(Admin edit: I split this from the "fleas" thread, as it is now about enclosures and other people may not think to look in the "fleas" thread for talk about enclosures. Margaret)


Ewwwwwwwwwww Fleas horrid things (im scratching now just thinking about them)
When I got Tabby less that 2 weeks ago she was covered in them. Poor little mite got a right going over before she even put a foot onmy floors. she was taen right up to the bathroom and bathed (used baby shampoo as shes to young for any flea shampoos available here). Spent over an hour crouched over the bath picking the reched things off her. I have one daft kitten who just laid there letting me do it, purring away all the time also. which helped me as I hate bathing cats they dont like it and nither do my arms from them attacking me. but this was not the case with tabby. She actualy jumps into any water she can, doing pots is hard when a kitten is trying to get in the sink with the dishes lol.
As it was an evening I couldnt get herinto the vets for anything, so made apointment for 2 days later. But in themean time i gave her johnsons4fleas (or something like) its a flea pill (available in the UK, prob USA also) its only a 24 hour treatment but is suitable for kittens from 8 weeks Tabby was 9 weeks at the time.
When at vets he gave me Frountline (all my dogs and cats in the past have been on this). I plan on having Tabby as an indoor cat, but she will be staying on the front line. as Fleas can be walked in from you as can life in tall grass in warm weather for a good few days aparently. Also come next summer I can see her being an outdoor kitty as my kids will be in and out, and it will be almost impossible to stop her getting out. DONT want her as an outfoor kitty tho. May have to think of solutions so she can get out int he garden only. maybe a harness and long lead (mum did this when she had hers she lived in the town which is very busy didnt want to risk the cats getting run over so she got them harnesses and made a lead out of wool so it was light so as not to pull on them. she was out with them all the time so could see they had not got caught up on anything...maybe a solution.
Sorry I rabble on to much

Since you are already pretty well convinced that Tabby will want to get out next summer, (though some cats don't WANT to go out....you may get lucky there) I think a "walking jacket" would be better than the harness as it's a bit harder to squirm out of - however my Sparky did it..... The BEST idea you could work with is having an "enclosure" if you live in your own home and can put one up. Margaret has all kinds of ideas on those.... that way Tabby could go in or out at her leisure. If an enclosure (like an enclosed porch) is not an option where you live, then at least a harness or walking jacket would be best. I think you would have to teach the children as best you can to watch when they come in or out of the house to make sure that Tabby doesn't go with them.... I give you my best wishes for whatever you can do to keep Tabby safe.

never heard of a walking jacket before. I knwo what you mean abotu the harness tho, mums use to try and escape theres. but we made them a little jacket type thing (prob on same principle of the walking jacket) which worked.
As for teaching the kids. My 6 yr old has many behavoral problems, and simply does not know how to listen. and my daughter well she will beonly 3 when will be playing in the back, so the door will be leftopen. Will be great if she decides that she doesnt want to go out. but i cant see it she is noisenow when i go to the door. and when i go out to take my son to school shes sat at the door before me. is soon gently moved back in the living room tho lol.
enclosure would be a very good option. would be good for her to come and go as she pleases...could fit a nice one in my garden as it is HUGE. Only problem is the hosue is council and im not sure they will alow it, but they can only say no i guess. worth asking.
thanks for your advice

Shirley - here is a link to the walking jacket so you can see what I am talking about:

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It's very comfortable on the cat and it takes a bit more trouble to squirm out of it. As I mentioned, my Sparky DID squirm out of it once and I nearly had a heart attack thinking he would run away. If you get one, remember to make it snug on Tabby - not loose.

I recall from another post that your one child has behavioral issues that are out of your control - that's why I wasn't sure if you could teach him or her to watch for the kitty when going in or out of the house.

Here's the link to Margarets enclosures so you can see what that is all about:

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Perhaps your husband or some other handy fellow could build one that could be taken down and removed at will rather than a more permanent enclosure. Maybe your house council (I'm not sure what that is but I imagine it is a group of people who either live in your building or they are the people who tax your house depending on what you do to it or something like here...) would approve of a non-permanent fixture. You would only have to attach it to your home very well so that it doesn't come off by itself.

Here's a look at Stephanies enclosure - close up so you can see how it's built:

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And somebody had a really nice gazebo type building on their property that they closed in with screening and made a tunnel to for the cats but I can't remember who it was or where the pictures are (I thought it was in our photo section but I can't find it now). THAT was really cool. Maybe someone else will see this mentioned here and provide the link to it. It was really nice.

The idea is that you could make an enclosure for you and the kids to sit in too on patio furniture - so you could be with the cats outside and not have to worry about them running off.

Oh I like the idea of the walking jackets. It is similer to what we made for mums cats a few yrs back.

The enclosure looks good, If i was to have one Id like it spacious, I have a HUGE garden so space is not the issue.
Id be making it myself with help from bro in law. as im single (long story but my husband isnot a nice man and never want to set eye on him again).

Council is housing by the govenment. we have homeowner, privet rent or council rent.
Council are usualy ok with in reasion about you doing your own thing. I dont see them saying nothing about one as long as its not to big. But if i contact them first and get permission they will also give me the regs on what is alowed size wise etc.
A neighbour built a pegion loft a few months back, he had to remove it a few weeks later. but in saying that it was 10ft tall. and anything over 6ft here you need planning permision. so that wont be an issue. but still better to get permission all the same.

I like the idea of the enclosure must admit, think would have to be a little more sturdy as my 2 kids would trash it lol...

some serious thinking ahead of me i think

just thinking about a run. its still not going to work. although I still love the idea of her having outdoor freedom, but not the risk of getting hurt. but the run is not going to stop my kids from leaving doors open...think its going to have to be the walking jacket. only other way is to have a run (enclosure as you call them) and put her in there when kids are about during the summer, which I dont like.

I think ill be losing this one and letting her be an outdoor cat come summer. Really do not want to for her safty. there is some sick pple around here who like to torment animals!!! then theres the speeding cars, etc.

oh got a few months to try and work this one out

I realize the "run" (enclosure) would not stop the kids from leaving doors open, but I believe that if Tabby loves the "run" as much as all of Margarets cats love to be out in hers, she would not be in the house much during summer to run out the doors left open by the kids. She wouldn't even KNOW the doors are open as she would already be "outside" and happy chasing grasshoppers and watching the birds. You'll have to ask Margaret how that works with all her SIX cats - but I really think you'd be quite surprised.

No not in london. im a yorkshire lass (much further up north)

Im sure I will think of something between now and then. wont have the worry until at least may next yr/ By which time at least Tabby will be older, A miicle might happen and the kids settle down by then, but i dont expect so.
And the main thing wont need to worry about kittens as she will be spayed way befor then. Vets spay from4 months here. although im going to wait till she is 6 months. there is no way she will be out side before then and I personaly think 4 months is too young (unless of course they are outdoor. And she will not be going to the vet I took my last vets to, they made a right mess of her. they cut her badly when shaving her, her stitching came undone and became all infected. she was really ill for a good few months (granted they didlet a trainee vet do her (without letting me know first off which in my opinion is wrong) her personality changed totaly, she was a loving lap cat before she wouldnt go to anyone after, let alone me as im sure she blamed me as i took her for her visits to the vets

Im not sureif its a good thing or a bad thing, Tabbyis timmid and loves being around us. Hopefully meaning to timid to wander far. but it could also be a disadvantage, that she will wonder and not fight her corner and get hurt....

Oh cats are more worrying then kids.

I think you should make an enclosure anyway. And then have the kids use the other door of your home to go outside. Keep the door leading the enclosure locked.

You might then also get a walking jacket, and only take the cat out with the walking jacket on in the enclosure. If he never gets used to going out of the enclosure, he will be more likely to not try to go out the other door to the "scary, unknown" outside the front door. He will know he has HIS safe, outside place, in the enclosure.

Of course, he might still try to get out the front door, especially if it is left open. But he might not try to scoot out at the same time people are coming or going.

Michelle wrote:

I realize the "run" (enclosure) would not stop the kids from leaving doors open, but I believe that if Tabby loves the "run" as much as all of Margarets cats love to be out in hers, she would not be in the house much during summer to run out the doors left open by the kids. She wouldn't even KNOW the doors are open as she would already be "outside" and happy chasing grasshoppers and watching the birds. You'll have to ask Margaret how that works with all her SIX cats - but I really think you'd be quite surprised.

Yes, it works like Michelle said. Our enclosure is in the back of the house, and we have a cat flap in the back door.

Once in rare while, one of the cats starts to try to walk out the front door when we are going out or coming in, but rarely. Usually that is if they had seen some birds out the front window, and then when we open the front door at that same time, they hope to get the chance to get out to those birds.

But mostly, the cats never try to get out the front door. They love their enclosure and feel safe and comfortable in it. To them, if they want outdoor time, that is the place they have gotten used to for having outdoor time. The "outside" in the front of the house is the "taboo" outside place.

Quote:

Council is housing by the govenment. we have homeowner, privet rent or council rent. Council are usualy ok with in reasion about you doing your own thing. I dont see them saying nothing about one as long as its not to big.

Look at this enclosure below. I can't imagine Council thinking it is "ugly"! People would make that just for themselves, as a private patio area!:

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