posted 11-30-2003 08:56 PM         

When I adopted my cat Blanche two years ago I thought long and hard if I had the funds to properly care for her. I did the research on the costs of regualar check-ups and the "what if statements" (i.e. What if she got hurt or really sick)

I decided I had enough funds and could always have $125 in the bank for emergency vet visits. Plus I found people willing to lend me money if it costed more than that.

I believe that if you do not have enough funds to provide your cat with the proper medical care than you should not adopt a cat.

I have a friend who has 3 cats. two of which remain tied up in the house for most of the day and one who roams around free. Try as i might I can not get her to let them of the leash. She also does not enough money to take them to the vet, even for their shots. I believe this is wrong and inhumane.

posted 11-30-2003 09:31 PM         

a large portion of the owner returns that I deal with are either because the cat does not use the litter box, or they dont have money to cover the vet expenses for the cat when they are sick or injured.
When asked have you taken the cat to the vet to make sure it isnt an infection, we get told they dont have the money.

posted 12-01-2003 09:43 AM         

They can reach litter box and food/water. But are both confined to about a 6' radius.
The two that are tied up are 1.5yr old and 2.5yrs old, both have their claws. The one who is loose is 9yrs old declawed. They are all female.

She is concerned that the ones with claws will attack the one without. Or that they will hide upstairs in this cuby that has insulation.

I've tried to convince her that since they've been in the house together for a year they should be alright. They may scrap a bit but no one will end up seriously injured.

She said they just wanted to cover the cubies where the insulation was and that they would have money by summer (this past one) to do it. They didn't and she spent $300 on bingo tickets and Junk food.

I guesse I just don't know what to say to her or where to find proof. She doesn't seem to understand that this may be why her cats are anti-social/starving for attention, moody and overweght.

posted 12-01-2003 07:40 PM         

What I'd really like to know is does anyone know of a good book or website where I can get information about all the negative effects tying up a cat can have.

I'm sure if I showed her hard evidence she'd let them wonder around the house.

posted 12-01-2003 11:46 PM         

I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall, but here it goes:

1) The cats need to be removed from their abuser (your friend). Talking to someone who ties up two cats is not going to do any good. You think showing her on paper that what she's doing is not good will make a difference? It's common sense that it's not good to tie up your cats!

2) You think that because she gives the cats treats she cares about them???

3)Because she takes 'good care' of her older cat it's perfectly excusable to abuse two others???

Take a stand for once in your life and make a difference in two animals lives, who deserve so much more. They would be better off at a shelter than with your sadist friend.

I would never have a friend who abused her animals (oh that's right...only two out of three are abused). I would go right over to her house and take both cats away from her. I would then either adopt them myself or try and find them a loving home.

Why people turn the other cheek or are passive when it comes to abusing animals is beyond me.

I have a feeling these poor cats are going to spend the rest of their miserable lives with this nut case of a friend, because someone didn't have the guts to put an end to to once and for all.

I'm so sorry kitties. I wish I was there to help free you!!!

posted 12-02-2003 12:57 AM         

Your friend does not care about her cats or she would not be treating them in this way. ANYONE can give a cat a treat and if they are overweight she is not even showing them any kindness in doing this! She is shortening their lifespans, doing their hearts and arteries no good at all and making the poor animals even sicker than they already are!!! Obesity is a horrific disease for a cat to be suffering from, it can put bad stress on their joints and cause pain. If that is they aren't already in pain from being unable to exercise their joints properly from being tied up!!

No animal should be tied up indefinitely, No animal should be subjected to any kind of abuse and it seems that Katerina came here because she already felt what was going on was wrong but wanted to confirm her thoughts. Sadly as with alot of abuse cases she now doesnt want to upset her friend!

Sorry I would say Katerina that this friend isn't worth it. Get the animal protection people out and save these cats from this misery! If you don't it will be forever on your conscience. I couldn't live with myself if I had left animals in such a hellish situation which was not going to improve.

posted 12-02-2003 09:59 AM         

I have made many stands in my life and I am not a brick wall. I understand perfectly what people are saying and I don't need Sarcasm from anybody it absolutley not helpful at all. Nor do I think just because she gives them treats it's alright.

It's easy to say walk into somebodies house and take them but in praticality it doesn't work. Mainly because it is illegal and secondly I'm a 5hr drive away from them.

To add their is no such thing as "commom sense" since everyones common sense is different, so if you don't know where I can get info about the negative effects of tying up cats just don't respond.

posted 12-02-2003 10:28 AM         

I started to look online for documentation you could show your friend. It may not be too easy to find stuff on tying up cat because I don't think it's common at all. But, hopefully something can be found and your friend can see that her cats aren't happy living like that.

I don't know if you can even just talk to her about all of this and try to persuade her to see what happens if the three cats get together. Maybe if she has a weekend day free, she could let the cats all be together in some part of the house. If it's successful, maybe she could feel comfortable weening the cats off of their leashes. I don't know your friendship with her, but maybe you could persuade her to change her ways.

posted 12-02-2003 11:33 AM         

If you want to go this route, it's easy to find countless articles online if you do a search for cat care (or anything like it.)

I hope these can help:
http://cats.about.com/cs/advocacy/a/responsibility.htm
http://www.anticruelty.org/pet_info/pet_info_cat_catkitten_care.html

http://www.care-for-my-cat.com/html/playing.html

posted 12-02-2003 12:40 PM         

Understand that people can get really fired up about animals being mistreated.

posted 12-02-2003 05:11 PM         

However I did just talk to her in a round about way since she's easily offended and when someone is offened they stop listening.

She has starting letting one of the tied up cats loose when ever she's home and just ties her up at night when she's asleep or out.

The other cat belongs to her mom. She is willing to put the other cat in a room and let it just wonder around the room.

posted 12-03-2003 01:57 AM         

If the cats are tied up, they probably aren't happy. End of story.

posted 12-03-2003 04:31 PM         

I talked to her again today and she did let the cat wonder around the bedroom and other one wonder around for about 6hrs.

She let them do this becasue of some of the useful websites that were provided by lucidity03 and other tidbits I picked up from other reponses. She hadn't realized some of the negative effects. I'll share more with her later.