Holy Cat!!

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Running around outside means no leashes and no fences. The dogs can go where-ever their little hearts want to.

Dogs without fences always results in trouble for the dog (not sure about very rural). Cats in low traffic areas are just fine without fences or being kept inside.

JM

[Jon Miller]

Cats running free generally aren't alley cats. (well, if you fix them first)

Most of them stay in the yard most of the time, the ones that like to hunt will travel a bit, but not more than a block or so.

I have never seen an adult cat that wants out of a yard be kept in a yard.

Jon Miller

[Pyrodrew]

alley cat
n.
A homeless or stray cat.

By alley cat I mean stray cat.

By stray I mean...

stray ( P ) Pronunciation Key (str)
intr.v. strayed, stray·ing, strays

2.To wander about without a destination or purpose; roam.

[Jon Miller]

A dog will 'roam' until it is a mile away or more. A cat will stay in it's territory. Depending on the community, there can be little danger or cause for hardship in this.

I don't see how you can't see the difference in behavior between a cat and a dog in this respect.

Jon Miller

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
A dog will 'roam' until it is a mile away or more. A cat will stay in it's territory. Depending on the community, there can be little danger or cause for hardship in this.

I don't see how you can't see the difference in behavior between a cat and a dog in this respect.

Who told you cats roam in a small territory? Your cat?

[Jon Miller]

Based upon distance in which I see them, times that I see them, etc...

The instant the dog gets out, it goes running, and within an hour is likely a mile away. The cat is mostly in the front and back yard (some don't even like leaving the environs of the house (the porches..)). The ones that hunt I never see very far away. I see cats pretty often. Considering the territorial nature of cats, and how they behave when neighboring cats get near my yard, I can beleive that the range is very limited.

This of course refering to when I lived with my parents..

Jon Miller

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Based upon distance in which I see them, times that I see them, etc...

I'm not convinced by an individual's anecdotal evidence.

In another forum someone mentions, "Cats can wander off for up to a week or two and come back, fairly commonly even if they have never done it before".

Dogs are territorial also which is why many like to leave their mark everywhere. Territorial doesn't mean staying in one's territory.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Pyrodrew

In another forum someone mentions, "Cats can wander off for up to a week or two and come back, fairly commonly even if they have never done it before".

I have only seen that in cats that aren't fixed. Or ones that are neglected (they go off and live with another family).

Jon Miller

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I have only seen that in cats that aren't fixed. Or ones that are neglected (they go off and live with another family).

Apparently others haven't since that same poster worried about their indoor cat getting out.

[Jon Miller]

Oh, the problem with an indoor getting out is that they dont' have a clue. So they will wander arround lost...

Never let your indoor cats out, they would be lucky to survive the night.. (and it pains me to see cats in such a state).

Jon Miller

[Pyrodrew]

Your anecdotal evidence is appreciated.

[Jon Miller]

IMy family had 16+ cats during the years I was growing up (all indoor/outdoor, most fixed, some (for a short while) not). My brother has indoor cats, my mother has outdoor cats (that use to spend some time indoors), and my sister has indoor/outdoor cats that spend 97% of their time indoors (and prefer it there). Additionally, I have lived with 3 indoor cats (belonged to roomates) in the last 2 years. The indoors cats were completely hopeless outside.. a big barking dog could be racing at them and they would just sit there stupidly.. they would also hide under the patio furniture unless something scared them in which case they would dash away (And they were very appreciative of being brought back in.. althuogh they can take a bit of catching).

Jon Miller

[BlackCat]

Cats are elastic when it comes to territory - large pop small area - small pop large territory. Add to that that cats are very social (well, not all - my old cat started a war every time it met another cat - female, of course ) so borders are more floating than with dogs.

[Snotty]

Cats will crap where they like? Wha? Cats take one or two times to introduce them tp the litter box and they know where to crap.

I should imagine me neighbours would only need to be shown a litter box once ot twice to know what to do with it. Luckily this time I know the cats belong to them

Ive known several cat owners over the years and the only one who had a litter box was the woman who had indoor cats

[alva]

A dog will 'roam' until it is a mile away or more. A cat will stay in it's territory. Depending on the community, there can be little danger or cause for hardship in this.

I don't see how you can't see the difference in behavior between a cat and a dog in this respect.

Jon Miller

Unfixed cats often have territories spanning several square miles.
They don't even see fixed males as competition and will often ignore them. They see them for they are, adolescent cats, too big too kill, too "young" to go into dispute with them.