Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 11, 1993 TAG: 9309300278
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Karen Davis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I have another older cat that goes in and out because she came here as an adult stray. There is no way I can confine her inside because she was already an outside cat. Is her going in and out affecting the two young ones?
A: By keeping your kittens indoors, you are demonstrating that you are a responsible pet owner and that you are considerate of your animals' welfare as well as your neighbors' property.
And yes, your kittens can be happy and well-adjusted living indoors all of the time. Having each other for companionship is a plus. Don't let their ``longing stares'' out the windows make you feel guilty. What you interpret as longing is more likely curiosity. Your kittens are probably being amply entertained by whatever they see out the window. Think of it as the kitty equivalent of watching TV. Some owners of indoor cats even go so far as to spice up the programming a bit by installing bird feeders outside for their pets to watch.
It's possible that watching the older cat go in and out might intensify your kittens' curiosity about the great outdoors. However, curiosity alone will not kill them, but automobiles, dogs, diseases, parasites and poisons surely can. Your pets will live longer, healthier lives if you restrict their access to these outdoor dangers. And as you already observed in your older cat's case, your kittens will not be so easily confined once you let them become accustomed to outdoor freedom.
Because your outdoor cat increases the risk of disease exposure to your kittens, you must keep all of your cats' vaccinations current, particularly rabies and feline leukemia virus. Shots for feline distemper and other upper respiratory infections should also be kept up-to-date. No vaccine is available yet for feline AIDS, a disease that is not transmissible to humans.
You didn't say whether your kittens have been spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering eliminates a cat's desire to roam in search of a mate and makes it a more content house pet. If cost is a concern, call the Pet Assistance League (PAL) at 345-2915 and listen to the recorded message for information on low-cost spaying and neutering.
To discourage your kittens' habit of trying to sneak outside every time you come in the door, give them a special treat and a few minutes of extra attention as soon as you get home. They gradually will redirect their focus from slipping outside to receiving their treat.
You also can try associating an open door with a loud, unpleasant noise. For example, blow up a balloon and have it handy as you wait outside the open door. Just as the cat is about to sneak across the threshold, pop the balloon. The loud bang will not hurt him, but it will scare him and make him less eager to dash outside next time.
Do not entice the cat through the door or call him when you do the balloon exercise. If he associates the unpleasant noise with your voice, you may inadvertently discourage him from coming to you when called.
As a compromise, you might allow them out only under supervised conditions. For example, let them explore the back yard while you watch them. When you bring them back in, feed them a treat so they will associate going back indoors with something pleasant.
If this compromise isn't possible, consider taking your cats out on a leash and harness. Don't tie them outside unattended; that's dangerous.
With patience and perseverance, cats can be taught to tolerate a leash; just don't expect them to ``heel'' with precision by your side the way a trained dog does. Some cats - particularly Siamese - take to walking on a leash better than others. Much depends on individual temperament.
Select an adjustable nylon or leather figure-eight harness that is made in one piece and a lightweight lead about six feet long. Most pet shops carry harnesses designed specifically to restrain cats. You also can order good ones through pet-supply catalogs and cat magazines. Do not use a choker collar on cats.
By the way, your older cat that goes freely in and out should wear some sort of identification in case she gets lost or picked up by pound authorities. A cat collar should be stretch elastic or have a breakaway section, so that the animal can escape without choking if the collar catches on some object.
\ Q: My 14-year-old dog stays out during the day but comes in at night. He always has been well-housebroken, but lately he has started going in the house at night. What can we do to correct this behavior problem?
A: Because of your dog's age, his change in elimination habits is more likely to be caused by a medical or physical condition related to aging rather than a behavior problem, according to Pam Jackson, owner of Canine Complex on Electric Road.
Dogs are just like people when they get older. They have less control over their systems, muscles weaken and they cannot hold it as long as they used to.
The first course of action is to have your dog checked by a veterinarian. Several disorders can affect elimination behavior in dogs. Among those the vet will look for are kidney and bladder problems, diabetes and, if the dog is an unneutered male, prostate disease.
A diet lower in protein and salt helps ease the burden on the older dog's system. With less protein, the kidneys don't have to work as hard, and with less salt, the body doesn't retain as much fluid. Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate diet plan.
Take up the dog's water a couple of hours before bedtime so that he will have less fluid intake. Also, take him outside just before retiring for the night.
Jackson doesn't recommend confining an older dog to a crate to prevent him from eliminating in the house. ``At his age, if he's not used to it, confining him in a crate will probably just upset him,'' she said.
It's better just to let the dog out more frequently to accommodate his less efficient system.
To eliminate the urine odor in the spots in the house where the dog has eliminated, use one of several good enzymatic cleaners marketed especially for that purpose. These cleaners are available at most pet-supply stores.
Do not use ammonia-based cleaners, Jackson said. Ammonia is a scent byproduct of urine and will serve only to re-attract the dog to the spots he has used.
\ Send general interest questions to The Pet Podium, in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
Karen Davis is a Roanoke free-lance writer and pet owner. Her column runs twice a month.
by CNB