What do you think? (opinions please)

[catmandu]

Somehow I miused the Thread , But I think that being in a Home , of their own, is what a Cat wants most , and They can always learn , to live with a Dog , if they dont run.That , I think , is better than being in a Shelter

[jenluckenbach]

My opinion on caging a cat for its entire natural life............(and please know that I have NOT read this thread through, only your first post about what you'd like to do)

I truly don't think it is a suitable situation, but this is only MY opinion. I know that people keep dogs in outdoor kennels or runs and think that is an OK situation and that people keep barn cats who have no real part in the family's life except to live outside and kill rodents. But to adopt a PET and then exclude it from the love of the family home seems a bit selfish to me. YOU want a cat and that seems to be all you are concidering. Would you want your precious Simba to live in an outdoor run (even an elaborate one) for the rest of his natural life??

I can tell you this, any rescue group that screens their potential adopters would NOT adopt to a family if they knew this was your intention.

[QueenScoopalot]

Just my 2 cents worth, but if this does happen, keep in mind that even if a cat has been with dogs all its life, a new dog can still be terrifying! All our dogs have been rescued as either pups, or in Peanut's case adult. Peanut can't quite count as she's all of four & a half Lbs. And as we all know dogs can snap when their food is messed with.I know you're only toying with the idea, but a lot of good points have been brought up, and subsequently dismissed by you. Keep in mind...you did state in the title "opinions please"! I do a lot of rescuing of abandoned cats, and many ferals as well, and the majority are introduced veerrrryy slowly to the dogs, if at all. Most of the cats and kittens are just moving through the ever revolving doors (almost) as fast as they come in! Wheww! You strike me as a very responsible young woman, but think about not only your future, but also that of any newcomers! We all grow up too fast (except me..never grow up, never grow uup...not me!! She sings to herself)

[Kfamr]

Jen,
I can tell you haven't read anything.


It will not be kept in the cage it's whole life, and ill not be kept outside it's whole life.

Simba would never be left out outside 24/7... nor will my cat.



Scoop -- My dogs do not snap when their food is being messed with. I trained them not to.

If I do adopt a cat from the shelter, I will make sure it is one who gets along with dogs. If I get one from fox-Gal, she has introduced the kittens to her dogs.


I have not "dismissed" any opinions or points, i've thought about each and every point people have brought up, but most of the stuff that has been brought up (EX: the cat being lonely, not getting enough attention) are things that would never happen.



Thank you again everyone for responding. I think this is the most replies I've gotten from this side of PT.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by Kfamr
Also, the outside cat area would just be for the cat for fun. It wouldn't be for a permanant living area, as I said a billion times. It would be allowed in the guest bedroom and in my bedroom. Eesssh.

So can I take it you have changed your mind and that this cat will now be inside most of the time.

20 hours of the day whilst you are at school & asleep, cat will be in the spare room/your room safe and the isolated outside run will only be used for recreation.

Recreation a maximum 4 hours in the evening outside in the isolation run for play time but cat will be taken back inside to be played with / when your dog is out / when the weather is very hot or very cold and storms.

That would be perfect an inside cat with a play time run.

[Kfamr]

I haven't changed my mind about anything. I was going to allow it in the house from the beginning.

[NKBurlington]

Originally posted by Kfamr
I haven't changed my mind about anything. I was going to allow it in the house from the beginning.

Hmm,
From your first post:

We could build something like that if/when we tear down our garden... Install some sort of fan, like they have at the humane society. Now, I wouldn't want it to be out there 24/7, I'd bring it inside at night possibly, and during the day at times... and when it storms.

It sounds to me like you did plan to leave the kitty out of doors for most of the time and allowing him/her to come in at your convenience.

I don't mean to sound harsh but you did ask for opinions so here is mine.

I think it's a bad idea to rescue a cat from one cage, and house her in another.

It sounds to me like you made up your mind from the beginning anyway and anything we say will not sway your decision. I think you've talked yourself into it and there's nothing we can say to change your mind.

I hope that you will wait until a suitable time to adopt a kitty and you can give it the quality of life it deserves.

JMHO!

[Cataholic]

First, I commend Kay for not getting upset with some of the comments that have been posted. I know I would have reacted to some of them. Opinions asked for, or not.

Second, my cats would LOVE to have an outdoor enclosure. And, much as I would hate to admit it, they would prolly prefer to spend their time out there, instead of inside all the time.

Third, my only real concern is with Simba. Some dogs have a higher prey drive than others. I think Sim is on the higher side, rather than the lower side. That would make my VERY uncomfortable. I don't truly think prey drive is trained out of a doggie. While **most** of the time Simba would be 'okay', it would only one time. And, Kay, I know that would devastate you.

Fourth, I don't doubt for a single solitary moment your total devotion to pets. I know you wouldn't ever adopt and discard, adopt and not put 100% into it.

Fifth, what's up with you NOT going to college?

[Kfamr]

NKBurlington---

Whoever you are, If you notice the post was posted at 3 in the morning. I hadn't slept at all, and It was just something I was thinking about. My words did not come together as I would have liked. I never intended on leaving the cat outside all of the time, I haven't changed my mind. That's that, my mind.. not yours. I think i'd know better than you.

I will give every single animal that comes into my care the quality it deserves, so do NOT say I won't.

You could bring up a relevant opinion against it ( Something other than I wouldn't be able to give him/her quality life, it's not good to be in a cage 24/7 ) Because most opinions, although appreciated, like i said are things that aren't going to happen.



Johanna--

Simba doesn't really have a high prey drive. As I said, I can put a lizzard on his nose, on his back, anywhere and he's fine.

He used to be horrible with other dogs. He was set in his ways. Since then he's let Nala live with him, Honey visit often, Duke visit often, and many other visitors in our home. He doesn't go crazy for squirelles anymore, he's laid back and whatever goes with him.

Libby brought to me a good point, which I was thinking about beforehand.. She said if I was adopt a cat from the shelter, and it didn;t work out, that I'd have to bring it back.
Instead, i'm going to cat-sit one of her foster kittens (probably the orangie, although my mom likes the light colored calico best) and if it didn't work out, it'd go back to her.


I'm not going to college because I do not like school, I do not have money to go. I don't think i'd like the environment anyways. But who knows, either way.. my animals will never be abandoned, and nothing will come before them.

[trayi52]

As I have said, Kay is a very responsible pet owner. She would not do anything to endanger any of her pets! She did say she was going to have it in the house with her! There is no doubt in my mind, that a cat would have a wonderful and loving home with Kay.

Willie

[Denyce]

For once I seem to be on the side of wondering where in the world some of you people are coming from! I see people offering very negative opinions and yet I am not too crazy about the home life they offer their cats either (I am not going to be specific or name names because they didn't ask my opinion on their situation). Now after I have prefaced with all of that.

Kfamr,

I think you are thinking this whole situation through very well and that you are going to make the best decision you can. You have been one of the more mature teenagers on this board. At times even being more mature than some of the adults. From what I am gathering you plan on making the cat pretty much an INDOOR cat with a very wonderful outdoor cat run. Not a miserable little cage that some seem to be picturing. You plan on spending time with the cat INSIDE the house and OUTSIDE the house as much as anyone with THREE pets is able to offer. Gee. I think this sounds good to me. Better than the alternative for some cats.

I am planning the opposite in some ways. My husband and I are getting ready to build a very large and insulated dog house. It will be enclosed in as large of a dog run as we can afford. We then plan on adopting a couple of dogs. The dogs would stay in their outside enclosure when we are at work. Which is about 10 hours a day. Because I think it is cruel to leave a dog inside the home with no way to relieve their bladder or bowels for almost half of a 24 hour period. That would be for 5 days a week or when we are at work. When we are home in the evenings and at night , the weekends and on days off the dogs would then be with us. By the criteria I am seeing some people post we wouldn't be very good dog owners. Although I think this would be great for the type of dogs we are talking about. EVEN in the winter!!! OHH NOOO....

Of course we are not talking about getting small little lap dogs...we are talking dogs that are 60 pounds or larger...preferably larger and most likely with double coats. But I imagine some will still think we are being cruel. *sigh*

Just follow your heart and use your commen sense and you will make the right decision. So far I haven't seen or read much that would lead me to beleive otherwise.

Denyce

[carole]

I don't think anyone in this thread has been unkind, they have all offered Kay advice and opinions and Kay has answered them all politely and explained to everyone exactly how the situation will be.

To be honest having a safe indoor/outdoor area would be my choice, and I believe the purrfect life for a kitty, so I have no problem with that, my only concerns are for how the dog/kitty relationship will be.

Good luck Kay with whatever you decide, everyone here knows how responsible and committed you are, and any fears they have are genuine and have been relayed to you out of pure concern only.

[NKBurlington]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kfamr
[B]NKBurlington---

Whoever you are, If you notice the post was posted at 3 in the morning. I hadn't slept at all, and It was just something I was thinking about. My words did not come together as I would have liked. I never intended on leaving the cat outside all of the time, I haven't changed my mind. That's that, my mind.. not yours. I think i'd know better than you.

I will give every single animal that comes into my care the quality it deserves, so do NOT say I won't.

You could bring up a relevant opinion against it ( Something other than I wouldn't be able to give him/her quality life, it's not good to be in a cage 24/7 ) Because most opinions, although appreciated, like i said are things that aren't going to happen.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just offering my opinion based on what I had read. No, I did not notice the time of the post.

I'm sure that you would love *any* kitty that you adopted as I'm sure anyone on this board would. I was just picturing a kitty out doors all alone and forgotten. My mistake. It just breaks my heart to think of an animal all alone outside and although that's not at all what it would be like at your home, that is what I was envisioning. I guess I just like to see all animals in a warm and safe home; which I know yours is.

Once again, please accept my apologies and I did not mean to offend you.

I cannot imagine anyone on this board who is not totally devoted to the welfare and wellbeing of all creatures.

ETA: At least if she is going to be outside, you will have created a nice safe place for her enjoyment.

[thelmalu99]

Kay,
I can't blame you for wanting a kitty! They're terrific!

I remember you from a long while back, when I used to post here regularly, and I can say that I truly believe that you are committed 100% to giving your pets the quality of life that they deserve. I think you would be a wonderful kitty momma.

I don't know if you remember, but when I got Elvis and JD, I used to post here often about how difficult Elvis was. Unfortunately, he had been an abused cat, and he had some serious trust issues. He would scratch and bite any time he became even mildly irritated, and you couldn't touch him anywhere but the top of his head and around his ears. Even then, he would sometimes bite.

With all of my heart, I can tell you that today, three years later, he is a completely different cat. This is because I was patient and gave him all the love he would allow me to, and gradually he calmed down and realized that nobody was going to hurt him here. There is no doubt in my mind that you are this kind of pet owner, patient and loving.

I have another true story for you. (My stories DO have a point, so please bear with me.)

My friend Michele has a wonderful dog, Tasha, who hated cats. Tasha was the kind of dog who would see a cat outside and chase the cat all the way down the road until she was ordered back by Michele, puffing and panting from chasing Tasha (and trying to save the cat's life).

About 7 months ago, a tiny little scared and cold kitten appeared on Michele's doorstep. She took the kitten inside and put him in the bathroom with food and water and began to care for him. Tasha would always be scratching on the other side of the door, not barking, but just curious, understandably.

Michele thought she wouldn't be able to keep the cat, because Tasha hated cats so, but one fine day, when she brought the kitten out, Tasha was ok with him. They gradually got used to each other, and soon the cat didn't need to be kept in the bathroom anymore because he and Tasha were getting along fine.

Now, Tasha and the cat, Neo, live beautifully together, and even sleep together. Nobody knows what happened in Tasha's mind, but she's great with the cat and has even stopped chasing cats outside. Neo loves his big sister, and Michele can't even believe that she even considered not giving it a try.


Ok, now for my point. (I told you I had one!)

There's no reason Simba can't learn to live with a cat. From what I understand, it is only really aggressive dogs that can't learn to live with another animal. It doesn't seem to me that Simba is an aggressive dog at all, and you're obviously a very conscious pet momma. If you weren't, you wouldn't be thinking this through so thoroughly and asking for opinions before coming to a decision.


I like what some others here said. I think it would be an excellent idea to have your brother bring his cats over, and for you to take Simba to your brother's house to visit the cats on their turf, on a regular basis. See how it goes. You already said that Simba has been ok with your brother's cats at times. Maybe a little more exposure to them will help to warm him up, along with a lot of love, patience and reassurance from you.

Who knows? With proper handling of the situation and a lot of patience on your side, Simba may learn to accept cats and you will be able to get one to bring into your home on a full-time basis.

Whatever your decision, I wish you luck and commend you for being so responsible about it.

[catcrazylady]

I truly and firmly believe that a cat enclosure with inside time is a good situation. My cats would be over joyed with that opportunity! I have to keep Magoo caged with the hope that someday that won't have to be anymore but for now it is my only option. Would it have been better to leave him at the shelter? I certainly don't think so!

You are offering a homeless cat a good home with love and fun outside time. I think you should be commended. I keep hearing everyone call it a cage but I'm under the impression from you that we are talking about a large enclosure. You mentioned it would be the size of a room. Are you also talking about it having a high roof? You could put in shelves and maybe a tree trunk type of thing for scratching and play. It would be kitty heaven!

I do understand the concerns over the dog but with time that might not even be an issue. Everyone keeps telling me that I'm doing a great job with Magoo and he is caged with the hope that he will eventually learn to deal with the other kitties. It seems to be the same situation to me that the hopes would be eventually the new kitty and the dog would learn to live together. Everyone keeps telling me to give it time and it will work out and I think the same should apply here. I do understand that one mistake could be a huge problem or even kill the cat but from everything I have heard she is a very responsible person and would keep that from happening.

I guess after my experiences at the shelter I feel like this is such a giant leap for any poor shelter cat. Especially since she is considering an older cat that doesn't like other kitties. These are the cats that can't find a home most of the time. Life in the shelter or life inside/outside in a safe enclosure? I know which one I would choose if I was the cat.

Of course, all this is just my opinion.