neighbors cats

[Aneille]

I don't know if the male cats are neutered. I am assuming the females are spayed because like I said I have 5 or 6 of them playing in my yard during the summer. I would think there would be more cats if the females were not spayed. And I dont think these cats are all from the same home. I think they have some weird cat community, but the cats all do have homes. They are very tame and not feral at all.

We even watched one day while they excluded one cat and everytime it tried to climb the ladder to get into the swing set house, another cat would scare it away. It was pretty sad, watching the one cat being all tense and wanting to play and the others all lounging about, owning the place.

 

[TLSnell1981]

And I dont think these cats are all from the same home. I think they have some weird cat community, but the cats all do have homes. They are very tame and not feral at all.

We even watched one day while they excluded one cat and everytime it tried to climb the ladder to get into the swing set house, another cat would scare it away. It was pretty sad, watching the one cat being all tense and wanting to play and the others all lounging about, owning the place.

It's interesting to watch my barn animals. They have their own "family". The horses, cats and dogs all have relationships. They watch out and protect one another. They also play, fuss, show affection, etc.

The one kitty was probably a newbie. The others were probably making sure he knew where he belonged in the pecking order. It's very common....not just amongst animals.

 

[luvsJack]

Am sure your VET AGREES with the rest of the VET population.....lol It is ok if you don't though, sad but ok...


"An outdoor cat lives a more stressful life than an indoor cat, and stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological disorders. Outdoor cats on the street, or even in the country, are faced every day with territorial disputes, threats from other animals, people, cars, environmental noises which cause panic, and situations which generate pure fear. Indoor cats generally live longer and healthier lives than outdoor cats - a fact that cannot be disputed."


from only one site... http://maxshouse.com/Healthy+Happy_Indoors.htm

sorry, the bolded part just made me laugh. My two outdoor cats are laying on my porch as we speak. Stretched out across the table, chair or maybe even the window sill. If my dogs even so much as think of walking up on the porch, the cats will raise their head and give the dogs "the look" and the dogs will either scoot as far away from the cat as they can in the corner or get off the porch. Cat then goes back to sleep! This is what they do most of the day.

BOY! I do wish I had that much "stress".

I have cats outside and always have, it keeps the mice and field rats out of the yard and in turn out of the house. The come inside to eat and go right back outside. I have always had cats this way. And so have most of my neighbors.

My niece did have a cat that was declawed and had to live totally inside, poor thing tried everything in the world to get outside. After seeing my niece stress over no one letting the cat out, I decided I would not be doing that.

As far as being an annoyance, no my neighbors cats come through now and then and they don't bother us. The raccoon that gets in the garbage, the armadillo digging up my yard and the possum that the dogs bark at all night (none of which are brave enough to mess with the cats!) are much bigger nuisances than anyone's cats.

 

[luvsJack]

Oops! Double post.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

When I was younger our cats were indoor/outdoor but my parents agreed with me it was just not responsible. There's too much that can happen, and it is disrespectful to your neighbors if your animal of any kind is wandeirng all over their property.

Where I live now has very strict animal ordinances. I have not seen a single outdoor or stray cat. If one came up to my house, I would automatically assume it is a stray and would turn it over to animal control or my vet's office. People should not be afraid to garden in their own yard because a cat might poop in it. People should not be afraid to let their kids play in their own sandbox because a cat might pee in it. People should not be afraid to let out their dogs in their own yard because a cat might be there.

 

[alexandria674]

OP I am with you on this one, my family's neghborhood has a lot of cats that are allowed to go whereever and this get the dog barking and ...oh boy it's a mess. They do have this little machine thing that keeps the cats away? It's called Catstop.

At my apartment,I have a little cat that I prefer to keep inside so I bought a cat veranda thing, it gives the experience of being outdoors without actually being out there and I can keep track of the cat.

 

[Katy Belle]

OP here. Wow! This thread took off. I guess a lot of people feel the way I do and a lot of people disagree.

Part of the problem is my dog isn't very tough or scary She is a timid beagle, and the cats know she's timid. Our yards here are surrounded by walls, about a foot thick. So the cats lay on the walls, or walk across the walls, etc. and she barks and barks and barks.

I've started going out with her in the mornings and trying to scare them away before she barks. Its working so far.

The people that own the two cats that I see daily in my yard are moving to Australia. No, they are not taking the cats. She says they are looking for homes for them. My DH and I joke that we will have to bring them over to her in order for her to give them away!

Anyway, my problem my be coming to an end if the cats move to a different compound.

Katy