Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi--
    
    My Billie is an enthusiastic eater, to say the least.  She did this
    for a while--would go right thru all her food, and start foraging
    thru the trash, "in search of".  So I took these measures:  I always
    took the trash out with me when I left the apartment.  She never
    has liked dry food, but I would leave her a dish of it in case she
    got hungry enough.  I also started giving her half her daily
    "allotment" in the morning, then the rest at night.  These days
    she never touches the trash (unless she wants to get my attention)--I
    always empty it any way, tho.  She also has learned to eke out her
    food thruout the day now.  I still leave out some dry for her; 
    I think she roots in it now and then, but doesn't chow down on it.
    
    So they CAN be taught!  The most important detail for you to do
    is REMOVE the problem--take out the garbage!
    
    Good luck,
    
    Jane

    Matzah used to tip over the trash for attention/aggravation,
    sometimes both my cats do it if I've inadvertently put some
    appealing food in it, like chicken bones.  No matter how
    tighly you wrap it, they still smell it.   The work-around
    is to ensure that you don't put food in your trash.  I 
    keep my garbage in a bag in the refrigerator until trash
    day.
    
    Still, sometimes Matzah still likes to tip it over.  If
    there's no food in there, I don't worry about it, just ignore
    him  and let him have his fun.  He used to do it constantly
    but has outgrown it pretty much.  Probably, since he doesn't
    get any attention when he does it, he doesn't do it too often.
    
    Donna

    Argus has been known to do this also. My kitchen trash is now kept
    in one of those kitchen garbage baskets with a lid that you need
    to step on to open. Argus has been known to try to knock this over
    but I've found that when he knows it over, after I clean it up I
    put a bowl of water on it so the next time he tries he gets wet.
    That seems to cure the problem for months at a time.
    
    Deb

    We keep our garbage can under the sink. Charlie used to open it
    up, get inside and dump the garbage underneath the sink!
    
    We solved this problem by buying the plastic child-proof locks you
    can put on your cabinets. The most he can now open the door is an
    inch. It's been GREAT for keeping our 'kids' out of the garbage!
    

    Sy used to always knock the garbage can over and spread the garbage
    around the kitchen or front room.  I finally started putting any
    food that needed tossing (things he really liked) into the freezer,
    then on garbage day tossing it out.  The problem I had was Sy likes
    to shread paper, kleenex, paper-towels, anything thats fun to get
    those claws into. So I did buy a garbage can with a lid on it and
    put it so he couldn't knock it over.  Its been about 4 months since
    the last shreadding. We are about due for some fun.
    

    Yup!  I have a trash picker too- Alexander.....groan.  Alex weighs
    18 pounds (half siamese/burmese) long & lean.  He stands on the
    edge of the counter with his hind end and tail in the air, front
    legs on the edge of the tall trash can, head in the can - drags
    out his favorite piece and drags it away as a prize!!  My last
    resort was to put bricks at the bottom of the can so at least
    he can't tip it over and get it all.  He does his picking
    best when the can is at least 1/2 to 3/4 full - your lot in
    life will be to empty your trash VERY FREQUENTLY and yell at
    your kitty "sometimes".  You will get so when you hear a
    certain sound, you will know he is "in the trash" and you
    will be able to yell from an other room.  Good Luck!

    Yes, I have one of those little trashers too.  I expect it is due
    to his being half starved and abandoned when I found him in April.
    I used to be able to leave the garbage container and holder on the
    counter next to the sink until he came onboard.  He just can't seem
    to get his fill of food like a starving child that suddenly has
    plenty, he tries to stash it away for later.
    
    I moved the garbage holder w/bag to a higher area where he can't
    (and believe me he can't) reach it.  If I have to discard a garbage
    bag into the still spacious trash bag, I spray the garbage bag with
    the same solution I use when I put out the trash Mondays - 1/2 amonia
    and 1/2 water mixed.  This eliminates all food odor from the bag.
    Discourages any critters from ripping open my trash too.
    
    

    As I understand it, the odor of old diaper pails and soggy
    cat litter have a smell similar to ammonia.  (not sure if
    chemically there is a real similarity as well)
    
    There are other deodorizers/disinfectants that might be better
    for disguising/eliminating 
    
    	- food smells
    	- kitty accidents
    
    so that the cat is not inadvertantly encouraged to "use" the
    treated area!
    
    Anyone know more about what ammonia *really* is/does?
    
    	P

RE: .7 & .8

I heard that one should not use ammonia to clean a kittie 
accident (on a rug for example) because it will actually attract 
them back to that spot.  Apparantly there is ammonia in their 
urine or stool.

I don't know how reliable this info is, can anyone verify it?

-Bill

    RE: .7,.8,.9
    
    Ammonia is poisenous to cats, and if your cat is a trash picker,
    you may actually poisen your cat. 

    
    Deb

    I've always heard that too.  Yes, there is ammonia in urine,
    cats AND human's.
    
    Donna

    Well, I guess my cat is smarter than most and knows enough to leave
    bad smelling things alone.  He could smell the odor of ammonia
    from the trash and walked away holding his nose.  
    
    (After spraying the garbage bags with the half 'n' half solution
     my trasher - maybe not a true trasher unless it smelled good -
     didn't seem to be interested in it anymore.)
    
    Re. ammonia in urine, maybe that's why it discourages my cat; he
    thinks another animal marked the garbage as it's own property??
    All I know is, it sure works great with my trash bags outside before
    picked up ea. Monday.  I used to have to pick up a real mess of
    rubbish due to cats, dogs, what-have-you tearing open the trash
    bags for the garbage inside.  Not since I've used the 1/2 'n' 1/2
    solution though.
    

    How about trying vinegar?  Lemon scent will also repel some cats.
    
             Carol