House Cats

[demonmagus]

The only cats that should ever be left outdoors should be spayed or neutered. We have so many unwanted cats on this earth already, so don't let your unspayed or unneutered cats outdoors. My animal shelter have over 150 cats right now, and about 50 kittens already this kitten season. We are a no kill, and we have a horrible time with the cats that no one wants. Even with our low cost spay and neuter clinic we haven't seen a big change in the kitten numbers. So before you open the door to let kitty out, even if it is just a boy, a male cat that is not neutered can travel over 5 miles to find a female in heat. So please spay and neuter.

I will make sure the cat is spayed/neutered

 

[Synirr]

I think it depends on where you live. If you're in a city or highly populated area with a fair amount of road traffic nearby, lots of other outdoor cats and dogs and other dangers, then maybe unsupervised outdoor time isn't the best idea. However, if you live out in the country like I do, I honestly believe there's nothing better for a cat, and anyone who thinks otherwise simply hasn't seen a cat in the real outdoors! Playing in the sun, lying in the cool grass, sitting under the bird feeder irritating the birds... our cats would rather be outside than inside playing with me most of the time, for sure, there's just no competition . Our cats like some indoor time too, but if they never got to go outside they'd go batty. I did lose a cat to coyotes about two years ago and I literally cried for days, I was heartbroken, but I'd never switch to keeping them inside 24/7 just because of that... Little Cat (as was his name) wouldn't have wanted that, he'd have been miserable. Now we just make sure the cats are inside at night.

I'm moving to an apartment in the city in a few months and I will be getting a kitten when I do, and it will be a housecat because I will no longer be living in an area where it is safe for it to be let outside. It's unfortunate, but I can't imagine living life without a cat, and as long as it has never been outside it won't know what it's missing anyway, I suppose

I just can't agree that an outdoor cat is a happier cat. I can agree that a mentally stimulated, healthy and fit cat is a happy cat, and my three are just that

An outdoor cat can't be mentally stimulated, healthy, and fit?

 

[KathyM]

No you're misreading (or twisting) what I'm saying. I said I can't agree that outdoor cats are happier than indoor well stimulated cats. I didn't say outdoor cats weren't happy *lol*. I'm sure they are as happy as my three are, I'm just saying I don't think properly cared for and stimulated indoor cats are unhappy or what have you.

Of course I'm pretty sure Charlie, Boswell, Fiver and Hershey would've been "happier" had they had the chance of a full life. Charlie and Boswell were squished and left to die slowly and painfully at the side of the road (Boswell being found and taken to the vets for immediate PTS as he had severed spine and had crawled to the verge where he was laying in low temperatures). Neither driver bothered reading their tags and bringing them home or ringing. Charlie had even been picked up, and laid on a binbag to die in the verge, less than 10-20 yards from our then front door - despite having our address on his tag, the driver thought it was better that Charlie died than he owned up and brought him home, which was literally just over the road.

Fiver and Hershey had an even worse fate - stolen by a local idiot who fed them to his lurchers, and left their collars on the doorstep as a final f*ck you.

So you can maybe understand why I choose to keep my cats safe, healthy and happy - what others do with their cats is completely up to them. I just find it funny (haha) that people would suggest people who keep their cats indoors are neglecting them (or their happiness), when really in my case I'm protecting them. They're happy, healthy and will hopefully live much longer lives than their predecessors here. There's nothing missing from their lives.

 

[moray]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that all indoor cats are neglected by any means and I totally understand the pain you must have gone through losing those cats (it's horrific) and I think you'll find that in most of the arguements for cats to be able to go outside, people have said as long as out doors is relatively safe; nobody in their right mind would let cats out where they are in such obvious danger as in the area that saw such awful events like yours, and you went through such a dreadful time, but if you moved to an area that was safer for cats would you still never let them out?

Losing cats is a dreadful experience and I think most cat owners have gone through it, and I would never dream of saying that keeping a cat in for it's own protection is wrong. The only thing that has been said is different points of view on how people like to keep their cats. Mine are outdoor/indoor cats doing what they like, I couldn't imagine trying to keep them in (or out). Todd is 17, Hugo is about 14 and Skitty is 2; we have had a few probs (like Hugo fighting with a neighbours cat etc) and as I said before I lost a lovely young cat to the road in our last home, so I do understand the feelings of wanting to keep your cats in, but all I know is my cats are happier being able to go out - Hugo (who was a stray) becomes physically ill when confined for a period of time. And they all drive me mad if there is no way out, Hugo howls, Todd follows you getting under my feet and Skitty (the little bag) jumps on both the other cats non stop (actually she does that a bit anyway, and she's not that fond of going out - I think she just uses it as an excuse to do it more).

You just have to do what you think is best

 

[KathyM]

Thanks Moray I wasn't meaning anyone in particular on this thread, it's just I've experienced a lot of negativity when I've told people my cats are indoors cats.

I'm in a different area to where we were when we lost the above cats, and no I don't think I'd ever let a cat out again. However, I wouldn't adopt (for example) an older cat who was used to going out exactly for this reason. That's why we adopted Errol (apart from the fact he needed us), because he was a kitten that had never gone out, so wouldn't miss it or be problematic.

Like you said though, everyone has to make their own mind up on this, and I don't judge anyone who lets their cats out, it's just not for us.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

totally depends on your cicumstances and the individual personality/needs of the cat what is appropriate. My older cat for example, I had to get a house cat from the RSPCA as I don't have a garden, however my area is quiet, my road doesn't lead anywhere and as there are no gardens all the kids play in the road, therefore pretty much everyone who drives round here does so slowly therefore the chances of an accident are quite small, there's shed loads of cats round here and I've never seen an accident. She's very hyperactive and I decided after a few months of having her that being cooped up in a house all day probably wasn't the right thing for her, so I gradually introduced her to going out, had her out with me on a kitty lead which she hated! Had about a yr of her being out and about quite happily then a few months ago she came home with a massive wound, I think a fox had tried to kill her but she's a double hard b@stard so she'd managed to get away, she had stitches and I was v worried about her, thankfully she's OK now but she's still very wary of going outside, now she only goes out when I'm outside and then she won't go further than just down my road, perfect arrangement for me, just sad it had to happen like this. Now I've just got my new kitten, as she's only 8 weeks obviously she won't be allowed out just yet, but I'm hoping she'll take the lead from Mitt's and just stay close by, fingers crossed anyway!

I do feel like some cats just need to get out, Mitts certainly did, I tried everything I could to keep her entertained indoors, she had loads of toys, I'd try to play with her, but basically all she wanted to do was hunt and the things like wind up mouses I got for her to hunt indoors just weren't good enough! So she sits outside and stalks the pidgeons, thankfully she's a rubbish hunter and the most she's come in with is a feather

One of my friends has a pedigree cat and she won't let her out cos she's scared she'll get stolen (quite likely in our area.... soon as someone clocked she was worth soemthing she'd be gone) but she's a very docile kitty, all she ever wants to do is sleep so she's perfectly suited to being a house cat.

Basicallly I think you need to assess your area and what's going to be best, speak to other people near you who have cats and get they're experiences, find out where the cats play etc, then when you've decided if they're going to be a house cat or not, then you need to choose the cat appropriately, let the rescue centre or wherever you get them from know whaty you've decided and they'll help find a cat that's suited to the home you can provide them.

 

[Synirr]

No you're misreading (or twisting) what I'm saying. I said I can't agree that outdoor cats are happier than indoor well stimulated cats. I didn't say outdoor cats weren't happy *lol*. I'm sure they are as happy as my three are, I'm just saying I don't think properly cared for and stimulated indoor cats are unhappy or what have you.

Oh ok, yes, then I agree . Just misreading you.

Generally indoor cats can be just as happy as outdoor cats, I totally agree, it's all about keeping them stimulated and giving them plenty of attention and introducing new and fun things into their environment all the time . I'd be careful making a statement like that with certain breeds like bengals who are higher energy and tend to do better with some outdoor time, but all-in-all most cats can do ok as indoor-only pets, particularly if they are raised as such and have never had much outdoor time.

 

[juliehainsworth]

A friend of mines cats are now house cats as one of her neighbours if he sees them kicks them! He has been known to cat nap and torture one over a week before dumping it out with a very injured leg

 

[Bloo]

Well that's a criminal offence and should be reported to police as well as RSPCA.

 

[Jessica13]

Well, i have 5 cats, 2 live indoors 90% of the time, the other 3 are out most of the time, just come back in at night when the weathers bad.

We dont make any of our cats stay in, they live in the conservatory mostly and the door to the garden is left open all the time someone is in so they can come and go as they please. Holly, one of our housecats is nearly 13 years old and has never been an outdoor cat. She wont go out in rain, she wont walk on mud, and if its windy she wont even think of going outside (and mess up her pretty coat ). Now the weather is a bit better she'll sit on the chairs in the garden for an hour or so, and maybe have a wander around, but thats it.

Lucy the other 'housecat' got hit by a car at 5 months and has severe brain damage. She has stayed by her mum (Holly) 24/7 since she got run over and literally follows her around. She does like to sit outside, and will come out with us, without Holly, for short periods of time in the summer but she seems to feel safer indoors.

I do worry about my other cats outside. We live in the country, but with all the houses being built nearby the road (which has a 60 limit still ) is getting quite busy. Luckily our outdoor cats stick mostly to the fields behind our house, and the only one i've seen cross the road looks both ways before running

I have no problem with people keeping cats indoors all the time as long as the cats get lots of attention and play and are exercised (cats get fat soooo quickly!!), but if they know no different, right or wrong, it wont bother them

 

[Bloo]

but if they know no different, right or wrong, it wont bother them

Not quite The cat in my avatar started off as a house kitten / cat. As I've said so many times before, it didn't work one bit. I struggled very hard for two years (and the frustration of the situation brought me to tears) by which time it became a complete nightmare and unbearable situation for all. And of course once rehomed to my moms where he could roam to heart's content, he was a completely changed cat.

That said, we had a Chinchilla (not the rodent) - and he also spent the vast majority of his life indoors. He started off as a stud cat (living his first couple of years pretty much in a cage ) and once we got him, he was so frightened to death of the outside world that he never adjusted (even at the ripe old age of 16) to outdoor life. He also hated wind and would never go out in the rain or walk on we grass even. Funny cat he was

 

[Miss Wiggle]

what is it with wind they hate so much? my cat does it too, she doesn't mind a bit of rain or snow or anything like that, but if there's more than a slight breeze she's indoors moaning at me!

 

[Tangerinefizz]

I've currently got an indoor cat, who goes out in the summer under supervision on a leash. I've lost too many outdoor cats to count, both living in the city and living on a farm, and frankly, I like this one too much to lose her due to her being let outside unattended. Not to mention, she is the sweetest siamese and no doubt someone would take her home forever and that would be the end of her.

Since I've bought my own home though, my preference for indoor/outdoor cats has changed too. Our neighbour has 3 cats and I am so sick and tired of finding their cat poo in my gardens, that I quite literally have bagged it all up and left it on their doorstep. There have been days I've stepped out front my door and all you can smell is cat feces. I keep mine inside and out of people's gardens, they need to clean up after their cats or the next stop will be the human society. Yes, a tad drastic but frankly, maybe after spending $80 a few times they will keep them in?? I've seen their cats out in -30C weather as well, and outside on days it's so hot, nothing should be outside. Those people are idiots. Their cats also run all over our busy road and I'm scared of the day one is going to be smushed on it. I may hate cat poo in my garden, but I like cats.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

My problem is getting my cat in the house. We got Kali as a stray and she was mostly content in the house when she had a buddy, but since I moved she is basically on her own, as my dad's ex's cat Whitey hasn't shown that much interest, so I began letting her out. It doesn't matter if it's pouring rain, thunder cracking or eighty degrees out, she won't come in unless she's hungry or she feels like it. But I do have her up to date on vaccines and she is spayed, if she wasn't I wouldn't let her out no matter how much she howled. And now Whitey, who is around twenty years old has taken an interest in going outside, which my dad finds stunning considering before I came the cat wouldn't go anywhere near the door, let alone the outdoors.

I'm all for letting them out as long as the are UTD on vaccinations and fixed, providing you live in an area that isn't next to a four lane highway or something and they aren't declawed.

 

[PlecMama]

I guess you've got to really have a thing about cats, I just can't imagine wanting to spend time playing with a cat, cats are just things that lie around the house till it's time to go out. Not something you actually have to interact with. They only love you when you're feeding them anyway or when they're cold, then they want to come sit on you. And, you sit there for four straight hours almost wetting your pants so you don't interupt the priviledge of being sat on and poked with 20 needle claws as it makes it's self comfortable on you. Cats do that "I am better then you" thing all the time, they almost get you to believe it. It takes a good dog to cure you.

Damn, this is why I have a dog