Post and discuss your pets

[zodiac66]

It probably depends on what awaits the cats out there. I guess that Germany is a paradise for cats, as everything wich might be remotely dangerous for humans and their cattle has been eradicated centuries ago (the last bear in the 17th century, the last wolf in early 19th). The biggest predators here are foxes (which stay away from human settlements) and in a few remote areas, lynxes and even a handful of wolves. All of our cats couldn't be kept inside for longer than an hour or two, then they wanted to go out again, even in winter. They appreciated taking a nap or warming up themselves inside, that was all. One of them once brought its kittens into the wardrobe, but that happened only once.

Yes, I exaggerated a bit with merely suggesting to throw them out, I was just a bit annoyed about humanizing and coddling them too much. You cannot turn an indoors cat into an outside cat that easily. However, I think that if you have a choice between both options, it's better to keep it outside. They are animals and not humans. They have feelings and they can be happy or sad, but their understanding of dignity and happiness is different from ours. We can surely teach/bend/manipulate them to be happy in situations which aren't natural for them, but I think that we shouldn't do that without a good reason. For me that doesn't include keeping them indoors.

Cats want to be independent, they prefer things to go as they like it. It's their nature to be solitary and thus to act egoistically. You know all that, of course. However, I have my own expectations as well. I'm feeding it and providing a rather safe sleeping place, but that's all. If it's too dangerous outside for a cat, the option for me won't be to keep it inside, but not to keep one at all.

Do you have the same ideals regarding dogs?

I do not humanize my kitties. I provide the best life for them that they want. There is a difference between a domesticated cat and a feral cat. Cats are not dumb. Why would they want to live outside when they can have a great life indoors. What are they really missing? Hunting? There are so many toys that can provide that. Plus feeding a diet of raw food can certainly assist with the nutritional value of hunting. Yes, i do feed my cats a partial raw diet.

We just have to agree to disagree about cats as pets.

[skullvomit]

I have 3 parrots. Nothing exotic, cockatiel and 2 love birds/agapornis, other whom had been attacked by a cat in a home before pet shop. I could strangle the idiot who keeps a cat and (free) bird in a same room...

I have always had bird(s), over 20 years. Couldn't live without one. When my oldest bird died at the ripe age of 18 I managed 3 months without one. It was too silent. Most likely 2 new cockatiels next month, gotta move my computer further away from the cage, they are dusty little buggers.

[krischan]

Do you have the same ideals regarding dogs?

Partly. Dogs need a lot of attention, they want to run around all the time. They want to have a position in a social order, which you want to be below yours. You have to care for them. You will have to pick up their poo from the street. If you don't have the time, patience or enough place for that, don't have a dog. I'm completely against keeping a dog in an apartment.

Apart from that, dogs are dangerous. You cannot let them run around freely. They tend to form packs and then they will hunt and kill sheep etc. It has happened in our neighbourhood and nobody was surprised.

I do not humanize my kitties. I provide the best life for them that they want. There is a difference between a domesticated cat and a feral cat. Cats are not dumb. Why would they want to live outside when they can have a great life indoors. What are they really missing? Hunting? There are so many toys that can provide that. Plus feeding a diet of raw food can certainly assist with the nutritional value of hunting. Yes, i do feed my cats a partial raw diet.

Hunting is the real thing. The difference between hunting and playing with a toy is like the difference between sex and... well you got it, I guess. Cats which hunt also like to play with toys (it simply invokes their instincts), but they enjoy hunting a lot more.

We just have to agree to disagree about cats as pets.

I have no real problem with keeping a cat indoors, but only if it's done with the proper amount of care. If that's not possible for some reason (which might not even be the fault of anybody), it won't be good for the cat.

[Thomh]

I have a wonderful cat (no particular race, a nice little half-persian, half everything) that decides for himself if he wants to be inside or outside. We have one of our windows open almost always, so he just comes and goes as he wants, but he`s usually home. His main hobby is to hunt and show off his victims by putting them in front of our door. I guess it`s his way to tell us that we`re terrible hunters and we better learn from him

His other big hobby is to sit at my keyboard while I`m trying to work, making typing quite an interesting struggle.

I`ve always had cats around me as I grew up on a farm. The pigs, chickens, dogs, sheep and turkeys never really interested me, I usually was seen observing the cats playing around.

[Leopold Stotch]

I'm completely against keeping a dog in an apartment.

Casey was living in an apt. for some time before we got her. and she's big.... extremely hyper.... yeah, def was not good.

if it's a little dog, like a Chihuahua or something, then im okay with that, but a dog like a Golden Retriever? no, no bueno.

[zodiac66]

I have no real problem with keeping a cat indoors, but only if it's done with the proper amount of care. If that's not possible for some reason (which might not even be the fault of anybody), it won't be good for the cat.

If someone is going to take the responsibility of owning any pet there should be a proper amount of care.

I just wonder why that cat tree caused so much fuss. My kitties are going to LOVE it.

[BobCox2]

Comments:

On dogs in an apartment in general you right, but believe it or not with proper care a Great Dane does extremely well in one if you train them.
It's not size it's activity level and personality.
I know non-stop hyper barker little dogs get you banned a lot.

My Cats get good care but sometimes choose to live dangerously.
Arguing with them was counterproductive for both of us.

[BobCox2]

grr. Tiger attack

[krischan]

Casey was living in an apt. for some time before we got her. and she's big.... extremely hyper.... yeah, def was not good.

if it's a little dog, like a Chihuahua or something, then im okay with that, but a dog like a Golden Retriever? no, no bueno.

Well OK, a Chihuahua is better kept inside, it could fall into the scheme of prey of outdoor cats .

[BobCox2]

I know so many idiots that got owned by border collies.
Trust me unless your chasing sheep you don't have that much energy.