Comments on: A sad and frustrated kitty http://the-sacred-path.com/2008/04/23/a-sad-and-frustrated-kitty/ journeys through the mist Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:14:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: HeartLight http://the-sacred-path.com/2008/04/23/a-sad-and-frustrated-kitty/comment-page-1/#comment-1817 HeartLight Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:11:22 +0000 http://the-sacred-path.com/?p=236#comment-1817 Oh poor kitty. I own cats and dogs. The last cat I had lived to be 18 years old and I never tethered him. We were lucky, there were few complaints over the years. I hated the thought of tethering a cat. It felt awful in my soul to do such a thing. Now I have two new cats. A male and a female. We have a huge yard surrounded by a six foot picket fence. The female cat stays within the boundaries and never tries to jump the fence. Our male cat however is quite another thing. He will jump the fence every chance he gets so we have to tehter him. I swear, it hurts me more than him to have to do this, but I love him so much and since he was adopted from the humane society as all of our pets have been, I don't want to see him end up there again. He came to be at the humane society because he was wandering loose. He is a personality plus, plus, plus cat and he is the nurturer of all our other pets, cats and dogs alike. He's a lover boy and a snuggler with a purr so loud I can hear it thru the earplugs I wear at night. I know you'd probably rather not tether your kitty either. I know the conflict of emotions when considering it. I'm sorry you're facing this challenge. We love them with all our hearts and I'd rather tether than to have an angry neighbor put out poisonous food. Oh poor kitty. I own cats and dogs. The last cat I had lived to be 18 years old and I never tethered him. We were lucky, there were few complaints over the years. I hated the thought of tethering a cat. It felt awful in my soul to do such a thing.

Now I have two new cats. A male and a female. We have a huge yard surrounded by a six foot picket fence. The female cat stays within the boundaries and never tries to jump the fence. Our male cat however is quite another thing. He will jump the fence every chance he gets so we have to tehter him. I swear, it hurts me more than him to have to do this, but I love him so much and since he was adopted from the humane society as all of our pets have been, I don’t want to see him end up there again. He came to be at the humane society because he was wandering loose. He is a personality plus, plus, plus cat and he is the nurturer of all our other pets, cats and dogs alike. He’s a lover boy and a snuggler with a purr so loud I can hear it thru the earplugs I wear at night.

I know you’d probably rather not tether your kitty either. I know the conflict of emotions when considering it. I’m sorry you’re facing this challenge. We love them with all our hearts and I’d rather tether than to have an angry neighbor put out poisonous food.

]]> By: Richard http://the-sacred-path.com/2008/04/23/a-sad-and-frustrated-kitty/comment-page-1/#comment-1598 Richard Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:54:32 +0000 http://the-sacred-path.com/?p=236#comment-1598 Sandy, that is a very good idea, and I have just the place for a private kitty garden. Thanks so much for posting this idea. Sandy, that is a very good idea, and I have just the place for a private kitty garden.

Thanks so much for posting this idea.

]]> By: Wee Sandy http://the-sacred-path.com/2008/04/23/a-sad-and-frustrated-kitty/comment-page-1/#comment-1597 Wee Sandy Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:47:18 +0000 http://the-sacred-path.com/?p=236#comment-1597 I had this same problem severa years ago, and we found a solution that worked great for us. 1. We chose a good outdoor potty spot that we wouldn't mind the cats using. Cats prefer someplace that feels somewhat sheltered, yet is large - like a small garden bed. 2. We dumped some nice, loose soil over the spot, then added a bag of NON-CLUMPING kitty litter on top, over an area approximately the size of 6 kitty litter boxes. 3. We scooped a poop from the cats' indoor kitty litter and set it on top of the new site. 4. We went and got the cats one by one and showed them the poop, then encouraged them (very, very gently!) to cover it up. 5. To clinch the deal, we planted catnip plants all around the entire site, except in the exact area where the litter was. The cats were SO pleased! Because the site was pretty, being under a huge tree and near a flower garden; because they finally had the approval they wanted to dig in this, their own garden; and probably because of the great positive feedback from the catnip, they completely stopped pooping in the neighbor's yard. They also created a richly composted soil that made the next years' catnip grow beautifully! I had this same problem severa years ago, and we found a solution that worked great for us.

1. We chose a good outdoor potty spot that we wouldn’t mind the cats using. Cats prefer someplace that feels somewhat sheltered, yet is large – like a small garden bed.

2. We dumped some nice, loose soil over the spot, then added a bag of NON-CLUMPING kitty litter on top, over an area approximately the size of 6 kitty litter boxes.

3. We scooped a poop from the cats’ indoor kitty litter and set it on top of the new site.

4. We went and got the cats one by one and showed them the poop, then encouraged them (very, very gently!) to cover it up.

5. To clinch the deal, we planted catnip plants all around the entire site, except in the exact area where the litter was.

The cats were SO pleased! Because the site was pretty, being under a huge tree and near a flower garden; because they finally had the approval they wanted to dig in this, their own garden; and probably because of the great positive feedback from the catnip, they completely stopped pooping in the neighbor’s yard. They also created a richly composted soil that made the next years’ catnip grow beautifully!

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