For one year every customer who bought a CatBib was offered the chance to take an anonymous survey. Over 600 customers took the optional survey. The results are organized into similar groups of answers followed by numbers of answers, with the most often given answers at the top.
Thanks to all the environmentally concerned cat-owners who participated in the customer survey and thanks for keeping all those wild birds safe.
THE SURVEY QUESTIONS
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- HEALTH, EXERCISE, ENJOYMENT [226 answers]
- UNABLE TO KEEP THEM INSIDE [180 answers]
- HAVE DOG DOOR [73/180 answers]
- DRIVE ME CRAZY [65/180 answers]
- FEWER BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS [42/180 answers]
- NATURAL [82 answers]
- FERAL, ALREADY AN OUTSIDE CAT. [77 answers]
- DON’T WANT LITTER BOX. [37 answers]
- LIVE IN SAFE AREA. [33 answers]
- ALLERGIC TO CATS. [13 answers]
- RODENT CONTROL. [12 answers]
- CATS DON’T GET ALONG. [11 answers]
A few of the best answers:
Was originally indoor only, but escaped. Had a bite at the apple and has been impossible ever since.
He enjoys it and studies show cats have fewer urinary tract disorders (FLUTD) when allowed outside access.
They can’t get enough exercise playing in the house with us dangling a string.
He loves it and goes nuts if he is only inside (e.g. last time he was locked in for a few days, he popped a therapy ball while I was sitting on it).
On a more philosophical note, my other cat, Matthew, seems to be more cat-like now that he goes outside.
How long do you allow your cat outdoors?
- NO LIMIT [211 answers]
- ALL DAY ONLY [197 answers]
- ALL NIGHT ONLY [10 answers]
- 6-8 HOURS [20 answers]
- 4-6 HOURS [48 answers]
- 2-4 HOURS [30 answers]
- 1-2 HOURS [22 answers]
- AN HOUR OR LESS [3 answers]
- NOT ALLOWED OUTDOORS [2 answers]
ETC.
Evening only, approximately 3 hours – 1
Only when supervised – 3
Cat kennel – 1
On deck only – 2
1-3 hours weekends only – 1
During weekends, all day…inside during the week days – 1
Do you lock your cat in at night?
- YES – 304 definite yes.
- NO- 187 definite no.
- Sometimes – 61
Have you tried to keep your cat indoors?
- 411 cat owners(70% of total responses) tried to keep their cat indoors.
- 110 cat owners have not tried to keep their cats indoors.
What happened when you tried to keep your cat indoors?
- MEOWS, HOWLS*, YOWLS*, INCESSANT CRYING [171 answers]
- DESTRUCTIVE:CLAW SCREENS, RIP CARPET, SCRATCH FURNITURE [123 answers]
- MISERABLE, DEPRESSED, BORED, STRESSED [120 answers]
- BECOMES ESCAPE ARTIST, CAN’T KEEP IN [72 answers]
- AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS PEOPLE, HOSTILE [46 answers]
- SPRAYS, PEEING, LITTER BOX ISSUES [45 answers]
- GOES NUTS, STIR CRAZY, BONKERS, DRIVES US NUTS [43 answers]
- BULLY OTHER CATS [19 answers]
- KEEPS US AWAKE AT NIGHT [18 answers]
- DIDN’T MIND BEING INDOORS [17 answers]
- GAINED WEIGHT [9 answers]
*the word Howl was used 19 times, the word Yowl was used 15 times
A few of the best answers:
Yes, he is unbearable, depressed and miserable; it’s as though he’s been kidnapped by an evil jailer which makes me miserable, depressed and unbearable because I dont’t like my part as the evil jailer. …
Miaows for England
She howls, scratches the furniture, pushes things off the tables, climbs draperies, writes her Congresscat.
Yes. She cried incessantly all the time for days and weeks. She sat by the door and scratched at the door and cried and screamed a mournful cry.
Until we found this solution he had to be on meds to keep him less aggressive toward people and animals. Now he’s off the meds and is a very happy kitty.
For the first year I did, and he hated it. He got aggressive and destroyed everything he could. Toys were unsatisfactory.
Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, …
Yes. He is unruly and then despondent and depressed. I honestly think it would kill him to be restricted to indoors only Yes. He tortured us to no end with meowing…my husband almost killed him. (Note: Husband is not a fan)
Why did you choose a cat?
- LOVE THEM [183 answers]
- THEY CHOSE US! [95 answers]
- RESCUE, STRAY [84 answers]
- LESS WORK, EASY TO CARE FOR [54 answers]
- COMPANIONSHIP [43 answers]
- INDEPENDENT, [41 answers]
- GIFT, INHERITED [24 answers]
- FOR THE CHILDREN [21 answers]
- NO REAL REASON…ALWAYS HAD THEM [21 answers]
- AFFECTIONATE [17 answers]
- LIFESTYLE, WORK FULL TIME, APARTMENT [12 answers]
A few of the best answers:
Love them, they are sweet and cuddly and smart and wild
Words fail me. They are fascinating, entertaining, completely original. Amusing. Aggravating.
Excellent companions–affectionate but not demanding
Life is not complete without a cat!
Low maintenance and cool
Because they do not hump visitors’ legs or hunt in packs, and because they are cats
Very loving animals, full of beans.
Good question; ask my wife
Is there another choice? :-)
Easy animal and adds a special element to our house
Love them, always had them, good for my daughter suffering depression
Any comments or details you would like to share?
A few of the best answers: