Cohousing-L Mailing List: Outdoor Cats

[Becky Schaller (bschaller]

Do other communities have any policies about cats being outdoors.  I think I
checked this in the archives and read some discussion of problems, but
didn't see any real solutions.

We're trying to come up with an answer.  We're thinking of making use of an
invisible fence to give cats a place to run.  This would give the lizards
some safety in other parts of the community.  Apparently when we started
moving in about a year ago, we had lots of lizards and now we don't.  Cats
are being held responsible and I think there is good reason to do so.  Does
anyone know if these invisible fences work for cats.  I've heard they work
for dogs, but not for cats.

At various times, my mother and brother also made a large cage for their
cats.  Neither of them used the cage very much although neither my mother or
brother are really sure why not.

Another proposal is simply to say that all pets (including cats) must be
supervised. Apparently in some places, people do walk their cats on leases.

Another problem is that there are cats who don't belong to anyone here who
wander over.  So no matter what we do with our cats, other cats will still
be around.  

As you might expect this is an emotional topic for some people as they don't
want their cats restricted and unhappy.

A slightly related question:  I have a cat who loves going outdoors.  She
has also brought me several lizards.  For her own safety and the safety of
the lizards, I've been keeping her inside for the last 2 1/2 weeks.  I was
hoping she would get used to this idea, but she still meows to go outside
lots.  Does anyone have any tips on how to help an indoor/outdoor cat become
and indoor cat.  Perhaps I should buy a lease for her.

Could people say how they've solved the outdoor cat problem?  Or what
they've done to lessen the problem.

Becky Schaller
Sonora Cohousing
Tucson, Arizona
Our first official meal in the common house is scheduled for September 22!

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