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October 28, 2012
An epiphany: In which Gray Cat becomes an indoor cat — for life
Emphasis on "for life."
Long story short: After spending 2.5 hours searching for Gray Cat Thursday afternoon after I was packed and ready to drive to Pittsburgh for this past weekend's World Tour 2012 stop in Yinzerville, the penny dropped.
Gray Cat has spent her last day outdoors wandering the fields and forests of my Podunk town's outskirts.
Done and dusted.
She doesn't realize it yet — I haven't yet broken the news to her, only having arrived back home 10 minute ago — but tomorrow we'll be having a head-to-head about my decision.
I am very happy about this development for any number of reasons, all of which which will be laid out here in the near future.
October 28, 2012 at 11:58 PM | Permalink
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Joe,
I applaud your decision. May GC live a long and prosperous life because of it.
Where there is room for one, there is room for two.
RJ
Posted by: Rattlesnake Jake | Oct 30, 2012 6:47:28 PM
Flautist has excellent suggestions. A kitten would be a invaluable accessory. He or she will provide a distraction, entertaiment and eventual companionship for the newly incarcerated GC.
The shelved stairway with the secret Boom-Boom-Room is exactly what any cat needs. It offers tree climbing skills, height, warmth close to the ceiling and a club house for needed contemplation.
GC might also be willing for harness walks in time. Some cats will put up with it, others not. It takes patience on the part of the owner and the cat to work as a team.
Posted by: Kay | Oct 30, 2012 11:46:09 AM
i had cats long ago when single - when jinx died he took a piece of me with him - don't now - wife allergic - some of my cats were roamers - so i live in a glass house by posting this - didn't even occur to me back then
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cats_actually_kill
Posted by: sherlock | Oct 30, 2012 1:32:30 AM
I forgot -
A partner in crime can open up a whole new world for a single. Should you do that - mostly, I'd recommend a kitten. The old fart gets to teach the young fart what it's all about, while at the same time the little miscreant keeps the other on her toes. It rarely goes smoothly. Count on an adjustment period of at least 4 weeks. Prepare for the worst; let them work out their own problems - stay out of skirmishes unless you see actual bloodshed; feed them apart; don't take any trips during the period of adjustment; give the little s*it lots of affection and re-bond with the old one every chance you get.
Posted by: Flautist | Oct 29, 2012 9:53:11 PM
My kitty is quite content with the opportunity to hang out on screened in porches and window sills. And I am happy to have him avoid being coyote food. Good luck!
Posted by: Melinda | Oct 29, 2012 9:29:57 PM
Thank God - I've been sweating bullets but hesitated to speak up. Like my trusty vet told me, for cats that can roam "there is nothing out there but peril for them."
I'd say, keep her entertained, if she needs a boost. Some cats don't; my former street cat Motley ran the indoor Motley 500 every night before bed & didn't need a whole lot of playing with but I did anyhow because she was so much fun. I'd recommended at least a 20-minute play session a day (whatever GC responds to that gets her running and jumping), and, depending on how handy/industrious/motivated you are, making this kind of change to your domicile can create cat heaven:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3T4hxkU4GU
Posted by: Flautist | Oct 29, 2012 9:15:30 PM
Since I lost several friends earlier in my life to letting them roam outdoors, I finally made a rule: Any more cats in this house, stay inside the house. We have a wonderful sun room, which is their (and our) favorite room, next to trees and all things outdoors but predators.
Posted by: Matt Penning | Oct 29, 2012 7:41:58 PM
I once created a green wire, "Boom-Boom-Room" which had a wooden double deck that allowed them outside via a cat door from my bedroom.
My three big cats could sun themselves on the top deck or get down via a hole to the lower deck for cooling shade.
From the lower deck, led a green wire, cat-sized "tube" which went to the back yard, where, lo, was an enclosed, green wire, circular toidy-box.
Exiting the toidy-box was another short, green wire, cat-sized tube which led to a partially enclosed pine tree with a plywood sundeck nestled among the branches.
The pine tree was partially enclosed because of the height, it was impossible to cage the entire tree.
The cats would be out there on full moon nights, coyotes baying in the distance, safely ensconced in their wire domain.
Posted by: Kay | Oct 29, 2012 3:38:41 PM
I've lost two indoor/outdoor cats over the years, probably to become coyote chow. When my daughters got kittens, I opened the front door and stood outside with a hose. The kitties learned that outside the front door is a wet and nasty place. But amazingly the high back porch is safe and dry.
Posted by: Julie | Oct 29, 2012 3:34:41 PM
I have two cats...one was an alley cat and the other a medical experiment rescued from a friend that was going to do bad things to him (but couldn't) that lived his entire life indoors. They both crave the outdoors...the indoor cat far far more than the other. Always worried that they will escape the minute a door opens.
This last summer I decided to compromise. I have an enclosed front porch that has enough glass to make them happy. It was always a problem with them wanting in and out and in and out and still not satisfied...until I decided to put a cat door in. Tore out some 100+ year old wood work to do it and it was worth it. They can get on the front porch any time they want and are much happier. They don't even try to escape when the outside doors open. Just seem to be content that they are in their bubble but can still howl at the other creatures.
Posted by: clifyt | Oct 29, 2012 9:54:14 AM
mine also has been brought in after years of roaming the streets of SF. i thought there would be a big protest but he seems to enjoy the new life..i enjoy your blog everyday
Posted by: thomasina | Oct 29, 2012 9:03:51 AM
These might provide a bit of a compromise. I'd get one if living on the second floor didn't keep mine on the balcony. http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/enclosures.html
Posted by: Allison | Oct 29, 2012 9:00:23 AM
Good luck. An alley cat adopted our allergic neighbors, so we took her in. My epiphany: Keep her in our 6-ft-fenced-in back yard. Easy peasy. (We have 2 dogs and a declawed/indoor cat, but I detest declawing.)
What seemed so simple went through a dozen iterations before I surrendered. In the end I counted a score of worthy efforts. All to no avail.
I would assess the situation, go in the cellar for tools, rig up my solution, and then stand back. Jillian would follow me, literally every step of the way. As I watched her, she would study my effort for a few minutes, then walk over to it and demonstrate why it was doomed to fail. This may be the smartest animal I have ever seen.
We kept her in last night and she is boiling. She swats at the dogs and the other cat--and at me. "Wet hen" comes to mind. I may let her out today for a taste of the storm--she is smart enough to come back in. Meanwhile, it's getting pretty rancorous in here....
== PT
Posted by: PT | Oct 29, 2012 7:58:03 AM
I'm very glad. Relieved, actually. I found a cat who had been missing from home for two years. Family reunited, but jeez.
I'm glad even though GC may not be initially.
Posted by: Becs | Oct 29, 2012 7:21:58 AM
joe- keep gray cat inside. my two stay inside, because i have lost other kitties. good for you.
Posted by: kevin | Oct 29, 2012 4:54:34 AM
Good.
Posted by: 6.02*10^23 | Oct 29, 2012 1:11:13 AM
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