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View Full Version : How can I protect my cats from.


rex123
Mar 13, 2009, 10:04 AM
Other Cats. I was just sitting in my house when my dog started going crazy barking and growling... I got up and looked and here there was a cat attacking one of my cats. Luckily my dogs barking and growling scared the other cat away. But this happens all to often.

My cats are mostly indoor cats, but they are house trained and when they need out to do their ''business'' they go to the door and scratch, so we let them out. They love outside and they are so great because they stay around, and like I said they are housetrained(I never knew a cat could be house trained). Most of the time they just lay outside in th sun on the step with my dog. But when my dog is not out with them, other cats come around and fight with them...

I don't know if these other cats are strays or not, but I'm starting o fear for the safety of my cats, if they're out with my dog I don't worry because he will protect them, bu if he's not out there...

So how can I protect them from other cats??

PS... Both my cats are females and spayed.

Ren6
Mar 13, 2009, 10:32 AM
Buy a litter box and keep them inside. It's the only way you can control what happens to them.

rex123
Mar 13, 2009, 10:38 AM
The cats love to be outside though, they need it...

Is there anything else I can do??

Wondergirl
Mar 13, 2009, 10:41 AM
Why do they need to be outside? My cats are rescues from the great outdoors and look at the open front door with horror on their faces: "You're not gonna make me go out there ever again, are you? It's dangerous out there!"

Akoue
Mar 13, 2009, 12:23 PM
I think your best bet is to go with the litter boxes. Have them do their business inside and then allow them outside only when you can be out there with them. They may not get to spend as much time outside as they do now, but it's preferrable to cutting them off from the outdoors completely and it will spare them being attacked. Keep in mind that when cats fight they don't stop once someone has submitted; they will fight until someone runs away or is badly injured or dead. I've seen these sorts of situations escalate over time and my fear is that either your cats or the strays are going to end up seriously injured or worse. And you don't know what kinds of diseases your guys could end up conracting from these strays. Fighting is a great way for a cat to end up with fHIV.

I take my cats outside as well, but they are never allowed to be out unsupervised, i.e. without me. It imposes a bit more of a burden on you, I know, but it really is the only safe option here I'm afraid.

Ren6
Mar 13, 2009, 01:31 PM
Also, you can purchase a cat enclosure. It's a sort of screen tent so the cats can be out in the scents and fresh air, but they're protected.

When I found my two cats, they were abandoned in a parking lot. I'm sure they were "outside" cats, too, but they've adapted to the indoors just fine. When you let your cats out doors you run the risk of them being attacked by other animals, picking up fleas and diseases from other animals, and being hit by cars. My neighbors have gone through two cats in as many years due to cars.