Lewis the cat gets home detention

[LostinVA]

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (AP) -- A Connecticut judge on Tuesday spared the life of alleged serial-scratcher Lewis the cat, whom even Prozac could not tame, but ordered that the felonious feline remain inside his owner's home at all times.

"There are no exceptions. None," said Judge Patrick Carroll, who also granted accelerated rehabilitation to Lewis' owner, Ruth Cisero of Fairfield, Connecticut.

That means her record will be expunged if she successfully completes two years of probation.

<snip>


http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/20/lewis.lives.ap/index.html

Yay!!!

[iconoclastic cat]

1. I personally think cats should be kept indoors anyway.

Indoor cats live longer, have fewer injuries, etc.

[LostinVA]

2. All of mine are

[Teaser]

3. hyrin hin

"Indoor cats live longer"

This isn't going to win over a lot of folks...

[iconoclastic cat]

6. I don't care if it does or not.

Cats are safer indoors. Period.

[CountAllVotes]

10. that is true

However, some cats simply do not, will not and cannot stay indoors at all times. I had a cat like this once. Lots of fights, injuries, etc. too but there was nothing I could do to keep him indoors at all times. He'd get very angry and cross if he did not get his way.

That is why cats are cats. You either love cats for what they are or you don't.

Luckily, I've never had another cat since that I couldn't keep indoors most of the time.

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Not one of ours has escaped in the last seven years.

And these were feral kittens.

[CountAllVotes]

15. mine had been kept in a darkened room his whole life alone

When I got him at the age of 4 months of age he wanted to go outside and after that, he never really wanted to come inside again not that I blamed him. Living in a dark room I'm sure was a living hell for him. Hence, the tendency to want to get out was set early in life.

Oh well, I really did try!

[flamin lib]

14. No animal whose teeth will not fit entirely inside the mouth can

ever be fully domesticated. The only difference between my cat Coolio and the ones in the zoo is about 400 pounds. Just glad I'm bigger than he is.

Doesn't stop me from enjoying his company tho . . .

[DBoon]

17. and walked on leashes

to familiarize them with the outside, so they don't get lost in case they do manage to escape.

I do know some folks who swear by 'walking their cat" this way.

[maxsolomon]

4. good luck with that

an outdoor cat will get out. if they are determined, they cannot be contained. you have to go out, too, and eventually they'll get past you.

plus, keeping an outdoor cat indoors will result in them bugging the living crap out of you.

[iconoclastic cat]

9. Not so. We did it with three formerly feral cats.

Two were about 6 months old, one was two years old. While we can't let them near an open door, they are far from miserable.

[maxsolomon]

16. lewis is how old?

maybe when they're young you can fool/'train'/convince them, but mine is 6 & a half. i couldn't keep him in if i tried, and i surely could'nt open a window in the summer - he'd tear the screen out. i'd need AC, which is ridiculous.

at least he doesn't do anything while he's out but chase off dogs, patrol for rodents, eat crane flies & get skritchies from neighbors. doesn't catch birds - they know his bell (i say this because we have the same birds come back year after year to raise kids).

if they have to stay in, better to not have a cat.

[iconoclastic cat]

21. "if they have to stay in, better to not have a cat"????

You cannot be serious. My indoor cats get plenty of attention, exercise, and we have huge windows for birdwatching. They are perfectly happy indoors.

[LostinVA]

22. "if they have to stay in, better to not have a cat." -- What?

I'm 41, have always had cats, and they have always been inside kitties. They have been healthy, happy, entertained... and not one has ever tried to escape. I've never fooled, trained, nor convinced them -- it's just how it's been.

[maxsolomon]

24. my point is that your cats have ALWAYS been inside

that's one thing.

Lewis' case is another. if your cat has ALWAYS been in & out, turning him/her into an indoor only cat is a difficult proposition. how will you keep them on the farm when they've seen the city? it just feels cruel to me, like the cat house at the zoo. but i'm sure your cats are fine indoors, & you are awesome, & everything is sunshine & happiness. to each his own.

i know i'm strange, but i like to live with doors & windows open. therefore i waited to get a cat until i could let it go out. my guy is a joy to all the neighbors except a couple old crankpots.

i think Ms. Cisero should give the cat to someone who lives way out in the styx.

[LostinVA]

26. I have my doors and windows open all the time

They are called "screens."

[maxsolomon]

27. my cat vs. screens:

cat 1, screen 0.

like i said, to each his own. if my cat were like the cat in question here, it would be a different situation.

but an abyssinian is not the same as a polydactyl maine coon.

[CountAllVotes]

12. yep that is how mine was

It became ridiculous. I'd try to round him up in the AM and hope that he'd fall asleep indoors and then he'd escape at night. There were plenty of ways for him to get out and he was an outdoor cat. He spent most of his time hunting. He was a Maine Coon and that is what Maine Coons do - HUNT.

He was also on a positive note, a fantastic pesticide for where I live. He ridded the place of a pack of raccoons, skunks living under the place and caught any/all big rats to be found around the premises.

If you wouldn't let him outside, he'd get very mad to the point of become violent! Yikes. So he got his way and was happy like that. He only slept a few hours a day oddly. I've never since had a cat like that one (that didn't sleep a lot). Very odd at best.

Because of his problem of not wanting to stay indoors, he ended up having to be placed on a ranch nearby where he was greatly needed as a rater and a pet too. Last I heard both the new owner & said cat are very happy and the hunt goes on 24/7 I am certain. As for me, I'm still heartbroken about having to give him to a better home.

:dem:

[murielm99]

19. Years ago, I had a cat like that.

He would jump at doors and windows if we did not let him out. He would stay away for days, and hunt. He killed every kind of vermin around the place. We live in the country, so that includes rats and coons.

He would do actual damage to the house if he was kept in. I found this out one winter when it was 20 below zero, and I thought I was keeping him in for his own safety.

The cat I have now couldn't be paid to go outdoors. She is not a hunter, either. She has found a mouse in the house once in awhile. Unless it runs from her, she plays with it until it stops moving, then walks away. Once, we thought our tv room couch had to be thrown out due to a new, mysterious stench. We lifted it, and found one of her decaying mice underneath.

I agree that pet cats should stay indoors. But my old cat was the exception to the rule.

[CountAllVotes]

28. the one I had was the same way

He'd be out there in an Alaskan storm hunting. Rain nor snow would stop him. You had to let him out. There was no real choice. *sigh*

:kick:

[Sanity Claws]

5. Does he have to wear one of those ankle bracelets?

I wonder if they make ankle bracelets small enough for Lewis. I hope it'll match his fur.

[Cocoa]

7. lol

what an image. :-)

[LostinVA]

23. Yes -- Martha Stewart is going to teach him how to remove it

She lives close by, remember!

At least the poor kitty won't be killed. That was horrible, thinking about that. Barbaric. Just as many neighbors said Lewis was a sweetie as said he bothered them. It was mainly one very vocal neighbor.

[calico1]

8. I am happy to hear this,.

I live in CT and had been watching the story. IMO the main problem lies with the owners. Her attitude was unbelievable. She said if people didn't want to get scratched they should stay away from her cat. Really bad attitude. She wasn't doing Louis any favors with her arrogant attitude. He is a cutie though. I am glad his life was spared.

[MrPrax]

13. Lewis Fought The Law!!

and Lewis WON!!

Take that Avon Lady!

(I would love a cat that was smart enough to attack door to door solicitors...my little girl is a total sell-out---she panders to to them for food and pets!!)

[Strathos]

18. I have 5 cats, two of which were raised outside

and every one of them are inside cats now. They listen to me and if I tell them to get away from the door, they do, I can even leave the door open and sit on the deck and none of my cats will cross the threshold. Now, my oldest I sometimes let out in the yard, but he minds better than some children. He comes in when I say and he doesn't go anywhere out of my site. He's 13 this summer and he gets his way everyone now and then. His name is Frank.

I've got, in order of age, Frank, Star, Cole, Leo and Reubin. I love 'em all.

[CatWoman]

20. LOL

That crazy cat!!!

Lewis is just adorable :loveya:

[LostinVA]

25. A purtry boy who doesn't like solicitors...