Conference misery::feline_v1

    Thats what I have to do, and believe me I'd rather have a little
    guilt trip each morning as I banish Nippa to the cellar than have
    to listen to my mom if she trashes anything.  Nippa likes the cellar
    too, she spends a lot of her time down there anyway...
    She has never picked up a cold in the past 3 winters down there,
    (knock, knock...now I've opened my big mouth...)....
    
    As far as teaching her not to do naughty things, she had the run
    of my appartment until 6 -8 months old, then it was time to move
    home....  She caught on  pretty fast, but she was still young...
    
    
    Michele
    
    & Nippa
    

    I have been putting my 3 cats in the basement while at work for
    the past 4 years. Our basement is about the same tempature as yours,
    in the 50's range. It hasn't hurt them at all, their coats just
    get a little thicker durring the winter months.
    

    Craig

    Due to my asthma and the fact that I am allergic to cats (four cats
    isn't very *much* fur, is it?), my four girls have to stay in the basement
    when we go to bed at night.  When they do climb into bed with
    me (ie, when I'm not feeling well and am home sick), they all insist
    on sleeping around my head, which turns old Mom into a stuffy headed, 
    wheezing, sneezing, coughing, runny eyed demon in less than fifteen
    minutes.
    
    When we go out during the day, they also stay downstairs, since then
    I don't have to worry about them getting into things they shouldn't.
    The basement is clean and dry, we leave a light and a radio on for
    them, their food, boxes and beds are down there, and we have lots
    of things for them to claw and play on/with set up as well.  Often,
    if I stay up too late at night, the four of them get up, stretch,
    look at me as if to say, "good night" and trail off to the basement
    to sleep!                              
    
    Mary-Michael,Niniane,Charm,Dream and Boogie

    I think the temperature preference can vary alot from breed to breed.
    Probably shorthairs in general prefer a warm spot. Siamese are heat
    lovers. During his twenty years, the most unhappy I ever saw my
    TiJai was when we had the woodstove burning on the lower level.
    Our main living area is on the second level. He was torn between
    "baking" on the floor tiles next to the stove ..and being with "his"
    people. He would cry pathetically until one of us would go keep
    him company next to the stove. Someone always did. T was the boss!
    Longhairs would probably do fine in the cooler temperature ...and
    I suspect shorthairs would be okay if you give them a vairety of
    cat beds or cozy areas to curl up and sleep. Since you're not home
    anyway, they might even enjoy a little variety in their living space!
    
    Good luck in your new home.
                                                                      
    Linda

    All my cats have the run of the house, but when I can't find Chauncey
    and *know* he's inside, all I have to do is walk down to the basement
    and look up on the mattress we stored down there.  He loves the
    basement; it's feline paradise in his eyes.  When Tabby Kitty comes
    inside for shelter, that's the first place he goes to get some sleep.
    He loves the carpet remanents; they're his bed.
    
    Don't feel guilty about keeping them down cellar.  If you provide
    the proper accommodations, they'll do just fine.
    
    /Roberta
    

    Please don't feel guilty!!  I know what you're going through, though.
    
    I lived alone with my Billie for 8 years, then I met Pete.  A year
    later we *both* moved in with him, and the rules changed.  Where
    Billie had the run of the place before and did just about anything
    she wanted to, the house has definite "no-no" areas.  She adjusted;
    although Pete's voice still startles her from time to time.
    
    Regarding the basement, Billie LOVES hers--she always comes done
    with me when I do the wash or exercise.  Since you are gone during
    the day, kitties mainly sleep anyway, so just be sure yours have
    nice snug beds.  As long as they have their food, boxes, beds, and
    toys down there, DON'T WORRY.  Then when you're home, they can be
    with you.  Oh yes, another nice idea as they are getting used to
    the new surroundings is to put down something of yours for
    them--something that has your scent on it.  They love this!
    
    Good luck and let us know how you all manage.
    
    Jane

    My two love the basement - lots of neat stuff to climb on, sneak
    around, sleep on, etc.  For a long time we just left the door open but
    then decided it was too drafty (for us poor humans) so we installed a
    lockable kitty door.  When we're not home they stay in the basement.
    When we are home they can come upstairs whenever they want but find
    that alot of the time they prefer to stay down there anyway even if the
    door is open.  There's a huge window with a big wide (28") shelf in front 
    of it right at the front of the house that they love to stretch out on and 
    watch the world go by.  The basement gets lots of sun and there's plenty 
    of snuggly places for them to curl up.
    
    Conni

    The only word of caution for cellar cats is for any toxic substances
    that may be stored in your basement.  Even the most offensive smelling
    liquid substance can be knocked over, walked thru and then ingested
    when the furfaces clean their paws.   
    
    If your cellar offers some windows, make them into window seats.
    My cats love to sit on the metal shelving and watch/protect their 
    territory.  As other cats in the neighborhood canvas the yard
    mine watch/talk/wave,  etc.  When the outdoor cats get out of their
    view, mine run upstairs to a window to make sure the roamers have
    left immediately.  Passing thru is acceptable, but they can't stay
    around or be let in the house.  This territory is already occupied
    by 4 cats.