inside or out??

[Songlover]

Dear Noah's Mommy, I feel better now that I know you scoop every day, not change the litter completely every day!!! WOW! I was worried...LOL! I also scoop every day. Just wondering, though, how often do you change the litter completely? I have 3 cats and two litter boxes. I change it about every three weeks. Does this make me a bad Meowmie?

Deborah, Meowmie of Prima, Picasso and Piano

[ramanth]

I have mixed feelings on this. I don't see a problem with keeping a cat indoors only and I also don't see a problem with having a cat being indoor/outdoor, depending on the neighborhood. Living in the city vs the country makes all the difference.

What I can't imagine is why someone would make a cat stay outdoors all the time though.

The cats at my parents house are indoor/outdoor. My parents live out in the country and there is not a lot of traffic. Our first cat, Sable, lived to be roughly 15 and he could make a grown dog wet itself. He guarded his territory viciously, but was one of the most loving and loyal cats I had ever known. He was about 8 when he adopted our family from a life as a stray.

Mom has horrible allergies and asthma. Even with all the medications in the world, letting the cats go outside for a few hours helps her breathe.

Our boys are big and healthy and those that are getting up in their age spend more time indoors than out.

[aly]

Originally posted by Soledad
Sorry to confuse you, Aly. I knew I didn't word that right. I wasn't referring to diseases, but chemicals. Someone mentioned anti-freeze being an outdoor hazard.

I need to hear about this outdoor playpen!!!

I shoulda kept my mouth shut until morning because I always misunderstand things late at night! Can I blame it on getting no sleep because of my foster baby?

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by Songlover
Dear Noah's Mommy, I feel better now that I know you scoop every day, not change the litter completely every day!!! WOW! I was worried...LOL! I also scoop every day. Just wondering, though, how often do you change the litter completely? I have 3 cats and two litter boxes. I change it about every three weeks. Does this make me a bad Meowmie?

Deborah, Meowmie of Prima, Picasso and Piano

We've been changing out the litter about every three weeks as well. I always add fresh litter to the boxes if they get low as well.

[carole]

thank you for answering my question about the litter boxes, because this is new to me, i wanted to make sure i was changing it enough, i of course get rid of the pooh every minute she does one,and i top it up every time she uses it, but i completely change the whole thing once a week, is that ok, your advice is much appreciated

[carole]

just one last comment on this indoor/outdoor debate, so folks are your all telling me that your homes are air conditoned, if not how do you keep your cats from suffocating in the heat and yourselves, whilst you are not home and home, i would love to hear your answers, as i have pointed out most nz homes are not air conditioned, not even the expensive ones.

[kimlovescats]

I'm just now getting in on this .... but I'll make it short and sweet!


My kitties are all indoors only.... but my loving husband helped me add a special topper to our privacy fence.... so that they can go outside for fresh air, grass and sunning. Although they've never gotten over the topper, I still stay outside with them, or keep a close watchful eye through the windows at all times.

I know we all love our pets here, and it's not fair to insinuate that one loves theirs more than another. I agree that cats do love to be outdoors, and I believe that God intended them to be!!! HOWEVER, because man has made this world unsafe for all of its inhabitants.... kitties, dogs, etc.... pets have to depend on responsible humans to keep them safe from harm. It's sad but true!

I will attach a picture of our privacy fence with topper.

Kim

[carole]

i completely agree with you kim, its what suits you and your circumstances whats best for your kitty,their are pluses and minuses in both situations,but its been an interesting debate, and it seems indoors is preferred in the united states, whereas its the opposite here in aoetearoa.

[carole]

one more thing, if its so unsafe for kitties in usa, does that mean its even worse for your children, i shudder at the thought, here in nz children walk to school by themselves, however i donot let my daughter , i always take her or arrange something else, i am again just curious on your comments, a little away from the orginal subject, but what have you all to say. cheers

[batgirl1980]

Originally posted by carole
one more thing, if its so unsafe for kitties in usa, does that mean its even worse for your children, i shudder at the thought, here in nz children walk to school by themselves, however i donot let my daughter , i always take her or arrange something else, i am again just curious on your comments, a little away from the orginal subject, but what have you all to say. cheers

I don't have children yet.. but I would not let them out of my site for a moment. There are too many sicko's out there that would love a chance to kidnap or what not a child, and there is no way I would let my child walk to school, or ANYWHERE by him/herself. When I become a mom in the far off future, I think I will be labeled "over protective" because I will always know where he/she is and be right there or make sure another parent is at all times...

As for your air conditioning question:
My apartment is air conditioned.. the problem is.. i'm allergic to it if it's on too much (I get bronchitis from it).. so we turn it on for a little bit, then open the windows and turn on our fans...and also make sure kitty water is ALWAYS full... which seems to keep them happy.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by carole
just one last comment on this indoor/outdoor debate, so folks are your all telling me that your homes are air conditoned, if not how do you keep your cats from suffocating in the heat and yourselves, whilst you are not home and home, i would love to hear your answers, as i have pointed out most nz homes are not air conditioned, not even the expensive ones.

Yep....most places that get hot have air condition. We mainly use it for the cats during the summer. I close all but one of the shades (so they can look at the birds outside) and turn the air down.

Our long-haired boy, Noah, gets haircuts in the spring and summer as well. Just to make sure he's cool and comfy.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by carole
one more thing, if its so unsafe for kitties in usa, does that mean its even worse for your children, i shudder at the thought, here in nz children walk to school by themselves, however i donot let my daughter , i always take her or arrange something else, i am again just curious on your comments, a little away from the orginal subject, but what have you all to say. cheers

Yes!! Most definitely. Not everywhere, of course. But yes, we have to watch our children (I don't have them yet) like hawks....

It is very, very sad. When I was little (I'm 24), I had such "freedom" when I was little. I could be gone all day and not have my parents worried. It seems that when I began going to high school, things began to change.

[carole]

i am so glad to hear your indoor cats have the comfort of air conditioning, otherwise i would be most worried about them.
I know it gets pretty hot in most parts of the usa, sometimes hotter than nz, so they would need it .

[Soledad]

I know it gets pretty hot in most parts of the usa, sometimes hotter than nz

SOMETIMES??!!!



This place is super mild. Never had a day above 80 degrees!

[carole]

u know soledad the weather here has really changed , i can remember some real sticky summers, not so anymore, its always just pleasant now, sometimes humid, but this summer was pretty cool in comparison, isnt the weather great right now, well it is in the waikato anyhow. and youre going back home lol