the dangers of owning a pet in semi-rural india

anar · Nov 22nd, 2007, 22:52

my one year old cat has his breakfast, goes for his morning stroll in the neighbourhood, a neighbour's dog spots him, gives chase, my cat jumps up on an electric transformer - dies instantly! it doesn't occur to the electricity board to fence the ugly thing - that could have been someone's child, playing near it! i think i will have to pay them a visit and point out their omission. reason i haven't bothered so far (it's been two months since the accident) - fat lot of good it will do - it will probably take an accident involving a human before they respond. and that's not guaranteed.

this was cat number two. the first one - after two and a half years with us - simply vanished without a trace. have no idea what/who got him. never one for giving up, we now have a third - a kitten barely one month old. and already i find myself wondering - is he/she going to make it to 20 (we hear of visitors with cats that old wistfully)? and if he/she needs medical attention, forget it - there isn't a vet around who would deign to treat a cat (strictly for elephants and livestock, his sign would say - if there was a vet in town, that is).

Nick-H · Nov 23rd, 2007, 00:05

Very sad; very sorry to hear this.

No, I doubt that you'd get anywhere with the electricity board.

edwardseco · Nov 23rd, 2007, 00:06

Life... a neighbor walked down a busy road in Hyderabad. A piece of rebar had been left sticking out of a construction. It went into the father's skull. He is recovered now thankfully! Has the mind of a two year old. Best not to dwell on these things..

capt_mahajan · Nov 23rd, 2007, 08:02

Sorry to hear this, anar.

Cats are not very common pets in India. Sometimes it is difficult to find a decent vet in the city too, for a cat.

burf · Nov 23rd, 2007, 09:58

it is hard to find a vet in here anywhere

wonderwomanusa · Nov 24th, 2007, 10:11

You might consider keeping the newest cat INDOORS all the time; it will probably live longer that way.

birds · Nov 24th, 2007, 11:32

Anar I am very sorry to hear about your cats. Considering the lack of vets you may wish to invest in a First Aid Guide for cats.

There is quite a bit available on the net too:

http://www.cats.org.uk/catcare/leafl...d_for_cats.pdf
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth
http://www.cheyannewest.com/catfirst.html
http://www.whataboutcats.com/firstaid.html

Although these guides are all for cats living in western conditions, there is still useful stuff.

It would be great if somebody could write a First Aid guide for pets in India.

capt_mahajan · Nov 24th, 2007, 11:40

Second wonderwomanusa. An indoor cat is much safer, specially in India.

Difficult, sometimes. Our cat is a stray. It was difficult to keep it indoors for a few months, used to make a godawful racket.

Is much more content indoors now.

Lauviah · Nov 24th, 2007, 12:45

Sorry for your cat, Anar...
I wish a longer and beautiful life to the newest one!

anar · Nov 24th, 2007, 12:54

thanks all! yes, we live in hope. my italian friend's attitude used to strike me as a bit callous in the past - now i am more inclined to agree with her: she goes back to italy for six months each year and when she returns, invariably, her many cats/dogs have either passed on/disappeared or they are there to greet her - she takes it all with a smile, a blessing. it is admirable how she can enjoy the time she does spend with her animals and not worry about what the future has in store - after all, what certainties are there anyway? it will take me a long time to be as tranquil about my pets as she is. perhaps never...ah well, another 'work in progress'. ;-)

(attached pic of new kitten)

crvlvr · Nov 27th, 2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by anar

the first one - after two and a half years with us - simply vanished without a trace. have no idea what/who got him.

Almost all my frineds who have cats have to keep them locked up in order to prevent them from "escaping". Why would anyone want to keep a pet that wants to escape? I am still trying to figure that one out.

Nick-H · Nov 27th, 2007, 00:08

Good luck with the new kitten.

It looks very like the one that was just adopting the stndard feline I've decided to live with you attitude when it was found dead in the road the next day.

It's a hard place, India...

anar · Nov 27th, 2007, 11:38

i wouldn't want to lock up a pet - ever! it's heart-rending to see beautiful dogs chained up all day here - there should be a law against it! i don't even think it would be possible to do such a thing here with a cat - we have such an open-house environment.

the attitude towards animals is schizophrenic in india - we worship some and then go out and throw stones at others! mind you we have an australian woman for a neighbour who proudly showed me photos of a civet cat (beautiful wild animal, nocturnal, completely harmless) they had found on their property and promptly caught and flayed alive! reason: it made a mess in their outdoor bathroom. needless to say, we have very little to do with this woman. my point being, cruelty to animals is not restricted to indians alone.

capt_mahajan · Nov 27th, 2007, 11:48

Chaining pets, no way.

But in India, keeping a pet within your house (sp. a cat) may guarantee its survival.. Had only dog experience earlier, but I was told by our vet that a cat allowed to go outdoors anytime in Hyderabad wouldn't survive more than a few years because of disease it will pick up.. no way of knowing if this is true.

Nick-H · Nov 27th, 2007, 12:32

Of course, Anar. Cruelty is, sadly, a world-wide passtime. What you neighbour did is sickening.

I was reading about the violent rape of girls in the Congo the other day. I couldn't help thinking that I wished these men could just not wake up the next day; many would wish far worse upon them. Down that path lies revenge and recrimination and...

Maybe one day there will be peace among humans and creatures in the world.

Nov 22nd, 2007, 22:52	#1
anar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 407	the dangers of owning a pet in semi-rural india my one year old cat has his breakfast, goes for his morning stroll in the neighbourhood, a neighbour's dog spots him, gives chase, my cat jumps up on an electric transformer - dies instantly! it doesn't occur to the electricity board to fence the ugly thing - that could have been someone's child, playing near it! i think i will have to pay them a visit and point out their omission. reason i haven't bothered so far (it's been two months since the accident) - fat lot of good it will do - it will probably take an accident involving a human before they respond. and that's not guaranteed. this was cat number two. the first one - after two and a half years with us - simply vanished without a trace. have no idea what/who got him. never one for giving up, we now have a third - a kitten barely one month old. and already i find myself wondering - is he/she going to make it to 20 (we hear of visitors with cats that old wistfully)? and if he/she needs medical attention, forget it - there isn't a vet around who would deign to treat a cat (strictly for elephants and livestock, his sign would say - if there was a vet in town, that is).

Nov 23rd, 2007, 00:05	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,783	Very sad; very sorry to hear this. No, I doubt that you'd get anywhere with the electricity board. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Nov 24th, 2007, 12:54	#10
anar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 407	thanks all! yes, we live in hope. my italian friend's attitude used to strike me as a bit callous in the past - now i am more inclined to agree with her: she goes back to italy for six months each year and when she returns, invariably, her many cats/dogs have either passed on/disappeared or they are there to greet her - she takes it all with a smile, a blessing. it is admirable how she can enjoy the time she does spend with her animals and not worry about what the future has in store - after all, what certainties are there anyway? it will take me a long time to be as tranquil about my pets as she is. perhaps never...ah well, another 'work in progress'. ;-) (attached pic of new kitten) Attached Thumbnails Last edited by anar : Nov 24th, 2007 at 16:01.

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Nov 23rd, 2007, 00:06	#3
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,777	Life... a neighbor walked down a busy road in Hyderabad. A piece of rebar had been left sticking out of a construction. It went into the father's skull. He is recovered now thankfully! Has the mind of a two year old. Best not to dwell on these things..

Nov 23rd, 2007, 08:02	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,718	Sorry to hear this, anar. Cats are not very common pets in India. Sometimes it is difficult to find a decent vet in the city too, for a cat.

Nov 23rd, 2007, 09:58	#5
burf wondering when? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: delhi Posts: 262	it is hard to find a vet in here anywhere

Nov 24th, 2007, 10:11	#6
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,243	You might consider keeping the newest cat INDOORS all the time; it will probably live longer that way.

Nov 24th, 2007, 11:32	#7
birds Adopt a stray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Goa Posts: 521	Anar I am very sorry to hear about your cats. Considering the lack of vets you may wish to invest in a First Aid Guide for cats. There is quite a bit available on the net too: http://www.cats.org.uk/catcare/leafl...d_for_cats.pdf http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth http://www.cheyannewest.com/catfirst.html http://www.whataboutcats.com/firstaid.html Although these guides are all for cats living in western conditions, there is still useful stuff. It would be great if somebody could write a First Aid guide for pets in India.

Nov 24th, 2007, 11:40	#8
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,718	Second wonderwomanusa. An indoor cat is much safer, specially in India. Difficult, sometimes. Our cat is a stray. It was difficult to keep it indoors for a few months, used to make a godawful racket. Is much more content indoors now.

Nov 24th, 2007, 12:45	#9
Lauviah Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Abidjan Posts: 21	Sorry for your cat, Anar... I wish a longer and beautiful life to the newest one!

Nov 27th, 2007, 00:08	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,783	Good luck with the new kitten. It looks very like the one that was just adopting the stndard feline I've decided to live with you attitude when it was found dead in the road the next day. It's a hard place, India...

Nov 27th, 2007, 11:38	#13
anar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 407	i wouldn't want to lock up a pet - ever! it's heart-rending to see beautiful dogs chained up all day here - there should be a law against it! i don't even think it would be possible to do such a thing here with a cat - we have such an open-house environment. the attitude towards animals is schizophrenic in india - we worship some and then go out and throw stones at others! mind you we have an australian woman for a neighbour who proudly showed me photos of a civet cat (beautiful wild animal, nocturnal, completely harmless) they had found on their property and promptly caught and flayed alive! reason: it made a mess in their outdoor bathroom. needless to say, we have very little to do with this woman. my point being, cruelty to animals is not restricted to indians alone.

Nov 27th, 2007, 11:48	#14
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,718	Chaining pets, no way. But in India, keeping a pet within your house (sp. a cat) may guarantee its survival.. Had only dog experience earlier, but I was told by our vet that a cat allowed to go outdoors anytime in Hyderabad wouldn't survive more than a few years because of disease it will pick up.. no way of knowing if this is true.

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Nov 27th, 2007, 12:32	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,783	Of course, Anar. Cruelty is, sadly, a world-wide passtime. What you neighbour did is sickening. I was reading about the violent rape of girls in the Congo the other day. I couldn't help thinking that I wished these men could just not wake up the next day; many would wish far worse upon them. Down that path lies revenge and recrimination and... Maybe one day there will be peace among humans and creatures in the world.