Cat Training

numberplease, I take it that Ivan was the cat....and not a family member?

Yes, Greenmossgiel, he was a very large, handsome, black tomcat, his mum, also black, was called Mitzi, alas, both long gone now.

I've taken the plunge and left the cat flap open and touch wood [there I go again all seems well - at least they both appear innocently from my desk chair and the top of the tall fridge when I open the kitchen door in the morning. But who knows what they get up? I must say since I've had them the local moggies have steered clear of our garden. They are both neutered and recently microchipped - well worth it.

greenmossgiel and shysal thank you so much for your comments. Sorry it's taken me a long time to get back but I've not been very well. Heinz, or Heinz baby, as my 2 GDs call him is doing really well and is a great joy. He's also good company. He came well trained, has good manners, he's just perfect. He follows the sun around our home, enjoying it as he sits on the windowsills watching the world go by. Real biscuit-tin picture stuff. Everyone who visits loves him and he adores all the attention. My SiL calls him the 58th variety!

OTHill - since our last post, my own cat became ill and had to be put to sleep. Awful time. However... we now have another rescue cat and we have called her Daisy! She's about 2, and has been neutered after having had a litter of kittens before she came to us. I've had to keep her in since she came because of her receiving her injections, the last of which she will receive next weekend, then she can go out. The thing is, though, for some reason I'm really worried she goes out and gets lost! None of our cats have ever got lost, so I've no idea why I'm so bothered! Does your Heinz go out and come back ok?

My cats weren't used to being outside and had had no experience of a catflap until they came to me. They go out for a wander after breakfast and then again in the afternoon and I boot them out for a little while in the evening to go to the loo [although I keep a litter tray available just in case] and they just seem to sit on the doorstep. Perhaps I'm lucky but they're not bird catchers and prefer lying on the windowsill or on my desk to venturing too far away. That said, to my horror, they do occasionally go round to the front of the house which worries me or try and leap out of the front door when someone comes but I think that's because it's something different [I think I'm humanising them!]. They seem to know what side their paws are buttered but I admit that I let them out for the first couple of times with my heart in my mouth.

greenmossgiel If you are worried about your cat getting lost, try using a loc8tor tag. I use them on all my cats and find them invaluable for my peace of mind. They can be located up to 300 metres away, and also bleep on the collar, which I find usually brings them running home.
The loc8tor is also useful for finding keys, wallet etc. if you are inclined to misplace them. Of course you must remember where you put the receiver !
The system is available on line, including eBay, and in Maplin stores.

www.loc8tor.com/uk/store/

shysal thanks for that - but I'm not too keen on collars for cats. It does sound a really good idea, though, nevertheless.

I use collars, also with ID disc, because I feel if anyone found the cat they are more likely to phone the number displayed than to go to the trouble of getting the microchip checked.
There are quick release or elasticated collars available, so they will never be unable to free themselves if caught up.In fact I used the loc8tor to find a missing collar only this morning, found in field beyond garden.

You definitely have a point there, shysal. We used to have a proper wanderer a few years ago and he was always being brought home by his 'finders'. I'll think about it, thank you!