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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

1229.0. "WOULD YOU TAKE THEM HOME?" by MILVAX::AQUILIA () Thu Mar 31 1988 15:46

I AM IN WHAT I GUESS I COULD CALL ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS DILEMA'S OF
    SUCH OF LONG TIME.  I HAVE TO COME HOME TO MY PARENTS HOUSE FOR
    A WHILE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY KITTIES VERNE AND SHIRL.
     BASICALLY, I WANT TO TAKE THEM WITH ME.  THEY ARE VERY ATTACHED
    TO ME AS ME TO THEM AND I FEEL THAT THEY WOULD MISS ME MORE THAN
    THEY WOULD MISS THE GREAT PLACE THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN.  
    
    THE CONDO WE LIVE IN PRESENTLY IS A CATS PARADISE.  WALL TO WALL
    CARPETING FOR THOSE SHORT STOPS THEY MAKE EVERY NOW AND THEN.  COOL
    BATHROOM FLOORS TO RELAX ON WHEN ITS HOT, AND BOY DO THOSE Q-TIPS
    SLIDE AROUND GREAT IN THERE. BUT I THINK THEIR FAVORITE THING IN
    THE CONDO IS THE FULLY CARPETED LADDER THAT RUNS TO A LOFT FROM
    THE MASTER BEDROOM.  THEY PLAY ON THAT CONSTANTLY, RUNNING FROM
    STAIR TO STAIR, UPSIDE-DOWN, BACKWARDS ETC.  I EVEN CATCH THEM WATCHING
    ME WHEN THEIR NOT SUPPOSED TO BE UP IN THE LOFT (LITTLE BUGGERS).
    ANYWAYS....
    
    THE HOUSE I WILL BE TEMPORARILY (?) STAYING AT HAS FIRST OF ALL,
    TWO DOGS, EIGHT AND FIVE YEARS OLD.  BOOTS IS KINDA SCARED OF THEM
    (THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THERE FOR A WEEK IN FEBRUARY WHEN
    I WAS CARING FOR MY GRANDMOTHER), BUT SAM JUST PLAIN DOESN'T LIKE
    THEM, AND VISE VERSA I'M SURE.  WHEN WE WERE THERE FOR THAT WEEK
    I STAYED IN THE BASEMENT AND THEM WITH ME.  I TOLD GRAM NOT TO OPEN
    THE DOOR FOR ANYTHING (YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I HAD A PUPPY
    ONCE, SHORTLY FOR 10 MONTHS BECAUSE THE WOMEN LET THE DOG OUT WHEN
    I TOLD HER NOT TO AND HE GOT HIT BY A CAR) ANYWAYS (AGAIN), I AM
    VERY RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THEM ALL DAY IN THE BASEMENT BECAUSE,
    
    1.  SHE DOES LAUNDRY DAILY DOWN THERE AND I'M WORRIED THAT SHE MIGHT
        LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN AND NOT KNOW IT.
    
    2.  THERE IS ONLY ONE VERY SMALL WINDOW IN THE BASEMENT AND THEY
        CAN'T REACH IT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
    
    3.  HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE LOCKED IN A BASEMENT WHEN YOU HAD THE
        RUN OF A THREE STORY CONDO FOR A YEAR?
    
    I WOULDN'T BE STAYING IN THE BASEMENT AT NIGHT, I WOULD BE SLEEPING
    IN THE ROOM UPSTAIRS NEXT TO THE BASEMENT DOOR.  THERE IS TWO BIG
    WINDOWS HOWEVER IN THAT ROOM AND I WOULD KEEP THEM WITH ME AT NIGHT
    AND I GUESS ALTERNATE THEM FROM THE BASEMENT AND BEDROOM DURING
    THE DAYS WHEN I'M AT WORK.
    
    BUT WHAT ABOUT GRAM?  SHE LOVES THOSE KITTIES AND I KNOW SHE WOULD
    LET THEM OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD GET USED TO THE HUGE
    HOUSE, NOT REALIZING THAT THEY COULD GET LOST ANYWHERE, AND MAYBE
    END UP OUTSIDE.
    
    THE DOGS ARE ANOTHER STORY TOO.  WHEN I WAS THERE BEFORE EVERYTIME
    THE DOGS RAN AROUND UPSTAIRS LOUDLY OR BARKED (WHICH IS ABOUT EVERY
    FEW MINUTES) THE POOR CATS WHERE CLUTCHING TO THE CEILING.  THEY
    HAD NEVER SEEN A DOG BEFORE AND DON'T GO OUTSIDE AT ALL.
    
    THIS IS VERY HARD FOR ME.  I WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEM
    BUT I CAN'T GET THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME WITHOUT THEM.  SHOULD
    I BRING THEM, OR LEAVE THEM AT THE CONDO?  AND, IF I DO TAKE THEM
    (BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T LEAVE THEM) HOW CAN I HELP THEM TO ADJUST
    TO THEIR NEW HOME FOR NOW?  THANKS EVERYONE,
    CARLA JEANNE

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1229.2		INDEBT::TAUBENFELD	Almighty SET	`Thu Mar 31 1988 17:23`	19
	Let them have the run of the house. I brought my 2 cats home to a house with 4 dogs and 1 cat. I put them in the basement but the door had 2 parts so they could jump over the bottom part if they wanted to leave or wanted some privacy. The rest of the time they roamed around. Sure the dogs wanted to eat them, but for never dealing with dogs before, my cats did well. Plus the cat that lived there escorted them everywhere, standing in between them and the dogs. Very chivalrous of him. So I say let them have the whole house. After a week they'll get used to the barking, mine did. And after a week the dogs got bored and left them alone. As far as getting out, everybody remembered to keep the doors closed around them. Maybe your grandmother has learned from the bad experience with your puppy. If not, put a big sign on the door that she can't miss, that will be a reminder.
1229.3		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.	`Thu Mar 31 1988 17:55`	15
	Instead of keeping them in the basement, could you start out keeping them in the bedroom you mentioned, the one with the two big windows? Also with a sign on the door probably taped over the actual doorknob, to remind your grandmother? Could you arrange to do the laundry at night? I would suggest locking the basement door, but they might get trapped in case of fire. Might it actually be best to leave them at the condo until you move back there or find a better place to stay than with your grandmother? Would they be well taken care of? Is there any place better than yuor Grandmother's that you can stay now?
1229.4	everything is well, so far...	MILVAX::AQUILIA		`Fri Apr 01 1988 11:38`	26
	well, its not as bad as it seems now that i look at it. i just worry because of what happened before. i did bring them over there last night and everything seemed well. they remembered the cellar and verne was chasing spiders the first five minutes he was there. shirl on the other hand was politely cleaning herself from the vomit she flung all over my new cutlass brougham. (i still love her though), ... they don't like to stay in the picnic basket on trips. anyways... i talked with everyone there (my parents are there too) and i think it will be fine until the warmer weather comes around when you leave doors open, ya know. but by then if i don't go back to the condo, i'm sure i'll be in a different place by then, something suitable for my babes. i left the door open to the basement this morning and vern and shirl were up at the top with boots, in a staring contest. if boots got to close (which he ususally just sat there with this puppish playful look on his face, hes harmless i believe) the kitties would just run down stairs. boots didn't seem to go after them ... i think he knew they needed their own private space. (what a guy eh?) so we'll see how the weekend goes i guess. oh ya, before i go, they slept so close to eachother and me last night. it was the cutest thing.
1229.6	well, she's done it this time!	MILVAX::AQUILIA		`Wed Apr 20 1988 18:16`	29
	well, its been quite some time that the babes have been at their new home. however, the situation has been alittle out of control. after keeping the kitties 'trapped' in the basement, we decided to slowly keep the door open and let them have the run of the place. it worked out better than anticipated because verne was braising, unafraid of boots and sam and letting them know that also. shirl took some time getting used to running around with two dogs lickin their chops everytime the furfaced creature came out for air, but shes getting used to it. dad even says that i can take shirl home if i want but he will keep verne (hes become quite attached).. here is the new problem. i came home for lunch to check on the babes. my fiancee' was in a car accident and i have been traveling from boston to stow mass everyday and know that the cats feel neglected. i brought them home a prize and what do i find? grams outside with my darlings. in the back yard of course but outside. they haven't been there before except on an island in maine where there are no cars or anything. needlesstosay i was shocked and didn't want to upset her so i kindly told her not to let them out again, and reminded her that i had told her not to before also. she replied that she was with them and she was not stupid. i had to leave it at that. in reading back to these files i find that yes, i am worried that vern and shirl will end up like my pup bandit, only because grams refuses to listen to me. i love her as much as them, but they will not come for her (most of the time they don't even come for me!) and now that they have gone outside i'm afraid that they might try to run out everytime the door opens now. HELP! don't need the babes in the same situation as richard. cj
1229.7		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.	`Wed Apr 20 1988 20:15`	5
	Do I understand correctly that both your parents and your grandmother live here? If so, would your parents have more influence with your grandmother than you have -- maybe they could talk to her? How much longer do you have to stay there? It must be a worry.
1229.8		INDEBT::TAUBENFELD	Almighty SET	`Thu Apr 21 1988 13:51`	9
	It seems to me that you've tried just about everything to communicate to your grandmother that the cats remain inside but it's not working. So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and ... buy a present for your grandmother...two leashes! Then she can take the cats out and you won't have to worry about them running away.
1229.9	Inside kitties forever.	MILVAX::AQUILIA		`Fri Apr 22 1988 11:53`	23
	re: karen, i have to stay there probably as long as my boyfriend is in the hospital. which to me, it looks like that will be a month or two. and yes, both my granmother and my parents live there. its a big house and all, but you know, after living with richard for three years, its definately not paradise. i talked with my parents and they seem to think that this won't happen again BUT! i found a sticky bird like thing on vernes tail yesterday when i came home. they don't grow in the house either! so, i'm pretty sure they were let out again. re: .8, i would take up that offer, it sounds very reasonable but if she begins to take them out when someone comes in or leaves i'm afraid that they will dart out. i have had these cats inside all their life and i have heard that once you let a cat out they aren't the same. ya know? so, thats where i'm at. the kitties have had the runs for two days, mom thinks verne has worms.... guess i'm off to the vet this weekend. cj
1229.10		INDEBT::TAUBENFELD	Almighty SET	`Fri Apr 22 1988 13:24`	19
	>... their life and i have heard that once you let a cat out they aren't >the same. ya know? I don't know what you mean by "not the same". As in wanting to go out? If so, then at least with my cats that is not the case. Both are indoor only, but when Meilikki was a kitten I took her to the park occasionally on a leash. She loved it until she got older as she would shake whenver I took her out, so I stopped. I took Ishtar out once and she didn't like it from the start, though now she acts like she needs to eat every bird outside. So I guess it boils down to the cat, but I don't belive it's a general rule. There are also plenty of recent notes in this file about once outdoor cats changed to be indoor cats and they adjusted well. Good luck on the worms...