What Do You Think? Gently Now :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

If it's working out well for you and the cats then I'd continue to do it. As for the jumping up on counters, I've given up on scolding my cats for this. Sunny eats up on the counter and when it's hot they lay up on the counter as well as my glass dining room table. They're totally indoor cats so I'm not too worried about catching something from them. Good luck. I was hoping to see some pictures of your cats.

[Karen]

As long as Avon has a collar, so if someone finds him when he's wandered a bit to far they know he's an owned and loved kitty, I see no harm in this at all.

[K & L]

If it's working out well for you and the cats then I'd continue to do it. As for the jumping up on counters, I've given up on scolding my cats for this. Sunny eats up on the counter and when it's hot they lay up on the counter as well as my glass dining room table. They're totally indoor cats so I'm not too worried about catching something from them. Good luck. I was hoping to see some pictures of your cats.

Thanks everyone! It's not I mind her being on the counter it's just everytime I go to prepare food she's there. That I do not like. She'll jump up and hair goes flying everywhere. Otherwise I cannot prevent, nor do I try, to keep them off the counters. I just keep a bottle of disinfectant under the sink and spray and wipe everytime I use them.

[Freedom]

My first cat, Amber, was a stray. No matter what I tried, he was NOT willing to be an indoor cat.

So we compromised, and I bought him a harness and leash. He was furious at first, but got used to the idea. For the 8 years he lived with me, we HAD to gout and walk around the apartment building, twice. Rain, snow, ice, sleet, hot, cold, he HAD to go out. He would stand at the apt. door and meow until I showed him the harness; then he would jump up on the sofa for me to put it on.

Twice around the building; NOT once, NOT 3 times, TWICE. Got it, yet?

I had to walk at the very end of the leash, as far away from him as possible. If my sneakers made a sound on some stones on the parking area, he would stop and look at me over his shoulder. It was "that look," the one every cat owner has seen at one time or another, the one that says, "could you just be INVISIBLE please?" (I imagine anyone with a teenager has seen the same look. )

When I bought this house and moved, we got Dazzle. I didn't get the fence up in the back yard quickly enough, and he left the yard; a coyote got him. Once the fence was in, I could let the 3 who want out back there, and sit with them, and they were safe. Technically they could climb out I guess, but they were never that athletic. They kept looking for ways UNDER the fence. I knew they would, so it goes a bit into the ground.

So work out some system which keeps all of you happy, and keeps the kids safe. Collar and tag like someone said? Great. Timed outdoors? Good. Whatever works for all concerned.

[mruffruff]

Do what's good for you and yours.

I have 11 cats. Two of them must be inside/outside. If Joey is kept inside only, he self-mutilates until he bleeds! Mac pees everywhere. So they can go out during the day, but must stay in at night. I still have a few puddles, and have to watch that no one beats up on Joey. A big outdoor pen just isn't enough for these two.

I still worry when they're outside and you will too. It's a MOM thing

[Vermontcat]

Do you have a fenced in yard?
Have you tried to train them to use a leash and harness?
It was really easy to leash train Milly & Izzy and they are happy if the get to go outside for 10-15 minutes supervised.
They are also naughty about jumping on the counters, we really have to be careful when we have food out or they will sample it.
Good luck in finding something that works for you.

[Pinot's Mom]

Good luck in finding something that works for you.

That's the key - find what works for you. You're living there; we're not!