Posted on 05/21/2012 6:12:05 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator
Last year our little household was forced to move from its home of 28 years to a new one. One thing we're having to deal with now that we've never had to worry about before is neighbors.
We have cats. Two of them are fairly settled, but one (the sweetest one of course) is a little spitfire who enjoys going to the neighbor's house and getting on his cars. One of these cars is very rare (only so many were made), and apparently this little cat has been getting on it.
Now our neighbor has no desire to be unpleasant or demanding, but he has told me that he has a live trap set for the cat and will only return it to us once. He will not harm it (or any animal, since he is an animal lover himself) but has said on catching him the second time in the trap he will simply carry him off.
You may perhaps imagine what this did to my day.
I am at my wit's end. The little fellow is running all over the house now crying and we're afraid to let him out. We're afraid to let the other two out to make him feel worse. I've offered the man a tarp to cover his car but he says a tarp can damage a car as well.
What do we do? It would take time and a great deal of expense to build a fence, and even then the cat could simply go around it. Keeping him in the house is the simplest solution, but it's very painful to hear him begging to be let out. I have no idea why he insists on going over there and getting on that car when he has a front and back yard (and a car) here.
I've been doing some research online about keeping cats off cars and have read conflicting claims as to whether cats can even scratch a car at all. I've read that citrus odor will keep them off a car.
Does any FReeper have any advice as to how our neighbor (who has never caused us any trouble whatsoever) can keep our cat off this particular car and solve this problem? Right now I am terribly upset.
Please help if you can.
It is time for your cat to become an indoor cat.
lots of tiny aerodiapers
I’m going to second this reply by cripple. If you’re not going to keep the cat indoors, you can build it essentially a “run.” While I personally wouldn’t go to such lengths for the cat, you could build it out of pvc, and hardware cloth, much like a chicken run. It’d probably set you back $200, and you’d have to be sure to secure it, but really you have two options. A) Be responsible, and take appropriate precautions (this will cost time, and maybe money, and certainly effort on your part), which includes keeping the cat indoors, or building it a secure area. B) Be irresponsible, and let your cat out of your supervision/control, and then it’s none of your business what happens to the cat on your neighbors property, because you’ve abdicated ownership and responsibility of the animal. Really it boils down to that old choice: “right” and “wrong”.
Anyone who lets their cat go outdoors (unless you live on a farm) is insane, stupid, clueless. Do not let cats go out. Period. The world is full of cars to run them over, vicious children who will hurt them, dogs who will kill them.
You have trained them improperly, and now they are miserable because they want to go out. They will be more miserable wounded, maimed, or dead. Do not let your cats outside. Period.
Let me praise you for wanting to be a good neighbor. Cats do scratch cars. I know, our neighbor has a cat who loves our car, I think he sees his reflection on the car, but he has scratched the windshield. And our neighbor is not as concerned as you are! Besides, if it is a male cat, it will spray on your neighbor’s car. Again I’m talking from experience. I’ve haven’t found any way to keep that cat away from my car, so the suggestions to make yours an indoors cat are probably the best you can do.
Ask your neighbor what he’ll do if a bird craps on his car. And just how many cats does he plan on trapping. There are cats all over the place. I doubt yours in the only one getting on cars. There’s one that gets on mine all the time. My solution is to wash the car.
As for neighbor; he is right about the tarps; but only if left on; and not removed for long periods.
That said; if he really VALUES his car/investment; he should protect it by storing car, PROPERLY; as do those who share same love of antique cars and actually appreciate their value and so insure proper protection by way of safe storage. What is HIS problem?
Surely; your cat is not the only threat/risk to this cars value. Elements, Et Al; are major considerations; for an 'outside' antique. Not to mention 'other things'. . .So he is inviting 'reasonable risk' by leaving antique outside; and without protection.
Consult a lawyer on 'what is right'/legal and reasonable expectation per law.
“Buy your neighbors car for whatever price it takes for him to sell it, and give it to your cat.”
Brilliant!
This guarantees the cat will never set paw on that car again!
Simple: Feed the cats to the gators in the canal.
If you have a patio, turn it into a CATIO. Put up shelves and trees to climb (get him off the ground), grow catnip, kitty grass and mint, and put out toys to play with. Learned this on My Cat From Hell with Jackson Galaxy.
that was my thought .. who would leave a rare and presumably valuable car outside ? The elements are doing more damage to the car than the cat could ever do.
He’s probably upset because you are a Zionist conspirator. No, seriously, become a liberal and force the town council to make him move. No, but even seriouslier, give the kitty an enclosed porch or some such structure so it can stare at lightning bugs during the summer months. The cat won’t retaliate unless, of course, you become two inches tall, then watch OUT!
Problem with cats is they can climb. Anywhere.
Try to be polite, til being nice doesn’t work.
We have some slow learners around here, apparently. Who knew this would be a problem someone would broadcast to a bunch of conservatives?
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