Conference misery::feline

    Yes!!  I have seen these and they have them for dogs too.  They are
    designed so that only the animal you want to come will get in.  I think
    you could get one from any of the major pet/wholesale catalogs such as
    R.C. Steele, Foster and Smith etc.  There is a note in the beginning of
    this conference that has their addresses.
    Karen, whose thirteen never go out but would probably love one of those
    things!

    Chris, lot's of magazines have these cat doors for sale.  I think the
    ones that have the electonic collar are better because then you allow
    only your cat to come in - not some 22 pounder raccoon.  :^)  Check the
    last 4 or 5 pages of your favorite magazine and you might find an
    advertisement.  My local library has tons of magazines and I recently
    saw one of these listed - it was either in Architectural Digest or
    Metropolitan Home.  Oh, or maybe HG????  I'll look tonight to see if I
    can find it but I have to warn you that I've got a huge stack of
    magazines currently.
    
    Hey, did your little Dorking ever come home?  How's your new mog
    working out? 

    I'd be interested in knowing if these work well.  I have a neighbor
    with a yes cat no racoon thru the cat door problem.
    

    
    Dorking never came back, I'm sad to say. I think he went off to die.
    it's all very sad. New one is fine thanks. He's more of a homebody than
    Dorking so we need the doorflap..
    
    For what it's worth my sister says they work flawlessly (the electronic
    trigger ones). I'll try to get magazines (I rarely see them anywhere).
    

    Chris, I cannot find which magazine the advertisement was listed in.  I
    know I saw it last night.  Hmmm, maybe another magazine that I was
    browsing at while visiting the library?  I still haven't exhausted the
    search though....   So sorry to hear about Dorking's disappearance.

    I think they have adverts for them in Cat Fancy.

	Check to see how these open and how sturdy they are.

	I have one of these to keep out a tom that is spraying (and keep my cats
	in).

	It works for this, but there is a very clever cat in our neighbourhood
	who has long claws.
	He has worked out that the release is in the bottom right hand corner,
	and if he scratches their for long enough, his claw gets in far enough,
	and pushes down the release and he gets in - this cat obviuosly thinks 
	the food I leave out for my two is super!!!!!!!!!!!

	This is Okay for me, because this cat gets on well with mine, and no 
	other cat has done this.

	Also, mine is magnetic and stops incoming cats, some are two-way and
	electronic, make sure you put them in properly so they don't need to 
	trigger anything to get out - you don't want them trapped in a fire 
	etc!!!
	
	A friend of mine put one in the wrong way, and came home to a houseful
	of cats - that could get in, but not out!!!!!!!!!!!

	Heather

>	Also, mine is magnetic and stops incoming cats, some are two-way and
>	electronic, make sure you put them in properly so they don't need to 
>	trigger anything to get out - you don't want them trapped in a fire 
>	etc!!!
	
    Heather
    
    Could you explain this? You mean your magnetic door stops all incoming
    cats, even your own? So your own cat only gets to exit once and that's it
    until you reset it or something? Or do you mean it verifies all
    incoming cats but lets out anything? 
    
    

    
>    Could you explain this? You mean your magnetic door stops all incoming
>    cats, even your own? So your own cat only gets to exit once and that's it
>    until you reset it or something? Or do you mean it verifies all
>    incoming cats but lets out anything? 
 

	Sort of, what I mean is, they can be set to only allow my cats in.

	There is no trigger for getting out, anything can get out.


	So if its fitted the wrong way, all the neighbourhood cats can get in,
	and only yours can get out.

	But, if the electric supply goes - nothing can get out.


	If the flap is fitted the correct way around, none of this is a problem.
   
    
	Heather

    
    Thanks, sounds purrfect. Now all I have to do is get the Englishwoman
    at "Reigning Cats and Dogs" in Washington state to return my call about
    the order.
    

    
    I'm thinking of putting a cat door on the back door of my house but
    wanted to hear the pros/cons from some of you that already have them. 
    
    Are they tight enough so a gust of wind doesn't blow them open?  Do you
    see a difference in your heating bill.  
    
    Do other cats come in through them or does the cat put his/her scent on
    the door to ward off intruders?
    
    What's a reasonable price to pay for one?  (a small one for a cat that
    weighs approx 15 pounds)
    
    Do most installers come to your house?  
    
    Thanks for all replies!!
    Linda

    I bought a cat flap for Jimmy and Rosie in the Spring. I thought it
    would be nice for them to come and go as they pleased.
    I got a basic cat flap, that could be locked one or both ways as I
    didn't want them going out after it got dark. I paid about �15 for it.
    My dad installed it for me (I'm not that good at DIY). Neither was he,
    as it turned out, because he got the template upside down and sawed the
    hole the wrong way round, so the cat flap would only fit in upside
    down. Fortunately he was able to adjust the hole in the door to
    accomodate the cat flap the right way up.
    
    There WAS insulation round the outside to stop draughts, but my brother
    brought his labrador round one day when the cat flap was locked and
    Jimmy clawed all the insulation off whilst trying frantically to get
    out. I shall have to stick it back on, because it's begun to get very
    draughty now. 
    
    The magnet to hold the door shut has deteriorated (or else we've had
    stronger winds recently) and the flap is sometimes blown open (usually
    when they're trying to get in or out, hitting them on the nose).
    
    I haven't noticed any change in my heating bills so far.
    
    I don't regret having a cat flap, though. The freedom it gives my cats
    is well worth it and Rosie (always a very shy, timid cat) has certainly
    come out of her shell, although it took a long time for her to use it -
    she would sit and wait for me to open the flap for her.
    
    I have noticed that, when the flap is locked one-way, Jimmy has managed
    to open it by PULLING the flap open! Far too clever for his own good!
    
    No trouble at all with other cats "visiting". Jimmy sees them off as
    soon as they put a nose in the garden, so they never get as far as the
    back door. 

	You can get magnetic or electric ones that work off a sensor on the
	cats collar, so only your cats can get in.....

	........except for a very intelligent cat around the corner from me who
	has worked out where the trip-switch is, and has long enough claws to 
	get underneath and press the trip down, and keep her paw there pressing
	it down, as she pushes the flap open with her nose.
	My cats get on well with her, (she's nutered and so are my two males) so
	it's not a problem.

	None of the other cats in the neighbourhood have worked this out - the
	cat that used to come into my kitchen with the non-trip flap and spray
	the kitchen - is now unable to get in.

	The flap does not blow open, even in our hurricane a few years ago.
	My catflap faces south-west, its where all the gale-force winds come 
	from, and I've had no problems.
	If you have the trip-magentic/electric ones, then the trip will stop
	it blowing open, as well as stopping other cats getting in.

	No noticable change in heating bills, but it doesn't get that cold here
	(she says in the coldest October since 83).

	You will have to teach the cats to use the flap, I find the see-through
 	perspex ones are easier for them.
	
	(I think perspex is called flexi-glass, or plexi-glass or something 
	like that, in the US)
	
	Heather

    
    Reigning cats and dogs in Washington state sell the auto doors for
    about $85, including 2 keys and spacers to allow them to fit into any
    reasonable width door. The omly problem is the door is metal in this
    case, so may lose structural integrity with a hole in it, so I may end
    up getting a new door too. But it's worth it with winter coming up. 
    Leaving the cat inside all day is hard on the litterbox and probably
    the furniture. 
    

    
            Pet Depot in Shrewsbury has the "Cat Door" that is magnetic.
            A small device is placed on the collar, which tells the cat
    	    door allow the pet to pass. The kit cost $79.95
            The store is located at Rt 140 and Rt 9 From Rt 290 take
    	    Rt 140 south.
    
            Mike
     

    
    Well I'm rather disappointed with the "Indicatdor" I got from "reigning
    cats and dogs" in Washington state. It's a well made item all in all
    but the door doesn't always get activated. The magnet has to be facing
    in the right direction according to the instructions and while it is
    weighted to remain in that direction on the cat collar, sometimes it's
    skewed slightly, or perhaps the cat doesn't walk up to the door in the
    right way. I've checked the adjustment screw and the only thing I might
    have done wrongly is to mount the door a bit too low, although the
    instructions simply say don't mount it so the cat has to jump up or
    crouch to get through. 
    
    Of course, Farnham is every bit stupid as Dorking was, and it may be
    that if he nuzzled up to the door a bit he'd always gain access. I'll
    give it some time but I may just have to leave it set to open, and risk
    other cats gaining access. Even then he may not figure it out..
    
    

    
    Incroyable! Farnham seems to have figured it out! The 'indicatdoor' is a
    good one. I can recommend it now. Only problem is his magnet he wears
    on his collar picks up nails etc. One day we saw him walking around
    trailing a metal dustpan under his neck. But that's minor. Of course
    when we come home, if he's in the house he'll exit from his catdoor and
    mew furiously outside the front door to be let in. But then, Farnham
    never was an Einstein. 
    

    Well, I WAS going to enter this into HOMEWORK, but then thought that
    this file would be a MUCH better place for it...  :-)
    
    I will be moving in July to a nice BIG house where all my cats will
    have lots of room to run around.  But the first and most important
    addition to the home will be a "cat run".  Something like Sandy Merritt
    has at the Brody shelter.  My question is this.  
    
    I want to put a cat door in to give them easy access to this enclosed
    run.  But since the place I need to put it is in the kitchen, and since
    the kitchen is built on a crawl space rather than a real foundation,
    I need to know if it is feasible to put the door right into the wall of
    the kitchen without "draft" problems.  I know I won't have unwelcome
    guests because the run is enclosed, but I don't want to lose a lot of
    heat either.  I'm poor.  :-)
    
    And one more question:  for those of you who HAVE bought cat doors,
    is there a brand that excels over all others?  Strongly built, tight
    seal, etc...???  
    
    Nancy

    
    Some models come with "double" doors, and some with a magnetic (as in
    sticks closed, but cats push on it) seal that makes sure it closes
    well after the cat goes through it.  

    I will have to check them out in the magazines and in the supply
    houses.  I want to make sure the one I get is VERY sturdy and
    won't end up flapping in the breeze....  I will probably need two,
    as at the end of the run is a really nice gardening shed with skylights
    that I would like my cats to have access too.  I may put their litter
    in there so that they have the option of going all the way back insdie
    and down the stairs to the cellar, or just mosey over the shed and
    have a little "powder closet" there to do "their thing."  :-)  Also,
    it is added protection in case, god forbid, some animal tries to get
    at them through, or under, the walls of the enclosure (a big fear of
    mine).  I want to make sure the door is large enough for my bigger
    cats, but not so large as to allow, say, a dog in....
    
    N

    Nan,
     The ones I have look pretty small, but even big boy Finnegin fits
    through them, so the standars size for cats should be sufficient, as
    none of your kids (so far) is bigger than Finnegin. ;-)
    
    Yonee

    Hi Nancy,
    
    The kitty door at the shelter are relatively small...and all our
    big cats can get through them. It's truly amazing how those big
    bodies fit through those tiny doors!!
    
    The doors are actually a two way door...but they also provided another
    type of door that you can put on if you don't want the cats to go
    out!!  They truly are sealed really well and we get very little drafts!
    
    Can't wait to see your new house....
    Sandy

    One of the ones I have is like the ones at the Pat Brody Shelter, but I
    had to take one of the doors off, because my dummies couldn't figure it
    out.
    
    In one direction, they could push the bottom of the door with a paw,
    and it would open, but in the other direction, they had to push a
    little higher, and of course this was where they had the problem. ;-) I
    htink they could do it now, as they use their heads to open the doors
    most of the time now.
    
    It's a good sturdy one though. There are doors that can be put in thick
    spots, thin spots, screens, just about anywhere. Pet Supply Depot had a
    pretty good variety. I checked last night while I was there. 
    
    They even had a screen kitty door! ;-)
    
    Yonee

    
    Wow, thanks Sandy and Yonee...cat door queens.  :-)  I like the idea
    of a screen door for summer.  That really made me smile.  I'll have
    to take you guys with me when I go shopping for one.  By now you must
    know the pros and cons of all of them.  Due to the way my house is 
    set up, the kitchen is built over a crawl space, meaning there is 
    no way for my cats to get into the cellar and exit to the run from
    there.  I will have to put a hole right through the wall of the kitchen
    to the outdoors....which doesn't delight me, but my need to get these
    guys out in the great outdoors far outweighs the ugliness of a door
    in my kitchen wall.  Luckily, there is a big walkin closet in the
    kitchen, so if all works well, I can put the door in the back of the
    closet leading out.  
    
    I can't wait!  Too bad I heard the cost of lumber has skyrocketed!
    Just my luck.  
    
    N

    Nan,
    
     You may also want to look into a door that may fit in a window instead
    of through your whole house! I sort of remember seeing one like that in
    a catalog or somwhere. Maybe I was dreaming, but hey, if they have a
    screen door, why not a window door? ;-)
    
     Lynne, if yo uare reading this, have you ever heard of a kitty door
    that fits into a window?
    
     If you could find one like that, you could build a set of platforms or
    whatever to the ground for them, to make it easy to get in and out.
    
     We'll talk! I'd be happy to go with you when you buy it! I wouldn't
    suggest an electronic one with 11 cats though! That would cost more
    than the enclosure! ;-) I have a feeling, that when yo move, the "NO
    VACANCY" sign will off the "Inn". ;-) 8-)
    
    Yonee

    Re <<< Note 398.24 by MODEL::CROSS >>>

    > no way for my cats to get into the cellar and exit to the run from
    > there.  I will have to put a hole right through the wall of the kitchen
    > to the outdoors....which doesn't delight me, but my need to get these

    I'm probably being dense here, but I don't understand why you need to
    put the cat flap in the wall. The type we have here in England are
    designed to be fitted to a door. I presume you have a door to the outside?
    Is there some reason why you couldn't do this? It _has_ to be easier to 
    make a hole in the door than through the wall!

    June

    
    RE: cat doors to in the window
    
    I remember seeing an add for this in CATS magazine, can't remember the
    manufacturer though, let me know if you want me to look it up.
    
    Shaw

    Concerning using a door rather than the wall to install a kitty door.
    The way her new house is set up, there is no door on the side of the
    house she needs to put the run in. I suggested the window door, but
    then found out all the glass in the house is the old type, and she
    doesn't want to destroy any of that. I don't blame her there.
    
    Nancy, nothing comes easy to you does it? ;-) I'll be going shopping
    soon to get a new door for my porch. My cats managed to break the one
    to the outside from the porch. :-( At least they know how to use them
    now, and I can get one that locks again! What dull bulbs I have! ;-)
    
    Yonee
    
    

    
    Yonee's right.  I probably didn't state it very clearly.  I just
    purchased a 200 year old home that is in astounding condition.
    It has been maintained by the same family for three generations,
    and still has the original hand made distorted glass windows (they
    are floor to ceiling in the living room and bedrooms....  it's quite
    lovely.  I do have a back door that comes into a mudroom before 
    entering the kitchen.  However, if I put the cat door in that back
    door, it will eliminate my being able to use the door for humans,
    because I intend to build a covered run, approximately 12 feet wide
    and 25-30 feet long for the animals....I can't let them out, they
    are indoor only cats, so the run will allow them to have fresh air,
    but still be protected from roving dogs, humans, racoons, cars, 
    etc.  
    
    So I am forced to put the cat door to the left of the back door,
    right into the wall of the house, so that they will have acess to
    the run, but not impair our ability to use our back door.  
    The only other solution would be to build the run right up to the
    back door, and then put another door (for humans) that will leads
    out of the run.  But if people don't know better, they may let
    my cats out while entering and cause me to have heart failure.  :-)
    
    N

    Nancy...I wouldn't put a door from the outside to the run...you
    would be so nervous thinking somebody would open the door and
    let your cats out.
    
    We originally did this at the shelter...but now we want to add 
    another small enclosed area attached to the door so we can use
    it as our safe guard if one cat was to sneak out!!!  
    
    Sandy

    
    Sandy, my sentiments exactly.  That would be my greatest concern.
    Also, down the road, approximately half a block is a halfway home
    for severely retarded children.  I know that in the summer they
    walk around the neighborhood and go into people's yards.  They are
    very sweet, but if they saw the cats they might think it would be
    fun to visit and then the door would open and my cats would be gone.
    Children are like that.  "what's yours is mine and what's mine is
    mine."  :-)))
    
    N

    If you do make a door into the enclosure, a double doored entry is the
    best way to go.  I know of a breeder who lost her beloved stud cat
    through the open door of his outdoor enclosure.  If I was to make a run
    there are two things I would do 1) have the entrance door have like a
    foyer and then another door leading to the enclosure 2) I would make
    the walls be at least two layers of screening, all the way around the
    perimeter, and have the two layers be at least 6 inches apart.  That
    would prevent any cats from coming up to the enclosure and putting
    paws, etc into it, and with a six inch space in between them, any cat
    that did come up would be less likely to pass any airborne diseases to
    my cats in the enclosure.  
    
    Jo

    
    Jo,  You are absolutely right about the foyer idea, and Sandy Merritt
    spoke to me about this as well.  They are doing that at the Brody
    shelter.  I also think the idea of the double layer of screening with
    at least 6 inches between them is an exellent one.....a necessary
    one... especially with all the new and deadly disease making the
    rounds, not to mention the threat of predators and even rabid animals.
    I would absolutely die if anything happened to any one of my "kids."
    Thanks for the suggestions....  They are now part of the plan.
    
    Nancy

    We have thought long and hard about how we could make an outdoor
    enclosure that would be safe for our Birmans, and these are the things
    that I came up with myself.  Glad that they make sense to you and could
    be useful.  
    
    I also want my outdoor enclosure to have a solid roof, in case of bad
    weather.
    
    Jo

    I have a question about cat doors & other animals:  
    (Moderator: if this needs to be moved - pls feel free to do so).
    
    First, the story.... (very long, I apologize)...
    I have 2 cats;  1 female tortie who is 8 yrs old & 1 male, long haired,
    tiger striped, large, gray, 5 yr old kitty.  Mitty we adopted when she
    was 3 yrs old & Willy we've had since he was a baby.  
    
    We installed a cat door in our bulkhead a year ago so that we wouldn't
    have to have someone come in & feed them or have to bring them to Maine
    w/ us on the weekends.
    
    We haven't had any problems w/ other animals coming in other than the
    typical catch (ei: birds mostly).  In fact .. the door has worked out
    quite nicely lately as my cats have been living in the lower half of
    our Split since we adopted a German Shepherd (8 months ago).  That is
    by their choice as our dog was chasing them in the very begining.  They
    just started coming up on their own when the dog is outside or in bed.
    
    (I love cats very much & had seriously considered finding a home for the
    dog when I realized that my cats weren't adjusting well.  But, we've
    had a while now & we love her as well.  So, I just figured in time they
    would come around again.)
    
    My Willy was last seen a week ago tonight.  I'm worried about him &
    miss him very much.  I've sent out flyers to neighbors, called all the
    local vets, humane societies, police & placed an ad in a local paper
    along w/ posting notes in local establishments.
    
    The weirdness about his disappearance is that we've been putting out
    the same amount of food as we did for 2 kitties, & the garlic tab
    treats that only Willy eats.  In the morning when we wake up the moist
    food is gone, the tabs are gone & the crunchies are still there.  Willy
    was the big eater of the 2 & has never in his life missed more than 1
    meal a day.  
    
    I'm wondering if he's coming in at night or if it's a racoon, skunk
    or some other animal.  The Animal Ctrl Officer thinks it's a racoon or
    skunk (as cats respect them & wouldn't fight them)  & that they are a
    common accurance w/ cat doors.  Whoever it is, is coming in while Mitty
    is down there & she's letting them come in (she fights other cats in
    the neighborhood & is a real hunter).
    
    We put a baby monitor down by the food dishes one night & placed baby
    powder below the cat door.  We were awakened twice by someone eating. 
    Both times ... only to find Mitty eating or licking her chops. 
    However, the foot prints on the powder were a little bigger than
    Mitty's & could have been my Willy's???  Or it may have been the
    morning dew causing Mitty's to look larger & hairier???
    
    Has anyone had any encounters w/ their cat doors & wild animals?  I
    would think that if it were a wild animal they would make a mess of our
    downstairs (going thru everything) & have eaten the crunchies as well.
    The cat door is on the back of the house & the food dishes are on the
    dryer at the front of the house.  The cat's bed is on the washing
    machine.  There are no scratches on the dryer & there is an upopened
    bag of crunchies on the floor next to the dryer that has not been
    opened by any kritters.
    
    Any other suggestions for finding my baby?  Or determining what is
    coming into the house?  Tomorrow night we're gonna keep Mitty upstairs 
    & have the monitor on & the powder out again to truely determine if 
    something else is indeed coming in.
    
    Thanks in advance & I'm real sorry this is so long.
    Sonia - who misses her Willy very much!!!
    (But, still has hope for his return!)

    Hi,
    
     I can't really help with finding your kitty, but I also have cat
    doors, and have had raccoons on my porch in the past. They figured it
    out in no time. I have one door that leads from the outside to the
    porch and one from the porch to the house. I've never had them in the
    house, but have seen them on the porch. 
    
     I just bought a new door, that I can block off at dusk, to keep my
    cats in, and the raccoons out. (rabies is not something I want to mess
    with) So, you could have a critter coming in anc chowing down, or Willy
    may only be coming home at night.
    
     Please keep us informed on what's happening!? 
    
    Yonee

    My father has the same problem.  We have a water dish right near the
    food and every morning he'd get up...the food was completely gone and
    the water in the dish all dirty.  He called the Control Officer and
    the guys said the dirty water is definitely the telltale sign of a
    raccoon (she washes her food in the water first.)  My dad has since
    seen her several times.
    
    Do you have water near the dish also or just food?  Hope he comes back!
    
    Chris

    I know tis may not be related, but it's close, so I'll see if I can ge
    this note to stay here, or if it will be moved to the rathole topic.
    ;-)
    
    Raccoons do not actually WASH their food. What they do is wet it to
    make it easier to eat. They have either no or small salivary glands,
    and wetting the food, helps in digestion. If there is no water around,
    they will still eat whatever food is available, but if they can wet it,
    they will.
    
    Just an FYI, in case anyone was interested! ;-)
    
    Yonee

    Wow, thanks for the tip.... we do have water next to the food & it has
    been clean!  That's eliminates the coons - I think!
    
    I feel like an investigator.  I can't imagine my Willy coming in only
    at night & leaving asap as he's a real social cat & always comes when he's
    called.  He loves affection!  But, I guess I won't know for a while
    yet.
    
    Thanks again, 
    Sonia

    It possibly is another stray cat because they will find ANY food
    source...or it might even be an opposum who also dunk food...but
    normally does not get it as dirty as raccoons!
    
    Regarding finding Willy...have you placed an Ad in the paper?  Have
    you asked neighbors to open garages/sheds/cellers?  His Willee
    neutered? (it's that time a year when males are out looking) Has
    he disappeared in the past for a few days?? 
    
    You should consider yourself an investigator...I think that was a
    pretty neat idea using the baby monitor and the baby powder!!
    Hopefully you will solve the mystery soon...and then you can sell
    the story to Columbo!!!
    
    Good luck and my prayers are with Willy for his safe return!
    
    Sandy

    Wanted to keep up-to-date on the status of your missing kitty/cat
    door/and food being eaten...did you delete your entry or was it moved?
    
    Tricia
    

    How about a remote wired camcorder for when you hear the munching
    sounds?
    
    Andy

    I did put an add in the local paper - next week's edition.  I haven't
    gone door to door yet - but I did send out "missing cat" flyers to
    almost all the people in our neighborhood.  He is neutered & has never
    gone away over night or missed more than 1 meal.
    
    Thanks for the reply,
    Sonia

    Another suggestion would be to contact your local shelters or
    animal rescue leaques just in case he was lost and somebody tries
    to drop him off at the shelter.   Even better...bring a picture of
    him to the shelter so they can keep him on record.  Sometimes it is
    difficult to describe a cat...so a picture is much better.
    
    You could also contact the animal officer in your area...or the
    local police just to make sure he wasn't hit by a car. 
    
    Good luck....and my fingers/paws will be crossed.  Don't give up
    hope...keep trying!
    
    Sandy

    ref: 398.44 - I have checked w/ all my local sources already as I
    previously mentioned in my very, very long original note (now 398.35).
    But, thank you for the suggestions.
    
    Sonia

    Well, those garlic tabs were gone when I came home last night along w/
    all the moist food & some crunchies.  This is the 1st time they've been
    eaten during the day.  However, our dog spent the day inside our
    bedroom yesterday (as she can't be trusted w/ the whole house yet).  My
    Dad was thinking that it might be Willy not wanting to come near the 
    house while the dog is there.  Although the dog is on a trolley (run)
    during the day & when we let her run - we're outside w/ her.  
    
    My other thought is that maybe my Mitty is dealing w/ her depression w/
    eating more.  Her appetite has definitly increased since Willy's
    disappearance.  She loved him - so that confuses me!???   I'll have to
    look up cat depression in the keyword search.
    
    Tonight we're keeping Mitty w/ us & doing the monitor & powder route
    again.
    
    Sonia

    Here's another update....  My neighbor called me last night to say that
    she saw Willy at another neighbor's house.  No one was home at the
    house so I searched around it - but, no Willy.  Then, I walked next
    door to see if they had seen him ... as the man answered the door my
    Willy started talking to me from his shrubs next to the door.  I now
    have both cats locked in the house.  
    
    It definitely looks like someone was feeding him & letting him inside
    as his ears didn't have any bites on them & he appeared to be very
    clean.  It just may have been Willy coming in at night to eat his
    treats, some food & then leave again.  I'm not sure what would cause
    him to leave us... but the cat door is off limits for at least the
    weekend.  I want to get him acclimated to our house again.  Any
    suggestions or recommendations as to how to keep him around our house &
    not the neighbors?
    
    Thanks for all the input.
    Sonia  

    
    Sonia, there is a note here somewhere that I had questioned converting
    an indoor/outdoor cat to indoor only.  Although sometime to us humans
    (ie. myself) might seem creul to deprive a cat from the pleasures of
    outdoors, it is not necessarily so. Most feliners that have precious
    cats keep them indoors. Apparently it does not take more than a couple
    of weeks for them to adopt to the new situation. Just lots of toys and
    a cat three and windows or even better a screen porch so that they can
    enjoy the sun. If this is a possible option, then you don't have to 
    worry about loosing them, having them run over by a car or attacked
    by a rabid animal or cat fights, well you get the picture.
    Just and alternative. 
    
    Shaw

    Well, I don't have any suggestions but I wanted to write and let you
    know I'm happy for you for finding him.  I've only had to go one night
    worrying about mine in the past and I know how upsetting that was.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Tricia