Conference misery::feline_v1

    The collar sounds like a good idea, if you can Katie to wear it.
    We tried flee collars several times, but our cats would not cooperate.
    They would always find a way to get it off.  I have heard of cats
    getting the collar stuck on things as they rubbed their heads against
    things, but our cats always used this to get the collar off.
    
    Our cats love being outside and I would never do anything different.

Patty- 

How about a break-away collar? I've never used one as I always keep my cats 
indoors but I believe the pet stores and/or vets should have them. The idea is 
if they snag on anything they pop off the cat (like the pop beads we used to 
wear as kids) rather than choke the cat. 

An (expensive) alternative to the outdoor dilemma: my mom got a "cage" that
she attached to the house. It can be bought in, I believe, 6x6 or 6x10 foot
free-standing sections of metal chain link with the posts (i.e; each piece is
framed, like a chain link gate). All pieces easily clamp together. What my
mom did was make a cat door into the enclosure, with a gate from the
outside of the enclosure for her to get through. She put a cat post and litter
pan and other niceties in it and the cats love it. (Note if you do this that
you must include the cost of the TOP sections in your figures - they're the
same as any other section but it's easy to forget about them). 

Cost: My mom made a 6 foot wide by 10 foot long by 6 foot high with top with 
gate (=4 pieces with gate cut into one piece, 1 side of the cage abutted the 
house). It cost approx $375-400. 

My mom bought this from a chain-link fencing company which sold the sections 
for making dog runs. (some places may list this as SAFE-T KENNELS). 
If you can't find it elsewhere, the place she got it was:
C and C Fence
12822 Sherman Way
N. Hollywood, CA
(818)765-3382


Good luck!
- Beth

    
    There used to be a service obtainable from veterinarians where pets
    (typically dogs and cats) were tatoo'd with an ID number on the
    inner thigh.  Does anyone know anything about this?  Is this still
    available?  It seems like a reasonable alternative for outdoor kitties
    who won't wear collars.
    
    I read that the tatoos (owner's social security #?) were kept in
    a central registry.  This had a couple of benefits; first, any shelter
    that picked up your pet could get it back to you, and second, no
    laboratory will accept an animal that has such a tatoo.
    
    Anyone know more?
    
    Rita
    

    Lhasa Boutique in Lunenburg does i.d. tattooing.  
    
    Their number is 345-5967
    
    cin
    

    Hello, again.  Thought you all would like to hear my good news.
    Last Fri. night was Katie's 'maiden voyage' outside alone.  She
    came back to our house after 1 hour for a quick nap and a snack.
    Yesterday, I had the day off and I got daring!  I left her out on
    her own from 9:30-3:30 and she DID FINE!  I know this sounds silly,
    from I'm a novice kitten-owner and I was worried about her not coming
    home.  Since it was so hot yesterday and she was out so long, when
    we got home she was so tired that she slept for 3 hours.  I have
    a cat door on my porch door and leave her food and water right inside
    it.  I forget who said 'leaver her alone and she'll come home' but
    you were absolutely right!
    
    A question:  Is it 'normal' for a cat to dig in the dirt?  She has
    managed to dig a small hole in our backyard in the dirt near the
    fence and it looks like it might be a 'potty-hole'.  I know dogs
    love to dig in the dirt, but cats?  Anyone have any inputs?
    
    Signed,
    Patty (relieved and happy cat-owner)
    

    
>    A question:  Is it 'normal' for a cat to dig in the dirt?  She has
>    managed to dig a small hole in our backyard in the dirt near the
>    fence and it looks like it might be a 'potty-hole'.  I know dogs
>    love to dig in the dirt, but cats?  Anyone have any inputs?
    

	 If the hole is in a shady area, she may just be digging down to
     where  the  dirt  is cooler and more comfortable to lie on. Our old
     tiger  kitty  (r.i.p.) used to do that under the bushes in front of
     his castle (our house).  Then he'd just snooze there all day.


			kmr
    

    Kathy, as a matter of fact, the hole is in a shaded area.  It's
    certainly understandable for her to want to keep cool the past few
    days.
    
    BTW, should I worry if she pants lika a dog?  Last night it was
    so hot and she was out having such a good time that she came in
    panting (huff-puff with tongue out).  It was funny to see!
    

    A panting cat is not funny.  I believe most veterinarians would
    recommend keeping your dogs and cats INSIDE during the kind of
    weather we've been having recently.  Heavy panting, disorienta-
    tion, and walking in circles, indicate heat stroke, a condition
    that must be alleviated immediately.  Don't let your cat overheat
    to the point of panting.  
    
    Donna

    Reply to #8:
    
    My cat pants only when she's been outside in the hot weather for
    a few hours (by the way, she's free to go in/out anytime).  She
    doesn't look disoriented or walk in circles.  She's smart enough
    to know what when she's hot she just trots down cellar where it's
    cool and takes a nap on her favorite rug.  She loves to run outside
    and maybe that was the cause of her panting.  There's no way I'm
    going to follow her around the neighborhood to keep her from enjoying
    an occasional 50-yard dash.  She also has somewhat long-hair (not
    short but not long, either) and that could cause her to overheat
    easily.  She's a smart cat and knows enough to come home when she's
    tired.
    

    Heat  stroke is not too common in cats but it DOES happen.
    I listed some of the symptoms, not to imply that your cat
    was suffering this, but simply for edification.  A panting
    cat is overheated at the very least.  A cat's curiosity and
    friskiness has been known to overrule their intelligence.
    I agree it would be quite silly to follow the cat around
    outside, but then I didn't suggest that.  I still think it's
    a good idea to consider keeping your pets indoors when 
    temperatures rise well into the 90s.
    
    Donna