Question by Nancy P: How do I keep stray cats out of yard and off cushions?
My parents neighbors have many cats and my mom found out from her neighbor that her son feels bad for strays and leaves food out for them every night. Her son is 30 years old and whenever his mother says something to him about doing that, it turns into a big fight. My problem is my father and my son are highly allergic to cats and the cats lay all over their outdoor furniture cushions. As soon as my son sits on any furniture he starts with the itchy watery eyes. We do give him allergy medicine the whole time we are there but he once wound up in ICU for a week from being around a cat and I fear that will happen again. We were over her house yesterday and this morning my son couldn’t open his eyes due to allergies. She has 2 dogs but they don’t stay outside without her, these cats lay on the furniture all night and when she’s not home. We have to do something that is not harmful to her dogs or to children. Any suggestions?

Best answer:

Answer by Aaron W
Cats are notoriously impossible to keep out of anything, let alone something as open as a backyard. A large chain link fence might work, but they’re expensive & may not be possible if your parents are renting or have to deal w/a home owner’s association. So you’ve got 2 options-get rid of the cats or get rid of the fabric cushions which trap the cat hair.

-Call animal control. I love animals, but haiving a huge population of stray cats hanging out in your backyard is a BAD idea. This is how diseases spread. Plus I’m guessing these cats aren’t neutered/spayed, so it won’t be long for their population begins to increase even more. Animal control can catch some of the animals & give them the care/vaccinations they need & possibly find homes for some of them. Some of them may already have homes, but may be reported missing due to the fact that they now reside in your parent’s neighbor’s backyard (cat’s will generally go where the food & company is best & it sounds like there’s a feline mardi-gra feast going on there). I’m sure her son think’s he’s helping the cats, but in the long run, he’s not.

- Get rid of the cushions & get plastic outdoor furniture
-Some stores sell covers for outdoor fabric cushions or the entire piece of furntiture-invest in that (try Lowes or wherever you would find furniture similar to what you own).

Basically, you have to cover up the fabric or vaccum it every day. Plastic is much easier to wash off & the cats probably won’t be as attracted to it.

Good luck!

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Question by Nancy P: How do I keep stray cats out of yard and off cushions?
My parents neighbors have many cats and my mom found out from her neighbor that her son feels bad for strays and leaves food out for them every night. Her son is 30 years old and whenever his mother says something to him about doing that, it turns into a big fight. My problem is my father and my son are highly allergic to cats and the cats lay all over their outdoor furniture cushions. As soon as my son sits on any furniture he starts with the itchy watery eyes. We do give him allergy medicine the whole time we are there but he once wound up in ICU for a week from being around a cat and I fear that will happen again. We were over her house yesterday and this morning my son couldn’t open his eyes due to allergies. She has 2 dogs but they don’t stay outside without her, these cats lay on the furniture all night and when she’s not home. We have to do something that is not harmful to her dogs or to children. Any suggestions?
My parents yard is fenced in, they have a resort-like backyard with a built in pool and about 30 different kinds of seating so bringing cushions in each night is really a hassle, if it’s a choice between being inconvenieced each night or the health of the family, of course I would opt to bring the cushions in, but why should we be inconvenienced this way when they own the home and choose not to have cats for pets. About animal control, I don’t know exactly what they will do for us, but what good is it when the guy next door just keeps leaving food out for them. Another bunch of cats will be hanging around soon anyway. They will be back again. What does animal control do about this guy next door. They aren’t neutered and there has been several kitten litters under my mothers shed. Some look like they are sick and something is wrong with their eyes. I am just disgusted with this whole thing. Besides these cats, everything else about the house and the neighborhood my parents love.
The two dogs are my mom’s. Sorry, I didn’t make that clear in my question.

Best answer:

Answer by ? ? ? VMK?Miley?Disney? ? ?
Keep the cushions in the house. Also, the neighbors should not let those cats go on their neighbor’s lawn when they are allergic!! That is very wrong!! Tell the neighbors that if they let the cats in your parent’s lawn, then you’re calling the police. Simple as that. Then, straight away, they will get the cats off the lawn. And that 30 year old son has to learn that he should not let their stuff go onto other people’s property. GOoD LuCk!

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Question by foolxme2010: why does my dog keep puking?
ok so we took my dog to the vet today after school because she had red ears, and about a week ago she had gotten spayed. the vet told us it looked like food allergies and gave us antibiotics and sent us home. awhile ago she puked this white foam type stuff it almost looked like phlegm, but now i just stepped in a full pile of puke and she never ate anything she cant keep any food down i am phoning the vet in the morning but what the heck could be causing this? before the stupid operation she was fine but ever since then shes always sick or whining and i am getting sick of it.
my dog is also 6 years old

Best answer:

Answer by Yooohooo
YOU’RE getting sick of it? How do you thnk she feels?

Are you aware that if a dog is “sick” or “whining” she is in pain and she IS sick? It’s very mean and cruel of you to be impatient with her. Do you think she can help being sick? You are apparently a child. What if you Mom got sick of you when you were whiny and ill? It would make you feel worse, wouldn’t it? Well, here’s a news flash: Dogs have emotions too.

Hopefully, the vet can find out what’s wrong with her. You might also ask him/her if they can assist in finding her a home where the people will love her and take care of her without getting of “sick of it” when the poor creature is sick.

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Question by Donald: How do I keep just a few fleas jumping on my dog when we go outside,not 14 everytime?
My dog is small, and we have frontline plus on her. She is severly allergic to fleas, scratches till hair comes off from just one unless I put special spray for skin, special shampoo on and give her steroids for itching and inflammation. She also gets a black fungus from skin allergy that I put medicine on. I have tried garlic juice on her,no help, pennyroyal oil, but just combing her with a flea comb every time we go out is the only way I have found to get them off. I want help with keeping them from getting on, at least 14 to 20 everytime we go out. We can’t spray the yard as we have free range chickens that supply us with eggs. Thanks in advance Frustrated in Arkansas

Best answer:

Answer by KOOL KAT2
Have you tried advantage? Sometimes we recommend that people try both to see what works better. Also dont bathe the dog after applying the stuff.

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Question by cap20coke: When is it time to put your beloved pet to sleep or keep having joint surgery. When is enough enough.?
Hi, i am desperately looking for realistic, sensitive advice regarding my beloved 6 year old black lab. She has been ill a little over a third of her life. She has battled a R-torn ACL surgery with a hard long recovery, (even with all the recommended physical therapy) multiple ear infections one nasty bacterial infection (6 months until the cure was finally found, steroid treatment), food allergies, a R-ACL re-injury sprain with 5 months recovery, also she has been found to have bad hips and arthritis in both hips and some in her R-knee(daily pain medication and joint supplements are given with premium allergy food). I was also told that if she gets really bad, a hip surgery is then needed. Now just days ago on her 6th birthday she tore her Left ACL. This was her strong leg as her left leg was finally just starting to become stronger and have muscle mass. I have sought out 2 vets opinions and each one wants to perform yet another ACL surgery. I don’t care about the money, I care about her and her quality of life and her suffering. She can’t run, play, fetch. The best she has been in almost 2 years is going out for walks and of course being my dedicated companion and winter house dog. I feel pressured from the vets, that I am being dramatic and should keep operating and that she’ll recover, but with all her medical issues I am really torn. I am concerned that this surgery will add more arthritis in the hips and knee. Also this would be the 6th time she has been put under anesthesia (eye surgery, x-rays, spay, chest cut injury, knee surgery,). I know a lot of dogs have multiple knee surgeries but given her struggles and circumstances I am not sure if this is the best for her. I am not sure if she is strong enough, I am just sick about it… Should I just let my baby go to sleep and remember the good times or make her, help her to keep fighting? I love her dearly.Thank you for your time…

Best answer:

Answer by Char
If she is in pain and there is a chance the surgery can put her in more pain then I would put her down. We had to put our 6yr old springer spaniel down because his epilepsy got so bad. I got home from school and he just wasn’t there no one told me, so I guess would you prefer to be there and watch her pass away peacefully or in pain. Or you never know she could get better from the surgery. I’d try the surgery and if it doesn’t work maybe you should start thinking about putting her down.

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