Cats

Okay people get a clue when it comes to animals. Yes back in the day cats were outdoor animals, they were not pets, they were mousers, used to control the smaller animal population. Vehicles were also not of major use, and I hate to say it, if a cat was killed the owners did not worry about them, THEY WERE NOT PETS. The 20th century changed a lot of things and one of them was how we viewed dogs and cats. They became our loved ones, part of the family, they were no longer just animals. Also living conditions became more urbanized, cars became more prolific, and so did diseases. Things that changed the lives of us and yes our pets.

So now be responsible, if you don't live in the country on a rural farm or acreage, where there is NO chance your cat and/or dog will be run over, attacked by wild animals or catch some ungodly disease, let them roam. Spray and/or neuter please. However, if you are more like the millions who live in cities or urban areas please be kind and let your cat stay indoors. There is more of a chance they will live happy longer lives.

There were a few posts on a certain MB that I won't name, about cats. One family extremely upset that their two cats are missing. Now I do not know their living conditions so I cannot judge, but if these cats were indoor cats, they would not be missing. Another talking of a 5 month old cat, coming back dirtier than usual and the MIL suggested that the cat (SORRY AT 5 MONTHS THIS IS NOT A CAT, THIS IS STILL A KITTEN) "had an extra "busy" playtime." This person was wondering if this was possible. Total confusion here on my part ?!?!? Okay why does this person own a cat? She just has no clue? Sounds to me like she is definitely not responsible enough to own a cat, let alone a kitten. Did she not research about cats and kittens. Okay maybe I'm anul but I research before I acquire and for those that don't know
heat cycles may start as early as the fourth
or fifth month of a kitten's life, and still
continue until she is either bred or spayed.
Heat cycles in cats last from several days
to two weeks or longer, and repeat every two
to three weeks.
about.com

Sorry the FIVE month thing got me. Another then responded to her that "it is kind of fun to have a cat that has kittens. We let ours do this once or twice when my kids were young." Okay nothing wrong with this, as long as they were responsible owners and took care of the kittens and not let them go feral. I think it was just the way that she said it that sent my stomach in a lurch.

Okay now I need to say, I am not a tree-hugging, right-wing, extremist liberal. I do have liberal tendencies, but I have some conservative ones also, I guess I'm a middle of the roader LOL. I don't lean toward democrat nor republican, I vote on the issues not the party.

I was one that thought cats belonged outdoors. Well actually I never thought about it, it was just how it was. My Mom always had cats and they were always outdoor cats, she also never spayed or neutered. Mom had a Persian which she allowed outdoors and of course Snowball got pregnant. Now in all fairness to my Mom, she grew up in Germany, on a farm, oxen, bicycles and your feet were the normal mode of transportation. I am sure cats were not really considered pets, they were something you had to control pests. Two kittens of her litter stayed in the family; Max (passed away about 4 or 5 years ago) with my Mom and Dad, Bright Eyes with us.

Bright Eyes was born the August before my DS2 October birth, so they are both the same age - 21 this year. Well Bright was an outdoor cat, we lived on acreage that belong to a farm, we did have a road in front of the house, but it was a country road, with a stop sign just below our house. But like I said I never thought of outdoor vs. indoor. We did have her neutered, but not declawed, I'm sure it was around but I never heard of declawing.

Well in the fall of 1995 my husband asked for a transfer to be closer to me while I was attending university in Binghamton. This meant city living in an apartment. There was no way in hell I was going to let Bright roam. I also had acquired Sasha in the fall of '94 to keep me company in my studio apartment, but she was an indoor cat, she was also born blind. I worried what this would do to Bright as she had spent most of her years able to roam the great outdoors, we are talking of a couple 100 acre farm and woodlands. Also when she couldn't get out, she did not think twice of ripping through our screens to get where she wanted to go. Yeah major concerns, especially if you are renting.

Ten years later, I am happy to say Bright Eyes has surived just fine. In the beginning we would take them out on leashes, to the park, in our complex, wherever we could. In 2001 we bought a house in NC and it has a wonderful back deck. All four of my animals enjoy it, the two cats and two dogs. Sasha I can leave on the deck and not worry, Bright Eyes if left out long enough will eventually try. But I am talking after four or more hours. There was only one time she did get down and DH said "Bright Eyes" in a serious tone and she came right back.

Our property is on three acres, we live in the country, on a cul-de-sac, but I won't revert back and let Bright out on her own. Some might say it is cruel. Let me tell you though, Bright has no feline caught diseases, for 21 she is very healthy, happy and yes she still has bright, clear green eyes. My neighbor has cats, mostly outdoors, she does not spay nor neuter, and they are a real nuisance. They will tear my garbage apart, go after the birds I feed, and yes do their business in my gardens. The possibility of Bright catching a disease from them is high if she roamed free. Will she ever be poisoned or accidently disposed of by my neighbor's husband, who does this on the sly when the feral cats start to overrun his house. No!

She is safe and sound in my house, with her family, running around like crazy (well not so much anymore) and living a happy life. Oh yeah and not one ripped through screen in 10 years.