DEAR JOAN: I adopted Chong 2 years in the past, and he is a superb consolation to me since I misplaced my spouse in 2020.
He has been mounted, had his pictures and I’m attempting to make him an indoor cat however gave into him as he saved crying on the entrance door. I’ve a yard with a fence and rocks, so I did let him out.
He stays largely within the yard subsequent to me, however the different night time, he went to the entrance and was going beneath parked automobiles. I had a really laborious time attempting to get him, however I assume he received scared and ran again to the yard.
So Joan, do you’ve a suggestion on learn how to hold him in or simply let him out to the yard? I do know he’ll cry lots.
— Philip Wilson, Oakland
DEAR PHILIP: Though it’d look like a frightening – and loud – activity, convincing a cat to remain indoors isn’t as unimaginable because it may appear, and it’s so a lot better for everybody.
One of many causes indoor cats appear intent on going outside is as a result of cats are naturally curious creatures, and so they prefer to discover. Nevertheless, investigating the undercarriage of parked automobiles isn’t a protected journey, and fences don’t deter cats from wandering.
You may work to show your house setting right into a playground. Have loads of toys for Chong to play with alone and with you. Get some scratching posts with excessive perches — for when he desires to climb up and survey his area — and nooks the place he can curl up and take naps.
Making a routine will even hold Chong grounded. Attempt to schedule feedings, groomings and playtime with you on the identical time day by day. Consider it or not, cats love routines.
With lots to carry his curiosity indoors, he’ll be extra content material to remain inside. If he nonetheless desires to exit, you possibly can strive letting him discover the good outside with a halter and leash. He’ll nonetheless have the ability to scent the contemporary air, however you’ll be there to maintain him protected. It’s also possible to set up a catio – a big, caged space the place he has room to play outside, however is protected from hurt. You’ll even be defending space wildlife from Chong’s pure inclination to hunt.
If you happen to determine to let him out on his personal in spite of everything, keep away from nighttime excursions. He stands a higher probability of being injured or killed within the darkness by predators or motorists who merely don’t see him in time to cease.
DEAR JOAN: Is it my creativeness or are there extra backyard lizards this yr? From the seems to be of the sizes of lizards in my yard, there are three generations. What are they consuming?
— Robert Pedretti, San Jose
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DEAR ROBERT: The Western fence lizard, our commonest lizard, is a solitary creature, so that you may simply be seeing the male or feminine and among the offspring.
The lizards mate within the spring, and the feminine lays one to a few clutches of as much as 17 eggs every that hatch in August. I don’t know if everyone seems to be seeing extra lizards than regular, however my yard proper now could be blessed with an abundance of tiny ones.
The lizards eat bugs and spiders. Get pleasure from them now, as they’ll go into a sort of hibernation within the winter.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
