Thisby's Pet Corner

The following column is from the April, 2006 issue of the Benton Park Neighborhood News, the newsletter of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association. We hope you find it informative. To subscribe or to advertise, please contact Katie Hurley at katrabbit3@yahoo.com.

My name is Thisby and I am a Benton Park house cat. I want to talk to you about emergency evacuation plans that should include all your pets. Emergency shelters set up for humans in times of emergency do not usually allow pets. It is up to pet owners to make plans for their pets in case catastrophic emergencies require evacuation of the community.

I was very much saddened to see my fellow felines (and other pets, too!) suffer and die in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This example only reinforces the need for pet owners to develop emergency plans for their families and their pets.

Here are some points to keep in mind when you develop an emergency plan for your pet:

Do research on vets, kennels and friends/relatives in outlying areas before an emergency occurs.
Have a pet carrier (kennel, cage) for each pet.
Have spare leashes with each pet carrier (a good idea is to include a leash for a cat).
Have a pet's medication, vaccination and licensing records in a handy place, so these items can be easily packed in an emergency.
If you have to evacuate without your pet, leave a note or sticker on your door that lets rescuers know that the home/apartment contains a pet. (Visit http://www.opspot.org for a download of the emergency note.)
Be aware that most public transportation does not allow pets, even if they are in pet carriers.
Have advance plans made for your pet if you are ever hospitalized or experience other personal emergency.
It is a good idea to have your pet micro-chipped.

As a loyal cat who is descended from a long line of varmint hunters who kept granaries free of disease causing rats in ancient times, thus aiding the development of civilization, I hope humans will uphold their part of the contract and keep us felines safe in times of emergency.

The following column is from the February, 2006 issue of the Benton Park Neighborhood News, the newsletter of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association.

My name is Thisby and I am a Benton Park house cat. I live in a house on Victor Street with three other cats. I happen to be the most talkative and social cat in my home. For this reason, my owner has put me to task to tell you about the Cats Alive! Confinement Campaign, although, as a cat, I do not actually agree with some of the details. However, I will do my best to explain what it is all about.

City of St. Louis Ordinance 10.04.225 states: "No owner of any cat shall permit such cat to be found at large on the streets of the City or in any public place or on another's property." This is what the law states. However, I frequently leave my yard to chase squirrels and to hunt birds in my neighbor's yards. Fences do not stop me, even though I have no front claws. I can climb over fences and even climb on small trees. Besides, it is always a lot of fun to visit my neighbors' yards.

6-19/06: Thisby the cat talks with Lena, his mom.
Thisby talks things over with Lena. Thisby loves to adventure outdoors and to interact with other members of his family. (People Productions photo by Clark Rowley)

Having disclosed my mischief, I will admit that there are important reasons for keeping cats such as myself indoors or supervised to some degree when we are out. Crossing alleys or streets is very dangerous because of speeding cars or drivers not paying attention. Other dangers exist, such as mean dogs, other cats (some with diseases) and people who wish to harm animals such as myself.

Cats that live their livers outdoors have an average lifespan of 2 to 3 years, whereas indoor cats that are spayed/neutered and receive regular shots live 12 to 15 years on average.

The Cats Alive! Confinement Campaign stresses the importance of keeping cats indoors and thus reduces the number of pets getting injured or killed and also reduces the number of cats that wind up at the animal regulation center. In 2004 the regulation center received approximately 2000 cats. Of these several hundred were euthanized.

Speaking of cats winding up in the animal regulation center: whenever your best cat (or dog) disappears, call or visit the center at 2120 Gasconade (phone 353-5838). This is the first place you should check before running out and posting photos on telephone poles. My cousin Pierre, who lives in Soulard, had the unfortunate luck of being picked up by animal control. After being missed for two days, his owner visited the regulation center and found him there. Another good idea is to have your pet microchipped. This makes identification very easy and potentially reduces a lot of time and effort in the search.

It is difficult to keep a cat, such as myself, indoors all the time. Even more difficult is to superivse me when I am outdoors. There are so many exciting things outdoors to investiage and smell. This is why it is important to have an interesting and entertaining environment for indoor cats. Having plenty of toy mice and glitter balls, a scratching post and places for cats to get up high above everyone make for an enriching environment. Not to mention having access to plenty of catnip. I love to play with glitter balls and to make a game out of losing them in hard to reach places, such as under the oven, so my owners have to figure out a way to recover them. I also have my owners toss the glitter balls at me so I can jump high in the air and bat them back. This is our version of volleyball. All this makes for exciting indoor entertainment. You can learn more about the Cats Alive! program by visiting www.opspot.org or calling 314-995-8678.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thisby

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