Conference misery::feline_v1

    Would there be any problem to make Carmel an indoor only cat?  If she
    wants to be with you, why not let her.  I would love it if my two
    indoor/outdoor cats suddenly decided to stay inside all the time!!  And
    I'd also love to have a cat as people-oriented as Carmel!  You're very
    lucky!!
    

    
    	
        	Just one question, is Carmel an Oriental cat Siamese..?
    

    I also agree with note #1.  My two furfaces have been wanting to go out (and
    staying out!) ALL NIGHT LONG for the past couple of weeks.  Drives me
    CRAZY!  I cannot sleep without having them on my bed - I need to know
    where they are.  I end up getting up and down all night calling them
    until *they* decide they want to come in.
    
    Just this morning I thought I was going to lose it!  Ralph and Alice
    stayed out all night long - I woke up this morning to find Ralph in (my
    husband gets up and leaves before I do in the morning so I figured he
    let both cats in.)  Well, first thing I do when I get up is get them their
    food.  Both usually come bolting over to the food dish.  This morning
    only Ralph comes.  I say to myself, this is *real strange* - Alice must
    still be out or maybe she wanted to go down the cellar.  I check the
    cellar - No Alice.  I call outside - Still No Alice - I walk around the
    house (in my P.J.'s) and Still No Alice.  Now this is WEIRD!  I'm
    starting to panik (I've had 2 cats just dissapear on me before) so I decide
    I'll take a quick shower and change and walk around the neighborhood
    looking for her.  I go into the spare bedroom to get some clothes and guess
    who's LOUNGING on the bed licking herself but ALICE!  I wanted to
    strangle her but HUGGED her and told her how WORRIED I was.  (God,
    didn't she hear the anxiety in my voice!)
    
    Anway, as I said, I wish mine would be indoor cats too.  At least you
    have some control for their safety and I know no dog is going to go
    after them or some car will run them over.
    
    You are lucky indeed, take advantage of Carmel wanting to stay IN!
    
    
    Nancy, mom of Ralph & Alice
    

    Oh #3 - Ralph & Alice - I just love it!!!!
    
    Giudi

    
    Carmel is a calico tabby cat.  I don't want an indoor cat.  I want
    her out all day in the summer and in by 10:00pm w/ me on my pillow
    In the winter she is in allday and only out for a few hours but it's
    cold out and that's okay..but it is beautiful out she should go out.
    
    I don't know why she took this turn...she's been going out for 6yrs
    now..maybe it's her age?  she's set in her ways?  but Carmel takes
    things a little to the extream I think..you should hear her bouncing
    off the door's..and getting an atitude
    
    I just don't want a kitty box in my house.  I work 40hrs a week I have
    2 horses and a house and hubby and big yard to care for.. I don't need
    a kitty box to..I have 2 great big kitty boxes w/ my horses around..oh
    ya and a big parrot cage to clean to...I hope that does'nt sound mean
    I don't want it to!! I love my Carmel..she keeps us laughing and life
    would be dull w/out her..I just don't want a kitty box..
    
    But I don't want Carmel to hurt he self.  but ya have to give her
    credit for finding a way in..pretty smart!
    
    Thanks,
    
    louisa
    
    Do your cats sneek in to?

    I've seen Carmel, and she's a BEAUTIFUL cat!! She is very happy with 
    all of her other animal buddies too! I don't think she even minds
    having to pee outside. She's just a persistant little bugger!
    
    Bonnie

    Well, Louisa, it does sound a bit mean to me.  Just because it is
    beautiful out doesn't mean a cat should be outdoors enjoying the
    weather.  It seems so unfair to Carmel.
    
    Maybe something frightened her outside, or maybe it is due to her
    advancing age.  I'm a bit uncertain as to the purpose of your note; if
    it is to solicit stories about outdoor cats finding ways to get back
    into the house, there might be very few, if any replies.  The majority
    of us in here either have indoor only cats, or let our cats go in and
    out as they please.
    

    My cats don't sneak to come it....only to go out!  I wish they
    would try to sneak to come back in....but I have to actually
    drag most of them inside!  My rule of thumb...they can be out
    during the day....but by 5:00 they must all be in.   You should
    see me running around my neighborhood and woods to try and
    collect them all.   I couldn't sleep if they weren't beside
    me snuggling!!!  oopss...where's my husband...I must have left
    him outside!!
    
    Sandy

    I also agree with letting her stay in.  I just wish Patches would
    listen and stay in.  I let her out in the morning but she has to be
    in the house by the time I leave for work.  I let her out again when 
    I come home and make sure she comes back in with-in a certain
    time-frame.  Cat boxes aren't hard to care for (especially the covered
    ones).  I have 3 of them.
    
    Sandi
    
    

    I spend maybe 20 minutes a week max taking care of 2 cat
    boxes.
    

    Nippa used to go out all the time, but she's starting to get a bit more
    refined and prefers to go out from 5 - 6:30/7 amd and from 5-9 pm.
    
    If she want's to stay in all the time, well that's fine too.  It's her
    choice.
    
    Michele & Nippa
    
    p.s.
    
    I have a box in the basement, which she never uses, except for an 
    emergency.  It is no big deal.

    
    the porpose of the note was/is to see if any one has a kitty how
    likes to break in....now I now how the name "cat burgler" got 
    coined!  The note got off tack becasue I was answering somones
    question about letting her stay in...and the note went off from
    there..
    
    L

    Louisa tried to bring this note back to a discussion of how cats
    try to break in, and I (your friendly moderator) would like to second
    that motion!  Let's leave litter to another note and get back to
    "cat burglers"!!
    
    
    
    A couple years back, I had a stray who decided he's like to live
    with me by tearing right thru the screen on the patio door.
    I came downstairs to see him lounging on the sofa...the nerve!
    
    Mary the Mod
    

    re: .15
    
    So, Mary, what happened to the stray?  Is he ensconced in your
    house even as we type?
    

No, he's not!  I escorted him back outside and a few days later, he was
taken to the shelter, where he promptly attacked one of the shelter staff.
I only take in the nice ones, like Biff....

I still can't believe he tore right thru the screen...it was aluminum
screening, not the wimpy fiberglass stuff!

Mary