PLEASE! Keep your cats inside!!

[Virgo10]

On Aug 20th a stray neighborhood cat (Mr. Floppie) was hit by a car in front of my house. The cat ran off at about a hundred miles an hour. Then, for the next four days, we didn't see him. I thought he might have died. Imagine my surprise when he showed up on the 24th. He was moving slowly but wanted food. I couldn't see anything wrong with him but he wouldn't let us get near him to check him out. He had never been people oriented, always wanting to be left alone.

We went away on the 26th and didn't get back until Friday. My DH saw Mr. Floppie and told me that his tail was missing about a mile of flesh. I decided to try and catch him and bring him to the vet. Later on Friday, I was able to cage him and then bring him inside. We had him isolated because we have cats ourselves and I know that FIV is rampant in this area.

I got an appointment at the Vet for late yesterday afternoon. The news was what I feared. Positive for FIV and Leukemia. My husband wanted to save him no matter what but after listening to what the Vet had to say, he agreed that euthanizing Mr. Floppie was the humane thing to do. Besides those two killer diseases, his tail would have had to have been amputated, he had pneumonia and also internal bleeding.

My DH couldn't stay but I had them bring him out one last time so I could say good bye and tell him that soon he'd be with the Old Cat.
http://virgo10.tripod.com/oldcat.html

Then I left. Today I'll have a place prepared for him in my cat garden.

Please, please, please! Don't let your cats outside. It's death for them out there. And all you animal lovers, give your pets some extra TLC and think of Mr Floppie. He had a hard life but was really loved by the sad people at my house.

Mr. Floppie
8/30/03

Roberta

 

[helenabear]

What loving people you are. What you described is exactly why my cats never make it outside unless they are in their carriers or on a leash. It is far too dangerous around here for my babies to be out on their own. I am so sorry that you lost Mr. Floppie. The Old Cat, sounded like a great one too. My heart goes out to you {{hugs}}

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

Oh, poor Mr Floppie. My kitties never go outside. Our Maxi tried one day and was so terrified...we found her cowering in the back corner of our house. Its relatively quiet where we live...but we have coyotes. I have several neighbors who let their cats out...I almost hit one with my car last night . Its just not safe for them.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very warm thoughts there, Roberta. And now Mr. Floppie is with Old Cat, waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. {{Hugs}}

 

[mickey65]

I'm so sorry about Mr. Floppie What a wonderful thing you did to take care of him and comfort him in his last day. He will be at the bridge now, free of pain and playing with all the other kitties and puppies.

I too am an advocate for keeping your cat indoors. It just saddens me so much to see cats that have been hit and are just left on the side of the road.

 

[krazyboutWDW]

I am so sorry about Mr. Floppie. Thank God for caring people like you and your husband. I know how hard it was but you did the best thing for him. I don't have a cat but I gave my puppy an extra hug. I always worry about her somehow getting out of our fenced yard and getting hit.

 

[Melora]

So sorry to hear about Mr Floppie. We have 3 cats and they never go outside. The mommy of 2 of our cats got outside on moving day last year and we never found her. We rescued her and the kittens from the pound 4 years ago. Everyone still misses her.

 

[joats]

I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Floppie. But thankfulness to people like you and your husband who care about animals. We have 3 cats and would NEVER let them outside of the house. Not only are there cars and diseases but other animals such as coyotes who could do harm.

I hope that anyone who has outdoor pets will read your post and keep them indoors!

 

[Melora]

Also wanted to add what a wonderful thing you did taking care of him. I always applaud people who go out of their way to help animals.

 

[FreshTressa]

That is horrible!! Poor guy!

We were out walking near our house and saw a cat head laying in the bushes.....I have no idea what got to the poor thing, but it just reminded of why we keep our guy inside!!!

 

[Grog]

Sorry to hear about Mr. Floppie. Our cats never go outside. There is just too much traffic and other animals in this area. Every time I see a cat outside I wonder to myself what the owners are going to think when he doesn't come home one day

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

AW I wanna be with my kitties
I miss them SO much

 

[Talking Hands]

I have 5 indoor cats. I unfortunately have developed an allergy to them so as they die they will not be replaced but none will be sent outside. I'll deal with the allergy meds until they are all gone from this house either by death or moving with their young owners (most belong to my girls)

 

[epcotfan]

I too saw a cat hit by a car right in front of me. I screamed when it happened. It was awful. The poor thing took off into the night and I couldn't find it. I love my kitties too much to ever dream of letting them out.

What a wonderful person you are for taking care of him.

 

[jwfla422]

That's so heartbreaking, I'm so sorry about Mr. Floppie Your story brought tears to my eyes

I am a avid believer of keeping cats indoors. We have a nice screened in porch on the back of our house. It gives our kitties the best of both worlds.

I grew up with cats that went outside and worried everyday that they'd get hit by a car. Both we're put to sleep by the time they were 6 do to various reasons (that wouldn't have happened if they were indoor cats). They really do live much longer indoors.

A few weeks ago I had a scare with one of our cats, Tasha who is 14, she has to go in the garage at night because she is not real good with the litter box and she wines REALLY LOUD at night and wakes us all up. She couldn't keep anything down one morning so I took her to the vet. I think she ate a lizard or something she shouldn' t have because all her test came back fine and she's been fine now but it was an eye opener that she is getting old

 

[Beauty]

This brought tears to my eyes as well. I am an avid, AVID believer in keeping my cats inside. I do have one that I will let out the front door but ONLY with me. She isn't left alone for even a second and she never leaves my side. But all 8 of my cats are indoor ONLY! I would literally freak if one of my babies got outside!

 

[Chattyaholic]

Sorry to hear about the poor kitty
That's exactly why my kitty doesn't go outdoors, much to my DH's dismay. He thinks she belongs outside, and I just tell him if I could be 100% guaranteed she: wouldn't get hit by a car, wouldn't get beat up on by one of the neighbor's cats, wouldn't come into contact with other critters, etc. then I wouldn't mind letting her out. But, those things can't be guaranteed, so inside she stays!!!

My son's girlfriend had a beautiful cat, Bob. She kept saying how much she loved him, almost as much as her son, but yet she continued to let him outside. I knew it was just a matter of time before he'd get hit as we live on a fairly busy country road, and it did happen. I was glad I didn't see it. DH took care of it. I was sad though, as he was such a beautiful cat and so loving.

 

[ASFCurly]

we live on a busy road, and did have a cat that was hit by a car and still let our other cat out, but she is a scaredy cat and doesn't like many people even, she would never, never go down to the road, she hardly ever even goes in the front yard, and when she does, it is really close to the house.

 

[Rajah]

I'm sorry to hear about Mr Floppie. Thank you for taking care of him. I keep my babies in all the time for that very reason and cringe every time I hear of someone who thinks nothing of leaving their cat outdoors.

Lisa (Talking Hands) -- I've found that hepa filters and allergy shots also help minimize allergic reactions to animals.

 

[DocRafiki]

Awwww

Anyone who knows anything about pets knows that it's irresponsible and negligent to let either dogs or cats roam. (that's anything but in a fence or on a leash for dogs and inside or in a covered enclosure for kitties - still have to watch them closely in those though)

I was concerned about a patient having leukemia today, and the owner said, "Well I hope nothing's wrong with her; she's a $600 cat." And I'm thinking--- you paid $600 for a cat (stupid enough) just to LET HER OUTSIDE???