 | Posted by: | Jasmine, Spookie_Girl@yahoo.com | | Subject: | To Feline or Not To Feline... | | When: | 5:53 PM, 09 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 165.247.112.54 |
I have owned a wonderful little trio of sugar gliders for 4-5 years (Zelda, Murry, and their son, Loki). I have recently moved in with my boyfriend who is wonderful with them and loves them all as much as I do. We have been thinking about adding a cat to our little family, and recently we've had the opportunity to take in a neglected 8-10 week old kitten. This is a little sooner than we hoped to get a cat (we really wanted to wait after we were married), but this kitten is very sweet and needs a good home.
My concerns are great. We live in a one-bedroom apartment, and the kitten was kept outdoors. The gliders will stay in the bedroom, but I realize that accidents can happen and wish to prevent any. I read some of the "Real Stories" and am very disturbed. Can anyone offer me some insight on sugar gliders and cats? Is introducing a 10 week old kitten too risky?
Thanks!
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| Posted by: | TammyH, thowa2@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 6:01 PM, 09 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 146.235.4.8 |
Please Please Please be careful in considering taking on a Kitten.
Kitten are EXTREMELY "playful" with little things that move (ie. sugargliders) and Kittens are fast and sneaky -- ESPECIALLY outdoor kittens (they gotta be in order to survive)
In my very humble opinion, I dont think a kitten with a glider is such a good idea -- The words "free lunch" come to mind
| Posted by: | Rachel2, SugarGMommy@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 6:56 PM, 09 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 152.163.213.199 |
Well...Thank you for rescuing that kitten! That was very nice of you. This can work BUT you'll have to take major precautions.
#1 Kitty can't go into your room.
#2 During playtime you'll have to keep gliders in whatever room the kitty isn't. You will need to stuff something under the door so the gliders can't crawl under( I once found one of my gliders out of my room and on top of the lizard tank thowing things into it). Sometimes a towel isn't enough. I have to use boxes b/c Taylor(the lizard taunter) can get through the door and towel.
#3 Keep the litter box out of the room the gliders play in. Besides gliders playing in cat poop being gross. It is also possible for your glider to contract toxoplasmosis from the kitty poop.
#4 DO NOT try to introduce the gliders and kitty.
Cats have instincts set in their brains that are thousands of years old. You cannot predict their behavior. One minute kitty may be curious and the next minute kitty may be hunting...your glider...
| Posted by: | Liz R, tabetha5@home.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 4:40 PM, 10 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 24.4.252.213 |
I have had my gliders for almost a year and i keep them in there own room because i also have 3 cats. The only time I allow the cats in the room with my gliders is when I am right there holding the cat, and only one cat at a time. My cats are hunters and have hunted animals outside, but they are actually a little scared of the gliders. I only let one cat in for 15 min. at a time and the gliders are verry curious about them. I think they would like to play, and I would do about anything to keep them happy, but i don't trust the cats when it comes to my babys.
I think if you are VERRY carefull it can work.
| Posted by: | Mary, intr01dc@frank.mtsu.edu | | Subject: | Don't introduce | | When: | 9:01 PM, 10 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 12.77.82.225 |
You can avoid trouble by simply never allowing the glider and the cat to be around each other. Many things can happen...ctas are fast...one quick move and your glider is dead. Keep them seperate at all times.
| Posted by: | chrissy, crisi 13@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 1:40 AM, 11 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.193.156 |
My cats have free run of the house and like to sleep on top of my 2'x3'x4'tall glider cage. I have had my gliders for six mnths. My cats (Chester and Key) are indoor cats although they have slipped out from time to time and have been seen eye ballin' birds out side and if there are ever flies or a bee or moth in the house they are quick to get it. At first they were curious about the gliders but they don't seem to pay them much attention anymore like the guinea pig I have (Millie), at first the cats were interested and then they grew bored of her. One happy family my cats have always been living with one critter or another they do fine with them. ALTHOUGH, I do have an older cat (Majik) that lives with my mom and when I still lived at home no matter what I had ,lizards, snakes she ALWAYS managed to get to them.... I guess it would depend on the cat.. Majik was allowed out doors I think that has alot to do with it, when my cat Key gets outside after he comes back in he always acts alittle spooky, brings out that hunting instinct, good luck what ever you decide to do. 
| Posted by: | Bourbon | | Subject: | none | | When: | 4:26 AM, 11 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 216.248.35.125 |
Chrissy, please, IF your cat does get your gliders could you be sure to put your story on the real stories page? The problem most have is when their cat or dog does get the gliders, many times they are embarrased to put that story up. Especially with all the warnings out there. They come in and defend the issue, but is not real quick to write their story. The people that have posted here have heard the horror stories, there are however always exceptions to the rules, those exceptions are VERY rare, The norm is the glider dies, and it is never a pretty site. I have to many times write letters and they never get any easier. PLEASE for those that want to know, PLEASE understand cats and dog are natural carnivours, a tasty snack of a glider isn't something that even the quickest person can avoid, a slight turn of the head, a claw through their brain, doesn't take but a split second..
| Posted by: | Jasmine, Spookie_Girl@yahoo.com | | Subject: | My Decision | | When: | 12:22 PM, 11 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 205.177.58.10 |
Thanks for all your responses!
I hate to say it, but after agonizing over this for several days I've decided to take the kitten to a really nice no-kill cat rescue (of course if anyone here is from Maryland and would like to adopt a beautiful black kitten, please let me know).
Our apartment is very small, and we both agreed it would be cruel not to let a cat have the run of it due to the small size (we firmly are against letting cats roam outdoors). We will get a young kitten after we are married and have a larger apartment or house where we have enough space to give the gliders their own room that we can lock.
There three stories I remember that make me not want to ever mix my small pets with cats or even keep them in the same room unsupervised. First, I found out 3 years ago that cats have a very high rate of deadly bacteria in their mouth or on their claws. One bite or scratch (even a non-fatal one) can kill a small animal. I had taken my animals to the vet's and overheard the techs discussing a bunny that had been attacked by the family cat. The bunny's wounds were minor, but he died that very night due to the harmful bacteria causing his little body to go into shock. 
I also know cats (and any animal for that matter) are unpredictable). I own reptiles, and went to reptile conventions several times. One year there was a 5 ft. iguana who had disfiguring scars all over his body. It turned out 6 month before he had been attacked by the family cat. They had lived together for YEARS, and had always gotten along, but for some reason the cat decided to go after him.
The final story that scares me is I've heard of a woman who kept heard cat and parakeet in the same room together for 5 years. One day she came home to find her parakeet dead in his cage. The cat had rip off his leg and wing through the bar and the poor little thing died of shock and blood loss.
| Posted by: | Bourbon | | Subject: | BonBon | | When: | 2:11 PM, 11 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 216.248.35.192 |
there is a story on the real stories about a cat named BonBon
| Posted by: | chrissy, crisi 13@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:34 AM, 12 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.197.23 |
i will definitly post if for some reason my cats get my gliders, BUT I would not let the gliders and cats in the same room if I believed that they would harm them,,,,,, I KNOW YOU THINK I"M AN IDIOT But you don't know my cats or how my cage is built or set up in my house or when i get my gliders out.... but I have been reading on this board enough to know how you folks are ....so don't you worry I will let you know if something BAD ever happens and I want you to say I told you so IF I do.... because I am a stubborn one and Need to be told that from time to time ( my boyfriend could tell you that Just so you know I met a lady the other day with 5 gliders and she has had them for 3 year and she has TONS of other animals including dogs and cats. Her gliders are healthy bonded and as far as I know they are the only gliders she has ever had so she has not had any cat accidents....
| Posted by: | chrissy, crisi 13@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:41 AM, 12 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.197.23 |
also so you know my cats front paws are declawed I know I know they have teeth they are unpredictable etc.. etc...... The top of the gliders cage that the cats sleep on has A sheet of plywood on it so the cats are not face to face with gliders running on top of the cage.. Also,the cage is that hardware cloth the coated galvanized 1/2"x 1/2" squares that NO WAY could my cat get into that cage NO WAY 
| Posted by: | Mary, intr01dc@frank.mtsu.edu | | Subject: | Im confused | | When: | 12:42 AM, 12 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 12.77.80.142 |
I am real confused here. No one ever said you can't have cats. I have a cat. However she is never allowed in the same room when my glider is out. No one has a problem with people owning other pets..... we have a problem with people letting their gliders "play" with other animals. I don't care how many people let their cats out with their gliders and have never had a problem....I know people that have had their cats eat the gliders and that enough for me...it only takes one time and to me tis not worth the risk.
| Posted by: | chrissy, crisi 13@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:51 AM, 12 Oct 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.197.23 |
I never let my cats PLAY with my gliders and that is not what I said I just said they have free run of the house my cats are allowed in the same room as the gliders cage NOT when the gliders are out at play time. Bourbon brought attention to what I said like an accident MAY happen and I wouldn't ADMIT to it I just said I WILL and the situation I have is not UNSAFE for my gliders.... and all the other junk I wrote.. no hard feelings. I don't mind I'm not mad or nothin' just saying my piece....
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