Lesley Posted February 17, 2006 Author Share Posted February 17, 2006 No need to apologise Helen - and I quite agree with the points you and Sarah have raised. My initial post didn't include all the info. that i should have put in so I can see why it has offended some people. As you say, some of the others know my style of writing and know that i was being flippant about a serious question. All the comments made are useful to us and will help when the time comes to make a choice. The time to worry is if i ever say I want a cat in the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Ah - don;t tell me you don't like cats.... I'm a cat lover too. Have never got over losing our cat to a car and now our lives revolve around agility we aren;t at home enough for a cat. Cos, yes, cats need their humans (staff!) around too. They love human company. Our chickens are fine if we have to go away for a weekend - a very kind neighbour comes in and she has the eggs (her sons love them!) for her efforts. Mind you I have found that while the girls are Ok for the first day of our absence on the second day one will not lay an egg, the thrid day the other won;t and then (if away longeras we were at New Year when my Mum came for the week to look after them) they are fine. Perhaps hens too like their familiar humasn about, voices etc. Routine wasn;t a problem -just sounds perhaps. They need a little time to adapt to different ones...... Anyway - I hope you and Carl do find a dog to love and be loved back by! I wouldn;t be without my lot. They enrich my life and I love the kinds of things I have to do to keep them happy and fulfilled in their lives. Hair, mud, mess and damp dog smell to me are heaven The unconditional love they offer to us takes some beating. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Despite my negative comments there's a bit of me would love a dog, but there's no way I'd ever succumb, I simply couldn't devote the time and attention that a dog deserves... but cats I am currently unpaid slave to Roger who is a gorgeous black and white moggy- a rescue cat who's been with us for over a year now, obviously previously badly treated by a man, even now he's cautious around hubby and son, although he's a lot better than he used to be, at first he wouldn't stay in the same room as a man. But he's gorgeous, very affectionate, tolerates the chickens, sleeps a lot I could do without the pressies though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Yeah cats are great. I have to have achat with every cat I meet wherever I am. They never forget things that happen to them do they? But they can make great recoveries given the time, love and care and the right people to do it. Well done you! My neighbours son is always on about a dog (he loves Pop)but she knows how much time and effort i put in and she knows that I'd be on her case! (nicely!) So she is going to wait til the kids are older and more independent. She is rrealistic and knows that hoever keen her son is it will be her doing all the work and she wants to be sure she has the right amount of time to do that. They are huge commitments - more than children really - in that they never grow up and become independent. They need us the same from puppyhhod through to old age and can live to good ages - my first own dog as opposed to family hound lived til he was nearly 19 and even then I had to make the decision to have the vet come round to let him go. Nineteen years of my life from 16 on -all of it with my best friend. I still miss him. Anyway you carry on devoting yourself to Roger - he sound lovely! I am jealous. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 17, 2006 Author Share Posted February 17, 2006 Hi Helen - have you read my other current topic - The Good Life ? - this topic runs in conjunction with that one. You will see why we are having a dog - Carl has waited years now to get back to having a dog. He wanted to wait until he was working from home most of the time and had enough space. Yoe will also see why we will be acquiring two farm cats from a nearby farm - and they won't be coming in the house. They will still be cared for and aren't feral cats but they are used to living in barns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 No I haven't yet! but I can gather you are getting a farm!! Lucky you! Carl sounds like a really good doggy guy. As for the cats - my mum milked cows for a living, we lived on farms,and we had farm cats - and they lived in the barns etc. It is what they were used to and they were happy! They were given food and milk twice day.We had to take in a couple of kittens at different points - one fell in a pot of oil - and another got very ill and undernourished. I was given the job in each case to nurture them back to health. They became very affectionate house cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 18, 2006 Author Share Posted February 18, 2006 Yes, Carl is a really good dog person Is it true that farm cats would generally not be happy in the house anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Generally you will find that farm cats have not been socialised in the way that a young cat brought into the home will have been and so confined spaces with close proximity to people and household comings and goings are potentially very stressful experiences for them. You do get the odd one who can decide that they rather like the look of domestic comforts and they decide to move in!!! We took in a couple of older cats that had been used to living outside all their lives - though not on a farm - and they lived in the lean to on the back of the cottage for a few weeks and gradually as the door was left open they came to investigate and in the end they joined the heap of furry and hairy bodied creaures strewn in front of the enormous woodburner we had in our living room...... A farm cat will appreciate being neutered/spayed (continual reproduction is draining and not good for the population of cats you would get as a result!), feeding daily to keep them in all round healthy state - they will do their job of mouse killer anyway - and worming obviously. All the farm cats we had were firendly enough and came when called but they preferred their lives of independence. It helps to handle them a bit - in case you need to take them to a vet..... H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 I agree with maxhen about farm cats. Most of them prefer their lives of independence living outside and in the barns (makesure any chicks you hatch are in cat-proof runs!) - but neutering, worming etc will keep them healthy and good ratters. I am very much a dog person. All the farms round us had springer spaniels, jack russels and sheepdogs if they had sheep. Geese are also amazing watch dogs. One way to restrict hairs in the house is to train the dog/puppy never to go upstairs. They have always slept in the kitchen. We have always done this and found it very easy if you are 100% consistent. With attention and consistency dogs can be trained to do most things, so I'd look for an alert, bold, intelligent looking dog/puppy. The only downside with springers on farms is that they love rolling in animal poop and with their lovely long fur that means lots of dunking in the bath. If you have a utility/boot room then a large butlers sink with a hose attachment on the tap will make life a lot easier. If you have to use the upstairs bathroom, we have always carried the dog up and down the stairs to reinforce the 'no dogs upstairs' training. Good luck - I'm sure you'll manage to find a special dog that will become very much a member of the family. ps - I'm hoping to hear in the next few weeks if I'm being accepted as a guide dog puppy-walker. If not I've decided to get a new dog anyway, so I'll be having your dilemma re breed/type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 Sensible adice Maxhen and Motherhen. Our lurcher was always a downstairs only dog, and she never suffered for it at all, just knew where the boundaries lay. Phil's folks have a farm cat, who likes to live indoors, but still hunts prolifically. When they worked the farm, they used to have a dobermann, who was very well behaved and a great guard dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 19, 2006 Author Share Posted February 19, 2006 Thanks for all the advice. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't cruel to keep the cats outside. As they will be coming from a farm, they will be used to being outside, and they will be neutered/spayed. The cats who are at the farm now all came to say hello but they will be taken to the vet because the current owners don't want to leave them with people they (cats) don't know and they can't take them all to France - so we have to start with new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 That's a shame that they won't leave them Lesley, farm cats don't really care who looks after them as long as they get fed. And you would have the advantage of having cats who 'know their manor' - bit like Eastenders really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 What will happen to the cats then???? Have they told you? They are not going to have them put down are they?? I agree with Clare - the cats won;t care who moves in so long as there aren't changes to their staffing needs! Even some very domesticated cats will stay with a house when their owners move on. it does seem strange Lesley that they won;t let you carry on with them...?? Back to dogs - yes mine sleep downstairs. They are the centre of my world bless them (Iain is a small peripheral planet orbitting the universe they and I inhabit ) but I have very clear boundaries for my pack and they are not permitted upstairs unless invited and only then they are alllowed - they have cushion beds on the floor under my desk that I haev trained them to sleep on (with a clicker!!) when they come up. But baskets downstairs in the kitchen at night and all other times in the day when I am not about. It is the toastiest place in the house -in the summer it can get too warm so they have the dining room too to cool off a bit. We have an aga in a relatively small modern house and no other cooking facility..... Definitely no sleeping in our bedroom! No spoiling, just clear consistent boundaries.Training and other mental stimulation. And lots of long walks (just come back from one now - two hours in pouring rain and mud etc... , cuddles and love. And a solid stone tiled floor for ease of cleaning (hides the dust too!) I am going to be running pet dog training sessions soon - they don;t know what they are letting themselves in for.... I hope you pass the guide dogs test Jane . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 Thanks Helen - I'll keep you all informed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Thanks for all the advice. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't cruel to keep the cats outside. As they will be coming from a farm, they will be used to being outside, and they will be neutered/spayed. The cats who are at the farm now all came to say hello but they will be taken to the vet because the current owners don't want to leave them with people they (cats) don't know and they can't take them all to France - so we have to start with new ones. Don't think much to their vets They shouldn't put healthy animals to sleep just because they become 'inconvenient' if they are nice animals they should be easy to rehome and beleive it or not there is actually a shortage of cats (moggies) for pets as people are getting them neutered now. There are shelters that would take them and rehome them with someone suitable On the question of outside life so long as they have somewhere to shelter and make themselves a warm bed they will be fine Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 I don't think their vet knows anything about it yet Louise I did ask if they would leave the two youngest. Perhaps I look like a serial cat murderer? i'm hoping that they will at least leave them with family rather than take them to the vet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Their actions seem a bit harsh and unnecessary. I would have thought that the cats would be happiest on the farm where they lived. Personally, in that situation, I would be delighted if the new owners wanted to take on the cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hopefully it will bea decent vet I know a couple and my pal will refuse to destroy an animal if there is nothing wrong he just takes them away and tries to rehome or hands them to a shelter They can probably take them to France anyway they are not as strict as us a simple blood test is all they need to have done In fact you can vaccinate a cat or dog take it away and bring it back now so what is the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 There is a cat at the adopted flock... called "Cat". She lives outside and I have only ever seen her twice, though she is a good mouser, and generally does her own thing. She sometimes follows the farmer to get the cows in ... and thats about her lot re. human contact. She looks healthy and lives in the hay barn. They just leave her out food and water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Perhaps I look like a serial cat murderer? Careful !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Back to dogs - yes mine sleep downstairs. They are the centre of my world bless them (Iain is a small peripheral planet orbitting the universe they and I inhabit )I am going to be running pet dog training sessions soon - they don;t know what they are letting themselves in for.... And you think she's joking......Iain actually sleeps in the shed outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxhen Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 And the shed is being demolished this weekend.......... I am fretting about those cats though . I hope the people see sense - Lesley you need to turn on the charm offensive. As Louise says - perhaps the vet is sensible and has contacts....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Iain's lucky from the sounds of it, having the luxury of the shed Roger (the cat- sorry to those who share my dubious sense of humour, the Cat's Protection League named him in honour of his rescuer, but Roger the Cat definitely deserved a good home with us after I'd heard his unfortunate name ) sleeps on the spare bed, 1 cat on a double bed all by himself, and hubby's currently threatened with an eglu... if restrictions come in and the chickens need to come indoors they can perch on my iron headboard at night and hubby can have his head in an orange eglu and his feet in the green I can't seriously believe that a vet would be willing to put down cats who could remain in their current home without difficulty, and who don't sound like family pets who would particularly pine for their owners. That said even domestic cats should be given the opportunity of re-homing rather than destruction- Roger being a brilliant example of how cats can adapt to new owners, Ok, new staff and new environments. Do keep them if you can Lesley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 I will try again - after exchange of contracts We didn't want to push too hard and lose the farm altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
