I didn't even think of adding a little explanation to my T13 about life in Hong Kong with cats, so, I thought I would follow it up with explaining a little more about how it's possible to live and keep three cats in a busy, crowded, cramped city! (while answering some questions I received via comments and emails!).
Starbuck, Torrey and Sebastian live in an apartment. By city standards, especially Hong Kong standards, it's a large apartment as it is nearly 3,500 square feet in size. The boys have their own play room, which is almost as big as my bedroom, and it has everything they need in it including their water dome (the smaller one so they can't dunk their toys in it or splash!).
Their 8 feet cat tree, which they love, especially as it's next to a window!
And numerous toys, which I'm thinking of making into next week's T13.
When no one is at home, they have free run of the playroom, hallway and guest toilet. When we're home, they have full reign of the whole house (except the kitchen!).
As for going outside: nope - there is really no way for them to get out. I did consider leash training them and taking them for walks; however, I live in an area that gets a lot of monkeys and that equates to rabies and so they would have to get rabies shots and the other shots, which may lead to cancer, and so I decided to play it safe and keep them inside.
One time, Sebastian managed to squeeze through the pottery wall I have in my laundry area and he ended up walking around the perimeter of the building on a ledge! I almost died! Thankfully he found his way to one of my two balconies and was safe. Whew!
Cats are a popular pet choice in Hong Kong; however, they are mostly the flat-faced cat varieties such as persians and exotics. We also have british shorthairs, a few maine coons etc. but mostly persians. Hong Kong people love their fat faces. They are also quieter and not so active and so suit the "living in a matchbox" style houses we have. Below is an example of a home in HK that has cat proofed the balcony (btw, it is not my apartment- it is an Alley Cats pic I found. Where I live looks over trees and a couple small parks!).
We also have a large stray population, which lots of research has been done on regarding feril population control. It's interesting. I'll have to get some more info on it. We also have Hong Kong Alley Cats, which is deals with, you guessed it, Alley cats! And a Cat Colony Programme run by the SPCA. It's all really well run.
My cats were all brought from overseas (one rescue and two from breeders) as the Hong Kong pet industry is pet shop oriented and not breeder oriented. I find it really interesting that most of the cats in pet stores have been imported, which makes me wonder about the breeders in Australia and the US who actually allow their animals to be sold in this way. But that's another story!
Starbuck, Torrey and Sebastian live in an apartment. By city standards, especially Hong Kong standards, it's a large apartment as it is nearly 3,500 square feet in size. The boys have their own play room, which is almost as big as my bedroom, and it has everything they need in it including their water dome (the smaller one so they can't dunk their toys in it or splash!).
Their 8 feet cat tree, which they love, especially as it's next to a window!
And numerous toys, which I'm thinking of making into next week's T13.
When no one is at home, they have free run of the playroom, hallway and guest toilet. When we're home, they have full reign of the whole house (except the kitchen!).
As for going outside: nope - there is really no way for them to get out. I did consider leash training them and taking them for walks; however, I live in an area that gets a lot of monkeys and that equates to rabies and so they would have to get rabies shots and the other shots, which may lead to cancer, and so I decided to play it safe and keep them inside.
One time, Sebastian managed to squeeze through the pottery wall I have in my laundry area and he ended up walking around the perimeter of the building on a ledge! I almost died! Thankfully he found his way to one of my two balconies and was safe. Whew!
Cats are a popular pet choice in Hong Kong; however, they are mostly the flat-faced cat varieties such as persians and exotics. We also have british shorthairs, a few maine coons etc. but mostly persians. Hong Kong people love their fat faces. They are also quieter and not so active and so suit the "living in a matchbox" style houses we have. Below is an example of a home in HK that has cat proofed the balcony (btw, it is not my apartment- it is an Alley Cats pic I found. Where I live looks over trees and a couple small parks!).
We also have a large stray population, which lots of research has been done on regarding feril population control. It's interesting. I'll have to get some more info on it. We also have Hong Kong Alley Cats, which is deals with, you guessed it, Alley cats! And a Cat Colony Programme run by the SPCA. It's all really well run.
My cats were all brought from overseas (one rescue and two from breeders) as the Hong Kong pet industry is pet shop oriented and not breeder oriented. I find it really interesting that most of the cats in pet stores have been imported, which makes me wonder about the breeders in Australia and the US who actually allow their animals to be sold in this way. But that's another story!
10 comments:
That was very informative, thanks for sharing! Its funny what cats are popular in other parts of the world. We really love to hear about other areas of the world!
Latte
It looks like you guys have a great set-up there! Even though I'm an indoor cat, by law here in Germany, I have to have my rabies vaccination as well as other vaccinations. My humans have carefully looked at the research (my mom is working on a Masters in Physiotherapy, so she knows how to read scientific journals) and she is very comfortable with the fact that I need to be vaccinated, since it is law here. Yes, some cats have reactions to vaccinations, but they are rare.
It was very interesting to learn about cats in Hong Kong. And I LOVE your playroom with the huge cat tree!
That was very interesting to learn a bit of how cats live in Hong Kong. Your playroom looks wonderful.
Oh my gosh, my goodness. Are you three spoiled, or what? We are so, so jealous... look at your great room, great toys... all to yourselves no less. We are some of those "flat faces" you mentioned, but we can really appreciate your refined and majestic looks just the same!
Your home is very big and a room for kitties :)That is so cool.
Sadly,many cats are bought from stores,when shelter cats would be much more desirable as they receive better care(in my opinion)
I love to learn about your city and your home too.Yhank you.
3500 sq ft apartment. That is amazing!
You have a great set up there and it is so good to see that you have great toys and lots of room to rough house!
those apartments across the way (out of your window) look very shabby. the concrete looks sort of broken or just unfinished..... interesting.
Those look like really fun toys. Jack loves the cat strachers. He hopes to get an even bigger one than he has now from Santa paws!
Starbuck, Torrey & Sebastian, we're so pleased to meet you! We love bengals and Maine coons and we can't wait to learn more about you!
Rocky
& everykitty at Artsy Catsy
Very interesting! For some reason I thought cats were not found there as pets. We love your cat play room and Lilly and Laila are bugging me as to when they can come and visit.
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