving cars. A couple of kids did try to chase him once but he ended up biting one of them and running after the rest. The parents got mad after that but I still think they deserved it. I hope the rest of your cats stay safe and you enjoy their company for a long time.
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| 5. ciph8673 (9) | 4 weeks ago |  Unfortunately, cats are great climbers. It's in their nature to hunt, and so they are great at jumping, running, climbing, and a fence won't necessarily keep them in.
First, in reference to the children who chased your poor cat into the road, you should have charges brought against them. Whether you call their parents, or the police, make it known that if you see these children on your property again, whether innocent or not, you will call the police and have them notified of this behavior. First, no one should be on your property without your permission, and second, they have no right to be terrorizing your animals. I would have held them accountable for the vet bills. I know it doesn't bring your kitty back, but it's the principle of the thing. What they did was wrong!
That being said, I think it's important to know that it is hard to know for sure whether your cats will be safe when they're outside. They usually do know better than to run out into the road, but at times things can distract them, so there's always that risk you're taking. Short of building a screened in area for them, with a roof, it's hard to really come up with something miraculous that will keep them safe. It's great to be able to let the cats outside, and it's great exercise. Unfortunately, that exercise means climbing that fence you've placed in your yard. Maybe you can line the insides of the fence with a type of material that will make it hard for them to climb up, but that will mean you can't see out, probably. See if you can talk to someone in the city you live to put up a sign in the neighborhood stating that there are pets in the home, and to please look carefully when driving in the area. My dog was hit by a car after her leash broke, and my mother had to put her down, so I know all too well the pains of having to do something like that. Unfortunately, you may have to start bringing the kitties inside from time to time, or build a smaller fenced in area where you can go outside and watch them. I have a screened in porch that I allow my cats to go out into and they love it. It's not outdoors, but at least I know they're safe. I hope someone has some great advice for you, and if not, please try calling your vet. I'm sure they deal with these things all the time and can probably give you some free advice on how you could train the cats to stay within the property lines.
Best of luck to you!!
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| jeweledbluerose (2081) | 4 weeks ago | Thanks for your response and kind words. Even though the parents weren't pleased with me accusing their children of being little monsters, we did come to the agreement that since there had been numerous witnesses to their kids doing this, the kids would be responsible for reimbursing me for the vet care bill and a little extra for pain and suffering. Which means weeks and weeks with no allowance for those children. Awww..anyone feeling bad? lol
I sat down with my husband tonight and we discussed the very issue of building a large enclosure for the cats in the back yard. We've come to the conclusion that we really don't want to give the cats up, but at the same time we also want them to be safe while being able to continue their stay outside. So tomorrow (or later on today since it's nearly 12 in the morning here..time zones wicked things they are..lol) I will be shopping around for stuff to create an un-escapable roofed enclosure for them to stay in and be their little kitty selves. | |
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6.  mcat19 (446) | 4 weeks ago |  Unfortunately, the only truly safe place is inside. I realize you can't have 17 cats inside, so the next best thing would be a cat enclosure for them. You can google cat enclosures to get some ideas about how to build one. It has to have sides that can't be climbed over. The tops can bend in, for example. I'm so sorry about your loss. I wish you loads of luck. You are a truly good person to care so much for your cats.
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| 7. Perspectives (2201) | 4 weeks ago |  It is a very sad story and I am sorry for your loss...our pets are our fur-babies and their passing is painful.
I am not sure what to add to this because we have 5 cats and they have all been fixed and are strictly indoor pets. We have 1 dog and he is a pampered, mostly indoor pooch...except for the time he is in our fenced in yard or we walk him.
The only thing I can think of is to create a enclosure for them. Maybe some animal rights association or the humane society would be willing to provide some funding to assist you being that you are a loving, caring cat person. I applaud your efforts and hope you find a solution and do let us know how you make out.
Raia
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| Perspectives (2201) | 4 weeks ago | This is great news...I am sincerely happy to hear that you, your family and your menagerie of feline fur-babies will not have to experience the kind of separation and heartbreak you did when your cat was struck down.
Your cats are blessed to have someone who loves them and cares for them the way you do. I wish we had more room to take in more than our five. If I could find a way to keep more litter boxes without the house smelling David and I would increase our feline family.
Just knowing you are doing your part to protect unwanted cats in your area makes the world seem just a little warmer...and furrier!
More good news...YES!!! We'll keep in touch.
Raia | |
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