How does this work, exactly?
When I go home at night, my cats are always waiting immediately on the opposite side of the closed door. When I just had Algernon, I'd come home using the front door, and grab him in his attempt to flee into the building's hallway. Now that I also have Rupert, I actually lock them out of the bedroom while I'm away, and exit/enter through the back door (which yes, is in my bedroom). Although they still great me at the (bedroom) door, there's no longer any risk of them getting out of the apartment.
However, at some point in the not so very distant future, I'll be moving myself and them down to VA to be with baronmind.
baronmind also has a front and back door, both of which lead directly to the great outdoors, and neither of which are easily closed off from the rest of the house. I think you can see what I'm getting at here. Although, of course, I'll still strive to keep them both from ever getting out, I'd be foolish not to concede that the risk will be much greater in VA than it is in my current apartment. For that reason, I need to get them both into collars, so that they'll be wearing their Home Again tags,* as well as more traditional tags with my direct contact information on them.
I attempted once before to get Algernon to wear a collar and tags. It didn't go well, and I would frequently find the collar unfastened and lying on the floor. He wasn't simply slipping it over his head. Oh no, not Algernon. He was actually undoing the buckle.
For this reason I am fascinated by all the Break-A-Way Safety collars on the market. I understand the idea is that if an animal gets the collar caught on something while it's outside, and can't get unstuck things can go very badly for the animal. I get that. My confusion is in how the hell you get your cat to keep a safety collar on long enough for it to get caught on something. I mean, caught on something other than its own foot as it tears the thing off in disgust and hatred.
*Rupert hasn't been tagged yet, but I'll be taking him to the Spay Waggin' just like I did for Algernon. He'll be fixed, microchipped, vaccinated and tested for feline aids and feline leukemia all for the low, low price of $55. For an additional $10 they'll also treat him for fleas and ear mites as necessary.
However, at some point in the not so very distant future, I'll be moving myself and them down to VA to be with baronmind.
baronmind also has a front and back door, both of which lead directly to the great outdoors, and neither of which are easily closed off from the rest of the house. I think you can see what I'm getting at here. Although, of course, I'll still strive to keep them both from ever getting out, I'd be foolish not to concede that the risk will be much greater in VA than it is in my current apartment. For that reason, I need to get them both into collars, so that they'll be wearing their Home Again tags,* as well as more traditional tags with my direct contact information on them.
I attempted once before to get Algernon to wear a collar and tags. It didn't go well, and I would frequently find the collar unfastened and lying on the floor. He wasn't simply slipping it over his head. Oh no, not Algernon. He was actually undoing the buckle.
For this reason I am fascinated by all the Break-A-Way Safety collars on the market. I understand the idea is that if an animal gets the collar caught on something while it's outside, and can't get unstuck things can go very badly for the animal. I get that. My confusion is in how the hell you get your cat to keep a safety collar on long enough for it to get caught on something. I mean, caught on something other than its own foot as it tears the thing off in disgust and hatred.
*Rupert hasn't been tagged yet, but I'll be taking him to the Spay Waggin' just like I did for Algernon. He'll be fixed, microchipped, vaccinated and tested for feline aids and feline leukemia all for the low, low price of $55. For an additional $10 they'll also treat him for fleas and ear mites as necessary.