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petnews2day · 1 year

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Readers reply: should I let my cat outside? | Cats

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Readers reply: should I let my cat outside? | Cats

Should I let my cat outside? Apparently she’s in danger – and is a danger herself. Alicia Burton, Shrewsbury

Send new questions to [email protected].

Readers reply

Outside cats kill songbirds and small mammals. They use neighbours’ flower beds and children’s sandboxes for litter boxes and spread disease. Cats should be kept inside. PennsylvaniaModerate

Where I live your cat might get eaten by a coyote, so no. Also they are terrible on birdlife. If you must, create a nice catio for outdoor fun. I think cats that have never been indoor/outdoor do OK indoors-only, but it is hard to change from being in and out to in-only. martimart

Cats are outdoor creatures – if you can’t allow them outside, for whatever reason (and there may be good reasons not to in some locations), you shouldn’t have a cat. To keep a cat inside-only means you have put your desires ahead of his/hers. I don’t have a dog because I can’t give one what it needs – the same applies; it’s selfish and cruel. It’s not unlike people who declaw (anyone who does so should have the same done to them) – if you don’t accept the risk of damage to furniture etc, don’t have a cat. We’ve always had a cat flap and so know that the cat chooses to live with us – she could leave at any time but doesn’t. I am not sure it’s healthy to keep an animal trapped with you against their will. bobbitygobitty

My cat was a rescued feral kitten, he barely survived starvation on a Miami street before I saved him. He adores my screened-in porches and lanais, where he can be “safely” outside without actually being outside. I’ve left my front door open by accident and he cringes away from it. He knows what is out there. He sees them (the wild animals) from his screened porch and he wants nothing to do with the outside world. Slinger

People tend to have very emotional responses to questions regarding pets, so this particular debate tends to get quite heated quite fast. My view in general is that it just seems odd we have this weird exception where cats are concerned. If I chose to keep a dog or some other animal and I let it roam around other peoples’ gardens unsupervised doing its business on the lawn they would be rightfully angry with me. But if it’s a cat it’s fine for some reason.

My preference in general is for people to keep their pets on their own property, or otherwise under control (eg, on a lead when out of the house), but where cats are concerned free-ranging has been the norm for so long that it would be hard to put that genie back in the bottle (or that cat back in the bag).

It seems undeniably bad for the cats (we had several that were killed on the roads when I was growing up), and bad for wildlife. Even ignoring the death toll on small mammals and birds, inter-breeding with free-ranging housecats has all but wiped out Scottish wildcats as a separate species. Pode

If you are worried about whether they’ll be OK being indoor-only cats, don’t worry. There are about 75m of them in North America. The vast majority are just fine. In many cities in Canada and the US it’s against bylaws to let cats free roam. If you have space, a catio is the perfect solution. KimberlyCoast

Once I got a couple of chickens (free to roam). Then I got rats. Then I got a cat. Now I no longer have rats. She hunts all night, sleeps all day. She seems to need to touch base with me once a day, but apart from that is doing her own thing. I put that down to me allowing her to fully pursue her instincts, so I am mostly OK with the small mammals she brings in. The bat was like something out of Hammer horror film, though. How a cat catches a bat remains a mystery. lcj4949d

Like everything, it depends. If you live in a high-traffic area, there is an increased risk she could be injured. If you live close to a nature reserve there is an increased risk she could snack on an endangered or protected species. If you live in a quiet-ish neighbourhood and she has a bell on her collar, you’re probably OK. Stroppimare

I’ve shared space with cats and they were all outdoor cats, to be fair I never thought of keeping them in. Sure there are dangers out there, but I feel they have a life much more in tune with their natural instincts being outdoors roaming about, doing their thing. I wouldn’t have a cat and keep them in, I’d feel cruel keeping an animal just for my own selfish pleasure if it couldn’t live as it wanted. As I’m away a lot I don’t have a cat now, however the local neighbourhood has a few cats bouncing around. They mainly seem to laze about, occasionally shagging and fighting with each other. Nice life for them. Liverpooldave

I adore my cat and would never let him outside for the simple reason that it’s an ugly and dangerous world. If I let him outside, he could get hit by a car, he might be injured by some unpleasant and unstable person or he might be kidnapped and I’d never see him again. At home he has his big lovely cat bed to relax on, loads of toys and access to fresh food and water. I think if you truly love your cat you won’t put them outside. Hyufcdtb

I am pretty sure that even if he was capable of making a rational, risk-based decision, my cat would still choose to go outside. The world is dangerous for humans too, but we don’t sit at home scared to go out. whatwasigoingtosay

If possible, harness train. A cat who has a strong urge to go outside will more than likely tolerate having a harness as they’ll start to associate the harness with outdoor access. Keeps them safe while enabling them a bit of freedom. I adopted my cat when she was about six months and harness trained her a few months later. Hilarious floor flops at the first attempt, but the desire to be outdoors over-rode her initial resistance to the harness and now she comes running when I jingle the harness for her. I will likely draw the line at pushing her around in a stroller – witnessed someone in my neighbourhood doing this with their cat last week. The human looked ridiculous, but I must say that the cat looked quite content and imperious. Jammygal

Do not harness train your cat! Cats are flight animals and harnesses impede their ability to run off when they’re stressed or feel a sense of danger. It will have a negative impact on their overall welfare and severely impacts natural behaviours. Please do proper research on cat behaviour. If you want to let your cat outside you should actively play with it for at least 15 minutes a day and feed it a high protein/ real-meat-rich diet – this has been proven to decrease the amount of wildlife cats prey on. Additionally, do not let them out at dusk or dawn but just during the day. GoblinBombardment

This reminds me of one of the Inspector Morse episodes, Who Killed Harry Field? The titular Harry being an artist (and murder victim) with a sideline in concocting bogus coats of arms complete with Latin mottos for the credulous. Here goes …

Morse: “Felix noctu exponendus” [Laughs]. Lewis: lt’s the way you tell them, sir. Morse: lt’s translated for the Pfeiffers of Chicago as “Happy the man daring to go out into the darkness.” Lewis: What’s it really mean? Morse: “At night, put the cat out.” Mobilepope

#Cats News

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literallyaflame · 5 years

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hey my recent post got kinda out of hand so i deleted it, it’s my bad for not being more clear on what exactly i was saying. i’ve been working with cats my whole life, rest assured my pets are neither a threat to themselves nor their surroundings

#seriously i didnt mean you should let ur cats be outside totally unsupervised #we have a nice yard with no critters #in twenty years we’ve never had a bird death or a cat get sick #i think a dog got bit by a snake once but that was a big dog and we were literally there she was on a walk #for reference the reason i posted in the first place was cause someone said catios werent good enough which was so odd to me #catios being like a screened in porch for cats #as if theyre gonna be hurt by idk direct sunlight or something

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keltonwrites · 3 years

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I'm not sure if that's a good thing

“Well you’re definitely the first.” This past week, we screened-in the eastern facing porch on the side of the cabin. The porch slopes to the South, with the brick-on-dirt floor crumbling in that direction as well until it reaches uneven slabs of stone acting as steps down to the “yard” below. A mixed material retaining wall wraps beneath the steps to the south facing garage, holding up one corner of the narrow deck on the front of the house. The deck, in the heat of a high altitude summer, droops off the house like it’s daydreaming about the winter snow’s embrace. It’s safe to sit on, though I would not recommend leaning on the railing.

The side porch takes the brunt of the wind. Our wooden rocking chairs have been rocked some 20 feet into the yard more than once in the two months we lived here. In the myriad of threats we heard about the weather, most people included the wind. We all know how I feel about this ongoing weather intimidation tactic. I asked, “what speed are the gusts?” “Oh, they get up to 70 miles per hour on some days.” This was the first quantifiable piece of weather information someone had offered — an actual number we could react to with data and our historical personal experiences of various weather events. And our reaction was: uhhhh…. OK???? Look, I get it. No one’s preaching the skin benefits of -20 degree wind gusts at 70 mph, building snow drifts against your house in the span of minutes that Cooper could die in. I am not going to pretend that’s pleasant. But 70 mph? Any wind I’ve driven faster than does not intimidate me. I used to rally the horses at 12 years old in winds over 70mph to get them in the barn before the latest tornado whipped through. I helped shutter the resort in the BVI as the Category 5 hurricane rolled in. Even in Topanga, 70 mile per hour gusts were not uncommon in Santa Ana events. We had our single pane windows shatter more than once from debris in the wind. We taped cardboard up and went to sleep. That “70 mph” was all I needed to hear to confirm our next project: we were going to build a catio for these cats, and we were going to do it on the pre-existing porch structure to save time and money. We spent a week framing out the structure. We had to carve into the logs of the house to embed the wood supports for the framing.

And from there, every piece of wood was custom carved and cut to fit around the existing timber supports. The existing porch was so wildly uneven that there are gaps between each piece of old wood and the new framing. Our plan is to mix all the wood chips from the project with mortar/chinking and stuff the gaps — a good solution for the log cabin look. We built a plywood pony wall up to 28 inches from the interior of the porch, which gives a height of ~4-5ft from the exterior ground below. It’s capped with a 2x6” railing for even the fluffiest of cats to find a perch. The exterior will be wrapped with corrugated metal that we’ll quick-age to match the metal that wraps the bottom of the cabin. On the interior of the porch, we’ll use shiplap to hide the framing.

The screens themselves can withstand winds up to 120 mph, but to-be-determined if they can hold the weight of a growing maniac cat who has already tried to climb them. In the event the screens succumb to cat (or wind or snow or neighbor judgment) we’ll reinforce with metal mesh. We’re going to maintain this screen porch regardless of what the screen is. We had the pleasure of running into one of our more industrious neighbors the other day, and Ben asked him, “hey we’re building a screen porch. Is this a terrible idea?” He laughed. “Well you’re definitely the first.” But he liked it. Great way to diminish wind into the house. Simple way to regulate the temperature with massive south-facing windows. And indeed a practical outdoor safe haven for cats in predator territory. Just because you’re the first doesn’t mean you’re foolish — just foolhardy. There’s plenty of that here. This town has the typical mountain town’s truncated version of a colonizers’ history: “established 1881.” But it was plenty established prior to that by the Uncompahgre Band of the Ute Nation, removed by the U.S. Army on September 7, 1881, nearly 140 years ago. The government relocated the Uncompahgre Ute People to Utah, and one year after the Ute were forcibly removed from their ancestral land, San Miguel County split off from Ouray County and was made its own political subdivision in the newly-formed State of Colorado. In 1879, the ore-laden valley already had 50 people living in it, with a new narrow gauge railway only 2 miles away. By 1885, it was a town of 200 people. There was a hotel, a couple saloons, a pool hall. Winters were treacherous; the valley was and is prone to avalanches. But where there’s gold, there’s gumption. The power needed to run the stamp mill to process ore drove innovation. Timber was scarce at such high elevations, so a wood powered steam mill wouldn’t cut it. But the San Miguel River just a few miles down from the mine looked promising. Thus began the development and construction of the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant. It was a hit. In fact, it was so successful that the Ames Plant led to the adoption of alternating currents at Niagara Falls and eventually to being adopted worldwide as a viable power solution. The plant remains, but the gold rush obviously didn’t. By 1940, the U.S. Census declared this little town I call home as tied for the lowest population in the country: 2 people. By 1960, it was one of four incorporated towns in the U.S. with no residents. But the joke was on the Census — the town’s single resident was just out of town the day the census came through. 1960 population: 1. By 1980 the population grew to 38, 69 in 1990, and about 180 now. (Plus 51 dogs according to the town’s website.) With modern amenities, it’s easier to be here. Studded snow tires, satellite internet, solar panels, instant coffee. No matter the hardships, there’s the reality of the present. In the 1880s, as the town boomed, the Ouray Times declared, “it will be at no distant day a far more pretentious town than it is now.” That day hasn’t exactly arrived, but I guess it depends on what you consider pretentious. I don’t think the town claims any airs of excellence beyond what’s true. In fact, the town hardly claims anything at all. There’s no sign indicating it’s even here. There’s just the old side and the new side. The new side, the Eastern half, was drawn out in the early 1990s, some 100 years later, and is separated from the Old Town by an avalanche zone—preserved open space for hiking in the summer, preserved open space for surviving in the winter. The town forbids short-term rentals, no one has a fence, dogs roam free, and all the houses have that cabin look to them. A boulder nests in a grove near a trailhead in the center of town with a plaque paying respect to the Utes who called this valley home. There’s no industry here. No businesses allowed. If you want a $7 latte, you can drive the 14 miles required to get it, assuming there’s not an avalanche blocking your path. You can, however, buy a pink lemonade in a

solo cup at the permanent lemonade stand run by the local feral child mafia. Crystals (rocks) can be purchased for an additional cost. We bought one, hoping to buy favor at the same time. The town plan has a few guiding principles, and it’s all in the name of preservation. We must preserve: 1 - the quiet atmosphere 2 - the rustic character 3 - the natural setting

And finally: 4 - protect the health and wellbeing of the people here No snowmobiles, no ATVs, no drones. In fact, the only sign of the outside world here are the passers-through. When you take the dirt road through town to the end, you enter National Forest, and you can hike over the pass saddle at nearly 12,000 feet before descending down the other side into Silverton. The pass road climbs rutted through an aspen forest before scaling across a scree field and then lurching over to the other side. Every day, it seems like 30 or so Texans and Arizonans in lifted and loud Jeeps with unused mods climb over this mountain in the comfort of their air conditioning, simply to drive down the other side. You could hike it, ride it, run it, and ski it, but they don’t. They rev their engines, kicking up dust in a town of feral children and roaming dogs, staring at us instead of waving. I’ve lived here for two months and look how salty I am. I’ll fit in yet. But today, there is a temperature that whispers of perfect trails and the dwindling of ogglers driving 35 in a 15. It’s already snowed in the mountains we see from our kitchen. Today, like a dedication to the Septembers of our youth, you can feel a chill in the air. A temperature akin to pencils and sweaters and reinventing yourself. A temperature that doesn’t exactly sing “screen porch” but could if you had the right slippers on. That’s what I did this morning: put my slippers on and sat there in the cool mountain morning air, thinking about the cemetery behind our house, about the Ute tribe, about the miners, about the mailman who died on Christmas in 1875 on the pass, about the 5 people who died in avalanches here just last year, about the people in their cars on their phones driving through, and all the people who’s very first question to us was, “so are you gonna live here part-time or full-time?” Maybe it will be a hard place to live. But at least we’ll have a screen porch.

Every week I'm writing about moving to log cabin in a small town at 10,000 feet. Subscribe here for free: tinyletter.com/keltonwrites

#colorado #small town life #home renovation #amwriting #creative writing #newsletter #a little bit better

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eabunnymund · 3 years

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Just did our first transport to Snip-it yesterday of some barn kittens. Got them vaccinated, neutered, and chipped. One kitten, lovingly named Cujo, has a passion for biting, full on snake bites fangs go all the way in. When they were first captured before being transported to the barn he gave my brother several punctures.

They've come a long way with the handling they get at the barn, enough that I could get them from kennel to carrier with only some spitting and swiping, no thrashing wildly anymore.

I really enjoy working with the barn cats, though I'm against outdoor cats I support stable feral colonies and placing un adoptable cats with barns. (Prefer rat snakes and owls to cats personally)

Sometimes you have to reach a middle ground to achieve results, a fixed, vaccinated, and chipped barn cat is better than one who has litter after litter after litter. That's the choice we have, not barn cat vs snake and owl, but healthy fixed barn cat vs unhealthy constantly multiplying barn cats.

So far my mom's buisness is doing good, we have done barn work and now vet transports, and at home sitting for parrots. This week we have our first dog coming to stay at our house.

Once my brother moves out we'll turn his room into a pet room, primarily for small pets like rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. If we get the house in the divorce and alimony we are looking to remodel the bathroom/under stairs closet/large storage room into another room and screening in the porch for a catio.

There's a lot of horse people and exotic pet owners who can't take vacations because of their pets and we're really focusing more on that alongside simple pet sitting.

They're also building a pet hospital two blocks down, so we'll see how we live the team there in case of emergencies and if we'll switch vets.

#rin's mundane life

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awellboiledicicle · 4 years

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Not to be rude at all, but I’ve fostered over 10 Savannah cats, most of whom have been surrendered to our rescue due to their size and need for intellectual stimulation, both of which proved impossible things for their owners to provide at the rate they needed. Temperament-wise, though, they have all proven to be quick to learn and exceptionally affectionate. Every cat is different, and the ones who wreak havoc are the ones who were untrained and allowed to roam outside without (continued)

being on a harness, which is, frankly, an asinine and highly dangerous thing for ANY cat owner to do, presuming they value their cat’s life and have any respect for other local fauna.

oookay? im not sure where this came from or why?

Is it because Havoc exists and i take him on walks in his harness? He’s named Havoc because someone chucked him out a window going 60 down the highway and the next few hours were havoc trying to get him medical care for a broken pelvis? He’s only unattended outside the house when he’s on the back porch and that’s screened in to be a catio.

Pettybone was indoor/outdoor only because my parents are physically incapable of listening to me citing--like you said-- the dangers of letting a cat wander, including wild life concerns in both directions. Now the only unsupervised outside time she has is “mom thought she was inside after our walks and told me she was in, and we discovered 5 mins later that she’d been chilling on the steps.” Its extremely rare.

Bessy has been unsupervised a whole 1 time in her time here and thats bc she ran out the door when dad went out for a smoke before the porch was screened in and we had to pull her out from under the shed because she spooked herself.

The cats are being closely supervised when we go on walks, because we have a large back yard to walk in, and at no point do we let them chase anything thats not a moth or grasshopper.

I don’t know if rude would be the term i’d reach for, but by god you sure have confused me anon.

Also like. you might have the wrong blog. or something. Because idk why savannah cats are relevant to me, a person with two mutt cats gotten from a barn litter at a family friends house, a small shelter cat i rehabbed myself, and an admitadly lanky orange boi who’s whole history is.. again... “survived being yote from a speeding car onto concrete” “lonk” and “orange”.

Did i accidentally reblog something that made it sound like i was out here going “breed your cat with a wild animal and it’ll be chill”? did i go into a fugue state and go full opposite day? I did shelter work for a couple years. I was the cat behavior person and the person passing out flyers for the shelter so people didn’t just--and i cannot stress this enough-- throw animals out of cars so they would die. If there’s info on the benefits of keeping cats inside or on supervised walks, i have read it and shared it and teach it.

I am so confused but also mildly delighted. What happened here

#Anonymous #Mok Heeds The Call #asks

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petdarlingshop · 4 years

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How to Entertain Your Indoor Cat

Did you know that indoor cats tend to be healthier and live longer than outdoor cats? Many cat owners say they have a hard time keeping their cat strictly indoors because they easily become bored. But, given proper indoor cat entertainment and stimulation, cats are perfectly happy to stay inside.

Learn more about the benefits of keeping your cat indoors, plus get tips for entertaining them.

Indoor cats enjoy extra protection from most diseases, predators and other hazards, such as cars, that outdoor cats regularly experience. In fact, cats kept exclusively indoors live on average twice as long as outdoor cats. When allowed outside, your cat is in danger of becoming lost, injured by other animals, hit by a car, ingesting poisons and is at greater risk of becoming infected by serious diseases and parasites.

By keeping your cat inside, you increase their chances of living a longer, healthier and happier life. However, many pet owners allow their cats outside because they’re afraid their feline friend will get bored. But with a little preparation and patience, your cat can be quite entertained and content inside.

Can Indoor Cats Be Happy?

Yes, indoor cats can be happy living exclusively indoors. Just like their canine counterparts, cats are more than content to live inside and be close with their humans. There are some common misconceptions that cats are simply too independent or too difficult to be kept inside all the time, but this simply isn’t true. Creating an enriching environment for your cat will help ensure they are getting enough stimulation to keep them entertained and content.

However, if you’re interested in letting your indoor cat explore the outside world from time to time, you can try taking them on walks using a harness and leash. Some cats might require a lot of training and patience to achieve this.

Other options for exposing your cat to the outdoors include building them a private “catio,” or a secure screened-in area that is outside. Small “catios” can even be built and placed in windows in urban environments. If your backyard is adequately fenced in or if you have a porch with no exit points, you can allow your cat out to explore these spaces with your supervision.

Keep Your Cat Entertained Through Play

Houses and apartments often don’t give cats wide, open spaces to roam, so they are far less active than outdoor cats. To make up for their more sedentary lifestyle, it’s important to play with your cat for at least 30 minutes every day.

Here are some quick game ideas to try with your feline friend:

Fetch: Yes, cats will play fetch, too! Pick a toy you can throw across the room easily and that your cat can carry in their mouth. Whenever your cat brings the toy back, pet them and give them treats to reward the behavior. Even if they don’t bring it back, you can pick it up and throw it again. Chasing the toy around is exercise for you both.

Crumpled Paper: Cats love toys that crinkle. Bat crumpled pieces of paper around for your cat to chase, pounce on and catch. Just make sure to dispose of these makeshift toys to prevent your cat from eating them.

Feather & String: Purchase or make a wand toy with a long string and a feather on the end. Your cat will happily chase this toy around with you.

Paper Bag: An empty paper shopping bag can easily be one of your cat’s favorite toys. Lay the bag on its side so your cat can play inside. Scratch and poke at the sides as your cat bats at the movements from the inside of the bag.

Light: Cats love chasing light reflections. A watch, your phone screen or a mirror can all be used to reflect light for your cat to chase. At the end of playtime, be careful to switch to a toy that your cat can actually catch to keep your cat from being frustrated. NOTE: Laser pointers can damage your cat’s eyes, and they can also cause undue frustration. Avoid using them to play with your cat.

Tablet Games: If you have a tablet, you can find games and apps created for cats (yes, really) that can indulge your cat’s curiosity.

Try to keep your cat’s playtime routine new and exciting. Switch to different rooms, new variations of games and even new toys. Keep a portion of their toys tucked away so you can swap them in and out, making them more exciting and interesting when they are available to play with.

Fun for Them and for You All pets need to be entertained and given proper stimulation, particularly indoor cats. Your cat will live a longer and happier life if you keep them inside, and by putting in the time and extra effort to play with them, you’ll create a stronger bond.

#cat #catblog #catpost #kitten #cattoys #catplay

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bike42 · 4 years

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Eagle River Multi-Sport July 2020

July 26 – August 1, 2020

We had planned to do the Northwoods Wisconsin bike tour again this year, with my sister Sandra and her husband Matt. The 2020 trip was cancelled due to the pandemic, and rescheduled to 2021. That bummed us out, so we found a condo near Eagle River on VRBO and decided to do our own trip. I contacted the organizer of the Northwoods ride to see if he’d share the bike routes with me, but he said he couldn’t due to liability issues. Understandable, so we thought we’d just figure it out.

Its about a 4-hour drive to Eagle River for me and Jeff; 8+ hours for Sandra and Matt from Moorhead, MN. Since our check-in wasn’t until 4PM, Jeff and I met my folks at their ��Fish Camp” on the way up. Fish Camp is a little cottage near Pelican Lake that my dad and brother have been building over the last 10 years. Initially, it was going to be a camp during ice fishing season (my dad’s favorite time), but its morphed into a nice little retreat for my folks and they’re up there a lot – especially now with the pandemic going on. All of their volunteer work is on hold, so they might as well be up there where they’re more unplugged from the world. My dad fishes a bit, and my mom reads; they work on puzzles and play cribbage. Lilly the cat sleeps on the screen porch – bigger than her “catio” at home. We had a great visit, then headed another 30 miles north to our rented condo at the Chanticleer Resort. San and Matt arrived just after 5PM and we had a nice dinner and great time catching up.

Monday morning, I was able to piece together one of the routes we’d ridden up here two years ago – ok, there were a few wrong turns, but most of it came back! First stop was the historic Burnt Rollways Dam and Boat Hoist. Great information plaque about the history of logging in the area, and the boat hoist operator was just showing up for work, so it was fun to talk with him.

From there, we rode the glorious County Highway X and went to a coffee shop in Three Lakes for a long break. Mary and Geo (mom and dad) also met us there, and then they headed off for their own adventure which included looking at second-hand shops for a blender to make our smoothies. The 4 of us rode to the boat launch at Franklin Lake and had lunch, and watched a small group (3 people, 3 kayaks and 3 dogs) launch with some considerable trouble due to the wind, and the dogs! Never short of something to watch when you’re at a boat launch. Then it was back to the condo, sort of making a big triangle for the day. One of the roads I’d selected turned out to be gravel, so we rode further on Highway 70 instead. Honestly, I was in agony. Physically I was ready for the ride, but we’ve just not had much time on the saddle and my butt was so sore as by now it had been over 4 hours of riding. Back for a shower and then mom and dad arrived with beer and the blender. I tested it out with a batch of margaritas, we had dinner and then a walk down to the lake. San and Matt went for a quick swim, but then a rain storm whipped in out of nowhere!

Tuesday, we gave our butts a much-needed break and drove back to Franklin – Butternut National Forest to hike. We choose the Hidden Lakes Trail, which our paper map without much detail said was “approximately” 15 miles. Beautiful forest – up and down eskers. Hardly anyone else out there. We passed by several beautiful remote campsites and many beautiful lakes. About 7 miles in, we were walking along the edge of White Deer Lake, when I realized we were in a real campground – campers with generators, people with kayaks, people with dogs … we stopped in a beautiful empty campsite and had lunch, happy to have pit toilets and drinking water. After lunch, we got into some swampy area around Four Ducks Lake. Despite some valiant attempts to ford the swamp, we decided to turn back and hiked along the road back to our car – still a 14-mile day, so who know how long it would have been if we’d have been able to stick to the trail!! Exhausted, we headed out in search of beer and burgers – and found an awesome spot with an outside patio in Eagle River: The Craftsman American Tavern.

Wednesday found us back on the bikes – this time we planned to ride a network of connected trails “The Heart of Vilas County.” Rather than ride up and back, we decided to shuttle a car to our end point at Manitowish Waters. Consequently, we didn’t start riding until 11 am! We started in St Germain, rode through Sayner, and took a break at a store with an ice cream shop out back somewhere along the way. The trail went through a lot of National Forest areas – so amazing! One stretch along the shore of Trout Lake was breathtaking! As we got closer to Boulder Junction, there was more traffic on the trail and that’s often a little uncomfortable. Mary and Geo were in Boulder Junction and had eaten lunch there, we met them at the library and visited for a while. The next stretch to Manitowish Waters was perfect – smooth trail with no road crossings and very few people. I’d never seen a trail with mowed grass along both sides – it was like riding a golf course path!

Thursday, we took another day off the bikes and ventured out into the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. We went to Matt’s “Deer Camp” land (not as improved as Fish Camp is), and walked around the trails (old logging roads) there. Then to Iron River for lunch, where we had a pasty picnic. Back at the condo, we took the paddle boards down to the beach on Dollar Lake and cooled our sore behinds in the water! It’s a beautiful little lake, complete with a Loon family with two babies. On the front side of our condo, we’re steps away from one of the Chain ‘O Lakes channels that connects Eagle Lake to Voyager Lake – interesting boat and people watching, but not good for swimming!

For Friday’s ride, we pieced together some of what I’d recalled and rode county roads to Star Lake. There we had a picnic lunch and watched a couple loading up their kayak (45 minutes and probably less time than that on the lake!), and several people and their dogs. On our way back, my route turned into a gravel road again, so back to Cty K and we followed the old yellow arrows on the road and it brought us to an area we remembered – except with a brand-new paved road. We had a cold drink stop at Bauer’s Dam Resort, and then an easy and beautiful ride back to the condo. We saw more than 20 deer today, and beautiful scenery. Can’t wait to be up here riding again next year. We rode about 57 miles today and the nerve endings must be dying off, as the long rides are finally getting comfortable.

Saturday morning, we had a casual morning – San went for a run, Jeff and Matt when out on the paddleboards on the channel and I did yoga on the dock. Then we had breakfast, and packed up and headed out. A fast week, but a fabulous one. The weather was perfect – 70s and sunny every day, and 50s at night. Being with San and Matt is easy – meals fall together, decisions happen with no bad options, and people are forgiving when things don’t go as planned! Next year when we can do the tour, it’ll feel very different!

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its-lifestyle · 5 years

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In their new outdoor living room, Coco and Rosie have lounging areas, exercise equipment, fragrant plants, tasteful lighting accents and a water fountain. The three-season sanctuary is connected to the main house with a stylish elevated breezeway. Coco and Rosie think they’re worth it. After all, they’re cats.

The outside hangout for the two middle-aged Animal Humane Society adoptees was created by Suzy Kronfeld and her husband, David Baum.

They used to let their cats roam outside, but the Edina, Minnesota, couple became increasingly worried about them being injured by cars or coyotes – or that they would harm other wildlife.

When Coco insisted on being let out, the couple would follow her to make sure she didn’t get into trouble. “I wanted the cats to be safe. I wanted the birds to be safe. I wanted Coco to enjoy nature,” Kronfeld said. “She really loves to be outdoors.”

Then Kronfeld read about cat patios, better known as catios.

In recent years, DIY cat owners, pet companies and cat-friendly contractors have begun creating screened enclosures – which range in price from less than US$50 to US$30,000 (RM210-RM126,000) – that keep cats safe while letting them enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

Kate Benjamin, founder of Hauspanther.com and co-author of Catification, a book about cat-centric interior design, said catios started to become a thing about 10 years ago. They’ve become so much a part of the cat culture that some US cities (Portland Oregon; Seattle; and Austin, Texas) have catio tours.

They’ve even become a niche in the home improvement industry, with contractors specialising in costly catios and designers turning out catio kits.

There’s plenty of space for Coco in her special enclosure.

A catio can be as simple as a wire-mesh box attached outside a window. It can also be a screened-in apartment balcony, or a custom-designed, room-sized deck fenced in and outfitted for felines.

That’s what Kronfeld and Baum opted to build for their cats this summer. The wood-framed screened enclosure in their backyard measures about 10ft by 13ft (3m x 4m) and about 9ft (2.7m) high.

Inside are elevated lounging and observation platforms, hiding places, cat-friendly plants, a large red pine branch for climbing, and a sisal-wrapped pole for scratching. There’s some human furniture there too, as well as a potting bench.

The cats get to their catio by going through a pet door installed in a window of the house and then walking along an enclosed, elevated catwalk – a sort of kitty-sized skyway – that extends about 30ft (9m), rising over a trellis, wrapping around the garage and connecting to the catio.

Access hatches are built into the walkway, in case a human needs to reach in to help out a cat.

Wind in the whiskers

David Kronfeld watches as Coco makes her way through her very own purpose-built room.

The couple hired general contractor John Denn, owner of the Home Team, for the job this summer – even though he admitted he’d never heard of a catio before. He said the project was similar to building a screened-in porch, except with some feline-oriented features.

“My wife helped with some of the design,” he said. He estimated the project took more than 100 hours of labour. “It’s very custom.” But Denn said the project went so well that he is looking forward to building more catios. “It’s definitely something I will offer to my customers,” he said.

Across the US, specialty companies have already sprung up to cater to customers seeking outdoor cat spaces. Robert Johnston used to build animal enclosures for businesses like veterinary clinics and pet-boarding companies. But now he calls himself Catio BoB, working full-time building catios at homes with options like external litter boxes and elevated “skyboxes”.

Johnston is based in the Atlanta area, but he’s getting calls from New York City and Miami asking him to do jobs costing thousands of dollars. “There’s a whole big demographic I can fill,” he said.

“The catio is more involved than knocking out a birdhouse in your garage,” said David Murphy, an Austin, Texas, woodworker who has built more than 150 catios as The Cat Carpenter, a business he started about five years ago after he got laid off from his previous job as an accountant.

“People who build things usually aren’t cat people. And people who like cats typically don’t know which end of the hammer to hold.”

“My goal is to make sure the catio complements the home and garden, so that the home supports and serves all members, including the fur family,” said Cynthia Chomos, a catio designer, feng shui consultant and founder of Catio Spaces, a Seattle-area company that builds custom catios and sells DIY plans.

“An outdoor catio allows a cat to enjoy the wind in his whiskers and be safe,” Chomos said, in settings ranging from skyscrapers to houseboats. “They can go anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to something very, very elaborate,” she said.

Chomos said she designed one catio project that cost more than US$30,000 (RM126,000).

“I’ve seen some that are insane, huge, bigger than my entire condo,” said Hauspanther.com’s Benjamin, who installed a US$5,000 (RM21,000) catio at her home in Phoenix, Arizona. “I do not think this is a fad. I think it is a growing trend.”

Mental stimulation

Coco’s room is connected to the back of the garage and linked to the main house via a stylish breezeway.

According to Johnston, customers consider money spent on a catio well spent, because it can prevent expensive vet bills for a cat injured while roaming outside.

Dr Lindsay Merkel, chief of small animal internal medicine and associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, said cats that run free are in danger of everything, from cars to catching a fatal disease spread by preying on diseased rabbits to picking up something from other cats.

But cats that are kept in the house need mental stimulation. Merkel said a catio can be a safe way to keep a house cat entertained. “I’m actually trying to talk my husband into building a catio,” Merkel said.

Laura Moss is editor-in-chief and co-founder of AdventureCats.org, a website devoted to promoting safe outdoor experiences for cats. She endorses catios, along with walks on harnesses, expeditions in backpacks or trips in strollers for felines.

Kronfeld said her cats have been in their catio for about a month. Coco uses it the most, often coming out in the morning to lounge in the sun and then visiting again in the evening.

Kronfeld and Baum expect the patio to be a three-season attraction for the cats, but Kronfeld said she’ll allow the cats to go out in the winter if they choose. “If Coco wants to come out, I’ll come out with her,” Kronfeld said. “Right, Coco?” – Tribune News Service/Star Tribune (Minneapolis)/Richard Chin

Rosie and Coco in their comfy and safe catio.

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purrcraze · 5 years

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Why You Should Not Let Your Ragdoll Cat Outside

Ragdoll cats are known for their intelligence and desire to follow their human’s every move, but this is usually contained within their home. Sometimes, however, cat owners think they’re doing their pet a favor by letting them outside. As a former animal shelter employee and volunteer, I’ve seen some of these outings go horribly wrong!

Should you let your Ragdoll cat outside? While it might be tempting to let your feline friend explore the outdoors with you, Ragdolls should never be left to free roam. The mental stimulation is great for your cat, but his safety is more important! Consider other ways for your cat to get some fresh air, such as setting up an enclosed area or training him to walk on a leash.

The outdoors may be calling to you and your cat, but letting him loose comes with some risks. Don’t worry, though, because there are ways that you can let your cat enjoy life’s simple pleasures without risking life and limb.

Why Should You Bring Your Ragdoll Cat Outside?

Most experts and enthusiasts would argue strongly against letting your Ragdoll roam, but some cats are insistent. While the risks outweigh the rewards, there certainly are some benefits to letting your cat spend time outside.

Slowly introducing your cat to environments other than your home may help them adapt to future changes. This could make their next vet visit or a move less stressful for everyone.

In the event that you face an emergency evacuation, having your cat accustomed to leaving their home can truly be a lifesaver.

Cats have a well-earned reputation for being couch potatoes, so it’s easy to forget that they have inherited curiosity and prey drive from their wild ancestors. Allowing them some time outdoors helps them express their inner lion.

While it is not generally advised to let your cat outside, it is up to you to consider all information available and act in the cat’s best interest.

What Could Happen If I Let My Ragdoll Cat Outside?

A quick trip outside could result in problems ranging from tangled fur to a permanently missing cat. It is important to weigh these risks against the benefits of outdoor exploration.

All too often, cat owners wanting to treat their Ragdoll to an adventure get more than what they bargained for. Your Ragdoll might be completely calm and confident inside, but something as small as a lawnmower could cause him to take off.

Once he’s in “flight mode”, it may be next to impossible to get him back.

Vehicular traffic poses a major danger to house cats. Sadly, most of us have had the misfortune of seeing someone’s pet on the side of the road at some point. Cats aren’t wired to understand traffic safety and should be kept away when possible.

Disturbingly enough, unaccompanied cats may fall victim to wrongdoers. Even more so than most cat breeds, Ragdolls are overly trusting of people that could pose a threat to them.

Sadly, humane organizations worldwide have seen harm done by strangers, from cats being lit on fire to being shot with BB guns.

Well-intentioned neighbors may assume that an unfamiliar cat is an unloved stray, and rehome your beloved pet via an animal shelter or personal networking without your knowledge.

Approximately 3.2 million cats enter shelters and pounds in the United States each year. Only about 90,000 of those animals are ever returned to their original families. (source)

With “pet flipping” – the act of stealing a pet and “rehoming” it for a profit – on the rise, designer cats face an elevated risk of being stolen. While it’s unlikely that catnapping your average cat would be profitable for thieves, Ragdolls typically cost upwards of $400!

Your Ragdoll could also face danger while interacting with other animals. Dogs may give chase, injuring them or causing them to run into hazardous areas. Other cats may be territorial and engage in aggressive behavior with your Ragdoll as well.

While less likely, it is not unheard for kittens and smaller cats to be picked up by large predatory birds like owls and falcons, even in urban areas!

If left outside, your cat could also face a variety of ailments and infestations. At the very least, he could bring back fleas, ticks, and parasites that could spread throughout your home.

More importantly, he could contract potentially fatal diseases like rabies, feline leukemia, or distemper.

Ready to Take Your Ragdoll Cat Exploring? Take these Preparation Steps First!

Bringing your cat outdoors is dangerous, but there are some ways to minimize the risk.

Vaccines & Physicals – Make sure your cat is current on preventative vaccines, and ask your vet if your cat is healthy enough for potential added stress and physical activity. Ragdolls are prone to both heart and joint issues, so this is very important. Spay or Neuter – If you have a female ragdoll, make sure she is not in heat. This can make her more likely to try and escape and potentially attract other cats. Unaltered males are also more likely to wander, looking for mates. Identification – Tags and collars are a good way to distinguish your cat from a stray, but can easily fall off. Microchips are inexpensive and a much more reliable way to identify your cat to police, animal control, and shelter workers if needed.

The above tips are just a start– Always follow the advice of your veterinarian and use your best judgment!

What if Your Ragdoll Wants to be Outside, but You Can’t Trust Him?

If you can’t find a safe way for your Ragdoll to enjoy the outdoors, consider the following options.

Catios – If you have a porch, chances are that you can make a DIY catio! Just add some heavy duty screens to enclose an existing outdoor area.

Crates and Cages – A large dog crate or small animal cage can serve as a safe place for your cat to hang out, but remember that if your Ragdoll can fit his head through, the may be able to escape- Choose your crate accordingly.

Pet Carriers – From the classic plastic carrier to backpacks with windows for your cat to peep through, you can find something your Ragdoll will enjoy.

Leash and Harness – It might sound crazy, but this trend is really taking off. You can see famous cats like @burmaadventurecat on Instagram exploring the world thanks to a secure leash and harness combination.

Regardless of the option you choose, always keep your cat’s feelings in mind. Make sure that you introduce all changes slowly, and never leave your cat alone and vulnerable in an enclosure!