-=> I hacked a hairball when, Walter Luffman said,<=-
-=>Hey, All, "Rabies on increase in TN...,"<=-
 
Hi, Walter;
 
[Snip]
 
 WL> ...  Because of
 WL> their size and their tendency to patrol a territory, cats may
 WL> be more vulnerable to attack by rabid animals than dogs.
 
True.  Fortunately for cats, if there is a tree nearby, a cat can
usually get up a tree, out of reach of most preditors... _IF_ they
still have their claws!  (Besides, would YOU like someone to cut off
YOUR fingers at the first knuckle???)
 
 WL> Vaccination may protect your pet from contracting the disease,
 WL> but rabid animals sometimes attack viciously and without
 WL> provocation.
 
Very true.
 
 WL> ... I already
 WL> see skunks, opossums and rabbits around here, and I don't
 WL> know which of the neighborhood cats are vaccinated...or even
 WL> which ones actually belong to anyone.  Looks like Meko will
 WL> remain a primarily-indoor kitty, and will get to go out only
 WL> for short periods under close supervision; while she has her
 WL> claws (and knows how to use them), she's also only six pounds
 WL> and no match for a larger or rabidly-vicious animal.
 
Very true!  Skunks, even those who are no healthy, are a major risk for
cats, because when they tangle, it only takes a skunk a few seconds to
disembowel a cat!  That would HAVE to be a terrible death!
 
The ONLY time Spiker gets outside without a leash is when he goes
"visiting" next door, a distance of about 10 feet door-to-door, and
that's with human company, (to open the doors, of course!)  He KNOWS that
he is not allowed to go any farther!  Shadow NEVER gets out without a
leash or being hand-carried!  They have all they need indoors: grass,
food, litter box, toys and companionship, (each other, myself and others
who come to visit, mostly the next door neighbor).
 
So for my money, if you love a cat, there are three prime directives:
 
1) Keep the fe-lions INSIDE!
2) Let the cat(s) KEEP their claws, JUST IN CASE they get outside!
3) Vaccinate!
 
By the way, Shadow is in a family way, (after 2 years!)  I'm about ready
to stencil "GOODYEAR" on her belly!  We shall see what kind of mommy she
is.  When she was born, her mother, (also a first-timer), just could NOT
understand that she was to stay in the birthing box - she INSISTED that
she was going to have those babies under the blanket on my bed!
Fortunately I saw what was going on, and when she jumped out of the box
and headed for the blanket, (for about the fifth time!), with the first
kitten hanging from her, I grabbed her, finished birthing the kitten,
stuck it under her nose and put both of them back in the box.  THEN she
got the idea and had the rest of the litter in the prepared place.  I
hope we are as lucky this time.
 
Catch you later... Purrrrrrrs.
   Ivy, (who keeps her owners inside!)
 
 
 
... A cat with gloves on will catch no mice.
 
           --
 
          ,----->   Ivy's WALL BBS Ä Sheboygan, WI USA   <-----,
          |--------------> Ivy Iverson, KB9QPM/AE <------------|
          `----------> www.bigfoot.com/~IvysWallBBS <----------'
 
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