Cat ownership in TO
 

So I'd like to get a cat at some stage in the not too far distant.

What's the costs in terms of licenses and chips and mandatory vets stuff? Insurance is heavily recommended?

And for working cat people, I've never seen a cat flap here so do they stay in or out all day- surely they need shelter in winter? If they have an outside cat box/ shelter/palace how do you keep the raccoons and rest of the wildlife out?

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

You have to get their claws removed and then you keep them inside. Apparently they have a much more stress free and happier life if you do that.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Erm.... those were serious answers weren't they....

I've found a fob-controlled cat flap at pet smart so it can be done.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Worth having a read of this as well - Bylaw enforcement - cats - cat roaming - outdoor cats

(Fun fact, Oakville has a by-law that says you can't own outdoor cats. New Oakville bylaw reins in roaming cats)

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

We adopted two kittens last year and declawing is frowned upon now.

I thought it was a little unkind to keep them indoors at first but I can see the sense of it now especially with the wildlife we have around our house. We only let ours outside with us and they actually seem quite happy to stay inside for most of the time.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

+1 for not declawing... declawing cats removes their claws at the first knuckle, so imagine having all your fingers shortened at your first knuckle... not very nice. The procedure is quite painful for them - you're better off training them not to scratch stuff, or providing stuff like scratching posts etc. Definitely don't declaw though, it's rather inhumane.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Yes, you can find cat flaps, but most people that I know who have cats do not allow them to go out.

Some have the front claws removed on indoor cats, others do not.

It is not generally recommended that cats be outdoors, especially in the cities.

Remember that we have more enemies of cats over here than in the UK ....... from coyotes to cougars, eagles and hawks, even in large cities.

We live in Vancouver in an area with small lots, so no big gardens to provide hidey places, and quite regularly see coyotes strolling on the street. It is even more common to see notices on poles seeking lost cats and small dogs. Unfortunately, most of those will have been captured and eaten by the wild life.

The other wild animal to be aware of is the skunk ........... cats and dogs that get sprayed by a skunk are smelly, smelly, smelly

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Please do not even contemplate removing the cat's claws. It is cruel and inhumane. The animal will be defenseless.
A few things about cats are undesirable. They shed hair and scratch furniture. If you cannot tolerate these natural acts then please don't acquire one. Having said that, I think they make delightful pets. I believe they should be kept inside if you want to have it for many years. Outside cats are subject to predation by other animals (including the human variety), they get run over and killed.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

If I was a cat, Canada would not be on my list of countries to emigrate too

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

I could never declaw a cat, so no worries there. The neighbours have a sort of enclosed cage where their indoor cats could get some fresh air- it was linked to the house under their deck via a length of vent duct. One died and the other is now allowed out- I hear him yowling at times.

There's certainly some wildlife around but it's also reasonable quiet (by UK standards) so I think predators rather than cars would be the main worry.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

We allow ours out in the day, but bring them in at night.

Last year the 17 year old (deaf and blind in one eye) refused to come in one night and was attacked by 3 raccoons, who cornered him under the neighbour's crawl space.

He survived, but was ripped to shreds, so much so the vet could not stitch all the wounds. Judging by the amount of fur under his claws, he gave as good as he got. They ripped up his face and all his claws in addition to general damage all over.

After being stitched up, he wanted to run straight outside to finish it. :blink:

He doesn't the option to go out at night now.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

I wouldn't do it myself but declawing a cat is much more humane than hitting it with a stick when it scratches your leather arm chair. We had our cat declawed and apart from being a bit unsteady when it ran, it seemed just fine.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

I think I'd calculate the energy costs of an uninsulated cat-flap first.

It'd probably be cheaper to replace the cat every six months.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

we have one friend who takes his cat for walks on a leash, it gets fresh air that way.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Never declaw, its inhumane and should be illegal, its basically legalized animal abuse, and vets with morals and ethics will not perform it.

Cat's are best kept inside, they are a threat to birds and you'd be surprised how many native birds are threatened by domestic cats, along with indoor cats living longer lives as they don't tend to become prey for wild life.

Insurance really isn't worth it, better to put the premiums into savings for a rainy day, and like all insurance they have slews of things they won't cover so you end up paying premiums + still paying for various things that won't be covered.

If you can save over time, you should always have enough for a vet bill.

If you get a kitten, expect to fork out 500-700 ish (depends on what vets charge in your area) depending on if its male of female, females cost more at the vet due to spaying costing more vs cutting male bits off.

After that routine annual exam and shot likely under 200 a year.

A quality food will cost you 20-25 for 5 pounds or so, but will last longer then cheap foods as the cat will eat less of it, and the higher quality the food, the less poop generated as well.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

If your home is big enough, get two cats, especially if you're out at work all day. Also two cats are entertaining to watch and play with.

Buy good quality litterboxes, scoops, food bowls - so you won't be buying them again next year.

Ask your vet about food. Ask him to tell you about the things he sees with his patients who are fed on dry food only, because wet food is just too much trouble for the owners.

Please don't declaw your cats. Most vets won't do it. Perhaps they have a reason.

Cats kept indoors can live up to 20 years (ours do). Outdoor cats live about 3 years on average in the UK, so probably less in Canada.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Get a dog. Dogs are better than cats.

Also, with a dog, you wouldn't have to worry about insulating your flaps.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

I would do research on food yourself and not listen too much to the vet, vets typically are very biased towards whatever they happen to sell in the office, and don't always have the best advice on food.

All you have to do is look at the labels on the food in vet offices, lots of fillers like corn, and stuff cats do no need, better then grocery store brands, but not as good as premium brands, middle ground.

A fountain for water instead of a bowl is also best, moving water gets the cats to drink more, sitting water cats tend to ignore, fountains are good for small dogs as well.

Like this (there are cheaper brands and models, this one is higher end one, but fountains can be found for as low as 25 dollars at pet stores.)

http://www.costco.ca/Drinkwell%C2%AE....10348733.html

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

We used to take a cat to the Yard on a leash and tie it to the taps, people would throw it shrimps from their dinner. Later I had cats in Leslieville and the Beach and fed the neighbours' one; they were cradles so they'd go to the cottage for the summer and leave it. That might have been the root of my dislike for cradles; that and their inbreeding.

When I had cats in the city, and with the cats now, the window is open for them in the summer. In the winter they're shut in. Inbetween seasons the window is open in the day but closed at night; they have no trouble knowing to come in.

A good vet is the one on the north side of Queen just west of Vic Park, Beach something; it's a group practise but in years of taking dogs and cats there I never felt misled and they don't mutilate.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

I have to disagree, vet cost's can be astronomical, a broken leg could easily cost you $3000 or more. Could you afford that if it happened tomorrow?
I had to take my pup to an emergency out of hours vet in Vancouver when I thought she had bloat, a check up and 1 x ray cost me over $500.
Whilst I was there some lady rushed a rabbit in who was choking on his kale. Her bill was over $1800 for the vet to sick a tube down the rabbit's throat.
Of course like any insurance read the fine print and online reviews. Some are not worth buying, others are.

To me it's cruel to keep a cat indoors, they are wild and free and should be out hunting and such. I find the indoor cat thing a very North American way of thinking in my experience, mostly from the shelters who often only allow cats to be adopted as indoor pets and compare them to Rabbits :huh:
Same with dogs I don't understand why North America as a whole is so uptight about dogs, god forbid you let your pup off leash pretty much anywhere. Screaming children I keep seeing in Walmart, now they should be leashed :blink:

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Domesticated cats wild more wild then some pets, they are still domesticated and easy prey to predators, and also kill native birds and other small animals and are for all intents an invasive species.

There is zero benefit to a cat being outdoors but there are a slew of negatives, outdoor cats live shorter lives, more likely to be hurt or killed by cars, predators and so on.

It would be nice if city's treated cats like dogs and didn't permit them to have free run, required licenses and so on.

I don't have 3,000 either way with or without insurance, since the insurance is a reimbursement still need the money for the vet upfront.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

2 cats isn't a bad idea.

I had 3 cats in London and all went well beyond 3 years, I think 10 years was the mean; one was run over and two got ill (one cat leukemia)

Would love a dog but wouldn't work with my hours- would be totally unfair on the dog. Plus having to come home first instead of going straight out to evening events would just add meaningless commute time and stress.

Sounds good. I can take the bug mesh off one of the side windows I'm sure & thanks for the vet tip.

Realistically if the big bills come in it's "sorry, the cat got run over last night" to the kids. Also costs for everything here are directly related to whether you're insured or not. Ten quid says announcing you don't have insurance and where can I buy a bin liner round here starts changing those numbers tout suite.

The downside as I see it is the Robin won't be a regular visitor anymore let alone the annual drop in by the blue jay.

I'm starting to regret having told the mini wheels that they can have a cat when things get sorted out...

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Forget the danger of attack from other creatures, what about when it's 20 below or worse for 3 months (-10 for three) and the snow is a few feet deep 6 feet from your back door to all corners of your yard?

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

If the cats dumb enough to want to spend a night out in -20 all you can do is put a stick up it's arris so in the morning your cat popsicle is ready to go.

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

You have to take dogs for walks. :nod:

The only advantage of a dog over a cat is for picking up women/men
:rofl:

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Then there was the dyslexic Yorkshireman who wore a cat flap....

Re: Cat ownership in TO
 

Excellent. :rofl: