Phasing out the crate

[howsefrau32]

We have been trying for a week or so to see how Greta does outside of the crate. She was 2 in March, she seems to fine when I'm outiside for long periods of time doing yard work, so I thought I'd try her out of the crate for a bit longer. I'm happy to report she seemed fine! I put her kong in the crate with her, with some carrots (she is on a diet) and left the door open, came home 1 1/2 hours later to find that she was still in the crate, it was still cracked so I could tell she didn't even wander out of it. She did that same thing again twice, but today when I left her I came home to find her asleep on the couch. I"m so glad that she is able to settle down and not stress. She is such a good girl. I tried to put everything up I thought she could get into, she doesn't seem to have touched anything. I do put the cats up, or if one of them is asleep, I make sure they have an escape ender a gate. Do most of you put your cat's up? I usually find them snuggled up together, so I don't think she would hurt them, but I've mostly been putting the cats in the bedrooms and closing the doors just to be safe, but I kind of think she likes the cats being close by. They seem to comfort each other. I'm just so happy that I finally have her to the point that I don't have to lock her up! My springer spaniel was 9 before he could be left out of the crate, or he would eat the entire house and garbage. I love my dog!

[krb0471]

I don't put the 3 cats up, they seem to sufficiently ignore one another. Plus the cats can fit under a bed/table/couch if things did get squirrely. To be honest, Basja had the chance to actually get a not-to-smart squirrel the other day and she didn't- she was 4" from it and just waited for it to run so she could finish the 'game'.

[NickandNora'smom]

We used to baby-gate N&N into just a couple rooms when we first left them out of the crates and the cats were free to enter those rooms or not and they also had the basement to escape to. But nothing every happened, so now everyone is free to wander and so far, so good! They turned 2 in February, and I really notice how they're calming down (or just getting lazy like their mama).

[bren]

In the old place we had a baby gate blocking a closet where the cat's stuff was ... litter box, food, water, etc. It was up just high enough for the cat to go under. He mostly chilled on the back of the couch, but we had that area where he could get away from the dogs, and it keeps the dogs out of the little box and food. Drool and cat litter are not a cool mix.

In the new place, we'll probably baby-gate the dogs in the bedroom/hallway area so they can have room, but won't have free run of the house when we're not home. That'll also give the cat his own space away from them, just in case he needs it.

[howsefrau32]

Well, I left one cat and Greta out today, but the cat had several places she could escape if she needed to. Usually I just either find them laying together on the rug or the couch, but today Greta was sleeping in her crate again when I got home. I could tell she had been out though because her kong was moved into the hallway so at least I know she will come out if she wants to, I guess the crate is just like her security blanket now. I thinks he is getting a little lazy though, but it could be this hot, awful weather.