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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

573.0. "Question about restricting a cat's access" by VAXWRK::ELKINS (Adam Elkins @MSO) Thu Jul 22 1993 11:22

    I have a problem.

    My SO and I have a cat.  The problem is that he is extremely allergic
    to cats.  (You might ask then why do we have a cat.  THAT'S a long
    story).  What we've done now to solve the problem is to give the cat a
    cat-door to the outside and restrict his access indoors to only the
    kitchen.  There are two doorways into the kitchen, only one of which
    has a door which we keep closed at all times.  The other doorway is
    permanently blocked with a large piece of wood.

    Our restricted access to the kitchen is really starting to bother me.
    Does anyone have any ideas for how to keep the cat in one room of the
    house while allowing us to walk freely?  Any barrier that we can get
    over he can get over.  We thought about some kind of electric barrier
    like the electric fences that keep a dog in his yard, but I don't know
    if that solution would work or how much it would cost.

    Does anybody have experience with eletric fences?  Or if not
    does anybody have any other ideas? 
    
    Thanks,

    Adam
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
573.1GOOEY::JUDYThat's Ms. Bitch to you!Thu Jul 22 1993 13:3424
    
    
    Adam,
    
    	Couple of questions first.  How long has your SO been around
    	the cat?  As in weeks, months, years?  The reason I ask is that
    	I too used to be EXTREMELY allergic to cats.  Five minutes in
    	a room with a cat and I'd start sneezing and wheezing.  But I
    	loved them so I lived with the misery and didn't avoid them.
    	Eventually I built up an immunity to them.  I haven't been
    	allergic to a cat in almost 5 years.  And I now own three cats!!
    	If your SO is willing to suffer for a bit (and maybe take some
    	medication or get some shots during the interim), keep him around
    	the cat and he may find he'll be less and less allergic as time
    	goes on.
    
    	As far as restricting cats goes....that's a toughie.  Short of
    	shutting the door, I don't know what to suggest.  Mine have even
    	learned how to open some doors!  =)
    
    	Good luck.
    
    	JJ
573.2VAXWRK::ELKINSAdam Elkins @MSOFri Jul 23 1993 10:4713
    
    Thanks JJ,
    
    We tried that first.  In our old place the cat had free reign to 
    the house and my SO never stopped suffering even after a year.
    Now that the cat is isolated to the kitchen we have the concept
    of 'contamination'.   If I touch the cat I'm contaminated until
    I wash my hands.  If the cat rubs up against my legs then my jeans
    are contaminated and I have to change right away.  It's a ridiculous
    way to live but I've been informed that W.B. (our cat) stays with us
    until he dies.
    
    Adam
573.3JUPITR::KAGNOKitties with an AttitudeFri Jul 23 1993 12:324
    Is the cat confined to the kitchen all the time?  Like every day, every
    minute of the day?  If so, you might wish to consider what is in the
    cat's best interest over the long term.
573.4SUBURB::THOMASHThe Devon DumplingMon Jul 26 1993 08:0213
>    Is the cat confined to the kitchen all the time?  Like every day, every
>    minute of the day?  If so, you might wish to consider what is in the
>    cat's best interest over the long term.
    
	.0 says the cat has a catflap, and is free to go outside. If the cat 
	didn't like the situatuion, it wouldn't come back.

	I don't think there would be any electronic device you could use, I
	would think the best bet would be to keep him groomed, hoover regularly,
	and for your SO to take alergy pills if required.

	Heather
573.5"shock" matMR4DEC::PGLADDINGNoters do it with a 8-)Mon Aug 02 1993 09:4611
    I've seen an electronic pad advertised in catalogs that give
    the animal a "mild" electronic shock when they step on it.  Of
    course, I don't feel comfortable "shocking" my cat, no matter
    how mild, but to each his own...
    
    The idea is to put the mat in a place you don't want the animal
    to go to (couch, doorway, etc.)  Once the animal gets the shock
    it deters them from going there again.  In theory, you can then take
    the mat away, and the animal will still stay away.
    
    Pam