Cats on vehicles HELP ASAP

[mruffruff]

I should add that the weave on hardware cloth is bigger than ordinary screening, so it won't keep bugs out. You might want to have both. If you can, attach it to the window frame with a strip of wood over itfor stability.

I have part of an old metal crate propped between my window and screen to keep the dogs inside while the window is open. It looks like a refrigerator shelf, but it does the job. The size is important; has to be wide enough to touch both sides of the wood but narrow enough to put it in. It only covers the bottom half, but the storm window covers the top anyway.

[lv4dogs]

I should add that the weave on hardware cloth is bigger than ordinary screening, so it won't keep bugs out. You might want to have both. If you can, attach it to the window frame with a strip of wood over itfor stability.

I have part of an old metal crate propped between my window and screen to keep the dogs inside while the window is open. It looks like a refrigerator shelf, but it does the job. The size is important; has to be wide enough to touch both sides of the wood but narrow enough to put it in. It only covers the bottom half, but the storm window covers the top anyway.

Thanks for the tip. I am going to replace the screens this weekend, and I would of just put the hardware cloth on them. Mosquitos are bad in my area so I am very lucky I read this before I replaced them with just the hardware cloth.

And thats a great idea, metal crates. I have a few pieces left over from remodeling ferret cages. Hopefully some or all of them will fit my windows, that will save a bit of money!

[Catty1]

WAIT A MINUTE...I thought of something today.

I have NEVER heard of a cat leaving scratches on a car.

Is that just me? Have you heard of this?

I am wondering if Grumpy Neighbour hasn't created a red herring.

(And even heavier [non-cat] scratches are EASY to rub out with 'rubbing compound', available in any auto supply department. Get macho idiot a bottle, and gift wrap it nice! )

Catty1

[lv4dogs]

WAIT A MINUTE...I thought of something today.

I have NEVER heard of a cat leaving scratches on a car.

Is that just me? Have you heard of this?

I am wondering if Grumpy Neighbour hasn't created a red herring.

(And even heavier [non-cat] scratches are EASY to rub out with 'rubbing compound', available in any auto supply department. Get macho idiot a bottle, and gift wrap it nice! )

Catty1

Oh yes, I have cat scratches on my own vehicles from them. lol Granted they are not that bad what so ever. BUT I think the only time they really scratch the vehicles is when they are scared off, they kind of scurry & their claws come out & try to grab onto the smooth surface. I tried telling that to my neighbor, that scaring them causes more/worse scratches but he's still not willing to let me put a scat mat or spray with a hose or the like.

Meko is getting a *little* better about staying inside, but then again half my windows are all closed because I have to replace the screens this weekend.

[CagneyDog]

I have no suggestions but I wish you the best of luck.

Honestly, I think the comments about your neighbour being and "idiot" or not being fair are not justified. It is your responsibility to take care of your cats. And correct me if I'm wrong, but there are laws against them being outside anyways? I would be peeved if some cat came and scratched, messed up, or ruined anything of mine. You guys should all try to see things through his eyes. Would YOU like to be paying for damage repairs that came from someone elses cat!?

[G535]

I thought that the main reaction was against the neighbor for threatening to kill the cat(s) that he found on his truck, surely that is the type of reaction only a person of low intelligence would have?

[Catty1]

Cagney - I know what you mean...but in earlier posts on this thread, lv4dogs said (I haven't double checked but I am pretty sure) that the neighbour had NO problems with the cats, and even liked them, til he brought his new truck home.

So lv4dogs has to suddenly change course; cats that were ok to be outside and visit this guy now can't; so it is a major thing.

Cats do dig up others' gardens; they can certainly wreck things. The arrival of this new truck has caused upheaval...it'll get tiny scratches soon enough from grit and etc while being driven.

Anyway, she is trying hard to suddenly make her cats indoor cats. I guess I feel kind of on her side...since the neighbour DID like the cats - now buys a shiny new inanimate object, and is threatening the same cats.

I wonder if he would even notice a cat scratch on it?

I used to have outdoor cats...but now any cat I have is indoors from day 1.

Cheers
Catty1

[orangemm]

I, too, am a cat lover and devoted owner (or ownee, whatever the case may be), AND I have a car that I LOVE. It is my first NEW car ever, after driving clunkers and junkers all my life. I take very good care of it and it has no dings, dents, scratches, etc. on it even after almost 4 years.

My neighbor sometimes lets his cats out and they will perch on my car. I don't particularly like it, so when we see them, we'll get the hose out and squirt them.

However, this weekend we were out working in the yard and I thought I saw a leaf on the convertible top and went to get it off. It wasn't a leaf. SOMEone hacked up a hairball in two places and we had to use a scrubber and soap to get it off. Not pretty.

Don't worry, we told the owner what happened! Hate to think what would happen if that guy came across something like that.

[Pam]

This looks like an old thread that was brought back to life and I am wondering how things turned out. I had a neighbor who had an indoor/outdoor cat and had some of the same problems with another neighbor just as you have had. The cat was scratching his car and he showed her the scratch marks. She turned her kitty into an inside cat because of threats from this man.

In all honesty, my hubby would go into orbit if a cat (even our own) scratched his car. He would never harm the kittie but I can tell you he would be very vocal about his displeasure. Fortunately that won't happen here as mine never go outside. My suggestion to you would be to buy window fans. They are relatively inexpensive and can be put in and taken out easily. They protect your screens and provide lots of air so you won't need to close your windows and run the a/c which can be very expensive. I often put one in my bedroom window on nights when we turn the a/c off and it makes for a comfortable night. Good luck!

[lv4dogs]

I have no suggestions but I wish you the best of luck.

Honestly, I think the comments about your neighbour being and "idiot" or not being fair are not justified. It is your responsibility to take care of your cats. And correct me if I'm wrong, but there are laws against them being outside anyways? I would be peeved if some cat came and scratched, messed up, or ruined anything of mine. You guys should all try to see things through his eyes. Would YOU like to be paying for damage repairs that came from someone elses cat!?

Oh I know that, I even stated that it is not his responsibility to help me care for my cats & that he has every right as it is HIS property.

It is just the fact that he used to LOVE my cats, he used to even feed them & pet them. But as soon as he got the truck he wasn't even willing to try to help me in any way what so ever, he just automatically stated to HATE my cats.

I am trying my darnest to keep her inside & it gets better with time. But because she is so used to going outside & also being at his house that she does everything she can to get outside, tears through screens, darts out under your feet, etc... No matter how hard I try every few days she manages to get back outside.


Not that I agree or disagree with the law, but there is NO law stating you have to keep your cats leashed or indoors in my area, in fact a LOT of NY state is the same way.