| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name
 | Date | Lines | 
|---|
| 929.1 | I got me one! | BUSY::MAXMIS11 |  | Tue Dec 01 1987 12:56 | 15 | 
|  |     My Mr. MacGreggor (also known as "spray king") is now a totally
    outdoor cat.  I put one of those cat doors in the garage door so
    he can get in and out of the garage in the bad weather, and he has
    a bed in there, though he has been known to prefer a furnature pad
    that is folded up out there.  He seems very happy with the setup.
    I leave his food and water in the garage, and I know it doesn't
    get very cold out there (compliments of the lack of insulation in
    the house which is attatched to the garage) because his water dish
    never froze even once last year.  He never seems to stray very far
    from the house, and I take extra care to spend some time with him
    every day.  Often the two of us sit in the front stoop and have
    a "cuddle-fest".
    
    Marion
          
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| 929.2 | FOOD IS THE WAY TO KITTY'S HEART | EMIRFI::KEENER |  | Tue Dec 01 1987 14:08 | 16 | 
|  |     I have never had a strictly outdoors cat but I have tamed several
    'wild' cats and found that they do NOT like to go inside - almost
    never, unless they are very young, will they go in a house without
    going into a panic.  I have found, however, that they will generally
    stay where they get food and I've never found one that didn't become
    very tame after a short time of gradually getting closer when they
    eat until they will eat out of your hand and allow you to pet them.
    Being picked up by a person generally takes longer and on one occasion
    was never allowed (although he would crawl on to my lap for petting
    and a scratch as long as I didn't try to hold on to him).  Do not
    count on this cat staying only at your house, though.  That type
    generally feels like they own their territory and may make your
    place home base, but will still want to travel.  Good luck and keep
    us informed.
    
    Ellen  
 | 
| 929.3 | hopefully home base | PARITY::TILLSON | If it don't tilt, fergit it! | Tue Dec 01 1987 14:43 | 11 | 
|  |     Thanks for the input.  I don't mind the kitty going to the neighbors
    for a visit, since their barncats show up at my house to be petted.
    I am more concerned that the kitty doesn't try to go back to its
    old turf some 20 miles away.  It should have plenty of travel space,
    though, since our lot is on a parcel of nearly one hundred acres,
    totally undeveloped.  What more could an outdoor cat want?
    
    I'll let y'all know how it goes.
    
    Rita
    
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| 929.4 | Give me a 100 acre home, where field mice roam... | CLUSTA::TAMIR | To a cat, all things belong to cats | Tue Dec 01 1987 15:40 | 19 | 
|  |     Hi Rita,
    
    Over the past few years, I've taken care of strays that live somewhere
    around my house and eat food I leave for them on my back deck. 
    There have been several who have been out there for years (the ones
    who are too clever to fall the old canned-food-in-the-Hav-a-Hart-
    trap-trick.  They have never been touched by humans, and somehow,
    they seem to survive.  Of course, they have all the food they can
    eat (and the little brats are getting a little picky these days!)
    and there's always water for them as well.
    
    Your kitty obviously loves the great-outdoors.  So, give him food,
    water, and shelter (and vet care!), and he should do OK.  Don't
    be too surprised if he decides that it's too cold to be proud and
    lets himself inside one of these days!
    
    You're right, what more could an outdoor cat want!
    
    Mary
 | 
| 929.5 | kitty arrives | PARITY::TILLSON | If it don't tilt, fergit it! | Fri Dec 04 1987 11:53 | 40 | 
|  |     >Don't be too surprised if he decides that it's too cold to be proud and
    >lets himself inside one of these days!
    
    Oh, you were so right!
    
    Kitty showed up on Wednesday morning.  Kitty is either female or
    neutered male.  Based on the smell in the cat carrier I am pretty
    certain he is a neutered male.
    
    He is medium to large (hard to say with that much fur!).  He is
    charcoal gray with long long hair in need of brushing.  He has a
    gorgeous ruff around his neck, and has a huge head with lovely copper
    eyes.
    
    He hid under the sofa on the enclose porch all day Wednesday.  By
    last night, we were able to pet him and even to pick him up.  He
    is sort of shy, but not at all the wild thing I was led to believe.
    
    This morning I open the door to go onto the porch and he shot into
    the house!  I rescued him from my attack abby and returned him to
    the porch.
    
    I just can't let this poor kitty live an outdoor-only life when
    he obviously would like to be inside.  I also can't keep him inside
    at my house.  I am at the landlord-determined cat$max, and I am
    not ready to go through the adjustment needed with my kitties.
    Also, he will need to be an indoor/outdoor cat, and I don't want
    a cat that goes outdoors to be in contact with my kitties.  The
    people I got Sulkitt and Tanya from got my agreement that they would
    only be kept with other indoor-only kitties, and I intend to keep
    that agreement.
    
    If there is anyone willing to adopt this big ol'sweetheart of a
    grey teddy bear (in the New England area, I live in Shirley, MA)
    please let me know.  He is a sweet, lovely cat and will make someone
    a beautiful pet.  
    
    Rita
    
                                                              
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