It helps big time. Ebony Thomas Katt was feral when he decided to move in with me. His little girl friend, who arrived 6 or so years later was an outside cat somewhere before she got rescued and dropped on my doorstep. They enjoyed a kennel they accessed thru ductwork (made for them) all of their lives. Dixie will have a similar set up soon (I hope) but enjoys time in her screened in porch now. A jacket would make me feel safer about walking her. I have a harness but just don't feel safe about it and she could easily jump from my arms. This area is not particularly cat friendly.
Thanks. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis ----- Original Message ----- From: Jane Lyons To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 8:50 AM Subject: Re: 'the jacket' Hi Taylor and Marylyn I sent out photos to both of you. This is the link to the company. I bought the soft sided one. http://www.metpet.com/ The concept is fabulous, the design and material (and color) could use some work. She spends hours outside. I check on her often and although she caught a chipmunk yesterday in her bright red nylon jacket, no less, she usually hides in tall grass, or under shrubs , plotting. The retractable leash works well because she has 12 feet of line and then a large handle that does not fit under the fence. In the beginning she spent most of her time finding escape routes and ways to get out of the jacket. Now when I get it to put it on her she purrs, because it means she is going out. She has figured out how to navigate the yard without getting caught or tangled too often. She is so used to it that she will often come in for a food or a litterbox pitt stop, and take a snooze with it on. I know it is not possible for multiple cat households, but for a cat like MeMe who was most likely an outdoor cat before we got her, the jacket has given her a degree of freedom and stimulation that can only help, (I hope). Jane On Aug 4, 2007, at 3:44 AM, Marylyn wrote: I'd like to see the pictures too. I am considering one for Dixie. Is the red awful or does MeMe just dislike the color? I just put up a 10 x 10 x 6 foot chain link kennel on the porch for her. The configuration isn't going to work forever but it will do for now. We sit in her private screened in porch a couple of times a day. After she shows me all the places she can get out and I put a top on it she will be able to spend time there while I am outside. One day I'll fix an entrance from her area to the house and she can come and go easier. Given the snakes, coyotes, dogs, hawks etc (and now bear) in the area, I am cautious about leaving a trapped animal alone. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis ----- Original Message ----- From: Taylor Scobie Humphrey To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 1:22 AM Subject: Re: 'the jacket' "Me too, me too!" say the kitties here. "Consciousness is Causal and Physicality is its Manifestation." On Jul 17, 2007, at 11:12 PM, HIDEYO YAMAMOTO wrote: I would love to see the photos -- please email it to me if you could. thanks. Hideyo ----- Original Message ----- From: Jane Lyons To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:47 PM Subject: 'the jacket' Several weeks ago, after I got the Felv diagnosis, I had to stop letting MeMe go out. She was miserable and I was sure that the stress of screaming at the door handle was going to do the both of us in. I asked the list for help with enclosures and got a lot of great suggestions and photographs. Nina sent me a link for "cat jackets" and I thought that while I figured out what type of enclosure would be best, I'd try the jacket. Bingo !!!! It has been just fabulous. Now, rather than scream at the door handle, she screams at the jacket which is hanging on a hook next to dog leashes. Long story short, I put the jacket on and attach a retractable dog leash with a 10' line and large plastic handle. I lock the line open and put the handle in the middle of the yard. The yard is partially enclosed with a stockade fence which she had been able to crawl under or climb over. Now she has realized that crawling under or climbing over is a drag with the handle getting caught. She has tried many escape routes, but she has finally realized that it is impossible and that being confined to the yard is still better than being indoors all day. She now spends hours sitting near the bird feeder, or under a shrub. She comes to the back door to come inside to use the litter box, and then goes back out. If anyone is interested in it I have photos that I'd be happy to send. I had misplaced the link, but Googled "cat jackets" and there is only one company that makes them. My only complaint is the color choices. I ordered red and MeMe is humiliated by it and is sure the birds are laughing at her. As everyone knows, Nina is brilliant! Jane