My cats we had growing up...we let them outside for a while when they were young. This was all before the Feline Leukemia, etc. and we just didn't know any better. We ended up transitioning them back to all indoor, except when I took them out on a leash. The "boys"- hand-raised and hand fed (because the mother's milk dried up) babies from a litter- they just weren't "street savvy" enough to be indoor/outdoor cats. We also had one killing mice, chipmunks, etc. and doing really horrible things like leaving a mouse stomach on our front doorstep, or one time, a beheaded chipmunk on our back deck (and I love chipmunks!- so I couldn't bear the killing). He was also trying to bring the parts in the house so we had to watch him. I think it all ended when Charlie (the chipmunk murderer) got lost for days and
days- it was horrible. We made flyers and found out he'd gotten trapped in a neighbors garage down the street. Then Peach got hit by a truck, right before my mom's eyes, running across the street right out front of our house and that was the end of any of them going outside (he survived- probably only because my mom was right there and rushed him to the vet- my dad's partner who saved his life with emergency surgery). He was never the same though and we realized these little hand-raised babies didn't know what the hell they were doing out there.
But for the period of time before that we did regularly let them out...we put collars on them- the old school ones (this was the late 80's). Each collar had a bell on it. It was really stupid, but with the bells, I could always find them. You could hear them a 1/2 mile away! They never got out of their collars, except for Charlie, the chipmunk killer. He got out of a it a few times, but I would always find it in the bushes somewhere. I think eventually we just kind of trained them so that they learned, if they want to go outside, they have to wear their collar with the bell...period. They eventually stopped trying to get out of the collar because they associated it with a good thing- going out. It got to a point where I would keep all their collars in a basket and when it was time to let them out, I would carry they basket around and shake the collars (ring the bells) and they would all come running, excited and happy knowing it was time to go out.
I think if you work with your cats to train them like this- to learn to like the collar by associating wearing the collar with the reward of going out. It's doable, but it just takes time and patience- especially if they are already adult cats. But remember, that you CAN train them to do anything really...if you take the time and do it right.
Since we never had any choking incidents with five cats wearing collars outside- I would recommend the "old school" collars if you are going to try a collar. I've used the break-aways too and they don't break away.
-Caroline
From: glenda Goodman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:58:13 -0700 (PDT)
>My cats get to go outside while I'm home working in my
>yard...They never wander, except a couple of them
>might head down to my friend's ,which is about 3/4ths
>of a block...I check on them every 30 min if I lose
>sigt of them. I always used to think I wanted my cats
>to have pretty collars and cute tags...wanted them to
>look loved. I own a number of collars and tags, but
>have you ever tested those break-away collars? They do
>not break away! They work about as well as those
>plastic things they wrap around pop cans or beer cans,
>that are supposed to break away for the environment,
>baloney. The stretch type collars with the little
>elastic string things are better, but they get stuck
>on bushes and trees...They get lost...
>I just feel collars are too dangerous. Chipping and
>ear tatoos on my cats is what I use. The ear tatoos
>let everyone visually see your cat is loved,claimed
>and the chip is a backup. Like, I think my cats are so
>cute, I think everyone would want to steal
>them...Well, say you are missing your cat...When you
>advertise you mention the ear tatoo, then the chip and
>offer a decent reward...My thinking is, if someone
>actually did take my kitty, they would be happy just
>to settle for the reward...These are my thoughts...
>I know, keeping your cats completely inside at all
>times is the safest/smartest way to care for your
>cats, but one my biggest joys is watching my cats
>have fun...climbing trees, catching grasshoppers and
>just looking at how beautiful they look just walking
>around in my flowers or rolling around on the lawn.
>--- Melissa Lind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Wendy,
> >
> >
> >
> > I'm not sure if your cats go outside. Mine don't,
> > and I have never even
> > considered putting a collar on them. I never really
> > thought about the health
> > risks (like choking), but I knew my kitties would
> > absolutely despise
> > collars. Plus, with the tags jingling, they'd never
> > be able to sneak up on
> > each other (or us). I know there is a risk of them
> > escaping when we go in
> > and out, but really they haven't tried to run
> > outside in at least a year. I
> > guess it's a difficult subject to decide on. Yes,
> > we've had emergencies
> > where the door was left open and they got out, but
> > we live in such a small
> > town (without animal control, per se), that I think
> > the benefits outweigh
> > the risks in my case. Sorry I'm not much help!
> >
> >
> >
> > Melissa
> >
> >
> >
> > _____
> >
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
> > Behalf Of wendy
> > Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 3:22 PM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: OT: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
> >
> >
> >
> > Chris's post below sparked a question I have. I
> > have a couple of cats that
> > constantly lose their collars. Any ideas on how to
> > get them to keep them
> > on? I always use break-aways because I'm afraid of
> > my cat hanging
> > themselves on something. In fact, our 6 lb. Julie
> > the other day, came and
> > woke me up wearing her collar like a girdle, because
> > I hadn't tightened it
> > up very much (new collar), and she got her paw
> > through it and the break away
> > didn't give (it didn't need to; too much room
> > still). It was funny, but
> > kinda scary. Anyone have any ideas?
> >
> >
> >
> > :)
> >
> > Wendy
> >
> >
> > "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
> > committed citizens can change
> > the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever
> > has!" ~~~ Margaret
> > Meade ~~~
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Chris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 10:54:56 AM
> > Subject: RE: Update on Malnourished, Rescue cat
> >
> > If this cat has been out there a long time, it is
> > possible they no longer
> > live there. I hate to be the voice of dissent, but
> > I've been through this
> > for 2 years now-there are sooo many reasons why a
> > cat was lost. Nobody
> > would ever dump a cat with a collar & tags!
> > Actually, it's a pretty
> > responsible thing to put collar and tags on a cat
> > that goes outside-most
> > people don't cause cats are notorious for pulling
> > them off. If this is as
> > sweet a cat as you describe him, somebody's got to
> > be missing him. Call
> > them-feel them out. bet you'll be surprised!
> >
> >
> >
> > Christiane Biagi
> >
> > 914-632-4672
> >
> > Cell: 914-720-6888
> >
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >
> >
> > Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART)
> >
> > www.findkpets.org <http://www.findkpets.org/>
> >
> >
> >
> > Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families
> > with their Animals
> >
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
> > Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann
> > Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 11:08 AM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: Update on Malnourished, Rescue cat
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Oh my god! Now I know why I post my lengthy stories
> > to you guys (more than
> > just venting)! Everyone has made such wonderful
> > suggestions- I really
> > appreciate it. We have the owners address so this
> > is what I will suggest to
> > my mom that we do. That way, we can make the owners
> > come to us! We can
> > make a flyer tonight and post it on their street.
> > Ironically, they live
> > near the neighborhood I grew up in in Louisville and
> > the street was on my
> > school bus route, so my mom and I are very familiar.
> > I'm excited now! I
> > think this is the best way to "test" the owners!
> >
> > Thanks everyone!
> >
> > -Caroline
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _____
> >
> >
> > From: wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Reply-To: [email protected]
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: Update on Malnourished, Rescue cat
> > Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:37:32 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> > You could post a flyer right on their mailbox and
> > every other mailbox in the
> > neighborhood, stating that the cat was found, with
> > some description and that
> > further description and payment of vet bill would be
> > required to receive
> > kitty back. I'd leave off the amount. Good ideas
> > Melissa!
> >
> >
> > "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
> > committed citizens can change
> > the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever
> > has!" ~~~ Margaret
> > Meade ~~~
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Melissa Lind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 8:36:35 AM
> > Subject: RE: Update on Malnourished, Rescue cat
> >
> > Caroline,
> >
> >
> >
> > I think it's great what you are doing! I'm very
> > happy that your mom is
> > getting on board with it! I know my family admires
> > (even though they may not
> > understand) my compassion for animals, but getting
> > them to help, even
> > reluctantly, is something I haven't been able to do
> > as of late. Good for
> > you!
> >
> >
> >
> > As for the owner-issue, with my rescued cats back in
> > April, I advertised
> >
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
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