Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

Odds are that you'll come up with your own names for them anyways. Odds are you give them names like Dumbkoft and Garden City.

I'll take the under, Johnny Chimpo.

 

[robyn8]

I think it's a good idea to have a litter box for the barn cats in any case. If they were ill and the vet needed a stool sample, it would be easy to get.

I was in such a hurry to leave the city yesterday that I forgot the paperwork that came with the adoption. I can't remember the names of these guys.

ETA: I left a voice mail asking for the names and records. E-mail with all the details arrived in less than an hour. Bender and Mariner are settling in.

Totally understand good animal husbandry but after having 4 indoor cats for 14 years I'm totally over cat litter boxes. Maybe I wouldn't mind so much if it's outside. We'll see.

 

[1muttsfan]

I think a few problems with not providing outdoor cats with litter boxes is that first of all they will start going in other what they consider convenient places, like gardens and in the bedding of the coop, and second of all in inclement and particularly very cold weather they wouldn't have a lot of options other than just going inside. I agree with having high standards for pet and livestock care.

 

[robyn8]

I think a few problems with not providing outdoor cats with litter boxes is that first of all they will start going in other what they consider convenient places, like gardens and in the bedding of the coop, and second of all in inclement and particularly very cold weather they wouldn't have a lot of options other than just going inside. I agree with having high standards for pet and livestock care.

I also agree on high living standards for animals. I'm just thinking providing a litter box might be a reason not to get a barn cat at all for me. I would never get an animal and not provide what they needed. Just asking questions so I know what I'm in for. I see a lot of barn cats in large horse barns and I've never seen a litter box so I wasn't sure what people actually do.

 

[RaZ]

I also agree on high living standards for animals. I'm just thinking providing a litter box might be a reason not to get a barn cat at all for me. I would never get an animal and not provide what they needed. Just asking questions so I know what I'm in for. I see a lot of barn cats in large horse barns and I've never seen a litter box so I wasn't sure what people actually do.

I think you answered your own question. If the litter box chore is too much then please don't get the cat. You'll both be happier.

 

[SillyChicken]

In my case robyn8, my cats wouldn't have access to my chicken coops and other buildings are closed or have no bedding - frozen or compacted dirt, or cement. So no "bedding" to dig in. Most barn cats are considered on their own except for supplemental feeding/water. I had a window in a cement floored shed open for the cats with a block of wood to make an entry hole with a litter box inside. But now that I have my slingshot in the shed, we closed that off. The barn cats winter in my semi finished basement and keep mice at bay inside (I think). But princess cat thinks this is where she must be now. When we have a nice day, we put them out to mouse....... Our cats names are Thelma (princess thing, omg you're fat) and Louise (louie).

Got the hides and heads back from the butcher yesterday, and got them cleaned and salted. I need to skin them myself next time as the guy that did it made a mess of the hides (holes). Guess if I want it done right, I should do it myself. Tonight I am going to start skinning the skulls. I wish I had some Dermestid beetles to clean them off for me. Last skull I cleaned off I had stuck in the ground inside one of my lean too sheds, but it was warmer out. This is the skull of one of my ram lambs that the other rams ganged up on and killed.

I'm not going to miss this guy though..

 

[chickflick]

Heck, I pick up chicken poop and dog poop, why not kitty poop? At least it's contained in one place.
Cold this morning, but suppose to warm up once these clouds clear up and the sun can shine.
You all have a good day...

 

[aart]

Tonight I am going to start skinning the skulls. I wish I had some Dermestid beetles to clean them off for me. Last skull I cleaned off I had stuck in the ground inside one of my lean too sheds, but it was warmer out.

Very cool!
I collect(ed) animal skulls way back when.
Hung them in a cage and let the flies do the job.
Have put cage on ground too...preds try to get at them,
doing it in a shed would be great.

 

[wcbpolish]

I wish I had some Dermestid beetles to clean them off for me.

I might have a local contact that has dermestids. He had them last year, not sure if he still has the colony going. He was cleaning bones for an archaeology class he was co-teaching at university. I can call/email him if you want me to, but you'd have to pick them up from me/him in the Grand Rapids area. Let me know.

 

[SillyChicken]

I might have a local contact that has dermestids. He had them last year, not sure if he still has the colony going. He was cleaning bones for an archaeology class he was co-teaching at university. I can call/email him if you want me to, but you'd have to pick them up from me/him in the Grand Rapids area. Let me know.

I would be interested if the price was right.