Conference misery::feline

    Before, during and after that last quake (that we had here in Northern
    Calif) a few weeks ago, Bob and I were sitting in our family room
    watching TV.  I had several cats on or around my lap.  The quake
    happened.  I was quite startled and scared, but the cats didn't move
    from where they were.  (And I didn't want to disturb them by getting up
    and running to the doorway. ;-))  I didn't notice any sign that they
    sensed something before the fact.  I remember that after the BIG one in
    '89, they would run under the bed when they heard a loud noise, (a
    truck, etc. I wanted to also. ;-}) But that was a very tramatic one for
    them, since the house was trashed and there was glass all over, and we
    were out of town and didn't get back for about 5 days after.  We were
    so worried about them, but luckily they were fine and amazingly enough
    didn't get cut on the glass.
    
    Steffi

    
    It certainly is something I worry about (I live in San Francisco).
    Kisa, my 8 month old experienced her first earthquake not too long 
    ago and it scared her to death.  She automatically ran under the bed.
    I think a cat's reaction to a quake has a lot to do with their
    personality.  Bailey is really mellow, he just freezes and looks
    at me as if to say "mumma what is happening".  Callie, who has a
    tendency to be a little more schizy runs around in circles.  Depending
    upon the magnitude of the quake I think that cats can sense/feel/detect
    that something is up.  One day the Bales was acting strangely.  I
    picked him up and sat on the bed and cuddled him. All of a sudden I
    heard a pinging sound.  I have a brass bed and it was vibrating from
    the slight tremors...
    
    I need to be better prepared for a disaster for both myself and my
    kids.  I have the carriers next to the door along with litter & food.
    What I need to do is put litter, food and water in the trunk of my car.
    It is amazing how quickly the "flight" reaction kicks in when you hear
    the foundation cracking and see things fall off the walls.  You don't
    have time to run around and gather things.
    
    
    

    I have a carrier for every cat, and keep cat food, a can opener, food
    and water dishes, bottled water, backup medicines, etc. in my earthquake
    stash.  Haven't solved the problem of keeping them in carriers for
    a long period of time if the house is truly trashed.
    

    We had a moderate sized quake centered here in Morgan Hill a few weeks
    ago.  It was a 5.1.  Anyway, we were watching TV when it hit and the
    cats were snoozing in various places.  They were as suprised as we
    were.  When we got up to try to decide whether to grab the carriers and
    run, the cats got up too.  Anyway, the quake stopped before we could
    gather everyone up.
    
    In the last few quakes, my cats have been smart enough to find cover
    for themselves.  I like to think that they will continue to find cover
    for themselves.  Obviously, if I am not home when the big one hits, I
    won't be able to help them.  I have carriers in each room that contains
    a cat, and cat food and litter in the garage.
    
    With only two of us, and 15 cats, it would be difficult for Ken and I
    to evacuate everyone before a quake ended.  It would be more likely
    that we would have to come back in and get them after the shaking
    stops.  Unfortunate, but that's the truth.  Quakes don't last very
    long, usually only a few seconds.  Last quake wasn't even enough time
    to put one cat in a carrier, let alone 15.
    
    Jo

    Just recently I read a short story in Cat Fancy (I think it was
    Cat Fancy) regarding cats and earthquakes.  I can't remember the
    entire story but it was about this man and his cat that lived
    in a small village.  Well prior to every earthquake the kitty would
    jump up to the top cabinet and just sit there...sure enough an
    earthquake would hit soon after.   
    
    It got to the point that kitty was so dependable that this man would
    go outside and ring this big bell which would warn the village that
    an earthquake was expected.
    
    Sandy....

      It was CATS maga.   last month's I think.....

This topic makes me think about any disaster that may strike.  Fire would be 
a biggy. Jimmy and I live in a mobile home with 3 cockatiels, and 12 cats.  
When we had our last hurricane last fall, the police came through the park 
telling everyone to evacuate with a bull horn.  We carefully shut off all our 
lights so that it would look as if no one was home.  They don't allow you to 
take your pets with you if you have to stay at a place like a school.  
Neither one of us could leave the animals alone for that.  They are our 
responsibility, how could we care for them if we weren't there?

I do have several carriers all about the house and two on the porch.  I would 
be able to only grab whoever was about in an instant emergency.  The poor 
birds would probably have to be left.  Don't get me wrong, I keep a special 
emergency "bird box" right under their cage, but this would be more for a 
medical type emergency instead of a disaster.   But we all need to remember, 
no matter what we put together, a disaster is still a disaster and you can't 
know all that will happen.  Do what we can and don't be too hard on ourselves 
with the "if I only" routine.
Karen

    I hope all of our California feliners are OK after the quake this
    morning.
    
    Hugs to you all,
    
    M-L

    Just to reassure everyone, the folks in the Bay Area are fine and
    dandy.  L.A. is pretty far away and we didn't feel the quake.  I
    do appreciate the concerned mail I received though.  I helps to 
    know there are people out there looking after your welfare.
    
    Jan