- Joined
- Apr 14, 2018
- Messages
- 14
- Purraise
- 14
Hi everyone! I am the proud step-mom of two little furbabies Thumper and Tigger, who I am madly in love with (and it is mutual!). Tigger is about 7, orange male. Thumper is my little baby girl, was the runt and is still small, gray and white and 2 or 3. I apologize in advance for the "book" I am going to write, lol.
Had it been up to me, I would have tried to make them indoor only cats, but my fiancé didn't know better and now they are used to being indoor/outdoor cats. My honey's home backs up to 12 acres of woods, and they love it out there.
My dilemma which is keeping me up nights is we bought a home as his landlord is selling this place, and the closer we get to moving the more worried I get. We are planning not to let them outside at least for a while, but I want to know how I can best protect them.
So far, I have gotten them used to using a litter box, although they still prefer outside. I bought harnesses and leashes. I am trying to get them used to them, starting by just laying it over them, etc. Tigger lets us put it on him (he's an affectionate rag doll) but Thumper will not, and the one time I managed to get it partway closed on her, she squirmed out and ended up stuck on the rug by the Velcro, lol. I am hoping to get long runs as well as try to walk them around the area. They are also microchipped. I want to get a GPS device in case they get out, but none have ratings that make me feel secure, and Thumper loses collars all the time.
We are planning to bring a section of our ratty old sectional because it's familiar to them, and I was going to buy a diffuser on Amazon that is supposed to calm cats.
I am paranoid they will escape before we are ready to let them out. I am concerned about the neighborhood, which is a rural area and we have a very low traffic street, BUT there is a pitty next door that the neighbor walks without a leash. He is cat friendly as they have cats, but my cats will panic big time should he come lumbering over to meet them and I'm scared they will either run into the street or into the woods and get lost.
When my honey was at the new house doing work on it last week, a neighbor came by looking for her missing cat! She said there is a big mean feral cat that fights with other cats, but I am also concerned maybe someone who doesn't like all the cats does something about it.
I feel so guilty and worried. They are so, so happy right now, and we're getting ready to turn their world upside down and I can't even warn them. Tigger especially is going to be very depressed I fear. I look at my little girl, she looks so tiny and helpless curled on the couch with her little paw over her eyes, and I feel like I am throwing her to the wolves.
What else should I be doing? Are there any good devices to keep them from getting out? Has anyone used a GPS tracker on their cats? What should I do about my little Pumpkin losing her collars and i.d.? Anyone had success with leashes and runs?
Please help me protect me little ones! Thanks everyone and it's nice to be here!
Had it been up to me, I would have tried to make them indoor only cats, but my fiancé didn't know better and now they are used to being indoor/outdoor cats. My honey's home backs up to 12 acres of woods, and they love it out there.
My dilemma which is keeping me up nights is we bought a home as his landlord is selling this place, and the closer we get to moving the more worried I get. We are planning not to let them outside at least for a while, but I want to know how I can best protect them.
So far, I have gotten them used to using a litter box, although they still prefer outside. I bought harnesses and leashes. I am trying to get them used to them, starting by just laying it over them, etc. Tigger lets us put it on him (he's an affectionate rag doll) but Thumper will not, and the one time I managed to get it partway closed on her, she squirmed out and ended up stuck on the rug by the Velcro, lol. I am hoping to get long runs as well as try to walk them around the area. They are also microchipped. I want to get a GPS device in case they get out, but none have ratings that make me feel secure, and Thumper loses collars all the time.
We are planning to bring a section of our ratty old sectional because it's familiar to them, and I was going to buy a diffuser on Amazon that is supposed to calm cats.
I am paranoid they will escape before we are ready to let them out. I am concerned about the neighborhood, which is a rural area and we have a very low traffic street, BUT there is a pitty next door that the neighbor walks without a leash. He is cat friendly as they have cats, but my cats will panic big time should he come lumbering over to meet them and I'm scared they will either run into the street or into the woods and get lost.
When my honey was at the new house doing work on it last week, a neighbor came by looking for her missing cat! She said there is a big mean feral cat that fights with other cats, but I am also concerned maybe someone who doesn't like all the cats does something about it.
I feel so guilty and worried. They are so, so happy right now, and we're getting ready to turn their world upside down and I can't even warn them. Tigger especially is going to be very depressed I fear. I look at my little girl, she looks so tiny and helpless curled on the couch with her little paw over her eyes, and I feel like I am throwing her to the wolves.
What else should I be doing? Are there any good devices to keep them from getting out? Has anyone used a GPS tracker on their cats? What should I do about my little Pumpkin losing her collars and i.d.? Anyone had success with leashes and runs?
Please help me protect me little ones! Thanks everyone and it's nice to be here!