POT PURRY by Connie Condit
Last time I got this column together, I promised to tell you how to get your cat out of a tree (or off the roof, down from a telephone pole, etc.). I hope no one has had one there waiting for my solution!
First, ask yourself, «Do I necessarily have to get my cat out of the tree, or whatever, right now?» Most of the time, the answer will be, «No, it can wait awhile.»
Last summer I learned about an escapade pulled by one of my kids who lives in Evergreen. Bogie slipped out of the door into the yard and the whole family went rushing after him. He took one look at the stampeding mob and scooted up a tall pine tree. Nothing would coax him down. Neither would the fire department, nor the police, come to the rescue. In desperation, Bogie’s folks called a tree trimmer who came with his «cherry picker», at a price that would have fed Bogie prime rib for a year! Up went a rescue team in the cherry picker – and down came Bogie – all on his own! I wish they had called me. That brat grew up in a tree in my backyard (as do all the Heidi Ho kits) and was quite capable of getting himself down from a tree by the time he was 8 weeks old. All he needed was ignoring – it’s no fun sitting in a tree all by yourself!
If you must get the cat down now, the simple answer is your garden hose. Adjust the nozzle to give the most forceful stream and aim it above him. There may be some cats who don’t mind the resulting downpour, but I haven’t met any. Just be certain the stream of water will reach a point above the cat, otherwise, he’ll go up instead of down. You can increase your reach by standing on a ladder, tying the nozzle to a long pole, climbing an adjacent tree or to a convenient roof. Some of you may be a bit horrified at this method. Believe me, it won’t hurt anything but his dignity!
By the time this goes to print, you folks down south will be fast approaching the flea season. The best way to combat fleas is to head them off at the corral! You may get a few, but you don’t have to keep them. I had an invasion while I was in Georgia, but I got rid of them in three weeks, and it did not happen a second time!
Before the ornery varmints sneak in, get with your vet and get a flea powder that is safe for cats. DO NOT use products made for dogs. The powder I used in Georgia was Diryl, made by Pittman-Moore. The tribe got a weekly powdering around the neck and down the back, with an extra heavy sprinkle at the base of the tail. I also sprayed the house (carpets, baseboards, etc.) and the yard with appropriate sprays containing Sevin. The key to winning the battle is persistence. Keep on with the powdering even if you don’t see any fleas. By the time you see one, the place is probably crawling with them!
If all else fails, move to Colorado. We don’t have them here. The high altitude, dry climate and cold winters soon eliminate even the fleas that ride in on out of state fur people. Now you know why I chose to retire here!
Connie