Conference misery::feline_v1

    Wow! When I first saw your note I thought, Who's trying to give my
    cat away?!  I have a "Peanut", too, who lives with us and 4 feline 
    friends in a condo. 

    It sounds like you feel you are not giving your Peanut the best life 
    by having to keep him indoors. I know this (indoor vs outdoor) is a 
    touchy subject for many people, but many cats live indoors all their 
    lives and are quite happy. In my development, pets are not allowed 
    outside unless they are in a carrier or leashed, so my cats can't 
    run free even if I wanted to let them. Even when I owned a house I 
    didn't let my cats out as I felt it was too dangerous (cars, cruel 
    people, cat fights, dogs, predatory animals). They seem to think they 
    have a great life anyway, with me, lots of toys, and each other to 
    play with. 

    I think Peanut will have a lot of competition finding a new home as 
    there are many, many kittens now looking for new homes, too. He sounds 
    like such a nice cat -- if you think he's not happy, why not get him a 
    little kitty playmate to keep him company? When you do get your own 
    house, won't you be glad that Peanut is there to share it with you?

    Linda and Misty, Cubby, Toby, Tweetie, and Peanut

    I too live in a condo - one cat is declawed, the other has his claws
    and my new arrival (coming tonight) is declawed.  All are indoor cats
    who have only been outside when going to the 'vets'.  Tiffany and Otis
    are perfectly happy and content to be inside...and I have been told Sam
    is an indoor cat and has been for 11 years.  
    
    Tiffany was alone for 1 1/2 years and I felt guilty - she would also
    get into things when we were gone and at one point really got to be
    a pain in the a**!  I called the vet and she suggested a playmate for
    her - that they live longer and do better (they are very social
    animals) with another cat/kitten.  We got a baby boy for her and what a 
    change!  Her personality blossomed and she seemed to enjoy being a 
    'kitten' again.  Now they groom each other and sleep together in the
    afternoon when we are gone (I know, we have come home and found them
    snoozing!).
    
    They love to watch the birds - I have bought them their own toys - they
    each have there own 'blanket'... and their own snacks and treats.
    
    Just my $ .02 worth - but Peanut and you sound like a good 'team'.
    Perhaps you should reconsider and talk to your vet about some
    alternatives on the indoor/outdoor issue and/or adopting a new playmate
    for him. 
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany AND Sam
    

    Thanks for your replies on cats and condo living.  One of my main
    reasons is my allergies which are getting progressively worse, I've
    been tested and am very allergic to cats, second he is spraying all
    over the house and the smell is well need I say more. He does this 
    every spring, he wants to out.   I know he needs a companion but that 
    would be the end of my breathing.  I'm going away for 3 weeks beginning 
    June 28 and if I can't find him a home I will return him to the humane 
    society where I got him.
    
    Thanks for your input - Lucienne

    Hi
    
    I hope you don't think I came down to hard on you - but your basenote
    was not too clear as to why you had to find a home for Peanut.  I know
    it's a BIG mistake to assume (and I did) sorry.  I thought it was 
    because you lived in a condo and that he 'wanted' to go outside.
    
    My Otis started spraying - but after having him neutered that stopped
    and so did his desire to roam.  He still thinks he's a stud, of course,
    but the mating instinct is gone and he is much more cuddly and content.
    
    Obviously if medical problems are an issue, then it doesn't sound as
    though you have much of a choice but to find Peanut a new home.
    
    :-<
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany AND Sam
    
    

    You might ask your vet about Seldane, which is a relatively new
    medicine which seems to control allergies to cats and seems to have no
    side effects.  We can help with advice about spraying, for example,
    using a product like Nature's Miracle to remove the urine smell so
    it won't attract Peanut to the area to spray again, possible temporary
    medication form the vet (assumin gPeanut is already altered).
    
    I think your problems with Peanut can be worked....
    

    RE: allergies
    
    Unfortunately, Seldane didn't do a thing for my allergies.  I had to
    resort to Opticrom and nasalcrom and Ventolin.
    
    Another MAJOR thing that you might want to try is bathing Peanut.  I
    know it's quite a task, but I've found that if you take masking tape
    and tape his front paws together (sticky side out) and it is much
    easier.  If you tested positive for a cat allergy in your first
    testing, you are not allergic to the fur.  You are allergic to the
    cat's Dander.  Regular bathing (every two weeks), may get rid of the
    dander enough where you will no longer be allergic to the cat.
    
    As far as him spraying, the best thing for you to do is have him
    neutered.  For your sanity, the cleanliness of your house, and for the
    cat's health.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Holly
    

    Hee hee hee!  I can just see me trying to tape JFCL's front feet
    together....  It's a good thing neither of us are allergic to cats,
    because both of mine hate to be bathed.  When they were younger and
    used to go outside sometimes (when one of their human slaves was
    working in the garden or something), I used to put flea collars on
    them, and JFCL turned out to be allergic to one brand they wore, and I
    had to bathe her to get the irritating chemical off her neck.  It was
    quite a challenge!  And you never heard such a commotion from such a
    usually ladylike, polite sort of kitty (Nebula is never ladylike
    anyhow; good thing I didn't have to bathe HER).  Eventually she gave up
    trying to kill me and just huddled down in a miserable, and soggy,
    mass, like she does at the vet's, and let me wash her with warm water
    and a washrag (in the bathtub with the tub enclosure closed so she
    couldn't levitate out).   I hate to dry her with the hair dryer, too.

    Folks - Peanut is already neutered.  The spraying (or marking if its on
    a horizontal surface) is a real pain to deal with (voice of
    experience).  You might ask your vet about ovaban - assuming that 
    you know Peanut is healthy.  If may be that he'll only require it
    in the Spring.  Can't offer much help about the allergy.  Bathing
    might help.
    
    Good luck.