Argh!

[silverthorne]

Okay, some people are just dumb.

Outdoor cats. I don't agree with the concept, just because of all the possible things that could go wrong that would guarantee Kitty never makes it home again, or if s/he does, could be in some pretty nasty shape.

That doesn't mean though, that I'll get on my soap-box and tell owners who do let Kitty outside not to do that. It's not a fight worth having, and I'd be hypocritical for getting into one over it because when I was younger, I did have indoor/outdoor cats. What changed my own mind was exactly the scenario mentioned above; Tass never came home one night, and it's hard to tell if he was picked up by someone else (no 'found' posters ever appeared), got hit by a car (Never saw a corpse on the side of the road that looked like him), or got eaten by a coyote or hawk (good luck finding the remains if that happened). So, no outdoor cats for me.

Since I took Foot in, I've seen two more cats outside--one gray, one white, both well fed. In fact, as of today, I've seen the gray a total of five times. He's a handsome boy, friendly as hell (he made a beeline for the door when I opened it a few minutes ago, and would have got in if I hadn't reacted quickly), sleek fur, well-muscled and groomed. No doubt whatsoever that he has an owner somewhere.

He's also intact, which means there's a good chance he was the daddy of the kittens Foot didn't have, and probably of many others that I'll never see.

I will never lecture someone on the whole indoor/outdoor issue.

But I'm ready to beat the hell out of the irresponsible human who's letting their intact Tom run around.

GRRRRR!!!!!

Comments

[rebl1969.livejournal.com]

Well, our boys are strictly outdoor cats, but we have 5 acres and they're both fixed, so their lazy butts don't go wandering far and they're not all that near traffic. They were both stray kittens when we took them in so they don't care to leave. If we lived in the city we'd probably not have cats, because of the risks you mentioned above with outdoor city cats, and because I'm allergic and can't have them inside. I do worry about wild animals, but Freakshow's held up for 9 years now and Archie for, um, five maybe? Might be six. I forget what year we got him.

I think if it was *me*, I'd catch the tom, cage him, take him to the vet for snippage (not as expensive as spaying...I think maybe $20 or less) and then bring him back. Imagine the benefits...that many fewer potential abandoned kittens in the world. And I'd get a perverse glee in sending back a snipped cat as a message to the "owner". You know? Like, take care of your cat, mister!

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

If I were in a house, and didn't have to worry about maintenance coming into the apartment for the span of the healing process (I think it takes a week, and it's recommended to keep the cat inside and clean and make sure he isn't tearing the stitches out), I would. But since I just now signed the new lease for the upcoming year, that has the whole 'One cat, this color and this gender' thing, and is also fresh in management's mind...I'd be running a risk, that at my income and current problems, I can't take. :/

But yeah, if I didn't have to worry about booting myself and my own cat out on the street, you can bet that boy would be getting fixed.

[rebl1969.livejournal.com]

Are there any "we fix 'em and find 'em homes" societies in your area? Maybe if you can determine the boy is unhoused someone might could take and "rehabilitate" him.

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

He's definitely housed, is the problem. You don't get the nice fur and good muscle (and nicely full belly) that housed cats get in a stray, and that this pretty boy possesses. Also, some neighbors have told me there's an apartment that leaves their cat food outside sometimes, so I'd hazard that might be where the boy belongs.

[rebl1969.livejournal.com]

Ooh, bet you're right. That's too bad.

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

It is, especially since Foot and I just got woke up by his very loud 'meow' (we can't see him though).

It's thundering and raining, you see. Poor guy.