Obama the cat needs shoes

[Terabith]

Obama, the cat, does not WANT shoes.  But his little feet are so cold.  I went outside today barefoot to see what it felt like, and it is really cold.  He is having trouble staying outside as long as he likes and comes in still full of energy and murder.  I watch him standing outside, alternating which foot he holds in the air.  I think he's just going to have to acclimate, because I think shoes would throw off his balance and gait and everything, besides, you know, he'd kill us.  But I feel so badly for him!  

What do loving cat owners who also allow their cats to free range the sewers do to protect their feet in cold weather?  

[SounderChick]

We do nothing but our weather is mild and so is our cat. She spends more time indoors in winter but she doesn't have unspent energy since she is old and fat.

[Innisfree]

We have a heated indoor/outdoor pet bed. Maybe Obama needs this for Christmas?

https://www.amazon.com/PET-PRODUCTS-Extreme-Weather-Outdoor/dp/B07PFYLYW8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=39COMCLNVRJEX&keywords=heated+cat+bed+for+outdoor+cats+in+winter&qid=1638102193&sprefix=heated+cat+bed+for+outdoor+cats+in+winter%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFVMDJOWjlZUEFHQVMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTEwMDIyMDMzTEZSODlXV1lKV0VSJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MTU1ODEzQk5CWkVDVEJLNFlYJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Terabith said:

Obama, the cat, does not WANT shoes.  But his little feet are so cold.  I went outside today barefoot to see what it felt like, and it is really cold.  He is having trouble staying outside as long as he likes and comes in still full of energy and murder.  I watch him standing outside, alternating which foot he holds in the air.  I think he's just going to have to acclimate, because I think shoes would throw off his balance and gait and everything, besides, you know, he'd kill us.  But I feel so badly for him!  

What do loving cat owners who also allow their cats to free range the sewers do to protect their feet in cold weather?  

I just love the way you write. You crack me up! 

[Starr]

We let them make their own decisions. But wow the dirty looks you get when you open the door and there is still snow outside.

[Dmmetler]

We have a Catio, rather than free range, but two of our three will go out only briefly if at all when it’s cold. #3 has a thick undercoat and tufts of fur between his toes, gets even furrier in the winter, and seems to thrive on cold (I am sorely tempted to run that cat’s genetics, because he comes really close to the breed standard for ragdolls except that he’s medium haired, not long haired). 

 

[Farrar]

I have now googled "shoes for cat" (not "cat shoes" because that turns up human shoes with pictures of cats and caterpillar work boots) and can safely say that the advertising for shoes for cats is hilarious. 

This cat is suspicious of the giant shoes descending on it from overhead.

This cat was clearly photoshopped into the shoes.

This cat begs you with giant eyes not to make him wear those shoes.

This animal wearing "shoes for cat" is a dog.

 

[RootAnn]

Our one indoor/outdoor cat doesn't seem to mind the cold & snow. We do keep him in sometimes even though he makes us pay for it.

I think any sort of cloth booties would be colder when wet than just their own fur.

[Terabith]

5 hours ago, Farrar said:

I have now googled "shoes for cat" (not "cat shoes" because that turns up human shoes with pictures of cats and caterpillar work boots) and can safely say that the advertising for shoes for cats is hilarious. 

This cat is suspicious of the giant shoes descending on it from overhead.

This cat was clearly photoshopped into the shoes.

This cat begs you with giant eyes not to make him wear those shoes.

This animal wearing "shoes for cat" is a dog.

 

Yes, that was my take when I googled.  

[Drama Llama]

5 hours ago, Farrar said:

I have now googled "shoes for cat" (not "cat shoes" because that turns up human shoes with pictures of cats and caterpillar work boots) and can safely say that the advertising for shoes for cats is hilarious. 

This cat is suspicious of the giant shoes descending on it from overhead.

This cat was clearly photoshopped into the shoes.

This cat begs you with giant eyes not to make him wear those shoes.

This animal wearing "shoes for cat" is a dog.

 

I love that it is easier to believe that your customer will be fooled by the dog who is not a cat, than it would be to put the shoes on a cat model.

[Moonhawk]

12 minutes ago, Baseballandhockey said:

I love that it is easier to believe that your customer will be fooled by the dog who is not a cat, than it would be to put the shoes on a cat model.

"Well, you see, there was a problem with our cat model's contract...last minute phone call from their agent....couldn't reschedule the shoot, the photographer was already overbooked....so we found a great stand in...really lucky to have him on such notice....a bit taller than our original model, but very accommodating....great with kids...."

[KungFuPanda]

If you ever do procure shoes for this cat, can you share video of the whole process?  

[Terabith]

I like the idea of the indoor/ outdoor heated cat bed.  Part of the issue is that for most of the year, his preferred time to be outside is at night.  I swear I think the neighborhood cats have a rotational schedule worked out for which cat is outside at what time of day.  And at night we are asleep and unavailable to let him in and out all night as he would like.  He won't keep a collar on, so there's no way a cat door would work.  My other concern is that we are going to my mom's house for a week this Christmas.  When we went this summer, we had both my father in law and a cat sitter coming in twice a day to feed the cats and let them in/ out.  Except that Obama was terrified of the strangers and refused to come inside for most of the week.  We had left dry food and water outside, so he was fine, but I'm worried about what happens if this happens in the winter.  After he finally, reluctantly came inside, I tried to get them to leave him inside, but he sneaked out.  He is smart, clever, devious, and slightly evil.  Also incredibly opinionated.  

If I'm going to do a heated cat bed, I should get one soon.  He is always deeply suspicious of new things.  Or even old things in new locations.  He had a cat bed upstairs that he loved, but when I moved it downstairs when we moved the living room into the basement, he will no longer touch it or go near it.  He glares at it suspiciously.  

He is nearsighted, possibly partially deaf, and has an overbite.  Despite this, he navigates the outdoors safely and well.  My husband says if we got him kitty glasses and braces, that all the other neighborhood cats would make fun of him.  And I don't think getting braces or glasses on him would go even as well as shoes.  

[DreamerGirl]

Well, I am glad you mentioned the cat in the title because I swear my mind goes to the former President every time you talk about him. In my defense, it is not a uncommon scenario. You after all live next to the monolith so who knows what is possible with that ? 

Anyways, I have seen dogs with shoes. Lots of them in my neighborhood because responsible dog owners who insist on walking their dogs in the Texas heat have their pets shod. 

I have seen cats in a stroller as well. I have a wonderful older neighbor who takes her cats for walks. 

I think pets who live outdoors need some sort of coat or shoes other than what is part of their anatomy. I've seen horses with coats so why not cats ? I think Obama the cat might appreciate a coat. But shoes ?

Will a cat like shoes ? I think a cat named after a president may.

I would like video please, not just pictures when it happens.

Also. has the monolith been decorated yet ? 

[alisoncooks]

We have an outdoor cat (a stray that adopted us despite my kid with cat allergies). She, the cat — not my kid, has a heated & covered bed on our front porch. We do worry when it’s super cold. We also have a Kitty Tube (insulated cat house) in the back yard. 

[Terabith]

45 minutes ago, DreamerGirl said:

Well, I am glad you mentioned the cat in the title because I swear my mind goes to the former President every time you talk about him. In my defense, it is not a uncommon scenario. You after all live next to the monolith so who knows what is possible with that ? 

Anyways, I have seen dogs with shoes. Lots of them in my neighborhood because responsible dog owners who insist on walking their dogs in the Texas heat have their pets shod. 

I have seen cats in a stroller as well. I have a wonderful older neighbor who takes her cats for walks. 

I think pets who live outdoors need some sort of coat or shoes other than what is part of their anatomy. I've seen horses with coats so why not cats ? I think Obama the cat might appreciate a coat. But shoes ?

Will a cat like shoes ? I think a cat named after a president may.

I would like video please, not just pictures when it happens.

Also. has the monolith been decorated yet ? 

Our neighbor cat, Kamala, had a sweater, but she figured out how to escape from it pretty quickly.  I actually do not think Obama would appreciate a coat.  And shoes would make walking/ running/ climbing difficult.  I think dogs are different than cats in terms of what they can be acclimated to.  

I like the idea of a heated cat house outside for him.  

The monolith has not been decorated yet.  I will post pictures when/ if it is.  

[Innisfree]

46 minutes ago, Terabith said:

I like the idea of a heated cat house outside for him. 

Yeah, if he wants to stay out overnight instead of just having a warm spot to toast his toes during the day, the heated cat house sounds better than the flat heated bed. We have both, since our cat also insisted on adopting us despite family allergies. We find that even the house is best placed somewhere sheltered and out of the wind and elements: a garage with a cat door, or a porch, or the like.

Of course there was the time I peeked inside the house (covered with a woolen blanket, for extra warmth) to find a big possum hissing at me... 😳😄

[Terabith]

1 hour ago, Innisfree said:

Yeah, if he wants to stay out overnight instead of just having a warm spot to toast his toes during the day, the heated cat house sounds better than the flat heated bed. We have both, since our cat also insisted on adopting us despite family allergies. We find that even the house is best placed somewhere sheltered and out of the wind and elements: a garage with a cat door, or a porch, or the like.

Of course there was the time I peeked inside the house (covered with a woolen blanket, for extra warmth) to find a big possum hissing at me... 😳😄

Yeah, the only place we could put a heated cat house is on our carport (the one that has its own weather system), because it would need access to an electrical outlet.  My husband is concerned that a heated cat house will attract possums and skunks (and other neighborhood cats), but I think such close proximity to human activity might discourage them?  It would certainly make me feel better about him being out at night or if he runs away while we're out of town.  I think a cat house with two entrances is a must to prevent him being cornered and trapped by a possum or skunk.  

Edited November 29, 2021 by Terabith

[Innisfree]

16 minutes ago, Terabith said:

Yeah, the only place we could put a heated cat house is on our carport (the one that has its own weather system), because it would need access to an electrical outlet.  My husband is concerned that a heated cat house will attract possums and skunks (and other neighborhood cats), but I think such close proximity to human activity might discourage them?  It would certainly make me feel better about him being out at night or if he runs away while we're out of town.  I think a cat house with two entrances is a must to prevent him being cornered and trapped by a possum or skunk.  

Yes to the two entrances.

As for proximity to humans discouraging the varmints, I regret to tell you the house our possum occupied is inside the attached garage. We had just left the garage door cracked a bit past dusk before closing the cat in that night. 

We've only had one possum, though, over six years or so.

Edited November 29, 2021 by Innisfree

[alisoncooks]

2 minutes ago, Innisfree said:

Yes to the two entrances.

As for proximity to humans discouraging the varmints, I regret to tell you the house our possum occupied is inside the attached garage. We had just left the garage door cracked a bit past dusk before closing the cat in that night. 

We've only had one possum, though, over six years or so.

My MIL recently had a opossum problem — in her ACTUAL HOUSE.  Apparently, they were coming in through a hole near the dryer vent (?!) and my niece ended up catching something like 5 opossums in the house over a few weeks.  

[happi duck]

Every time I scroll past this thread I think "just so long as you don't get him a tan suit"!

[Terabith]

2 hours ago, alisoncooks said:

My MIL recently had a opossum problem — in her ACTUAL HOUSE.  Apparently, they were coming in through a hole near the dryer vent (?!) and my niece ended up catching something like 5 opossums in the house over a few weeks.  

My husband's aunt went out of town and left great grandma in charge of feeding their barn cats, and apparently great grandma was very concerned about the black and white cat that really wanted to come in, so aunt came home to discover like five cats and a skunk living inside the house.  Everyone was totally chill with this skunk.