I'm not sure where this is supposed to be, so mods, feel free to move it if you think it should be somewhere else!
Now that Clementine has been here nearly a week and has stayed inside the whole time (except for her small escape earlier), Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve finally realized what Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been missing out on. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s so fun to have a cat around all of the time, and itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not nearly as much trouble as my dad makes it out to be! Having outside cats is fine, I have nothing against it, but I really do think itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s time that the cats are able to spend as much time indoors as they want to. My dad doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t agree, obviously, but I think thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s because the only cat heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s ever had indoors was the one who sprayed. I know itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not true that all cats do that, and whether thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s first and foremost in his mind I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know, but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to try work out any kinks in the indoor-cat idea that he might come up with.
So, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to propose a plan to him. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to ask him if he can let the cats stay inside for a week straight, night and day, wandering in and out as they please which will be most likely in 100% of the time). If it all goes fine, he can let them be indoor cats. If it doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t, they get to go back to being outdoor cats when my dad is home and indoor/outdoor cats when heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not.
There are a few things I know are bound to come up with that I need help coming up with strong fixes for. First off is the shedding. How do I reduce this problem? I know a good diet is the key, so what kind of food should they be eating? A mix of wet and dry? Brushing shouldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t be a problem since I have all of the tools for that and will have no problem doing it however often is necessary. For the shedding that does occur, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to vacuum every day, so that should be no problem.
The second problem, which would be for both my mom and dad, is the ever-present litterbox problem. My mom will not tolerate any feces/urine in the house, itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s her pet peeve (no pun intended
). What kind of litterbox is best for a multi-cat (five) household? Also, where would it be best to situate them, and what litter would be best for reducing any odors? I know two would be the minimum that I would need. My mom would also prefer for them to not be in any heavily trafficked areas, so would a bathroom/bedroom location work fine?
The third is one Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not sure exactly how to fix. Neither of my parents like cats on counters or tables. I find this a bit odd as theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re easily cleaned, but if itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s possible to train cats to stay off of them and itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll allow them to live much more comfortable inside, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to take as many measures as possible to keep them off. Any ideas on how to go about doing this?
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m trying to make this as little change for my mom and dad as possible, especially for my dad since he is not at all an animal person. So, along with not putting any added responsibilities on either of them with this proposal, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d also like to find some benefits of having cats inside that I can tell him. I know theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re gorgeous creatures, full of personality, and are amusing to watch, but I need some solid things that even a non-animal lover would appreciate. I already have mousing down as one, but any others would be highly appreciated!
I know Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to have to make sacrifices. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to pay for anything new, help out more with any more expensive foods Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d need to buy to reduce shedding, but scratching posts and soft claws, and am going to be 100% responsible for any messes or damage that they do. Any other suggestions of things I could add into this area would be appreciated, but itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s probably one of the more difficult things.
Also, if there is anything at all that you think he might be concerned about that I could be prepared to answer to, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d love it if youâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d post about it.
This plan may completely sink, and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m prepared for that. However, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to do almost anything to give my babies a better life than the one that they have, and the first step to doing that is welcoming them in the house like they should be. On a quick side note, if you have suggestions on how to approach him about this plan (think about the fact that Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve talked to him about this issue uncountable times) Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d really, really be thankful!
Now that Clementine has been here nearly a week and has stayed inside the whole time (except for her small escape earlier), Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve finally realized what Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been missing out on. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s so fun to have a cat around all of the time, and itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not nearly as much trouble as my dad makes it out to be! Having outside cats is fine, I have nothing against it, but I really do think itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s time that the cats are able to spend as much time indoors as they want to. My dad doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t agree, obviously, but I think thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s because the only cat heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s ever had indoors was the one who sprayed. I know itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not true that all cats do that, and whether thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s first and foremost in his mind I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know, but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to try work out any kinks in the indoor-cat idea that he might come up with.
So, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to propose a plan to him. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to ask him if he can let the cats stay inside for a week straight, night and day, wandering in and out as they please which will be most likely in 100% of the time). If it all goes fine, he can let them be indoor cats. If it doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t, they get to go back to being outdoor cats when my dad is home and indoor/outdoor cats when heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not.
There are a few things I know are bound to come up with that I need help coming up with strong fixes for. First off is the shedding. How do I reduce this problem? I know a good diet is the key, so what kind of food should they be eating? A mix of wet and dry? Brushing shouldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t be a problem since I have all of the tools for that and will have no problem doing it however often is necessary. For the shedding that does occur, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to vacuum every day, so that should be no problem.
The second problem, which would be for both my mom and dad, is the ever-present litterbox problem. My mom will not tolerate any feces/urine in the house, itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s her pet peeve (no pun intended
The third is one Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not sure exactly how to fix. Neither of my parents like cats on counters or tables. I find this a bit odd as theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re easily cleaned, but if itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s possible to train cats to stay off of them and itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll allow them to live much more comfortable inside, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to take as many measures as possible to keep them off. Any ideas on how to go about doing this?
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m trying to make this as little change for my mom and dad as possible, especially for my dad since he is not at all an animal person. So, along with not putting any added responsibilities on either of them with this proposal, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d also like to find some benefits of having cats inside that I can tell him. I know theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re gorgeous creatures, full of personality, and are amusing to watch, but I need some solid things that even a non-animal lover would appreciate. I already have mousing down as one, but any others would be highly appreciated!
I know Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to have to make sacrifices. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to pay for anything new, help out more with any more expensive foods Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d need to buy to reduce shedding, but scratching posts and soft claws, and am going to be 100% responsible for any messes or damage that they do. Any other suggestions of things I could add into this area would be appreciated, but itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s probably one of the more difficult things.
This plan may completely sink, and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m prepared for that. However, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m willing to do almost anything to give my babies a better life than the one that they have, and the first step to doing that is welcoming them in the house like they should be. On a quick side note, if you have suggestions on how to approach him about this plan (think about the fact that Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve talked to him about this issue uncountable times) Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d really, really be thankful!