Hi I am wondering how to keep my cat at home, she is starting to leave at 6 and dont come home til late (midnight or later). She was in heat about 3 weeks ago as we are allowing her to have 1 set of kittens, but dont think she is anymore. I dont see a lot of cats running around, i am worried for my kids love her so much. Any suggestions. We plan on getting her fixed after kittens arrive.

Why one batch of kittens, are you planning on keeping all the kittens, then letting them each have one batch of kittens, and so on.

Keep the cat inside. Sort of a no brainer. There is a city bylaw in place regarding loose cats.  
 
If your kids love her, my advice is to keep her inside before 1) she gets hit by a car or 2) she gets picked up and hauled to the pound.  
 
I too am also curious why you are choosing to let her have one set of kittens.

Get her fixed now.  
 
As I mentioned in another thread, TNR programs have shown that after a cat has been spayed or neutered, they are rarely trapped again. They are more likely to stay home, safe and sound.  
 
If you wanted a litter of kittens, you can save a litter from a pound before they are euthanized. They are often euthanized before their eyes open. Or you can save a pregnant Mama cat from a pound, and experience the miracle of birth, AND save several precious lives.  
 
You can also foster, like I do. There are several animal rescues in the area, looking for foster homes. Rescues will make sure that all the kittens are spayed/neutered and vetted.

CdnKoko said "Keep the cat inside. Sort of a no brainer. There is a city bylaw in place regarding loose cats.     If your kids love her, my advice is to keep her inside before 1) she gets hit by a car or 2) she gets picked up and hauled to the pound.     I too am also curious why you are choosing to let her have one set of kittens. "

year old male cat that is fixed. No way in hell am I going to cage him like a criminal. It`s a cats nature to hunt at night. I`m almost out of the city limits on the 1a. I don`t mind paying any fines or fees for my little guy to be a happy cat. He wanted outside as a kitten so I won`t take one of his pleasures away from him. "PERIOD" Let the hating begin.....lol

Even though my cats are fixed (or broken, which ever way you look at it), they still love to wander outside of the large yard I have for them. But it is my responsibility to keep them in my yard if they are not in my house.  
 
One solution is that they are allowed out only when I am there to play with them in the back yard. Every ten minutes, I rattle the treat bag and they come running before the other cats get all the treats. This keeps them close to the door and out of the neighbour's yard.  
 
To those cat owners that think their cats have a right to roam free in other yards and use the neighbour's flower beds as litter boxes I think you are being selfish and using a ridiculous excuse to not look after your cat. They can use their hunting instincts with various toys within the house. My cats also hunt each other but inside the house. This is a good reason to have more than one cat - so they have a playmate and do not need to go hunting for one.  
 
Either be a responsible cat owner or find one to look after your cat. Letting them run like a wild animal is no longer acceptable for domesticated pets. You either have a domesticated pet or a wild animal. You can not keep flipping its designation back and forth throughout the day and evening. There is no need for a cat to hunt outside if they are getting enough food inside. In addition to the regular food bowls, I have a vertical maze with extra food so my cats can hunt inside if they feel like it. This is one way a domesticated pet satisfies their hunting instinct.

Why does she need to have a litter of kittens?  
 
 
 
Edited by Nicole.S, 2012-07-25 17:16:06

Then you shouldn't have a pet. I live in the east end and I am so bloody sick and tired of the friggen loose cats pooping in my flower beds and even the vegetable garden. There are cats from here to Timbuktu. The excuse cats are hunters and deserve to roam doesn't cut it. If my memory serves me so are dogs hunters. I don't allow my dog to wander into your yard. Oh and then there is the cat fights outside my bedroom window in the middle of the night. Gotta love it. I have now invested in a paintball gun so if your beloved kitty comes home neon green you know it's been visiting my yard. If you allow your cat to roam don't expect sympathy if it gets hit by a car. You don't deserve a pet.

Get the cat fixed and tie it up in your own yard.  
 
Read up on the by-laws.  
 
Seriously?

1. Don't let the cat outside. My cats are indoor cats and they are just fine. They don't get in fights, eat toxic substances or get exposed to disease, and they won't get run over, so I don't have to pay emergency vet fees.  
 
2. If you let the cat outside, put her on a harness and leash and spend some time in the yard with your friend.  
 
3. Make a cat run with screening. It's easy. I made one with my grandfather for his cat.  
 
4. If you choose to do none of the above, please AT LEAST get your cat spayed. If she gets out, she'll stay closer to home, and it protects against certain types of cancer. Also, it's not necessary or helpful for your cat to have kittens. If you want a kitten, adopt one of the substantial number already in need of a home.  

My cat is fixed and up to date with his shots. I live in a smaller community so he is out in the evening roaming with my neighbors cats and having a good old time scrapping it up and exploring. He always comes home and seems very content in life

A Q-tip works lmao!

Daphne said "Then you shouldn't have a pet. I live in the east end and I am so bloody sick and tired of the friggen loose cats pooping in my flower beds and even the vegetable garden. There are cats from here to Timbuktu. The excuse cats are hunters and deserve to roam doesn't cut it. If my memory serves me so are dogs hunters. I don't allow my dog to wander into your yard. Oh and then there is the cat fights outside my bedroom window in the middle of the night. Gotta love it. I have now invested in a paintball gun so if your beloved kitty comes home neon green you know it's been visiting my yard. If you allow your cat to roam don't expect sympathy if it gets hit by a car. You don't deserve a pet. "

not gonna happen.......I`m so far west across the highway is a cow field. Good luck with that tough ya cruel *&^%$

Daphne said "Then you shouldn't have a pet. I live in the east end and I am so bloody sick and tired of the friggen loose cats pooping in my flower beds and even the vegetable garden. There are cats from here to Timbuktu. The excuse cats are hunters and deserve to roam doesn't cut it. If my memory serves me so are dogs hunters. I don't allow my dog to wander into your yard. Oh and then there is the cat fights outside my bedroom window in the middle of the night. Gotta love it. I have now invested in a paintball gun so if your beloved kitty comes home neon green you know it's been visiting my yard. If you allow your cat to roam don't expect sympathy if it gets hit by a car. You don't deserve a pet. "

My cats used to be indoor/outdoor- until we moved closer to a busy street. Now I let them out harnessed and check up on them every little while to make sure they haven't gotten snagged up anywhere. It took awhile, but they've finally gotten used to it (so much so that all I have to do is say "Time to come in" and my cat will walk herself to the door and wait to be unharnessed).  
 
I have no problem with stray cats visiting my yard- if they're in the garden, orange peels scattered throughout the dirt will keep them out. In fact, I had a beautiful black and white medium haired visitor just last night as I went outside for a late night cigarette (wonder if it was the OP's!) that kept me company for about half an hour while I enjoyed the night air.  
 
Maybe I'm just super laid back, but I value the people in my life and the experiences I have, not how pretty my yard looks.  
 
The big reason for me to keep my cats indoors is that, due to the fact that I live in a basement suite, my windows are on ground level, and I've been woken up far too many nights at 4am to the sounds of my cat howling and fighting with a cat just outside the window- this never happened when the windows were off the ground, it seems to just be something about the cats being eye-to-eye that makes it so bad. So that is where I have a problem with cats running loose.  
 
As an animal lover, however, I would never intentionally hurt a cat running through my yard. I know I'll get jumped all over for saying it, but it really is no different (in my eyes) than shooting paintballs at the neighbourhood children who's parents let them run across everybody's yards. Both are defenseless beings that feel pain that are only doing something because it's not being disallowed. If you see my cat running through your yard, feel free to shoot me with a paintball the next time you see me, but leave my cat out of it. Shame on anybody who picks on defenseless animals (and it might also be worth noting that animal cruelty laws are getting tougher. And whatever the reason, using a cat or dog as paintball practice IS animal cruelty.) Animals are much more delicate than children, and the force of a paintball could very likely cause significant or even fatal damage, depending on the distance and location.

Nan said "    Daphne said "Then you shouldn't have a pet. I live in the east end and I am so bloody sick and tired of the friggen loose cats pooping in my flower beds and even the vegetable garden. There are cats from here to Timbuktu. The excuse cats are hunters and deserve to roam doesn't cut it. If my memory serves me so are dogs hunters. I don't allow my dog to wander into your yard. Oh and then there is the cat fights outside my bedroom window in the middle of the night. Gotta love it. I have now invested in a paintball gun so if your beloved kitty comes home neon green you know it's been visiting my yard. If you allow your cat to roam don't expect sympathy if it gets hit by a car. You don't deserve a pet. " My cats used to be indoor/outdoor- until we moved closer to a busy street. Now I let them out harnessed and check up on them every little while to make sure they haven't gotten snagged up anywhere. It took awhile, but they've finally gotten used to it (so much so that all I have to do is say "Time to come in" and my cat will walk herself to the door and wait to be unharnessed).     I have no problem with stray cats visiting my yard- if they're in the garden, orange peels scattered throughout the dirt will keep them out. In fact, I had a beautiful black and white medium haired visitor just last night as I went outside for a late night cigarette (wonder if it was the OP's!) that kept me company for about half an hour while I enjoyed the night air.     Maybe I'm just super laid back, but I value the people in my life and the experiences I have, not how pretty my yard looks.     The big reason for me to keep my cats indoors is that, due to the fact that I live in a basement suite, my windows are on ground level, and I've been woken up far too many nights at 4am to the sounds of my cat howling and fighting with a cat just outside the window- this never happened when the windows were off the ground, it seems to just be something about the cats being eye-to-eye that makes it so bad. So that is where I have a problem with cats running loose.     As an animal lover, however, I would never intentionally hurt a cat running through my yard. I know I'll get jumped all over for saying it, but it really is no different (in my eyes) than shooting paintballs at the neighbourhood children who's parents let them run across everybody's yards. Both are defenseless beings that feel pain that are only doing something because it's not being disallowed. If you see my cat running through your yard, feel free to shoot me with a paintball the next time you see me, but leave my cat out of it. Shame on anybody who picks on defenseless animals (and it might also be worth noting that animal cruelty laws are getting tougher. And whatever the reason, using a cat or dog as paintball practice IS animal cruelty.) Animals are much more delicate than children, and the force of a paintball could very likely cause significant or even fatal damage, depending on the distance and location. "

Well said.  
 
I've also always loved visits from cats that are out and about. Could care less if they take a crap on my flowers... it is defintly nothing to hurt an innocent animal over. People are obessesed with their things... I like my things too... But not more then I value little lifes and the company they give!!!  
 

Well i try very hard to keep my cat in the yard but its been running out when someone enters. I have a closed fenced yard but she can now jump to the top. I have not been a cat lover until recently but I hate for it to disturb neighbors ect. I want it to have a set of kittens just because I believe all living things have a right to reproduce, its the experience. I already have plans for any amount of kittens (Father inlaw want all of them for his farm), including keeping one!  
And Daphne, I hope my cat urinates all over your morning tomatoes from your your garden u cruel B**T**D, u dont deserve to be a dog owner. A gun...really....we are talking a serious charge of cruelty to animals. Its comment like yours that turn me off from ebrandon...but nice to know brandon has many TRUE pet lovers!  
No response needed!  
END!

Not to hijack the thread, but I am interested in the vertical maze katwalk mentioned.

Are set up here to catch cats that are let out or are strays. All they do is leave their business in other peoples gardens and flowerbeds...  
Put a collar on it and tie it up or don't let it out.

Right to reproduce? There are thousands of unwanted and abandonded cats and kittens. Get the cat fixed. Nobody, human or feline has the right to reproduce if it means others have take on the burden of their offspring.

"I want it to have a set of kittens just because I believe all living things have a right to reproduce, its the experience."  
 
If you give the same chance at reproduction to all the kittens that are taken to your dad's farm, how many cats do you have then? Two generations in?  
 
Reproduction in animals isn't really a right, so much as a consequence of biology. There are already so many cats, we have to euthanize them by the thousands. It is unethical a this point to make more cats. Cats rock and what becomes of many of them really sucks.  
 
Furthermore, it is also unethical to shoot cats with paintball guns, especially when a can of pennies will suffice.  
 
 
Edited by Word Bird, 2012-07-25 22:02:01

Try a harness and tie out stake.  
 
Through neutering, you can help your cat live a happier, healthier, and longer life and also help reduce pet overpopulation.

kc's thoughts said "Hi I am wondering how to keep my cat at home, she is starting to leave at 6 and dont come home til late (midnight or later). She was in heat about 3 weeks ago as we are allowing her to have 1 set of kittens, but dont think she is anymore. I dont see a lot of cats running around, i am worried for my kids love her so much. Any suggestions. We plan on getting her fixed after kittens arrive. "

what exactly are you planning on doing with these kittens? The pound, the Humane Society and the FFFF are full to the brim with cats, and the pound is putting them down as there are no available homes. The reason for this over-population of felines are people like you who want their cat to have "1 set of kittens". Good grief!  
 
As for the running around and not coming home, perhaps the neighbours are becoming annoyed at the littlest hobo wandering through their gardens and yards at all hours. I can guarantee tou if she ran around in heat yowling incessantly it is only a matter of time until she is trapped. Please be a responsible cat owner and set a good example for your children.

dasher said "    CdnKoko said "Keep the cat inside. Sort of a no brainer. There is a city bylaw in place regarding loose cats.     If your kids love her, my advice is to keep her inside before 1) she gets hit by a car or 2) she gets picked up and hauled to the pound.     I too am also curious why you are choosing to let her have one set of kittens. " year old male cat that is fixed. No way in hell am I going to cage him like a criminal. It`s a cats nature to hunt at night. I`m almost out of the city limits on the 1a. I don`t mind paying any fines or fees for my little guy to be a happy cat. He wanted outside as a kitten so I won`t take one of his pleasures away from him. "PERIOD" Let the hating begin.....lol "

This is the reason for cat traps.  
 
I have lived in a city that euthanized cats that were caught in cat traps. So if one is really concerned about their pet, then keep it in your home or on a leash.  
 
As for the OP - I agree with others, get your cat spayed and stop allowing your cat to go out. I personally do not appreciate my flower beds to be dug up and used for the animals' place of "relief".

There Is a local guy here in Brandon with invisible fence brand. They can install a invisible fence and train your cat to stay in the yard.  
 
http://southmanitoba.invisiblefence.com.  
 
It may be a little bit of $$ but It will give you piece of mind

maybe try feeding her at a different time? Maybe feed her before she takes off...then maybe she would have no reason to take off? We feed ours some food morning and night, and a lot of our cats tend to stay around the house and we live in the country. All of our cats are female and spayed. Just make sure no night food is left out or you get unwanted guests = skunks or rodents  
 
And easy peoples, its her cat, it's her choice if she lets her female cat have kittens. She already has a place for the kittens, so that's great. She didn't say the kittens would be allowed to have kittens, so everyone is jumping to conclusions.

i see my neighbors cat in my yard i throw things at it. if i wanted a cat or poop in my kids sandbox i would get my own cat. can you imagine everyone letting their dog run free? there are rules in town for a reason.

Humphrey said "    kc's thoughts said "Hi I am wondering how to keep my cat at home, she is starting to leave at 6 and dont come home til late (midnight or later). She was in heat about 3 weeks ago as we are allowing her to have 1 set of kittens, but dont think she is anymore. I dont see a lot of cats running around, i am worried for my kids love her so much. Any suggestions. We plan on getting her fixed after kittens arrive. " what exactly are you planning on doing with these kittens? The pound, the Humane Society and the FFFF are full to the brim with cats, and the pound is putting them down as there are no available homes. The reason for this over-population of felines are people like you who want their cat to have "1 set of kittens". Good grief!     As for the running around and not coming home, perhaps the neighbours are becoming annoyed at the littlest hobo wandering through their gardens and yards at all hours. I can guarantee tou if she ran around in heat yowling incessantly it is only a matter of time until she is trapped. Please be a responsible cat owner and set a good example for your children. "

"I want it to have a set of kittens just because I believe all living things have a right to reproduce, its the experience. I already have plans for any amount of kittens (Father inlaw want all of them for his farm), including keeping one!"  
....

Instead of allowing your cat to have a litter, why not adopt a kitten and save a life? Your cat can have the mother experience that way. Your father inlaw could also adopt and save many more lives. Will he being getting the kittens fixed or will they all need the reprodution experience as well?  
 
There are many cats experiencing reproduction, but the result is also cats experiencing death through euthanization.  
 
If your cat won't stay home, many of the previous posts have some great ideas that you could try.  
 
I suggest that you and your kids go to one of the animal shelters to see the cats and kittens there. It could be quite educational and you might find a sweet little kitten to take home.

Well KC the first thing you should do is start tying up your cat asap. She certainly does not need to have a litter of kittens but that is your own choice. What bothers me is if the whole litter is going to be fixed when it goes out to your uncle's farm. They will interbreed and that will just lead to a whole pile of issues that can be avoided.  
 
I never understood why people have a housecat but then let it out. Cats that have never been out will never try and get out. I had a cat for 14 years that was 100% indoors and never tried to get out.  
 
As for the poster who said they use a paintball gun, well I don't blame you really. It wouldn't be my choice but it is your yard. There are too many people who think their animals can just go and run wild and that the world is their litter box. Yes it is not the animals fault but they certainly will learn that is not a yard to go into anymore. I know a few people who set up traps in their yards and then take the cats to the pound. The sad part is the traps are usually full a few times a week. Not everyone is an animal lover and should not be forced to put up with other's pets.  
 
So OP if you love your cat as much as you say then you will get her fixed and keep her inside.

kc's thoughts said "Well i try very hard to keep my cat in the yard but its been running out when someone enters. I have a closed fenced yard but she can now jump to the top. I have not been a cat lover until recently but I hate for it to disturb neighbors ect. I want it to have a set of kittens just because I believe all living things have a right to reproduce, its the experience. I already have plans for any amount of kittens (Father inlaw want all of them for his farm), including keeping one!   And Daphne, I hope my cat urinates all over your morning tomatoes from your your garden u cruel B**T**D, u dont deserve to be a dog owner. A gun...really....we are talking a serious charge of cruelty to animals. Its comment like yours that turn me off from ebrandon...but nice to know brandon has many TRUE pet lovers!   No response needed!   END! "

How can you call yourself a pet lover when you risk your pet's life by allowing it run wild? One of these precious roaming cats killed an entire nest of finches and a squirrel in my yard. The cat wasn't hungry because it is fed at home I assume, so it left the mauled dying squirrel in my yard. Quit making me the bad guy because you feel entitled to let your cat go wherever it wants. And also I work hard in my yard and spend a fair chunk of change to make it nice. Why are you cat owners allowed to let your animals come and ruin it?