I just wanted to thank you all for your generosity with the Larime fundraiser. I really appreciate it, and hope we can give them some peace of mind and some time to recover and maybe get to a better place.
On the homefront, there has been no blood yet, but I would described the weather in the house as “slightly hissy.”
Alison Rose
“Slightly hissy” is also how some of my teachers described me on report cards.
danielx
Think of it as peaceful coexistence, with all that implies.
NotMax
Slowly, slowly homing in on sanity claws.
;)
dmsilev
“Slightly hissy” is definitely preferable to “slightly bloody”.
rikyrah
Hope that things get better everyday, Cole🤗
Major Major Major Major
Oh wow, I missed the news about the new cat! Congrats.
Samwise and the new kitten can now hang out for about 30 minutes before the kitten tries to play with him one too many times and he gets upset. So, definite and continuing progress. I’m just not sure what level of fight-y is okay/expected and what level is dangerous… couple months yet before we have to leave them alone so no rush!
But what sort of ‘fighting’ is okay? Is the goal ‘none, ever’? Because that fails to describe several cat pairs I know. (It’s been a month.)
Odie Hugh Manatee
You’re doing just fine as long as the report doesn’t change to “slightly bloody”.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@dmsilev:
Beat me…lol
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Sounds like you have a solid plan to let them all find a peaceful co existence with each other. Hope the drive was easy both ways.
Amir Khalid
@Major Major Major Major:
Play-fighting or wrestling between cats should be easy to distinguish from actual combat. Only the latter is preceded by the ritual of threat displays and angry vocalisations.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
So today I was taking a Grab ride back with some new cat toys, and the driver asked me if one of the toys was a fishing pole. 🙄
PBK
@Amir Khalid: You were asking the other day about walking a cat…TriassicSands left a very good comment about that on John’s earlier “And wetre home” post.
sab
@PBK: Didn’t Cheryl Rofer write years ago that cats new to a harness fall over their first time wearing the thing?
My dad’s cat did. He did get used to it and wandered the yard wearing it. But he was old and blind by then, and we realized that as a small animal out in the world he was actually quite frightened. So we took him inside and never walked him again.
ETA Our Dobby was forced to live outside by his previous vile owner. He almost died of starvation. He did have a cat best friend (called by us Not Dobby.) Dobby is doing fine inside with us. We haven’t seen Not Dobby for at least a year. He was only about 5 years old when last seen. I think outside is dangerous for cats.
sab
One of the issues with walking a cat outside of the yard is big dogs. You have to have a way to protect the cat from dogs they meet that want to eat them. Climbing up onto you may not be safe enough if the dog is big. Around us people have screened in cat strollers that they can stuff the cat into. Seems like if that is necessary then the out in the world cat walk isn’t such a good idea.
eclare
@sab: I used to see some people in my neighborhood “walk” their cat in a screened in baby stroller, but I think they mainly used it as a wine cup holder.
Amir Khalid
@PBK:
I’ve seen it, thank you.
sab
@eclare: Such cynicism! //
ETA Alchohol is prohibited in our MetroPark and they are quite strict on enforcement. On the other hand, I can imagine that drunk with a cat on city streets.
eclare
@sab: It was no big deal, just their after work routine. They had a walk with a glass of wine, kitty got to see the neighborhood, everyone got some air, all good.
sab
@eclare: I feel better. Our Dobby might like that kind of stroll.
ETA The other three cats would be horrified: “Outside! Are you crazy?”
sab
Also too, late in the comments. I am vey glad we could help the Larimes who seem to be very good people.
satby
@PBK: Thanks for the pointer, I went back and replied.
@Amir Khalid: my nephew and niece have the pet stroller for their cats in Chicago, which I think is silly and just asking for an unfortunate escape; but they take walks with the cats and their 4 year old kid.
Baud
Deleted. Posted on wrong thread.
PBK
@sab: We’ve walked about five or six of our cats and only one did the falling over thing. The others either took to it or just refused to move 😀 The earlier you start the more likely you’ll succeed but of course it depends so much on the cat itself. And I agree with your later comment about worrying about dogs.
different-church-lady
@NotMax:
Hey, you can’t fool me: there ain’t no sanity claws!
Chief Oshkosh
Great to hear that the jackals met the goal and I hope Laramie and Sylv get some relief.
Paul in KY
I think as long as you are not hearing those yowls that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, then everything is progressing as you might hope.
Adam Lang
Slightly hissy with a chance of pain?
Sherparick1
I would be worried if it becomes “slightly pissy.”
TriassicSands
@sab:
Obviously, the ease or difficulties of walking a cat outside are, to some extent, dependent on the local environment. I was walking one of my cats in my yard during the day, when a Samoyed, visiting next door, was let out and tried to attack my cat. I picked her up and put myself in between her and the dog, but cats rely on themselves more than people and she bit me trying to escape, despite the fact that she was safer in my arms. I realized later that I could have tossed her up onto the roof, but in the heat of battle that didn’t occur to me — I was too focused on the dog. In the end, nothing happened to the cat and I got to take a very expensive course of antibiotics.
In sixteen years, that was the only problem of that nature I had. Just as obviously, dogs must not be allowed to run free, but too many people are stupid and irresponsible. I was fortunate in where I lived, but often I walked the cats late at night and I never saw a dog out at 11PM to midnight. With some forethought, most problems can be overcome and the benefit to the cat is worth the effort. A life time of being stuck inside versus dealing with possible problems. I’ll go with the latter.
Singing Truth to Power
I live on a busy street with all kinds of dangers to small domestic animals. When I brought both of my cats home as 12 week old kittens, I used the sprayer (water only) whenever they came in the area of the outside door – about 6 feet. They learned quickly to hate going near the door. They have never ever been outside except to the vet in a carrier. They sit in the windows watching the outdoors and critters that live there, and I swear, they are no more attracted to the outdoors than the TV. They are however avid hunters of flies and spiders, and the occasional stink bug.
TriassicSands
Cats are individuals, but I find your statement, if considered generally, questionable at best. Your cats don’t know what it’s like to be outside, but they didn’t evolve to be shut indoors their entire lives. We keep them in for their own safety and that of songbirds, but given the chance to experience being outside, I feel strongly that most cats would prefer that to be being trapped inside their entire lives.
I have witnessed the differences in behavior and personality in a number of cats, some of which were indoor only and others that were walked outside. The cats who could go out were livelier and healthier. Sometimes my cats would roam as widely as possible; at other times they might take time out to lie in the sun and simply observe all that was happening around them. Cats who have never been outside, may be frightened if they are taken out after being restricted to indoor settings. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have been happier if they had always been allowed out on a leash.
Obviously, some settings are simply not safe or, even if safe, far too hectic to allow some cats to relax and enjoy fresh air. However, there is little doubt in my mind that most cats would be happier and benefit from regular exposure to fresh air, sun, and the myriad aromas of the real world.
Singing Truth to Power
@TriassicSands: hard to imagine my two being any livelier – or healthier. They have a big house, lots of enrichment, and they are safe. They are seven and nine years old, and rocket around the house as if they had watched parkour videos. They lead enviable lives.
Paul in KY
@TriassicSands: I do agree. I think my cats always liked being outside (in good weather conditions).