Cats on vehicles HELP ASAP

[moosmom]

I have a friend who built an enclosure with an opening through their basement window. They go in and out whenever they want. It has a big tree branch and a bunch of ledges for them to sit on. It's built with 2x4's and chicken wire. That might be your only recourse. They're pretty simple to make. Got a spare basement window??? It's worth it so you don't have to worry about Mr. Macho A-hole killing one of your cats.

The only other option I can think of is indoors only with Feliway Defusers.

Keep us posted.

Gary,



This pictures has "GOT MILK" written all over it!!! Too cute!

[Catty1]

I know Kirsten has a cat run - you might ask her about it, or check with a godo pet store.

Also - do your cats have things to do indoors? Like cat trees with dangly things, etc? That might help, too - if they have a couple of play/lounge spaces.

Wonder if your local Animal Control would have any advice on what the guy said - might want to give them a heads-up and just mention what he said.

hugs
Catty1

[lv4dogs]

Meko was doing so good the last 4-5 days then last night she ripped through yet another screen and escaped. I repaired it & she ripped through it again. I shut the window & she ripped through another one. Now I have 6 screens in my house that need to be repaired.

She's a GREAT cat, except for this problem that is.

I think a cat run would be a good idea but like I said to Kay, kennels & fencing over 1.5' are not allowed on my property. So cat runs are out.


I just don't know what to do with her.

[lizbud]

There is a screen cover thingy you can put on your storm door they
supposed to protect the screen from dogs & cats. It's a wire screen
cover that lets in the air but can't be broken through.I think Edwina's
Secretary used it to keep Eddie inside.

[mrspunkysmom]

My neighbor has 2 beagles which he says are hunting dogs. In 2 years I've never seen them leave their little 6'x6' pen, not even to hunt.
They are outside 24/7. He says he brings them inside in carriers when it gets too cold out, I've never seen that either.

I feel sorry for those poor dogs.

I take it your neighbor was there before the management outlawed enclosures?

Have you asked the management to let you put up a pen? It would be cost effective, sicne you are having to replace screens. You can put some plants in it, cover part of it, put a sandbox for a litter box; it would be great. Cover it to give them some shade. The pens come with bottoms so the cats can't get out. If my area weren't so tick infested (they do come in through the floor from time to time), I would let mine out. (I really need to move.)

Perhaps your local humane society will have a solution.

I read the NY manufactured home laws. NY Manufactured Homes and Lease Laws It's not much help. There is a section on unreasonable rules.

Anne

[Catty1]

And 1.5 feet should be high enough, especially if there is a bit of length.

yeah, if that guy can have a pen - so can you!

hugs
Catty1

PS Handsome is neutered, right?

[Sevaede]

Oh those men and their toys!!!! You KNOW what they say about a man's BIG truck compensating for their otherwise small (and I do mean small) equipment.

Sounds to me like he hates cats. What a jerk!!!! May a bazillion birds fly over his truck and let one lose all over is nice new truck and ruin the paint job.

I second that!

[G535]

I second that!

I third that!

I do so hate it when people put inanimate possessions before living creatures.

[moosmom]

Don't they have CAR WASHES where that idiot lives???? DUH!!

[lv4dogs]

Thanks a bunch for the ideas. Unfortunately most won't work for me.


Meko is getting out of all the screens EXCEPT the storm door. lol BUT maybe I can find similar screens that lizbud mentioned for my windows. I know I'll be looking for them thats for sure.

And yes the neighbor has always had the dog pen there, way before the new rules came into effect. Although the rules are not that new, they are years old.

I held a ruler up to her last night, with her standing fully errect 1.5' does not give her that much room at all, in fact I think she would even have to kind of have to have her head dunked. AND besides I am unable to bury any fencing either, no matter what the height. I would be afraid Meko would dig right out of the pen. And besides even if she still had a little pen wouldn't she continue to try to escape through the windows and dart out the door?

And YES, ALL of my cats are spayed &/or neutered, no worries there! They are all also UPT on ALL their vaccines and are tested yearly for FIV (they get the leuk vaccine).

moosmom: Yes they do have car washes and I have even offered to wash his truck & buy him car washes. He is not worrried about the dirt or paw prints, he is only worried about the scratches.

I have spoken to behaviorists and vets as well as the humane society & friends & family the last week. I have also done extensive research on this behavior on the net. Basically what I have found out is teaching her to stay off the vehicles is nearly impossible, that is without my neighbors help. In order to teach the cat to stay off you would need a scat mat or the like or watch her 24/7 AND hide and spray her with water. Pretty much she needs to think the car is punishing her and punishes her as SOON as she starts the act. This is a very hard behavior to re-direct.


BUT WHAT DO YOUS THINK OF THIS IDEA?
Soft paws? A friend mentioned it to me this monring and I think it is a great idea EXCEPT I am worried that she would have no protection. Now in the 2.5 years she has been an outside (and inside) cat she has never gotten into a fight and I have never even seen any wildlife (besides birds) nor have I seen any loose dogs or aggressive animals of any kind. But then again you never know.
Would it be worth a shot? Or no? (Even if I do try the soft paws I will continue to do my best to keep her indoors all the time).

[mruffruff]

I don't think the Soft Paws will appease your neighbor. He really just wants the cats off the truck --- period.

I think I'd have to replace my screens with hardware cloth and keep the cats inside. Hardware cloth is actually more like fine woven fencing and cats can't tear it.

Unfortunately this is one of the costs of renting.

Have you seen the KittyWalk Deck and Patio enclosures? They are 19" high by 24" wide and 6 feet long. They can be connected together to make them longer. They are item 9B10788 on the DrsFosterSmith.com wewbsite. You might want to look at them.

Good luck!

[lv4dogs]

Actually my neighbor did say he wouldn't miond them up there as long as they don't scratch his truck, he's said that a few times to me before.

Do you know if the air & breeze go through the hardware cloth just as easily as normal screens?

Thanks for the link, but at $80 a pop thats out of my price range. I just know that Meko would despise such a small enclosure. I'd be better off just keeping on detering her from the outside all together. I'm afraid that even with a little bit of outdoor activity it will just bring out her need to go outside even more.

[mruffruff]

Yes, the air flows through just as well as a regular screen. Ask for it at your local hardware store. They should know what you're looking for.

[lv4dogs]

Yes, the air flows through just as well as a regular screen. Ask for it at your local hardware store. They should know what you're looking for.

Thanks! I hope it's durable. I have tried that expensive screening that is supposed to be claw resisitant and totally pet proof, it didn't work for her.

[pnance]

Sounds like you neighbors a real pain.

MC destroys screens. He went through I think 3 screen doors when living with my mom and then when my brother took him destoyed another at his apartment, not to mention the window screens. Sure enough when I took him he went to work on mine. I didn't have the money to keep replacing screens and in my area outdoor cats are dead cats because of the coyotes. The screen doors (I have 2) I went and bought the metal pet barriers you can attach to screens, the window sills I put double sided tape on which he hates. I also put a scratching post near the back screen door (his favorite screen to destoy) so he could take out his frustration of not getting to the screens on that. In the end the post was shredded but my screens were fine. The metal screen protectors are still on but I no longer keep the double sided tape. A couple of times I've caught him stretching on the screen which I use a squirt bottle for, but for the most part he no longer just tears through them.

I wish I had some suggestions how to keep them away from the truck. I don't know how well they work but don't they have sprays that keep cats away. Maybe you could line your property line and his with that to discourage them from going that way?