Did something stupid

Ciao, Bella! · Post by **Ciao, Bella!** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:33 am

We've five cats, who do not go outside, due to a major street in front of the house. (Plus, four of them are declawed.) We're going to build an attached cat enclosure for them, with access via a ramp, through a window.

Yesterday, I went and picked out the lumber needed. I used to be able to lift fifty pounds with one hand, and helped remodel my parents house. I've strung fencing, and more. Yet, loading and unloading 8 4x4's, and 11 2x4's did me in!

I've got to remember I can no longer do this sort of thing. My neck and shoulders (left more so than right) are killing me.

:-5 Must remember to not lift heavy objects!:-5

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:03 am

Declawed? What on earth happened to the poor things?

Ciao, Bella! · Post by **Ciao, Bella!** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:39 pm

We chose to have them declawed to save some heirloom furniture. Even if we had not gotten them declawed, they still couldn't go outside. In the old neighborhood, we had neighbors who let their chow and rottie run loose.

Here, we've a divided street that is a major thoroughfare in town. Plus, the leash law is another reason they stay inside. And, the vast number of dog fighting rings broken up. People's cats and small pets go missing often.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:02 pm

Oh man that's cruel.

Not heard of that here, probably wouldn't be legal.

There is a leash law for cats or do you just mean dogs?

Ciao, Bella! · Post by **Ciao, Bella!** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:18 am

The old method of declawing is cruel. Now, it can be done with laser. Since we're in a new house, we can keep them seperate from the heirloom stuff. So, no more declawing. In fact, this is the first time we've ever had any of our cats declawed.

Many cities, counties, and states in the US have adopted leash laws for both dogs and cats. It makes perfect sense. If you start the cats out young, they get used to being on a leash.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:05 pm

Sorry, I know different places treat animals differently but the thought of a cat being on a lead makes me laugh and cringe at the same time. I just open my door and let mine out then back in again. It also wouldn't be safe for a cat not to have claws if it were to go outside.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:18 pm

My cat walks on a leash all the time. I taught him when he was a kitten.

The first time I took him outside, after practicing inside with the leash for awhile, every little boy in the neighborhood ran over. They thought at first I had a dog! "Aw, it's a cat!" they pouted. Now, they like when my kitty goes out, he sits and watches them play baseball and basketball, and they think he is cool.

Ciao, Bella! · Post by **Ciao, Bella!** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:24 pm

Walking a cat on a leash isn't as bad as it sounds. I know they're not jumping on someone's vehicle, or running across something they shouldn't, say a dish of anti-freeze, which is a horrible way for them to die. Or, that they haven't been shot, or picked up and used as bait for training dog fighting rings, a huge problem here.

I've too much love, time and money invested in my cats to risk them like that.

We're building a cat enclosure for them. They'll be able to access it from inside the house, and be completely safe in an area designed just for them, complete with grass, litter box and water dish.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:48 pm

Yeah I know and that's great you obviously adore your cats. I am a huge cat lover too. It's just thankfully we don't have the problem here. There are cats wherever you go walking about.

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:00 am

I'm relieved. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's put my cat on a leash and taken her outside! She even has a little harness!! :wah: I feel like such an idiot when I take her out like that, but I love the fuzz ball and we live right by a busy street and kids around here have been known to take cats home and get their parents to let them keep them. We almost lost a kitten like that, but the parents brought him back, which not all do, surprisingly.

My baby doesn't have any claws either and I felt so guilty about taking them out. But she was scratching and tearing up everything imaginable and no other method would work! Not even a water gun! Eventually she thought it was a game, she scratches and mama chases her and she thought it was great fun. :wah: