BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: CET
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 02:08 PM

You could try appealing to their sense of social responsibility.

Failing that, you're probably stuck with designing and building a cat proof fence.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 01:41 PM

Loki (Our half ferral, Westray, long haired cat) is lead trained.He has been since he arrived at 8 weeks five years ago. He travels with us in the camper or the car. We have long leads in the garden which he is attached to when he goes outside. More often, just open the door and he runs to the camper meowing to be let in !! He will spend all day inside the camper. Water and food and his outside litter tray are always there for him. If he "escapes" out through the door, he runs to the camper. He's travelled thousands of miles and for weeks at a time. He sits by Aragon (The lab) when they are both on the grass. He never attacks birds or anything else either.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 01:32 PM

For the sake of the birds keep them inside.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Greg F.
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 01:30 PM

Amercans tend to favour indoor only

If only that were true!

Yup, "a life well lived" outdoors where they can pick up various disabling & often fatal diseases & parasites (& transmit diseases to other animals & humans as well), be savaged by dogs & other creatures larger than they are, get run over, crap & piss in neighbors' gardens, decimate small creatures & birds.

Sounds good to me!

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 01:30 PM

Sadly, it really depends on the cat. I have had cats who 'knew' about traffic, and just paid attention....including one who, when we moved, disappeared and was found a week later back at 'his' old stomping grounds, after a 5 mile trip thru all kinds of roads. We brought him home, and he just said "ok" and didn't try again.



Often, if the kittens spend enough time learning where they belong, they don't have urge to travel. (A male cat is easier if neutered)
That garden area being right on the road, it might be good to line the road part with a fence of something like 'chicken wire' to discourage direct access.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Ed T
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 01:27 PM

""Better a life lived well than a long one"".

Has anyone posed that question directly to the species in question, and actually received even a "somewhat" democratic reply?

;)

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 12:32 PM

I fear you've opened a can of worms here, McGrath.

Whilst George Bernard Shaw famously once said that"England and America are two countries divided by a common language" we are perhaps even more divided on the issue of letting cats outside.

Simply put Amercans tend to favour indoor only, the British prefer to let them roam. A quick google search will provide you with more on the issue than you could ever hope to read.

Back to your original question, you've got no chance of persuading them to stay in your garden. Set them free and let them take their chances. Better a life lived well than a long one.

But then I am English...

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Greg F.
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 11:58 AM

Keep. Them. In. The. House.

Aside from their safety, do the local wildlife and your neighbors a favor by being a responsible pet owner.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 11:54 AM

It doesn't matter how well trained they may be to stay, something, anything could come along and they can be out in the road in a flash. I know, I lost a beautiful calico when she was out with a family member and his cats. He turned away for two seconds and she was gone. We later found she'd been grabbed by a vicious dog whose owner knew it was running loose and was a cat killer, but nothing was done. I had no proof except a couple of tourists at a gas station who saw her in the dog's mouth.

Best way to keep a cat from harm is build them a run and let them stay in it and inside, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: Ed T
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 11:45 AM

I have two adult cats. Both live indoors in an urban setting, but are allowed outoors.

One I have leash trained,on a long rope, with a small dog harness (yes, he is over-weight).

The other is now fearful of straying off very far from our back yard. I seem to recall she was very easy to train to "stay put". But, I suspect every cat is different and there may be "temptations" to lead them away.

If you consider a leash, it works best if they get used to it as kittens.

Subject: BS: Keeping cats from dangerous road
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 11:23 AM

At various times we've had threads about people trying to keep cats out of their garden. Our problem is different - we've got a big garden where lots of cats visit. No problem, we like them.

We've also got two young kittens who are soon going to be allowed out in the garden. But one edge of our garden faces on a dangerous road. It's got a hedge of sorts, and a waist-high wire fence, but it'd be easy enough to get out, if they felt inclined. We'd like to find a way to discourage them from feeling so inclined.

Any helpful suggestions?