RE: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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 them as found cats (without description), and stated that the owners must describe the cat and pay the vet bill. I thought that if they really loved their kitty that they would do anything to get it back-no matter the cost. And if they couldn't afford it, then they would at least try their hardest to convince me that
RE: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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
RE: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
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 whenI 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 thecollar 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:felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgTo:felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: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 myyard...They never wander, except a couple of themmight head down to my friend's ,which is about 3/4thsof a block...I check on them every 30 min if I losesigt of them. I always used to think I wanted my catsto have pretty collars and cute tags...wanted them tolook loved. I own a number of collars and tags, buthave you ever tested those break-away collars? They donot break away! They work about as well as thoseplastic 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 littleelastic string things are better, but they get stuckon bushes and trees...They get lost...I just feel collars are too dangerous.Chipping andear tatoos on my cats is what I use. The ear tatooslet everyone visually see your cat is loved,claimedand the chip is a backup. Like, I think my cats are socute, I think everyone would want to stealthem...Well, say you are missing your cat...When youadvertise you mention the ear tatoo, then the chip andoffer a decent reward...Mythinking is, if someoneactually did take my kitty, they would be happy justto settle for the reward...These are my thoughts...I know, keeping your cats completely inside at alltimes is the safest/smartest way to care for yourcats, but onemy biggest joys is watching my catshave fun...climbing trees, catching grasshoppers andjust looking at how beautiful they look just walkingaround 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
Re: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
No ideas on keeping collars on. However, a horror story. I put break aways on Ebony and Mi Tu. One day I found Mi Tu choking herself. She caught her paw between the collar and her throat, could not get it out and the collar did not break. That was the last time I put a collar on a cat. Had she been outside or had I not seen her she would have choked to death. Now I chip my cats and pray. Everyone has to chose the lesser of evils at times. Deciding what is the lesser evil is the problem. 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: wendy To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 3:22 PM 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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
RE: How to Keep Tags on Your cat???
My cats are all indoors (6th fl apt!) but have a friend whose cats are indoor/outdoor. She NEVER puts collars on for exactly that reason. She also found one of her cats choking it had breakaway collar. What I was trying to say about the found cat was that somebody went out of their way to make sure the cat was NOT lost by putting collar tag on it! Doesn't sound like a 'dumped' cat. Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marylyn Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 4:35 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: How to Keep Tags on Your cat??? No ideas on keeping collars on. However, a horror story. I put break aways on Ebony and Mi Tu. One day I found Mi Tu choking herself. She caught her paw between the collar and her throat, could not get it out and the collar did not break. That was the last time I put a collar on a cat. Had she been outside or had I not seen her she would have choked to death. Now I chip my cats and pray. Everyone has to chose the lesser of evils at times. Deciding what is the lesser evil is the problem. 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: wendy mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 3:22 PM 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 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
