serious behavior problem

[sarah+buddha]

My beloved cat, Buddha, was the kitten of a homeless, but not feral, rescued mother, and is now 8 years old. He has always displayed an intense instinct to roam--much greater than any cat I have owned or known. He is of course fixed and has had all of the necessary vaccinations. It is literally impossible for me to keep him inside, he is very smart and has opened windows and doors, climbed out the chimney, broken glass, and torn through screen. He invariably enters neighbors homes and is either adored or hated. By their consent and mine (because I thought he was unhappy at my home) he has been adopted by four different households. But after about 6 months he runs away again and I get another call from someone who wants to report on his behavior. A year ago a neighbor threatened to call animal control because he was fighting with or "intimidating" his cats. Ever since I have kept him indoors with the hope that he would eventually adjust. I have the windows shut and taped, I can't leave any open for venthilation. When I open and close the door I have to do so very quickly or he will dart out. I feel like a prisoner in my own house, as I'm sure Buddha does, but if I let him outside he won't come back and get into trouble. What's more, his behavior is causing conflict between myself and my husband. Today my husband told me that I had a month to figure something out or else he will drop him off at the local shelter or have him put down. He said, "Buddha is an animal not a pet." What Buddha needs is a cat house where he can live out his days. I don't feel right about giving him away to another home where they will have the same problems with him as I do, but not have such a strong emotional connection. I love him so much, and I want to keep him, but I don't know how to be sure he won't run away and cause more problems for other people. Maybe a farm somewhere? I am in L.A., California, but I will travel to find the right place for him. Thank you very much for any suggestions!

[Traci]

My opinion is that you need to talk to a professional feline behaviorist, one that knows what they are doing.

Unfortunately, the years of letting him roam is going to take time to undo all the damage. If you're committed to him, then you need to learn how to acclimate him indoors only, this doesn't involve a great deal, it simply involves your committment to him. There are various things you can do to ensure his comfort and happiness inside the home, mainly interesting diversions, cat toys, scratching posts, things that stimulate him. But it also involves your determination, and your time spent with him.

Your husband is not helping the situation by giving you an ultimatum, and frankly, you shouldn't accept that behavior. It's ultimately his responsibility as well, you all live in the same environment, but your kitty deserves the time and committment to make this work, that involves your husband's committment as well. However, if he has threatened your kitty and he has potentially threatened to harm him, then I'm sorry, but he doesn't deserve a cat. It's up to you to make the decisions in this sitation.

I hope you realize that a kitty who reaches 8 years old is considered getting into feline senior years. I hope you realize that your kitty could at any time develop a potential health problem, and who will take care of that. You adopted him for life, he is depending upon YOU to ensure his health, safety and well being, he is ultimately your responsibility.

Please take the time to consult with a pro feline behaviorist, and don't let Buddah out again, ever. You are placing him at great risk for outdoor hazards, not to mention the hazards you've already witnessed. Do you really think that is fair to him? Again, he is dependant upon YOU to resolve this situation.

[yerr_sister]

THERE IS AN ANSWER !!!

THERE IS A SPECIAL CAT FENCE YOU CAN INSTALL TO ANY EXISTING FENCE. I JUST PUT MINE UP AND IT HOLDS EVEN FERAL CATS !!!!

I BUILD MY FENCE AND MY CATS GO IN AND OUT THE HOUSE INTO OUR BACKYARD WITH THE FENCE ON IT AND THEY CANNOT GET OUT, THEY DON'T EVEN TRY TO (AFTER THEY DISCOVERED THEY CANNOT) AND NOW THEY ARE VERY HAPPY AND NO MORE WANDERING KITTIES!

www.catfencein.com

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT, IT IS WONDERFUL !!

EMAIL ME FOR MORE INFO IF YOU'D LIKE

yerr_sister@yahoo.com

-monique

[jason]

THERE IS AN ANSWER !!!

um, just a suggestion...could you turn off your caps lock next time?

i agree that the best solution would still be "indoor only" for the cat. other animals may still get in (dogs/whatever can dig in) and some cats are smarter than others as far as getting out

anyhow, welcome monique.

[yerr_sister]

Admin Note to This poster: NO Caps please, this is considered rude net etiquette - If you post again we would all appreciate lowercase text please

P.S. SARAH,

GET THE ONE CALLED "COMBINATION SYSTEM" DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THE STRATTO KIT, IT IS NOT AS GOOD.

GET THE COMBINATION SYSTEM !!!!!

ALSO, THIS FENCE IS GOOD IF YOU LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH MODERATE WEATHER (i LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, O.C.) AND IT CANNOT BEEN SEEN BY THE NEIGHBORS OR CAUSE AN EYE SORE. I JUST LOVE IT AND IT SAVED MY KITTIES' LIVES (THERE IS A MAN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO KEEPS HIS STEEL TRAP LOADED 24-7 AND HE'S ALREADY GOTTEN 3 OF MY CATS AND A FEW NEIGHBOR'S CATS AND HE'S BEEN DUMPING THEM OUTSIDE THE CITY. WE GOT ONE BACK WHO WAS WEARING HER I.D. TAGS, THE OTHERS DID NOT HAVE THEIRS ON AND HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR A YEAR !

SO I REALLY KNOW ABOUT HOW TO STOP A WANDERING CAT AND THIS FENCE WORKS.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN A RURAL AREA OR WHERE THERE ARE HARSH STORMS AND WEATHER, THEN IT IS BEST TO GET THE PET FENCE AT www.catfence.com. THIS ONE IS MORE FITTED FOR RURAL AND STICKS UP WAY HIGH IN THE AIR (NOT AS GOOD FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE YOU DON'T WANT IT TO REALLY SHOW MUCH). BUT I AM POSTING IT HERE FOR OTHERS IN CASE. SARAH, YOU LIVE IN L.A., SO BEST FOR YOU TO USE CAT FENCE-IN, THE COMBINATION SYSTEM www.catfencein.com.

JUST TO AVOID CONFUSION, HERE ARE THE TWO BELOW:

RESIDENTIAL/MODERATE WEATHER/MORE EYE APPEALING: www.catfencein.com - GET THE "COMBINATION SYSTEM"


RURAL/FOR HARSH WEATHER/sticks up higher in air: www.catfence.com


NOTE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXISTING FENCE TO ADD THE SPECIAL CAT FENCE TO, THEN BUILD ONE. THAT IS WHAT I DID. !! IT SAVED ALL MY REMAINING 10 KITTIE'S LIVES ! PLUS THEY GET TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE AND GRASS AND FLOWERS AND FRESH AIR, AND THEY CAN USE THE CAT BOX OUT DOORS !!!

[yerr_sister]

sorry about the caps Jason, I'm squeezing this email in here at work between zillions of phone calls (I am a switchboard operator).

Yes, the indoor situation is ideal. But for those cats who just INSIST on going out, the cat fence is great. Yes, you would think they could get out and a couple of ferals did when I used the Stratto system, however, I upgraded to the Combination System and the 3 ferals are still contained. and these guys are ruthless when it comes to escaping. One of them actually broke out from front window (it had a very small crack on it for years) this feral was in my house and the gardner came up close to the front door with his blower and that feral shot right out the closed and locked window!

My fence is 6 feet and the netting goes up another 2 feet in the air and leans inward 2 feet and all gaps are sealed with screws. They literally cannot get out. These ferals can jump five feet straight up too, as they did when they got out the strattro system, even when my other cats could not. And these are ferals that are 6 years old and very healthy and in tip top shape. My other cats, they are escape artists but not feral, they could not even get out the stratto system and the combination system is way more secure. I will be adding 3 more ferals to the backyard this weekend. These are the remaining ferals that I've been caring for. I will keep everyone posted on them and this fence. But so far, after 2 months now, it is working so wonderful. The funny thing is that after they try and try to escape and cannot, they just stop trying and they no longer even bother anymore. They stopped bothering to escape after about 3 days. After the escape with the Stratto system (before I got the Combination System), I captured them again but this time kept them exclusively in the house for 2 months, then I let them outdoors in the back with the new Combination System.

This is definately the answer for the uncontrollable wanderers.

I tried keeping all 10 cats indoors, it was a big problem for me with 3 of the toms fighting and spraying and just other problems. Plus 3 of my cats are real big grass eaters and 2 are 1 year olds who really want to be outside. Now they are free to come and go from the secured backyard into the house and things have calmed down and no more fights for space. However, my cats do not try to get out the front door and don't go in that direction, but keeping a very watchful eye on the front door will always be a must, and we have sealed up our back gate so it cannot be opened.

If I had not found this pet fence my cats and I would be COOKED ! So, you can see why I am so excited about it. I heard about it on a Missing Pet site, prior to that I had never even known of such a thing.
-monique

[Traci]

Your comments are welcome of course, but....

I can't help but wonder if you are a rep for this company, if so, please refrain from posting more on this company, because it would be considered spam which is not allowed. So far, we got the URL, as well as, the point.

[mizmeowski]

Hi Traci and Jason

I've never posted here before but read often to learn from other posts. It was me who asked Monique to come post here because I was heart broken for Sarah and Buddha and I knew Monique was able to find the solution for the very same problem. Neither of us works for or represents the company in any way. Monique is just very enthusiastic!

We are both volunteer pet detectives in our spare time, trying to help people who have lost their pets recover them successfully. So of course any time I see a post in which a pet is possibly separated from their owner it tugs at my heart. I'd be happy to provide links to my lost indoor only cat pet search tips and the lost pet forum that I moderate if you had questions as to my identity. I don't want to link here in case it would be considered spamming.

Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the wonderful site.
Pauline

[jason]

Neither of us works for or represents the company in any way. Monique is just very enthusiastic!

the heavy use of caps and numererous identical links are usually a give away, but ok...we get you. adhearing to netiquitte in the future is expected, no biggie.

We are both volunteer pet detectives in our spare time, trying to help people who have lost their pets recover them successfully.

your hearts are way into it and you know of something that works so wanted to share...got it.

pet detectives, sound funny/cute...but thanks for doing that, i am sure many people are very appreciative of that. keep up the good work! (bet you have alot of interesting stories, debbies cloud or the kennel might a good place to share your funny ones!)

Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the wonderful site.

no problem pauline, thanks for taking time to clear it up...and welcome to cho!

[Le'A]

I was reading through all these posts wanted to point out that there are actually two different links for two different types of cat fence. They are similar, but represent two different companies. I went to both sites and am very impressed and had no idea that something like this was out there! After looking at both sites, I've chosen the one I'm going with and am getting ready to order it now. I posted about some litterbox issues I've been having with my older Siamese and hope that allowing her some safe outside time might help the situation. A dog door came with our house but I haven't used it because I didn't want the cats to go outside. Now both the dogs and cats can have a choice!

I can see how people might think that Monique's post was spam, but since she mentions 2 different companies (competitors, actually ) , I don't think she could rep for both of them!