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Simon in a cart?

post #1 of 24
3/11/10 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
Welp........today I was out with a friend with Simon my Siamese mixed cat which is a rescue from last July out for another ride. Simon is a very mild and laid back kitty. I took Simon to a major pet food store here in Michigan.........Today I put him in a cart (allowed) and he was nothing less than excellent while we pushed him through the whole store The Pets Supply Plus chain is a large chain that allows pets to be passed through the store everyday Cat's are very rare......and are always considered........Special......according to the store management here in Michigan.
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post #2 of 24
3/11/10 at 6:49pm
Simon sounds like a very well socialized and mannered kitty.

I have one who, that while he wouldn't like being out like that, does love to ride in or on things. I bet he would absolutely love being pushed in a cart - making the human do all the work.
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post #3 of 24
3/12/10 at 3:44am
How cute! I'm not sure if any of my kitties would tolerate that very well truthfully.
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post #4 of 24
3/13/10 at 8:03am
Attitude isn't always thrilled about it but she will happily ride in the cart at the pet store.

I did it once with Nuts(and Attitude) but all he wanted to do was jump out of the cart and try to hang himself(he outgrew his harness so I had to use a dog collar.) Might try it again with both of them, Nuts still needs a harness but I think I can make due with Attitude's old one that was a PITA to adjust every time I used it, not to mention snap closed without taking a chunk of her hair with it. Trying to adjust a harness on a long haired cat is not a happy experience and there was no way to adjust it off of the cat, Nuts' hair is short so it won't be a problem with him.

Like I said I think Attitude has some fun when we do it.

Taryn
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post #5 of 24
3/13/10 at 8:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailie View Post
How cute! I'm not sure if any of my kitties would tolerate that very well truthfully.
I know mine wouldn't, but I imagine cats who are exposed to things like that regularly would be accustomed to it as part of their lives, and even enjoy it.

However, I am always amazed that people are willing to bring their cats (or other pets) into places like that, it seems to me the danger of exposure to illness is...just too great, in my opinion.

Call me over protective, or even paranoid if you must, but I like to to know my cats are safe and not being exposed to other people's irresponsibility regarding their pets' health status.
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post #6 of 24
3/13/10 at 2:59pm
^ I worry about that, too. My hands always feel grimy to me after touching things, like shopping cats, in public places. I can't imagine that everything is being sanitized to make sure pet viruses are not spread.

And I would absolutely not bright a bird/reptile/rodent into a place like petsmart or petco that sells them and thus could easily harbor very deadly viruses and protozoa affecting those species.
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post #7 of 24
3/13/10 at 4:37pm
if your pets are vaccinated,there shouldn't be as much to worry about.
I personally can NOT take Jazzy(our Terrier mix pup) to Petsmart--she TOTALLY freaks.
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post #8 of 24
3/13/10 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
I know mine wouldn't, but I imagine cats who are exposed to things like that regularly would be accustomed to it as part of their lives, and even enjoy it.

However, I am always amazed that people are willing to bring their cats (or other pets) into places like that, it seems to me the danger of exposure to illness is...just too great, in my opinion.

Call me over protective, or even paranoid if you must, but I like to to know my cats are safe and not being exposed to other people's irresponsibility regarding their pets' health status.
I agree with most of your post........You are being too paranoid about outside parameters. Life is all about having fun with risk........and having fun being out of the ordinary IMHO.......... Simon riding in a cart in a Pets Supply Plus...........one time in his life does not push any paranoid buttons with me and my other 4 indoor cats ........
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post #9 of 24
3/13/10 at 8:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slave2_Ragdolls View Post
I agree with most of your post........You are being too paranoid about outside parameters. Life is all about having fun with risk........and having fun being out of the ordinary IMHO.......... Simon riding in a cart in a Pets Supply Plus...........one time in his life does not push any paranoid buttons with me and my other 4 indoor cats ........

One more thought to add here to my post........How many diseases are transferred from dogs to felines (cats) ?????????
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post #10 of 24
3/13/10 at 8:33pm
Well......fleas, for one.

Though I don't know what that (dogs transmitting to cats) has to do with anything, since both species go into these stores.

My cats don't need "risk" to enjoy their lives, and I do need peace of mind to enjoy mine, it's what works for me.
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post #11 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slave2_Ragdolls View Post
One more thought to add here to my post........How many diseases are transferred from dogs to felines (cats) ?????????
Fleas maybe an issue in your home in the past for you...... None here for me here sweetie What is your point?
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post #12 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:30pm
I've taken several of my cats to pet stores. Actually I used to take Church quite a bit when he was younger (to Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus, and my friend's pet boutique mostly). I usually had him in a soft-sided carrier that has a top that can be zipped open, so he could sit and watch everything without coming into contact with the actual shopping cart. I started taking him places when he was younger because I wanted to show him and was also hoping to do animal assisted therapy with him so wanted to be sure he was comfortable in public. He was, but after a few cat shows where he was just fine with the process, he suddenly decided he did not like them anymore so that was the end of that.

I sometimes take the younger cats (1.5 year old littermates) to pet stores too, mostly to my friend's pet boutique though. Most of them prefer to hang out in the carrier and relax but Harley would rather explore the shop (on leash). They are very careful about keeping things clean there-- the owner's cat(s) sometimes go to work with her, one of them is Harley's littermate who she adopted from me. Harley has no fear and is very confident, she was even completely comfortable at the huge pet expo with all sorts of animals, where we entered a cat show last year (she won last year and we're entered this year too).
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post #13 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:36pm
Communicable between the two? Worms, giardia, coccidia, sarcoptic mange, cryptococcus, rabies, ringworm, and some very nasty intestinal bacteria. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.
For most of those it all depends on how well store employees clean and if any animals are walking through feces outside or going right on the floor in the store. (seen that before, it's sort of sadly amusing)
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post #14 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekochan View Post
I've taken several of my cats to pet stores. Actually I used to take Church quite a bit when he was younger (to Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus, and my friend's pet boutique mostly). I usually had him in a soft-sided carrier that has a top that can be zipped open, so he could sit and watch everything without coming into contact with the actual shopping cart. I started taking him places when he was younger because I wanted to show him and was also hoping to do animal assisted therapy with him so wanted to be sure he was comfortable in public. He was, but after a few cat shows where he was just fine with the process, he suddenly decided he did not like them anymore so that was the end of that.

I sometimes take the younger cats (1.5 year old littermates) to pet stores too, mostly to my friend's pet boutique though. Most of them prefer to hang out in the carrier and relax but Harley would rather explore the shop (on leash). They are very careful about keeping things clean there-- the owner's cat(s) sometimes go to work with her, one of them is Harley's littermate who she adopted from me. Harley has no fear and is very confident, she was even completely comfortable at the huge pet expo with all sorts of animals, where we entered a cat show last year (she won last year and we're entered this year too).

This is a great story....thanks for that Simon is a rescue......about 7-8 years old according to my vet. Simon loves to ride in the car.....I took him one time inside of a Pets Supply Plus and I got HAMMERED by people here. Simon is a social cat with my friends.......I feel that the limited exposure that Simon has received on this one day is nonchalant What are your opinions?
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post #15 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Communicable between the two? Worms, giardia, coccidia, sarcoptic mange, cryptococcus, rabies, ringworm, and some very nasty intestinal bacteria. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.
For most of those it all depends on how well store employees clean and if any animals are walking through feces outside or going right on the floor in the store. (seen that before, it's sort of sadly amusing)
Are all that you mentioned transformed through touching with hands while in a shopping cart for a feline??
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post #16 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:51pm
That's great you can take him to the store! I'd love to do that with my girls, but I know they'd hate it.

I wouldn't worry about them picking up anything either, it's no worse than what would be on you or your clothes when you get home from the store
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post #17 of 24
3/13/10 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarahp View Post
That's great you can take him to the store! I'd love to do that with my girls, but I know they'd hate it.

I wouldn't worry about them picking up anything either, it's no worse than what would be on you or your clothes when you get home from the store
Thank you for your honest opinion.......I have a few jealous girls on my tail here
Thanks again.......
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post #18 of 24
3/13/10 at 10:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slave2_Ragdolls View Post
Are all that you mentioned transformed through touching with hands while in a shopping cart for a feline??
All but rabies. I was thinking more of the shopping cart being dirty as I know how well store employees are made to clean having caught a life threatening bacterial infection from a past job. (no one, but me, would clean up the human feces smeared on shelves)

The warning here - do not touch your mouth or face if you've been touching something other people have. Alcohol sanitizers won't save you. Just because it looks clean, doesn't mean it is..

You could try bringing a small blanket from home to drape in the cart and for Simon to sit on.
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post #19 of 24
3/13/10 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarahp View Post
That's great you can take him to the store! I'd love to do that with my girls, but I know they'd hate it.

I wouldn't worry about them picking up anything either, it's no worse than what would be on you or your clothes when you get home from the store

Simon is a rescue that is about 7-8 years old according to my vet Some idiot just dumped poor Simon in a parking lot to starve to death.....Simon will ride in the car +.....go to the store in a shopping cart with no leash.......... He is a special kitty for sure Why would anyone ever just dump a sweet animal like Simon?? Times are tough in Michigan........I would never dump one of my 5 animals as they are all family to me.
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post #20 of 24
3/14/10 at 1:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Communicable between the two? Worms, giardia, coccidia, sarcoptic mange, cryptococcus, rabies, ringworm, and some very nasty intestinal bacteria. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.
For most of those it all depends on how well store employees clean and if any animals are walking through feces outside or going right on the floor in the store. (seen that before, it's sort of sadly amusing)


and fleas of course, as I mentioned before, heck they can jump. They are not eliminated by proper sanitizing. All it takes is one.

Not having had to deal with any of those things mentioned, including fleas, I prefer to keep it that way. (or, at least, keep the odds stacked in my favor )

The concept may be terrific for some, and I am happy for them, it's just not for me or mine.
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post #21 of 24
3/14/10 at 11:10am
You can also get fleas 'hitching a ride' on your clothes or other items you bring in your home.
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post #22 of 24
3/14/10 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekochan View Post
You can also get fleas 'hitching a ride' on your clothes or other items you bring in your home.
Yes. But so far, that has not happened, in all my years of living with cats. And....taking them somewhere like a pet store where pets with unknown health status are frequent visitors does increase the odds. as I said in my last post:

Quote:
(or, at least, keep the odds stacked in my favor)
Incidentally I take my cats out into their fenced in yard in the summer, but still do not ever have any flea issues. I do not treat for fleas, have never needed to, except the one time I brought in a rescued stray who was supposed to have been treated at the vet before I brought her home(...some signals got crossed there.) Six months of frontline plus took care of the problem, and have never seen another.
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post #23 of 24
3/14/10 at 7:15pm
I guess I see taking them to the store,like I do skin kids.If you were to keep them from getting anything--you wouldn't take them out either.
Reality is, you can only do so much.If you vaccinate them,and keep them on flea/worm meds---as you give your skin kids shots, then I feel you are ok.
Think about all the people that take their animals to the Vets.How many animals are at the Vets for parvo?Mange? your animal comes into contact with them there. Do you keep them from there? nope.
animals/humans are going to come into contact with LOTS of things--preventitive measures(shots) are OFTEN enough.
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post #24 of 24
3/14/10 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by crittermom View Post
I guess I see taking them to the store,like I do skin kids.If you were to keep them from getting anything--you wouldn't take them out either.
Reality is, you can only do so much.If you vaccinate them,and keep them on flea/worm meds---as you give your skin kids shots, then I feel you are ok.
Think about all the people that take their animals to the Vets.How many animals are at the Vets for parvo?Mange? your animal comes into contact with them there. Do you keep them from there? nope.
animals/humans are going to come into contact with LOTS of things--preventitive measures(shots) are OFTEN enough.
You can make a kid wash his hands and they aren't as likely to lick something gross.

My cats remain in carriers at the vet until we enter the consultation room, and there I do not put them on the stainless steel counter until I see the tech wipe it down in front of me with disinfectant.

When my vet treats an animal with an infectious condition she changes her smock in addition to hand washing and other normal hygienic precautions before going on to the next client. I know, because I asked.
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