A very important thread for cat owners

[Jeph]

And be perpared for your cat to come home looking ragged sometimes. We had an indoor outdoor cat when I was younger, and he'd come home with the part of his ear missing, or filthy...sometimes stinky as fuck...

...it's a tough world out there.

[qotsa909]

spend about a week taking him out and keeping an eye on him each day and see how he reacts- you'll get a feel for how ready he is to take it further- and call for him if he disappears- one of mine disappeared soon after we moved house for a day and a night (which is about 23 hrs too much for him) and came back after 10 mins yodeling his name in the garden!

[stinkbait]

We used to let ours in and out then one year one broke his leg which cost us about 2 grand and one got mauled which cost 4 grand but he died anyway. So after 6 grand in about three months all our remaining cats were indoor. since then we've had minimal bills for flea treatment and once every two years vet check ups for shots. one cat is 16 the other two are 12. Super healthy and safe.


The Great Debate: Indoor Versus Outdoor Cats

Lifetime Costs of Dog Ownership

With cats, the biggest factor affecting their life span is whether they live indoors or outdoors. Indoor cats, on average, often live considerably longer than outdoor cats. An outdoor cat is at risk of injury and diseases, particularly from other cats.

Traffic is an obvious risk, but so are other cats. Besides injury, cats spread many dangerous illnesses. Feline leukemia virus, for instance, is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases outdoor cats face. The virus is spread cat to cat through bite wounds or close contact, such as grooming. Then there's the threat posed by other animals, such as dogs, and even humans.

On average, an outdoor cat's life span is roughly 5 years. By contrast, an indoor cat, which is much less likely to face these threats, has an average life span of about 16 years. As with dogs, the first year is more expensive.

Outdoor Cat

Estimated average life span: 5 years
First year: $385 to $810
Estimated annual cost thereafter: $315 to $580
Total estimated lifetime cost: $1,645 to $3,130

Depending on the injuries or illnesses the outdoor cat sustains, the veterinary bills can inflate the tally by thousands of dollars. Taking feline leukemia virus as an example again, treatment may range from just few hundred dollars a year, if the cat suffers from few symptoms, to thousands of dollars each year if the cat is dehydrated and in pain.

Indoor Cat

Estimated average life span: 16 years
First year: $385 to $810
Estimated cost thereafter: $315 to $580

Total estimated lifetime cost: $5,110 to $9,510

Again, the human-animal bond is priceless, but knowing the lifetime costs ahead of time will allow you to keep your pet in the lifestyle he or she deserves!

[andydiesel]

ok i have some more cat qwestions.

1. the cat won't stop scratching the side of my couch, luckily i'm tossing it out soon. the problem is when i get a new one i don;t want her to scratch it. I saw some sort of pheromone spray in the pet store that says it will keep cats from scratching whatever you spray it on. will it really work?

yes i've tried a spray bottle on her and she still scratches.

2. will cats be less likely to claw leather than cloth sofas?

3. if my cat is cold can i put her in the microwave to warm her up?

[squeegeethree]

Try more of a conditioning approach then just spraying. I used the snap my fingers twice then spray. After a week, one snap of the finger was all I needed.

[scrojo]

Outdoor Cat

Estimated average life span: 5 years
!

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO CATS IN TEXAS STINKY !!!????? i'm on my 4th outdoor cat and all have lived well past 15years. must be that clean healthy southern california lifestyle.

[scrojo]

ok i have some more cat qwestions.

1. the cat won't stop scratching the side of my couch, luckily i'm tossing it out soon. the problem is when i get a new one i don;t want her to scratch it. I saw some sort of pheromone spray in the pet store that says it will keep cats from scratching whatever you spray it on. will it really work?

yes i've tried a spray bottle on her and she still scratches.

2. will cats be less likely to claw leather than cloth sofas?

3. if my cat is cold can i put her in the microwave to warm her up?

1: yes. sort of. you have to keep up spraying the stuff on. if your cat is vindictive, like mine, it will still scratch.

2: equal.

3: depends on how big the cat is and how long you put it in for.

[Barry Obama]

ok i have some more cat qwestions.

1. the cat won't stop scratching the side of my couch, luckily i'm tossing it out soon. the problem is when i get a new one i don;t want her to scratch it. I saw some sort of pheromone spray in the pet store that says it will keep cats from scratching whatever you spray it on. will it really work?

yes i've tried a spray bottle on her and she still scratches.


1: get a rope wrapped scratch pot and spray it with catnip spray. Place it in a position where it commands a view of as many rooms and hallways possible. The cat will automatically 'claim it' and only scratch there. they scratch primarily to show their ownership of an area.

2. will cats be less likely to claw leather than cloth sofas?

2. yes

3. if my cat is cold can i put her in the microwave to warm her up?

3. Use the popcorn setting

[juicy]

my cats really enjoy the corrugated cardboard scratchy things. Put those everywhere, never mind the mess they make and those cats shouldn't claw your furniture...too much.

They say you can put double sided tape all over your couch where they have been scratching and it'll make them quit since they don't like being stuck to things.

Ditto what qotsa said about letting the cats out and most of what stinkbait said. We've got 2 outside cats though and they spend about 87% of their time on our front porch. The rest is spent in the neighbour's yard fucking with their dogs.

Don't buy toys. They're for suckers. Cats like bags, milk bottle tabs, cardboard boxes, your clean laundry...

[andydiesel]

my cats really enjoy the corrugated cardboard scratchy things. Put those everywhere, never mind the mess they make and those cats shouldn't claw your furniture...too much.

They say you can put double sided tape all over your couch where they have been scratching and it'll make them quit since they don't like being stuck to things.

Ditto what qotsa said about letting the cats out and most of what stinkbait said. We've got 2 outside cats though and they spend about 87% of their time on our front porch. The rest is spent in the neighbour's yard fucking with their dogs.

Don't buy toys. They're for suckers. Cats like bags, milk bottle tabs, cardboard boxes, your clean laundry...

brilliant idea with the double sided tape, since i was a kid i've always gotten a kick outta putting tap eon dogs and cats paws.

i have the cardboard scratchy things, they rule. i got the cat a scratching post when i first got her and she has never touched it. if anyone in portland wants a brand new scratching post for their cat i have one you can have for free.