A big day for the boys

[klwilliams]

Though I don't think they realize it yet. They now both sport collars, though Baz periodically manages to get his off. (We got them breakaway collars for safety reasons.) Mac hasn't appeared to even notice he's wearing a collar. These are, of course, a first step towards preparing them to Go Outside. By themselves, at some point. I hope they'll be safe.

Comments

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

You might want to get them chipped, too.

[timill]

No "might" about it IMO - if they aren't, they should be, even as indoor kitties.

Tim

[desperance.livejournal.com]

They are already, they had to be; it's a requirement that they come into the country with rabies vaccinations, and the only way to be sure that the cat in the paperwork is the cat in the box is a chip. So, yup: they beep. We still need to work out how to tell the local authorities with beepy machines that the cats who beep that number are our cats; I doubt there's a central database that they were logged into on arrival. I guess we'll schedule a trip to the vets, and ask them...

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

The people who made the chips that were used should have the information on file. Your vet should have a reader, and I think you contact the chip issuer the old fashioned way, ie, with a letter, telling them the cats owners and place of residence. That's how Flavia's chip works, anyway.

Would the cat courier organization you used have the information, do you think?

[timill]

Good luck with finding out - I don't think we've succeeded in getting ours re-registered, but they've only been in the States for a bit over 3 years...

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

I wonder if a vet could take out the old chips and insert new ones that would have your current information.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Chaz had to get them chipped before they came over, in order to be able to prove that these were the cats who got rabies shots. I need to figure out how to register their chips, though.

[darcyjavanne.livejournal.com]

Call your local Humane Society. They probably chip and register animals all the time, so they'd know what the steps are.

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

Darcy, I do like the way you solve problems with one stroke. :-) Wish I'd thought of that . . .

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

Definitely - what she said.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Ooo ooo OOOH!

Outside.

Dancin' With Myself!

Love, C.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I hope they'll be safe.

I hope Outside will be safe, once Mac gets his paws on it!

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'm more worried about Mac outside than Baz, because Mac is used to a passive cat and hasn't experienced mean ones. I'm afraid he's going to poke his curious nose somewhere that will hurt him. Barry is nice enough that he'll stay out of the way (I hope), but Mac will charge full speed into something that will bite him.

(Pets immediately make me worry about them.)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

(Pets immediately make me worry about them.)

Ah, I can see how that would happen. I was brought up with cats who roamed the garden and a little further, but returned for meals without problems, so I tend to assume they'll be fine - but yes, I do see that you'd worry.

[loup_noir]

Are you fencing in your backyard with that kitty stalag stuff? Tatiana did that for her cats, and I guess it worked. Your street is too busy to just let them meander.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Our street is fairly quiet, and dead-ends at both ends. I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats than cars.

[loup_noir]

Can I recommend looking into the kitty stalag thing, so your cats stay in your backyard? I have had problems with wandering cats over the years. If you garden, all your gardens belong to them and become their toilets. Friendly cats wander through open doors, which can turn an allergy-free house into a problem for cat allergy sufferers. Cats easily jump fences and get into backyards, where dogs like mine will kill them. Other cats carry diseases and defend territory.

Please be a good neighbor and keep your kitties in your yard. Once they're out of your yard, they're fair game for cars, kids, dogs, coyotes (yes, they're everywhere these days), owls (yes, they're in San Jose), and well-intentioned people who pick them up to either take them to the pound because they're running around loose or give them a better home or have some very inhumane fun at the cats' expense. The three years I spent doing wildlife rehab and the three years I volunteered at the local animal shelter revealed levels of cruelty that I will never be able to forget.

[xrian.livejournal.com]

FWIW, my last couple of cats have been indoors only, and they haven't evidenced any discontent. They just tear around and knock things over indoors instead of outdoors. Admittedly they do like to sit by an open window and smell the world go by.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

These guys desperately try to escape every time the door is opened.