Re: roaming cats

**l*@juno.com**

I have had indoor cats since the 1960s and none of them have been
"unhappy". I didn't know it couldn't be done and trained my cat to go for
a walk on a leash, just like a dog. It was a kitten, so it didn't know
any better either, and just walked on the leash. I now live in the
country, where my cat sits in the wide open windows all day. My indoor
cats have escaped from time to time, but not usually for more than five
minutes. I know this is a touchy subject for many, but it really
aggravates me to have my well-behaved cat inside, while the neighbors'
outdoor cats are decimating my small mammals and songbirds (and leaving
unpleasant sprays and deposits in MY yard).

Barn and estate cats are a different matter, I think. They are needed to
keep grains, large animal housing, etc. sanitary. But farmers usually
have enough property that their outdoor cats don't find it necessary to
use neighbor's flower beds and window boxes as litter pans.

Since I sit on a Planning/Zoning Board that comes up with the ordinances
in our town, I can tell you that it is no easy matter to get most
ordinances passed. Whichever side you're on, go to the town meeting and
make your opinion known. Usually, no one shows up until AFTER ordinances
are passed and people are really p-ssed (sorry Doreen, a try at humor).
Very often, these types of ordinances arise because one or a few people
are notorious offenders and there is no other way to address the issue (
if there is no law against it, police/zoning officer cannot enforce it).
In New Jersey, DEP is promoting the concept of towns passing
pooper-scooper laws, even in rural areas, because of stormwater pollution
issues.

I can't imagine what Miss Manners would say, but I'm sure it would have
something to do common courtesy, civil society, or the golden rule.

Regards,
Lois de Vries

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:15:55 -0400 Catriona Tudor Erler
<cterler@gardenvista.com> writes:
> I've heard that many communities are considering instituting leash 
> laws 
> for cats, and I'm very curious to know how people successfully obey 
> such 
> ordinances if they have cats who are used to having freedom.  I've 
> met 
> cats who have been indoors all their life and who accept their lot, 
> but 
> most cats I know would be miserable if they couldn't get out, and 
> would 
> not take kindly to being on a leash.  From what I understand, 
> successful 
> leash training for cats must begin when they are kittens.  Is it 
> simply 
> a question of human will over the will of the cat (and the 
> willingness 
> to have a very unhappy cat), or how does it work?  I need to know in 
> 
> case our community passes leash laws for cats...
>     Catriona
> 
> jo ellen meyers sharp wrote:
> 
> >I would not recommend a mouser...in my city, it is against the law 
> to 
> >allow cats (and dogs) to roam. You  might want to check what local 
> 
> >regulations are. I am a cat and dog owner and I would not allow my 
> 
> >cat to roam any more than my dog.
> >
> >Usually what's recommended are mouse or rat traps or live traps.
> >
> >jems
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> >>Rich:
> >>
> >>First make sure you really have voles.  Most voles simply scurry 
> in  leaf
> >>litter and on the surface though they may use mole and chipmunk 
> >>tunnels.  Best
> >>way to know what you've got is to trap one and get a  positive id. 
>  Use an old
> >>fashioned mouse trap baited with small pieces of  apple.  As I 
> recall voles
> >>are the most reproductive mammal in North America  so early 
> control is really
> >>important.  I also agree, nothing like a good  mouser.  Critical 
> to 
> >>control them
> >>before winter as that's when they can be  extremely destructive to 
> shrubs and
> >>trees at ground level and perennial crowns  and roots.
> >>
> >>
> >>Andrew Messinger
> >>The Hampton Gardener is a registered  trade mark and is published 
> every
> >>Thursday in The Southampton Press, The Press  and the Easthampton 
> Press
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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