Cats on vehicles HELP ASAP

[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).

[lv4dogs]

UPDATE:
I am brining this up again because you guessed it, Meko is at it again, this time Handsome is in on it too.

Between the suggestions yous have posted before and trying to keep her inside she has actually behaved for quite some time, months & months. Then a couple weeks ago she started it again & nothing is working.

Handsome can NOT be an inside only cat, he will pee & poop out of the box, scratches things up, is aggressive to the other animals, etc.. etc..

We are however trying to keep Meko in and are actually doing an ok job at it. She'e VERY good at darting out the door under your feet and there's always a lot of people & pets going in & out, yet we've managed to keep her in for 4-5 consecutive days so far. She is NOT happy. But of course as the weather gets nicer the windows will be more open again. Meko can get out of screens, even the pet-proof ones that I posted about priviously.

I have talked with my neighbor, asked him if I bought a scat mat if he would be willing to put it on his trucks hood. Of course he said no. He said it probably wouldn't work, or it would scratch his truck (I even offered to buy a nice fleece blanket or the like to put under it) and he also said it is not his responsibility to put the mat on his truck every time he parks it. Which I have to admit he is correct on the last one, it is not his responsibility.

Now granted I have not actually caught her up there but he says he has multiple times. I think she was getting up there at night or when I am at work. I can not afford a viceo camera to tape it when I am not there, heck I can not afford much of anything lately.

I am afraid this is my last warning from this guy so this is my last chance. Does anyone have any more/different advice?

If worse comes to worse and I can NOT keep her inside only would it be mean of me to find a home for her? (VERY LAST step of course, she's my heart cat, the cat who got me to like cats). But I honestly do not know what else to do.

[Kfamr]

Sue,
I know you said you can't afford much but is there anyway you can buy a small outdoor enclosure or make one yourself? With a kitty door leadin to the enclosure so they can go in/out as they please but still be safe??

[lv4dogs]

Sue,
I know you said you can't afford much but is there anyway you can buy a small outdoor enclosure or make one yourself? With a kitty door leadin to the enclosure so they can go in/out as they please but still be safe??

I am not allowed to up ANY type of fencing what so ever on my property. I own the trailer but rent the land. (well the small garden fencing we can have, but nothing taller than 1.5'). Unless it is grandfathered in anyways (there before you moved in).

[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.