A small dilema... I think.. need advice pls

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

So far so good. Cats both coming back all the time, but spending loads of hours out. The funny thing and I do giggle at this. They spend all day outside but will come inside to use the litter tray. Makes me giggle that does 

Fingers crossed these two seem to be settling rather better than I thought. They are loved though, I can't deny that in anyway. My friends are very special people, just have different ideas. I have given my opinion, expressed what I feel is right in this, but they have made the call on this. I can only hope the two babes enjoy the rest of their days in their new home safe and sound.

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Well I asked and they went out yesterday morning. Male cat came back at 7pm but female cat not til this morning. Both wanted feeding a bit of a fuss and out again. So she spent about 24 hours out. OMG what can I say to this. She came home. And they aren't worried because she did.

I am so torn on this.

[CurlyCatz]

abit different but kind of the same...i know older mothers who perhaps after a long long gap have another child or even grandchild, they used to all bottle feed and put babies onto normal cows milk sometimes even semi skimmed at 6 months old coz that what they have in the house and say "it never did their child any harm" regardless of the much superior knowledge we now have esp on breastfeeding and also keeping infants on "special" formulated milk to meet their requirements esp in iron etc for up to 2 years old !!!

I know how frustrating it is to get through to them (or not as the case most often is), however perhaps had they ever found out what the iron levels were or be able to compare the concentration etc difference and actually see the difference they might change their views.

I just hope your mates dont have to deal with the flip side of coin before they re evaluate their views.

[fluffycloud123]

kinda off topic but im fed up of seeing stray dogs run in and out of traffic. was waiting for a bus last night and this dog was racing up and down the steets in and out of cars, it made me feel sick!

my heart was in my mouth all the time.


lucky for me monkey does go out but he tends to stick to the back alley and its only near a little road which doesnt get used often cuz the locals kids (4years etc) play there so theres always someone watching

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Thanks HK. They've had cats for 30 years or more and never lost one to a RTA or they have never had one not return.

That's probably the problem.  As they've never lost a cat to an RTA or had one go missing they no doubt under-estimate how many cats do get killed by traffic or get lost.  It's just something that happens to other people.  But you've done all you can by advising them - if they won't heed your advice all you can do is keep your fingers crossed and hope all goes well.

This is a good example of how we all still have something to learn, no matter how long we've lived with cats.

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

It sounds maybe like there's a degree of complacency crept in over their 30 years of cat ownership, and maybe they don't appreciate that times and risks have changed.  There are far more cars on the roads now than ever before, although it's interesting what Dawn said about losing cats to RTA's in the country.  I've heard people tell me that before - no problems in town, but when they've relocated to a country area (usually for the animals/kids) they've lost cats to traffic accidents.

We live in a cul de sac, and Pad loves to go out - as do the other three cats who live in our bit.  That's fine, except there's a new neighbour moved in who has a brother visit often - he's just passed his driving test and revvs into the estate like a maniac.  I know a couple of the neighbours have mentioned it to her, but I don't think she's that fussed.  She has a dog, and doesn't see it as a problem.  (I have a dog, and I see it as a problem - the maniac brother I mean, not Tess   )

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Thanks HK. They've had cats for 30 years or more and never lost one to a RTA or they have never had one not return. This is the first time that I know of that they have taken on someone elses cats.
They love their cats I don't doubt it. I don't see their attitude as casual though.

I can understand their reluctance to heed advice since all their cats have done just fine over the years but they have always had cats who were "theirs" from the beginning.

We here all know the reasons why they shd be kept indoors to get accustomed to their new environment. My dilema is wanting to get my message across to them. What I have told them doesn't seem to have helped.

Before they got the cats they took the advice etc. But they let the cats tell them when they wanted to go out.

I'm going to try PinkBears psychology today and see what that nets me.

I woke up thinking about this.
 

[Hippykitty]

Maybe remind them that cats are creatures of habit. Going out at this early stage may confuse them, especially when they realise that they are in a different garden; they may be expecting everything to be as it was at their original home.

It's always best to keep new cats in for a few weeks to create a bond between new owners, home and cats before they travel into their outside area. They need to establish the "home zone" first, and become very territorial about it, recognising it as their source of food, affection, warmth etc. Then they should be allowed into the "outer zone" where they will encounter further challenges, and be free to take to the hills and never come back. If their bond to the home zone is firmly established, they will return.

Cats become used to the challenges of their environment, including roads. If they've been used to roads and have good road sense, they tend to cope much better than cats who've been used to quieter areas or who don't have road sense. Cats and roads don't go together well at all, which is why they should try to keep these cats close to home by limiting the time they're allowed out when they do go out (hopefully in another few weeks).

You say that they are cat people who've always lived with cats. Then why do they seem to have such a casual attitude towards the cats welfare?

Hope all goes well.

[CurlyCatz]

Oh yes definately tell them, but dont feel bad that you can do no more.

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

I have to give it to them though. They let me know each day how the cats are doing because they know they I care.

I'll keep a check.

Thanks PB. That's a great way of letting them know.

[CurlyCatz]

If you have advised as much as you can it seems unlikely they are going to change their ways or mind.  You know what i'm like with cats outside but it looks like not much you can do unfortunately apart from hope for the best that nothing bad with happen. 

Its hard when its friends or family that dont follow your advise where animals are concerned.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Difficult one when friends are involved. 

All cat lovers like talking about cat psycology - give this a try.

You could make the point that cats in a new situation or environment can get sensory overload very fast - you must have seen it when they 'freeze' halfway through cleaning, or walking across a room, etc., and stare into space? Every hair on a cats body is linked to a sensor in their brain. Until they are confident in their environment, their brain fine tunes these sensors to gather information. It's a bit like turning up your stereo. Every now and again, the information comes in at such a rate, the cat's brain 'crashes' like a computer and needs to reboot.

Tell you friends that their cats just might 'freeze' halfway across the road...

Best I can offer, sorry. 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

THey are both chipped, neutered and vaccinnated.

Have the mictochip details been amended?

Yes Ela their previous person changed it herself over a week ago.

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Thanks, I am glad that my feelings of unease are justified.

They are very much people that "know what they are doing, cats needs to be outdoors, horrible to keep them in". They aren't the type to fuss the cats too much, are very much the type to share their home and live in harmony.

I have called them and enquired how things are today, and again all ok. When asked if they think its wise to let them get going so quickly, the answer was "yeah they're ok".  The fact that one of them is very quiet shows he is missing his mum and dealing with new environments. I am worried but all I can do is hope that all is ok and that they give them the space they need to get used to things.

To be honest not sure my concerns fell on listening ears. 

[Ela]

THey are both chipped, neutered and vaccinnated.

Have the mictochip details been amended?

I personally think we are adults and know the implications of letting the cats out,  the cats don't  therefore it is not wise to give in so soon.

I agree 100% with Dawns last para.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Some cats do settle in quicker than others and don't really need the full 4/5 weeks settling in period, but when I rehome any, I always tell them to keep them in. My concern with these 2 is that they are not used to busy roads and the area will be totally different to what they're used to and they've also got the added problem of getting used to new owners.  We moved from Manchester with our cat and we lived on a Cul-de-sac.  Although it could get quite busy, everyone knew George and his ways and he knew the area.  He wasn't actually our cat but he chose to move in with us and his owners then moved.  Anyway, we moved to North Wales, a lovely quiet lane, hardly any traffic.......he was dead within 6 weeks of moving      Cats get so used to their ways, we thought here would be idyllic for him and he loved it, we had the woods etc and it was much quieter and we presumed safer than Manchester.  But because we used to live on a Cul-de-sac, George got used to lying in the road and peeps going round him........I think he made the mistake here of doing the same or he probably got lapse with his road sense, because there was very little traffic 

I would try and advise your friends to keep them in longer, not to give into their cries, get them lots of toys etc to keep them amused whilst indoors and let them settle in properly first.  If they've just lost their owners, they will be crying for them also and may try to go looking for them and then your friends will also have 2 lost cats to contend with then.

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

This past Monday I went with a friend to collect 2 new adoptees from another mutal friend who is leaving the country. Cats are 7 years old and have had outdoor access, but lived in a fair quiet area.  They are now living in a terraced area in London, small garden, relatively quiet but roads nearby get busy.

New parents are experienced cat people, pretty much had cats all their lives. I advised them on keeping both cats in for a few weeks to get the scents of home out of them with maybe supervised access to garden.

Wednesday (two days in) they gave into the cats demands and let them out, albeit supervised, but once both had scented the garden and went for a walk (jumped wall into neighbours) they left them to it. Both came back.

Does anybody see trouble ahead? I do and I'm fearful for the cats, but also don't want to patronise my friends by telling them they could be putting the cats in danger by doing this so soon. They came back once..will they come back again?

I don't know the answer myself, to be honest never experienced this in a city, so really don't know. I can't bear the thought they will be hurt.

THey are both chipped, neutered and vaccinnated.

Any advice/wisdom welcome