Today I went outside and found a kitten under my car (as we were leaving). He seems to not have any fleas but he does have some bare spots (esp on his ears). I felt bad for the little thing so I decided to get some food for him...then while we were at the store I went ahead and got a litter box and litter.

Honestly, we are not "cat people" so idk if we will keep him-I wouldn't mind having a cat, but it's up to hubby-so if we don't keep him then his stuff will go with him...but anyway...

My gliders are in our office (in their cage), and while I usually leave the door to the office open, I have a gate up so the kids can't get in there. Obviously this won't stop a cat :P.

For those who have cats: Would it be better to now keep the door closed, or are they safe in their cage? The openings are 1/4 x 1/4 inch so the cat can't get his paw through. I'm in the office frequently (part of the reason for the gate is so I can step over it and still keep the kids out). Can I train the cat (if we keep him) to leave the gliders alone?

These are just questions I don't want to start anything.

The issue you may have is even tho kitty can't get a paw in the cage, say one of your babies was on the side and kitty got a claw in and scratched... this can cause A LOT of issues for your babies.

The claws have bacteria that can end up killing your glider. One member had a glider that her cat got ahold of and had a very extensive recovery....a good month or more and LOTS of money...but what was happening is the flesh around the wound would get infected, they'd get that "fixed" then they'd find the flesh was dieing off.... lots of issues!!!

Then there's the fact that you won't be able to train a cat... they naturally go after "things" that move quickly. There have been posts on here about people who talk about their lazy old fat house cat that won't move for anything; has never given their gliders a second look...... until it did. And of course the glider doesn't stand a chance.

I just really think it would be best just to get in the habit of closing the door, that way there are no accidents.

I have 2 cats, one is dumb and lazy, the other is a mouser. Daisy's cage is in my room and we keep the door closed at all times. They have not met but my mouser cat sits outside my door and sniffs. I honestly don't know when or if I will let them meet.
I wouldn't let the kitten near the cage, she'll see the gliders as toys and the poor gliders will probably be scared to death. Not until you decide if the kitten will be a part of your family for the long run.

I would keep the door closed for the most part, if you need it open when you are in there, keep a close eye out for your cat/gliders, never leave unattended. I have a Rankin's bearded dragon who is old now, but he lives in a Reptarium, that's one reason why we didn't get a kitty, because I was afraid of my poor dragon getting stressed out or attacked by one.

I'm only going to give you this link and you decide if you want to keep that kittyhttp://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41306 Please read it in it's entirety.

I have 5 cats and not cares for the gliders. They look at them and then find some way more interesting. I would say door shut, and keep him outta the room. Funny because my cats want in my glider room because they know they are not alllowed, not for the gliders but I also use it as storage, paper etc. But the gliders in my bedroom they see all the time, they don't even go near. Depends on the cat.

Definitely get a vet check though, maybe ear mites caused the ear spots?

I have 5 cats also and 3 (girls) show no intrest at all the other 2(boys) are very intrested. I did have the gliders in my computer room and everytime they would put their paws on the cage I would spray them with water. They would run but always come back so I do not think they can be trained, that is just what cats do, chase things that move. I never left the cats in the room without me in there but I was still afraid for them so I had to move them into their own room with a door. Now the cats never see my babies.

Yep thats my taining method with my cats too. It keep them off the counters and off the tables and that kinda of stuff. Now I will be useing it on our 1 yr old cat cause she is also very interested in the gliders. Our 9 yr old cat could care less. Don't give upon the training it does work you just have to keep at it.

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Originally posted by sugar-mommy2

I have 5 cats also and 3 (girls) show no intrest at all the other 2(boys) are very intrested. I did have the gliders in my computer room and everytime they would put their paws on the cage I would spray them with water. They would run but always come back so I do not think they can be trained, that is just what cats do, chase things that move. I never left the cats in the room without me in there but I was still afraid for them so I had to move them into their own room with a door. Now the cats never see my babies.

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Lets just say my cat decided to stick his paws in the cage bars when he was a 12 week old kitten and he wont ever go near the cages anymore. One of my females grabbed him and wouldn't let go, i had to go into the cage and help get her off. Eventually she let go but my poor cat is traumatized by the gliders and wont go near them. He even walks along the other side of the wall to avoid going near there cages. He was OK no bleeding or anything, but it scared the crap out of him.

After that i did move my gliders into there own room so my poor kitty can walk without hugging the wall.

To be safe, I would close the door. If you are in there and you feel comfortable, you can leave the door open but cats, and kittens especially, are very quiet and sneaky. I was feeding my gliders last night while my kitten was sleeping at the other side of the apartment. I left the door to their room open so I didn't have to juggle their food while feeding them...well, I walked in to find my kitten right at their cage, face-to-face with Nike (my one female glider). Nike crabbed and lunged at her and scared Lily (my kitten) half to death, the kitty won't even glace at the glider room now...but I know in a few days, if not sooner, she will have forgotten it happened and try to get in again.

I thought I was being super careful and this happened to me. Could you imagine if my glider hadn't scared my kitten away? Just be careful. I would take the safe route and just shut the door.

the door to my glider room is closed at all times! Our cat is not allowed in there

I haven't read the other posts, but what I would recommend is to keep the door closed. If you are going to keep the kitten take it to the vet, have it tested for internal parasites (including Giardia). You will probably need to specify you want the fecal to be tested for Giardia since most practices will only send out a fecal float. Giardia is more common in dogs but since you found the kitten outside it is always a good precaution.

My bedroom door is always open. So my cats are allowed in there at their leisure to see my gliders (however they are normally sleeping during the day.) Noel, my youngest cat of 6 will go into my bedroom and sleep beneath the glider cages. she has gotten her nose bitten by one of the boys. When I have the gliders out, the cats are locked out of my room, or whichever room I am in with them, just in case.

I have had gliders get out of the cage and run around the house. LUCKILY nothing has happened but I am hoping my luck hasn't run out the next time they decide to escape.

But if you leave the room and remind yourself to close the door, as you do closing the lid to the toilet when done, it wont take long before the repetition settles in to a natural instinct.