I read all the post in all threads,and I keep hearing some people are always telling others keep your cats inside! Well in my family of 5 cats 3 are indoor and outdoor,and all 3 are fixed,and never leave the yard!
They go out and sit on the deck or the deck rail.So am I wrong to do this? I think not!If you want to keep your cats do so but stop trying to make other people feel wrong because they don't.
My oldest cat is 7 years old,and she only wants to go out on warm days and sit on the deck,where it is shady,I live in a mobile home in a mobile home park,which has a speed limit of 15 miles and people don;t even do that because the park is full of kids.And if you ever lived in a mobile home you know how hot they are inside.And Cheyanne was a baby when I got her and she has lived here all her life.
So IMO do what is right for you!And your cats.

personally, I prefer cats to be inside, with that said some cats don't want to be inside. Ashton, lilly, sherbert, and snowwhite are my outside babies, and the three new kittens and neo and moe are inside only. I just feel safer with the cats inside. but that is just imo.

The fact is that it is generally accepted that it is safer for a cat to be kept indoors....less risk of disease, getting hit by a car, or hurt by a person who just doesn't like cats. At the Humane Society where I adopted my 2, you are asked to sign an agreement that you will keep your cats indoors.

Like I said they go out in the day time to sit on the deck when we are home,and the door is open,never when we are gone or at night,and the nonspayed pets they never go out.Cloud Dancer is sitting on the deck rail right now.

My Onyx is a walking example of why kitties are generally much safer inside only. He was an indoor/outdoor kitty for the first few years of his life, and despite being neutered, constantly got picked on by other cats that came into our yard.

Hes had three surgeries due to bite wounds, one that came very close to piercing his spinal cord. Now Onyx is an inside only cat and has gone from a nervous, jumpy cat (probably from always having to be on the alert for intruders in his yard who meant him harm) to a laid back, mellow guy. He's perfectly happy to sit in the window and watch the world go by.

Over the years I've had cats of mine hit by cars, and I live in a very rural area. Its heartbreaking to lose a much loved pet that way.

So, IMO, its much safer to keep kitties in a safe, controlled environment where the dangers are few. I invested in a fish tank (or Kitty TV) and put bird feeders by the windows outside to entertain my babies, and they have their own toy box as well as scratching posts and sunny windowsills to lie on. I think if they could thank me for keeping them inside and safe, they would.

Too many crazy drivers on my street and I hear catfights, all the time. We also have coyotes, nearby. Except for Rowdy, mine don't want to go out, anyway.

My Mom had 5 cats. One was hit by a car outside and died, one was attacked by two dogs and seriously injured (if Mom would not have heard the fighting, Pee Dee would have died). Another was trapped in a neighbors garage for a week without food.

This is all I needed to hear to have my cats be indoor kitties. We are fortunate enough to have a screened in back yard (a lanai) so they go outdoors with the security of a fence.

Please protect your kitties. I know it is hard and you feel like you are denying them of outdoor pleasures, but all in all it is for thier safety. You could open a window and get a window seat for them, they really like that and they can enjoy the outdoors without the dangers.

IMO
Ginger

has been stolen, killed by cars, or got into fights leading to injury. I feel much better keeping my babies inside, away from danger. I am planning to put up a screened in area in the back yard for them this summer with a cat door so they can come and go as they please.

I do believe that there are some cats who just aren't happy indoors, but I imagine that would mostly be feral cats. Most kitties, however, are fairly amenable to being inside cats. My Mocha was a feral, hadn't ever been inside a house before I took her in. Even so, she has not acted as if she wanted to escape in the month that she's been here. And as mentioned by others, there are lots of good compromises that can be made. (I'm not preaching at you Sherral, I just don't like it when cat owners let their cats roam all over and don't worry)

I did not say I let them roam they sit on my deck WHEN I AM HOME AND THE DOOR IS OPEN .

Sherral,
I don't think anyone is picking on your or saying that you are wrong. I think in some issues, it's best to agree to disagree. I do believe the others are saying that because they are speaking of people who don't care what happens to the cat. There are some owners that have a cat just for the sake of having a cat and are not owners because they want the best for their cats. I don't believe that anyone is saying you are a bad cat owner. We all know how much you love your cats and you wouldn't do anything to harm them intentionally.

Thanks shell

*sigh* The nonclarifying clarification monster strikes again... I meant that you WEREN'T one of the owners I had in mind... sorry, rereading it, I can see that I was just muddying the waters even more!:( I was actually thinking of the owners of my feral kitty's mom. They let her roam and she's unspayed too.

I completely understand letting them out on the deck, supervised. That's no big deal.

Thanks Willie WZ Sometimes I read things into thing that are not there.

Most know I have indoor/outdoor cats. Yes, I have lost some to outdoor hazards, and if they were not all feral at one time, if there were not so many, if I didn't live where I do, etc..etc...I would only have inside cats and not so many.

Sherril, this is a hot-button issue and there are usually conflicts that come up when this topic is introduced. I was run off of a cat board by hatred because I have outside cats. My oldest cat will be 12 next year, I have a few that are 9 years old. I hear all the time that the average span of an outdoor cat is less than 3 years. If you can get them through those first three years, it is considered a miracle. I guess I have a few miracles running around then.

Rowdy goes out, with a harness and leash.

I am going to try Grayski on a leash ,he has never been out side.

All 5 of my cats are indoors only. I dont think it's right to let any animal run around loose. Personally, if you ask for my opinion, anyone who lets them run around does not care about the animal, whether it be a cat, dog, bunny. There are too many hazards out there. Why risk it?

Personally, and in my situation being in a city by a major road and in an apartment complex, my cats are indoors only, thank you very much!

I think a lot of it depends on the situation. I certainly don't think that Mary Anne and Debby are bad cat owners because they have outside cats. They live in rural areas, so many of the dangers that cats where I live would face just aren't as prevalent there. Letting cats outside for a bit, supervised, in a garden or a deck probably isn't dangerous for them at all. There's always an off chance, but there's an off chance my cats will get into the cleaning supplies no matter how cautious I am about putting them away.

I agree with the others, though. It is the "owners" who get a cat, especially in an urban area, and just turn it loose and put out food every once in a while....those are the irresponsible people who make everyone so jumpy about this topic.

Most of our kitties are outside cats. Shorty is both inside/outside, Rascal used to be, but now he is always outside, and Pepe and Zeb are both outside. Rascal has enough fur to cover 10 cats, never mind himself, and they all sleep together in the bales when it is cold outside. They are happier outside, in my opinion. If we had them inside, we would have to have so much stuff for them, and nature is better for them. Just so you all know, I live in a very small town of only maybe 125 ppl (including farms!), and everyone knows whose cats are whose, and they get fed like 10 times a day by everyone around, and fresh water, and attention. Nature is the best occupier (not the right word, but I can't think of a better one right now). Pepe and Zeb are scared to come inside....they won't, even when it is like -30c outside. Rascal will, but then he always wants back out like 10 minutes later. Shorty just doesn't go outside in the winter time....she's spoiled:D lol She just came in when I got home at 1am, ate a bit, had a drink of water, and went back out. She likes to be outside at nite time better. I don't personally see anything wrong with the cats being outside in the country, I don't think I would like it in the city, but for right now in the country/small itty bitty town life, outside is the best.

Spike is an indoor only cat. I live on a main street (not exactly a big city or anything, but busy enough), and it wouldn't be safe for me to let him out. I do my best to make sure he's not bored... lots of playtime, windows to look out of, a cat tree to climb, etc. I just want him safe, healthy, and happy. So, I guess I would tend to lean towards the idea that indoor only is safer in most circumstances, but there are some cases where it's completely understandable why someone would have outdoor cats. Heidi's references were the two that came to my mind immediately.

All of my cats stay indoors except for Majesty. I adopted her from a breeder and she lived on a huge farm. I kept her inside for 2 months and she hated it! She refused to eat and go to the litter box. She is my outdoor kitty, and has been for almost a year. She never goes near the road, and she hardly ever gets into a cat fight. I would never force her to live indoors where she's not happy. I would hate to be cooped up in a house all day, so I no how she must feel. She comes inside to sleep on my brothers bed every night, and she eats inside. People that live around me would never hurt a cat, and there isn't many raccoons around. I have seen 3 raccoons in the past 7 years that I have lived here. You should all be happy! I saved Majesty from a breeder who beat her with chains! She was abused by humans so badly, she feared everyone. I am happy to say that Majesty is a very loving cat now. I care for her alot, more that anyone could ever know. I saved her life, now she just needs to be happy!

I don't feel that it is a good idea to let your cat outside. If they are supervised or on a harness, why not? Cats enjoy a little bit of fresh air once in a while. I take most of my cats out on a harness. I take them to the park and in my yard. Some of my cats are afraid of the outdoors, they have never been outside so they fear it. What if they ever did get outside? What would happen?

Peppurr, my 2 year old male, ran out the door and under the house. He was stuck there for 2 days with no food or water. When I found him, he bit and scratched me. He was so terrified. I think everyone should take their kitties outside on a harness so they can get use to their yard. That way, if the cat does escape, he won't panic and hide, or even worse, run out to the road and get hit.

I was owned by a very loving orange tabby named Tigger last year. When he was four months old he started going outside. He would come home every night to eat and sleep. When he was 11 months old something terrible happened. Tigger crawled into my brothers window and layed beside him crying. My brother thought it was strange because Tigger never slept with people. He opened his eyes and realized that something was wrong. The skin on Tigger's chin was ripped off and he could'nt get up. My brother took Tigger and came upstairs. It was 6:00 in the morning and I woke up to hear that Tigger was hit by a car. His legs were mangled and his face was ripped up. I was in shock, how could this happen to my little baby? Me and my Mom nursed Tigger back to good health. Being dumb back then, we never took him to the vet. 2 months passed and Tigger was running, jumping, playing and eating better.

Then one day, my Dad let Tigger back outside. I was pissed! I yelled at him and told him that Tigger needs to stay inside, all the time. He refused to listen to me. In 2002 Tigger ran away and never came home. He was only 2 years old. I still wonder to this day what happened to my sweet little angel. He is in my heart.

Please don't let your kitty out unsupervised! Majesty is in my yard 24/7. She never leaves, and I am happy she does'nt wander around the neighborhood.

My cats are indoors. When I let my cats out on a leash last summer, Tigger would meow and meow at the door after we brought her back in. That lasted for about 2 weeks after we stopped letting them outside. When we buy a house I want to put one of those fenced cage thingys on the outside so they do their fun exporing thing and be safe at the same time.

Hi! :wavey:

Daisy :whitecat: and Venus are mainly indoor kitties. However, they get to go places in their carriers. :heart2:

i can't let them out to the backyard as i am feeding about 7-9 feral kitties now.

i would strongly recommend a collar with a tag with the owner's name and tel., if the kitty has an outdoor exposure. Also, i strongly believe in microchipping all kitties. i guess you will never know.


Cheers! :beerpals:

:flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2: :flash: :heart2:

Sherral - it seems that you are a very responsible pet owner who cares deeply for your cats. Mine are 99% indoor cats, occasionally 2 of the 5 get out on the back porch WITH supervison - like you do. I think each pet owner has to choose what is best in their own circumstances!

Sherral,

I don't see anything wrong with what you are doing. You do not let them run loose throughout the neighborhood. I wish I had a place Max could be safely outside. I think he would love to be on a protected deck. On nice days I open the door, pull a chair next to the screen door and let him breath in the fresh air.

Our cat is from a humane society, and they specified that he should be kept as an indoor cat. We screened in one of the balconies for him and leave the door partially open so that he can go out there any time he wants. Otherwise he goes out in the backyard every day in his harness and leash. He has a cat tree and several window perches, and doesn't seem to miss his "freedom". I think the decision "indoor or outdoor" really has to be decided on a case by case basis - quite a bit depends on where you live, how much traffic or wildlife there is, and the neighbors' attitude (there's a cat murderer one town over from us - several cats have been shot over the past few years)

Our cats are mmostly indoors, but we do let Rocky out on occasions when we are outside too..never alone by himself...I am too paranoid..

INDOOR ONLY, if it's a house hold cat, INDOOR only, Or in an outdoor enclosure, or harness/leash.

Yes... your cats only hang out in the garden, UNTIL THE DAY THEY DON'T! And then it might just be, bye bye kitty.
I guess I'm just bitter, anyone who lets their cats out side and claims they REALLY are a cat lover, wait until you loose quiet a few cats to death via outdoors, to no one's fault but your own, and then see how you feel.
:mad:

Angel, I disagree. I think you can be a responsible pet owner and let your cats outside. It depends on the circumstances of each case.

The radical indoors only approach is a relatively recent American trend. In the UK, most behaviorists agree that keeping a cat indoors only causes confinement stress and can hurt the cat.

Me, I think in urban areas and in some rural areas too, the advantages of letting your cat outside are outweighed by the risks - but not everywhere.

I do believe that if you decide to confine your cat you need to make sure you are giving her a good quality of life indoors - plenty of vertical space, cat trees, cat toys, interactive playtime, an enclosure and maybe walks on leash (it's not a solution for all cats by the way). Most of all, you need to make sure you don't crowd too many cats in a small apartment or house. There is no figure for how many is too many, and you certainly can have too many cats in an indoors/outdoors environment, but this is something to keep in mind. In my behavior therapy sessions, I see too many sad cats confined indoors only without the proper environment you need to provide for an indoors only cat. This is not to say that everyone who keeps their cats indoors only deprives their cats - I hope most of the people here know how to provide their indoors only cats with the proper stimuli to replace the natural stimuli of the outside. Just bringing in another aspect.

Well,
I agree with AngelZoo ........ A prime example: a lady at work lost her 6 year old cat on Thursday :( She lets her animals outside. This one she lost was a big fraidy cat, but yet no one messed with her, and she didnt have to worry about anyone taking her. She walked outside on Thursday night to see her cat lying down; went over and found she had died :( She figured someone must have hit her with a car, and then she crawled back to their yard and died. She had blood coming out of her mouth. Now, I am not saying she is a bad cat owner, because I know how much she adores her animals, but all I am saying is if you leave an animal outside, you are risking their life. She had to pick her cat up & wrap it in a blanket and put her in the laundry room until this weekend while her daughter is @ her dad's this weekend, because she didnt want her to cry. And, you could tell how much it hurts her.

On the other hand, there are people (like my father-in-law) who consider it cruel to deprive cats of experiences they can only have outdoors. Also, if you take in feral cats (we've had two so far), it is almost impossible to keep them as indoor-only cats. Mitzi, the one feral we had, was hit by a truck and died. Straycat, the other, died of old age. I was constantly worried about them, and was relieved that our current cat had no experience of the great outdoors when we got him, and was very amenable to the leash. I don't believe you can say ABSOLUTELY what is best. It depends on the cat, where you live, what dangers the cat will face if let outdoors, contracts you have signed if the cat has been adopted, etc., etc..

But Anne just because you think the "indoor thing" is a American trend, does that mean the anti-declaw thing is also a "trend"

Keeping cats indoors is a smart decision, I encourage anyone with indoor cats to do leash training or make an outdoor enclosure, hence why I added it into my post.

It's obvious to most people replying here that the quality of life indoors needs to meet certain expectations, if you had bothered to ever read any of my posts you would know I am one of these people.
I also have leashed trained my cats when I got them, I also do the same for willing long term fosters.

Any cat that can be kept indoors, should be kept indoors, I'm not expecting everyone to find the wildest feral you can find and then force it to live indoors only.

Some of you feel bad for your cats when they look like they long to be outside, my solution to that is put a leash and harness on them and out you go! Dedication, you'd do the same for your dog, why not for your cat.
Though there is the exception, and a perfect example. Of all the dog owners who don't feel the need to use leash's, and then that one day your dog runs away and again dies, I DO NOT FEEL BAD FOR YOU, or any other animal owner this happens to.
I don't feel bad about this, if one of my cat ever escapes, I feel it in the pit of my stomach, my heart rips apart and aches because I am so frightened for those animals.
I feel that people who have free roam outdoor cats, shouldn't speak until they have lost a life or two to their actions, and judgement.

You say if you live in a rural enough setting you'll be ok...
Are you going to follow your cats every where ever day to see where they go, are you going to comb the woods for miles to clear the place of any traps? Are you going to control the issue when a pack of coyotes randomly and out of know where roams into town and with out warning 2 cats and a neighbors dog are dead?

I understand what your saying but I disagree. I dont mean go the full way and leave your cats outside all nite long, 24/7. But I think Cats should be allowed outside on a chain, supervised, so they can be "free" lol.. its whats best for their health & mental well being, cats are "wild" mammals. They still have instinct in their blood. Like if you have a mouse your cats going to go after it.. same concept for the out doors their going to want to conquer your yard lol But I would get them used to being outside on a chain so if they ever do get out they will know their way around the hous and know how to get back home. and they will hav less chance of getting injured..but thats just my opinion.

I do agree that indoor cats need to be inside more than outside...I have said before in a previous post, we do let Rocky outside ONLY SUPERVISED..he is never outside alone....he stays up on the porch and loves to watch the birds and will chase a fly or 2 sometimes....we hardly have any traffice down our road, but I would still never leave him out alone.....Fluffy escaped out the door due to one of the kids not closing the door all the way, but she trotted right by Rocky and stayed by his side the entire time...she is still too little to be out anyway..Rocky never makes any attempt to run off..he loves his home, and stays right in the front the whole time...when we go inside..he does too...yesterday when we were out, the people across the street were mowing their lawn, and he wanted nothing to do with the outside then...he stayed inside...I really don't see anything wrong with it as long as you take resonsible actions when you decide to do it.....I do consider myself a responsible pet owner, and I know not all cats even like the outside and prefer to be in moreover.....I can only speak for my cats though.....

We are from different cultures here, and even though we may not all agree on issues like indoors vs. outdoors for our cats, we all have the right to express our opinions here.

2. Our membership consists of people from around the globe. Opinions of people from all cultures should be treated with equal respect.

3. Have a sense of humor! Or walk away before posting, if you need to get your temper under control.

i hope I didn't say anything disrespectful..I understand that everyone is different, and not everyone is going to chose the same things.....

Rock&Fluffs: Nah, I'm pretty sure they were talking about me. :)

"Trend" was a very improper word to use for the dicussion of outdoors vrs indoors, not by my part.

What I think is not part of a trend, what I feel comes from years of experience, painful losses, and the brains to find a better way to do things. I expect people to respect this view and not dismiss me as some "silly American".

Originally posted by AngelzOO
But Anne just because you think the "indoor thing" is a American trend, does that mean the anti-declaw thing is also a "trend"

Keeping cats indoors is a smart decision, I encourage anyone with indoor cats to do leash training or make an outdoor enclosure, hence why I added it into my post.

It's obvious to most people replying here that the quality of life indoors needs to meet certain expectations, if you had bothered to ever read any of my posts you would know I am one of these people.
I also have leashed trained my cats when I got them, I also do the same for willing long term fosters.

Any cat that can be kept indoors, should be kept indoors, I'm not expecting everyone to find the wildest feral you can find and then force it to live indoors only.

Some of you feel bad for your cats when they look like they long to be outside, my solution to that is put a leash and harness on them and out you go! Dedication, you'd do the same for your dog, why not for your cat.
Though there is the exception, and a perfect example. Of all the dog owners who don't feel the need to use leash's, and then that one day your dog runs away and again dies, I DO NOT FEEL BAD FOR YOU, or any other animal owner this happens to.
I don't feel bad about this, if one of my cat ever escapes, I feel it in the pit of my stomach, my heart rips apart and aches because I am so frightened for those animals.
I feel that people who have free roam outdoor cats, shouldn't speak until they have lost a life or two to their actions, and judgement.

You say if you live in a rural enough setting you'll be ok...
Are you going to follow your cats every where ever day to see where they go, are you going to comb the woods for miles to clear the place of any traps? Are you going to control the issue when a pack of coyotes randomly and out of know where roams into town and with out warning 2 cats and a neighbors dog are dead?

Angel, I'm sorry if I offended you by using the word trend. I meant no offense to anyone. Just the way it seems from over here. Trend does not imply lack of thought IMO - just many people going with one option in a certain point at time.

In my view, there's a world of a difference between declawing and the indoors/outdoors issue. In the declawing debate it's clear that for the cat's welfare it's best not to declaw. In the outdoors/indoors debate I feel that keeping cats indoors only may not always be improving the cat's welfare. That said, anti-declaw is indeed a trend. A very positive trend I think. One that started in Europe by the way and not in the US, but I'm sure we both hope it will eventually catch in the States as well.

I don't think you need to have one of your cats die in order to have a view on this matter. If your surroundings is safe enough so that none of your cats die that is just when you should bring it up in the discussion. I never said the outdoors was safer than the indoors by the way. I think indoors is safer for cats, but I think it may also be more stressful for them. Again, depending on the conditions indoors and the conditions outdoors - which change from case to case.

I totally respect anyone who chooses to keep their cats indoors only as long as they have thought the matter through and decided that in the specific circumstances of their cat and their surrounding this is the best solution for the cat. That is responsible pet ownership to me. I would appreciate if you gave me credit for thinking through about what is best for my cats where I live and not implying that I or others are irresponsible owners simply because we let our cats outdoors. Granted in some situations it is irresponsible to let your cats outdoors - it is our responsibility to weigh the cons and pros and make what we think is the best decision for our cats.

Ahh, the indoor/outdoor monster debate strikes again. :)

I certainly do not feel I am not a worthy rescuer because I allow my cats the option of going inside or out. They were born in the wild, they have wild tendencies and they enjoy scampering up the trees, chasing the bugs, and roaming the property. I have one fella Cleo, that not only has he never been indoors, (except once when he was ill and he destroyed the couch!) But he has only been to a vet twice in his life! I don't know where he spends the majority of his time, if I had to guess, I would say the goat farm down the way a bit. But he comes home maybe 3 times a week and eats and allows only me to pick him up. He will be 10 years old this month in fact, and he was part of a wild litter of 5 that were here when we moved in. His brother Stryker, who was also as wild as he is, is now one of our biggest lap cats.

Most of my cats (with the exception of Cleo) will come in on their own when the weather is turning bad, for cats know. Most of them sleep inside the house, or the barn at night, and my latest rescue Whisp, has decided she doesn't like the house at all and prefers either under the house or on the back porch.

To equate declawing and keeping cats inside and out- is like comparing apples to oranges, there is no comparison.Cats need their toes and claws to survive. Most of them get those removed because of the needs of the owners outweigh the need of the cat.

Inside kitties are prone to dangers of a different sort then outside kitties. I have had emails that would make you cry- of cats that got their heads stuck between slats of chairs, crawled into dryers to take a final ride, got hung up in drapery cords, had their collars get hung up under the bed and strangled slowly, been poisoned by household cleaners, fallen in open toilets and drowned!

If you live in an area where it is relatively safe to have outside kitties, and you want them outside, then that is fine with me. You take the responsibility of their care, and you also take the risk of what might happen to them in the same breath. Most of the cats here would be dead by now had they not been rescued, so any time that I can give them, any quality of life I can offer, and they all are loved more than you know, they come out better in the long run.

Angel, I am sorry you think that rescuers who let their cats outside are not worthy to be called rescuers. I have gotten great advice from many unworthy rescuers in the years I have been doing this. I also know, that I cannot change your mind, it is set and you are unyielding in your views. You are entitled to your opinion, that is what makes the world go around, but others are also entitled to theirs. Unless you are in their world and can see for yourself how their cats live, it is best to not be quick to pass judgement. When criticism creeps into a post, many people stop listening and few learn

living on a farm it is not uncommon to have outdoor cats. we had a few. why is that cruel? we fed and cared for them as best as possible. when they wandered over to our farm from another were we supposed put them down because we had no way to take them all into the house? we also took cats no one else wanted. the local animal shelters would not have taken than and i know what they do with unwanted cats anyway. my dad would not have allowed them all in the house. what he did do was make sure there was food and shelter for them.

i do not let my cats out now, but it is a different locality.

Originally posted by AngelZ00
I guess I'm just bitter, anyone who lets their cats out side and claims they REALLY are a cat lover, wait until you loose quiet a few cats to death via outdoors, to no one's fault but your own, and then see how you feel.

I am a huge cat lover! I love ALL of my cats with ALL my heart! That was bitter and cruel! How can you say that? What about all the people that rescue cats? They don't have enough room in their homes to let them all be indoors. Atleast people are rescuing cats and not leaving them in the wild. I only have 1 outdoor cat. The rest are strictly indoors unless they are supervised, or on a harness!

Like I said, Majesty was beaten everyday at her previous home. She was hit with chains, and was kept in a little cage whenever she was bad, or went into heat. The cage was the size of a small cat carrier. I rescued her to live in a safer home! She can live the rest of her life happily, not worrying about getting beat by her humans.

I am going to be building a huge outdoor enclosure soon. You have to remember that I'm only 18. When I do decide to move out, Majesty will come with me and have an enclosed area to play in. With 7 adult cats and 3 kittens, Majesty would feel even more out of place!

By the way, I did lose a cat! He ran away! Majesty and Tigger were gone for 8 days together. I got on my knees and prayed to god that at least one of them would come home. I turned around to see Majesty on the doorstep. I knew that Tigger would never return after that, and I am still grieving over it! :bawling:

I just want to remind everyone that different people may be coming from different emotional perspectives here. Each person's opinion is a valid opinion and must be given the courtesy of being allowed to be expressed. Dissenting opinions are allowed and encourage, as it makes life interesting. Please remember to keep a perspective and not to take things too personally as stated in this forum's rules. Please try not to make posts directed at any one individual, as they may consider it as "flaming". Please try to treat everyone with respect.

Thank you

I believe everyone needs to assess their own situation and do what's best for them and their feline buddies. We adopted a feral cat in February. She was a rescue. She was starving, pregnant, full of fleas and mites, and had a bad cough. We live in the backwoods and our neighbors dogs were free to chase her and kept her up a tree most of the time. We began feeding her on our covered porch and put a bed for her in a protective corner where no dogs could get her. She started sitting in front of our sliding glass door, looking at our other cat with love in her eyes. As soon as we got the money together ($250) we took her to the vet and she had the works, including being spayed, of course. She spent a week at the vet and then we brought her in and nursed her back to health. Well......talk about a kitty who was born to be a housecat!! After being a feral cat for most of her first year of life, she fit right in to our household without a problem. She never tries to get outside and won't go anywhere near an open door. She's very content to have made the transition. So.....every cat is a special case. You really have to see what works for you and your situation.

Hi, I just want to put in my 2 cents. All of cats are indoor only, and all of them are rescued/strays. Sometimes when I am out in the yard they sit on the steps and look at me, but they never step onto the sidewalk, which is just fine with me, because I live in the middle of the city, wild traffic, and pit bull owners all around (no I am not going to start in about Pit Bulls --it's the owners that are the problem around here). I used to live in a nice area that was rural becoming suburban and my cats were free to roam in the day day (not a choise on my part -- my 85 year old father would let them out --even my pedigree himilayan). I was lucky, I only had one cat die of outdoors. I've also been lucky, I never had one die of indoors at all. So I think it depends on where you live, and the individual cat. I do beleive that cats should be supervised outdoor if possible. And if they are indoors they should be given lots and lots of cat trees and window seats and things. Like the fat Siamese who is sitting on top the computer monitor swatting at my fingers right now.

The people that get me are the ones that these strays used to belong to, because if someone shows up in my yard looking for food I take them to the vet -- then I try to find the owner. I've got all these cats because there were no newspaper ads, signs on the telephone poles, no kids asking if I found a cat -- and no collars on the cats. My cats don't go out these days -- but they all have collars with my phone number enbroyered on them.

Ok that's my 3 cents worth (to wordy for 2cents worth)

judecat

Hissy and Crazy Cat Lover: Please re-read my posts again. Maybe it must be hard to make this clear or something. But what I was saying is that if anyone who has a cat, be you the owner or just the rescuer/foster that CAN be kept indoors, then please I urge you to KEEP this animal indoors (or at least you know not outside free roam).

I was not meaning to say that people who help feral's/strays are bad people. I have taken care of many ferals and fed/trapped/brought to vet a smaller colony at my last apartment in VA, everyday I would help them out and check on them.
And I know that there are even some strays or barn cats that are adopted which will just not adjust to living indoors, but I do know there are some who if you try hard enough CAN adjust and I also urge people to try this first with these types of cats.
Every single stray/barn cat that has ever come into my posession was sucessfully reabilitated to an indoors only cat. But I also know that this is not always possible with every animal.

I'm mostly refering to the people who give lame excuses like "but they seem so happy outside" So what lots of cats are happy if not happier INDOORS. or the "This way I don't have to scoop their litter box, or they get plunty of food from catching mice so I don't have to worry about feeding them." And thusly they let their animals free roam outside, THIS I do not approve of, THESE people I do not think are "real" cat lovers.

Was that understandable? I don't know how many more times I can try and explain this and fall short, lol.

I just... I don't understand how people can let perfectly capable HOUSE CATS outdoors & free roam, it pains me so much to think about it.

I see what your saying Angel. I love my cats and I don't want anyone to think I don't because Majesty goes outside. I would love to have her indoors! She is a sweety! She didn't adjust, even after 2 months of trying. It stresses Peppurr out when she's around, and he's a big kitty!

i have had many cats and lost pretty much all of them too road accidents or run aways or stolen. My last cat just turned viscious from being belted up by the neighbourhood cats and was so distressed and nasty, i had him put down. Poor kitty, just didnt have a chance being out in the big world.

I have since never let my 4 cats outside, from these experiences i learnt that its just not worth the risk. I will never have an outdoor cat again.

K.K.

Had to add my bit....i own persians, and i live in a large apartment, alot of people here in the UK think it's cruel to keep a cat locked up, maybe not so much pedigree owners, but certainly those with moggies think it's cruel.
My mother also shares this view. She too has a persian and allows him to go out, at first he was content to sit in her large garden, but soon he bagan climbing over fences and dissapears for an hour or two.
No matter what i tell her and how hard i come down on them for letting him out it seems to fall on deaf ears... to her keeping a cat indoors only is cruel, and she wont do it.
Whenever i hear he's out, i can't do anything with the worry that he'll be lost/ stolen/ hit/ attacked.
But there is nothing i can do, i've evn had a threat by some, be it jokingly or not that it's cruel to keep cats indoors and they'll ring the RSPCA!!!!:mad: Well i just say these people are ignorant.

Jasmine: Have you talked to her about building an outdoor enclosure, or teaching her cat to walk on a harness & leash?

Angelz.....
like i said she doesn't believe in keeping the cat enclosed, and in her eyes even building an outdoor enclosure is cruel:(
Here in the UK very few people take their cats out on a leash, infact i have nevr seen anyone or know of anyone here who does it. Like i said most people here let there cats roam free.

Not that it's safer here, a much more common sight, i'm afraid, is seeing dead cats that have been hit by cars, left there:bawling: :mad:

Unfortunately, theres also a man who lives down the road who's known to aim at cats using his pellet gun:onfire:

But still she thinks the cat wont go that far down the road. Unfortunately it's a common problem here, the neighbours cats equal around ten and they all roam free:(

:cool:

Jasmine - where are you located? Can you report that man to the RSPCA or even to the police?

Jasmine, yes please report that man!

And for your friend to know such a fact and let a cat out (I mean we all think it, but to KNOW it is another matter). I'm sorry but in my eyes, you friend is just an idiot, and has a death wish for her cat. :(

It's not as common as you think for people to keep their cat indoors, let alone walk them on a leash. LOL.
In nothern VA I knew some people who kept them indoors and only seen one other person my whole life walk their cat on a leash besides myself.
Course growing up in Maine, everyone is still very old fashioned except for maybe one or two people I know, they all let their cats outside, heck most of them still don't know that their animals need to be spayed/neutered and recieve shots!

That's a bunch of bullhocky... I hate it when people say "but they never go far!" Niave... oh yes.

i haven't ever seen this guy do it myself.... all i know bout him is that he always has 3- 4 sports cars outside his house:rolleyes:

I know bout it because one of my neighbours, who lives next door to him saw her cat being shot at!!!:onfire:
Needless to say, this lady doesn't allow her cats out anymore, BUT he does manage to get out now and again, and just last week this lady was putting up notices for her "lost cat" I dread to think what happened to him.

I know that the owner of a cat is too afraid to speak out, and as i haven't seen anything i can't report it :(
But what really annoys,are those who say keeping a cat indoors is cruel. And theres alot of people who think that around here:mad:

Outdoor enclosures are great. As I mentioned before I have a screened in back yard called a lanai. It is perfect for cats. If you do not have one already I would imagine that it would not be very expensive to build and enclosure with 2x4's and some screen. You could make the bottom open to the ground and plant plants inside it and the cats could still feel the grass and dirt under thier feet. You could probably find scrap wood somewhere and buy an roll of screen at the hardware store.
I havn't actually built one myself but it seems as though cats would enjoy being in an outdoor screened area as opposed to being indoors all of the time. And they would still be safe :)

Ginger

Hubby and I have rescued four feral cats and they live inside with us. We live in a space that is too small for all of us. We live in a 35' motorhome. We have removed the dining room and replaced it with cat furniture. We have sacrificed just about every space we can to tubes, beds, cat toys, etc., creating far more liveable space for them than for ourselves. We are here most days, and play with each of them frequently.

I would feel terribly guilty about making them indoor-only cats if we were at work every day.

We live in a rural area and the danger from cars is very low. We have trapped, vaccinated and had spayed/neutered all of the ferals who visit our feeders (all but one female, darn it!) The risk of disease from cat fights is very low.

There are no coyotes in this area.

But there are a lot of ticks & deers, and thus a lot of deer ticks. Lyme disease is a real issue. With medications available such as Advantage and Frontline, we were able to keep what were outside kittens free from ticks and fleas last summer, however.

I believe that the indoor/outdoor issue is primarily a cultural issue, and that a responsible pet owner is one that examines their own situation, and evaluates the risks and benefits of both.

Inside-only cats can be very happy, but it takes a lot of commitment on the part of the guardian to ensure the pet's health and well-being. In an ideal world, cats are supervised at all times from both inside and outside dangers.

But we do not live in an ideal world. In an urban area it is simply foolish to let a cat outdoors without supervision. In a rural area, I believe the pet guardian is a responsible pet owner if the benefits and problems have been weighed.

I also believe that there are "working" cats, barn cats, who have a job to do and whose "welfare" should not be evaluated on the same terms as pet cats or show cats.

IMO :)

LDG i agree, if the cats are in a rural area then there aren't the same risks as when a cat is in a city such as myself.
I also believe there are some cats such as persians and other very recognisable pedigree cats which are at great risk of being stolen:(
Sad but unfortunately an all too common occurence.
I know for a fact that my cats are so laid back that they would literally sleep on the road, and would let anyone pick them up and take them home.
Unfortunately as nice as it would be to let the cats have the freedom they once had, unfortunately too many dangers exist in todays world

I think that the bottomline is that everycat should be safe, healthy and happy. For some cats in some situations fulfilling these criteria may mean a compromise of letting them out a bit. Like Hissy's cats. I mean i hardly think she's making the wrong decision to let her cats out... Maybe they're just happier outside, and as a result she's just making a different choice under a different set of circumstances...

That said, i have seen on the internet some cat fence in-devices that work for gardens. And i know that a lot of cats do have their own enclosure so they can enjoy the outdoors...

We live in an apartment with 3 cats and i try to bring some of the outside IN. We have a small garden... a cat tree... loads of stuff for them to play with... and i'm with them pratcially all day anyway...

But you know... there are some cats who just wouldn't be happy in this environment no matter what you do... It's so relative.

To me the most important thing is that within the limits of a certain set of circumstances the cats owner should do everything they can to ensure a cats safety, health and happiness. So if you let your cat out in the garden maybe you should get a cat fence... Or a run. Or if you keep them indoors maybe you should have a little mini garden... or a garden/patio which is enclosed... or if you have a wide area that they roam maybe you can try the electric collar which makes an annoying noise once the cat has left the designated territory... (i'm a bit skeptical about this solution though)

All cats are different. And i think it's very unfair to make one rule and expect that it must apply in all situations when each situation is different.

The indoor-only posters here appear to have strong feelings due to their own personal experiences of great loss. The decision for your cats is a personal one, made by carefully weighing risks and benefits. If you feel that your cat will only be truly happy if allowed outside, that is perfectly understandable, but be aware of the risks involved.

My three pet cats have been indoor-only for years now. I worked in an emergency animal clinic several years ago and saw many terrible things that can happen to outdoor cats, so I started keeping mine inside. I saw so many poor cats that were victims of accidents, poisonings, and terrible, cruel acts that I often went home at night and just cried. The cruelty was the worst. I feel that in my own pets' case that the risk of going outside outweighs the benefit.

That having been said, I have one feral cat that simply will not come inside, even after I've been caring for her for 7 years. She lives in the bushes by the front porch and has a little soft bed to sleep in, and has stayed safe all this time.

My husband's cat goes in & out during the day, but we keep him in at night. He is happy and well-behaved IF he is let out regularly. I've told my husband about the risks, but for his cat he feels the benefits of being outside take precedence. He has started keeping him in at night at my request, though.

Before I write this post please understand I'm not ranting on anyone who has outdoor cats. My choice of indoor only cats came from when I was really young, problably 6 or 7 yrs old. We had 4 cats all outdoors 1 of them being a wonderful strong little lady named Mokey(was surpose to be smokey but I couldn't say it:)) one day she did not return from her outdoor travels, being as all our cats always came home at night this sent up the red flag, by the next morning our streets were lined with posters asking for help. a week & 1/2 later she finnaly did come home. She ran upstairs & hide under my parents bed, it took us a day & 1/2 to coast her out. What we fund enraged us, this sweet, trusting, loving cat was covered in oil, had a cut, we think caused by a wire used to leash her, around her throat, her lt side was strained and there was a deep gash on her forehead. In time she recovered from her injuries, but till her last days she ran, cowering in a corner whenever a sliding door opened, we think because she was kept in a garage. Those that did this to her were never found or punished, & believe me we looked. I could never even lived with the possibility of another one of my dear friends going thru this sort of thing, that's why all my cats have been indoor from then on.

I'm so sorry! Poor girl.

In 25 years, nine cats have come through my life, the first two for very short periods: Chinook died before she had a chance; Percy was a stray who came, and then went.

Then Shasta came into my life, and the real parade began. I could go into great detail, but won't. Shasta was over 21 when she died of old age; Gryphon and Nibs were into their teens, when they died of causes unrelated to the outdoors; Suzy is 4, Cindy and Fawn are 2.

Right. That's only 8. Samantha was Suzy's sister, and she disappeared when she was 11 months old. My heart breaks every time I think about her, and will forever. She was my Drama Queen. Somewhere I have a poem about Sam that I may get around to posting.

But, in my experience, she's the exception to the rule, including a lot of second-hand experience -- that of friends and family and their cats. So, while I chew my nails, pace the floor, and whatever else, when one of my kids stays out longer than expected, I won't deny them the experience that they clearly choose, and that seems to help them be more contented and peaceful.

That does not mean I think it's wrong to keep a cat in. As several people have already said perfectly eloquently, it's a matter of judging the particular situation and doing what you believe is right for YOUR cat.

Someone pointed out that this is a hot-button issue, and it most certainly is for me, because there have been times when I have felt attacked for my stance. In fact, a friendship that began with a common interest in cats, came apart (in part) because my friend's stance changed over time from enjoyment of my cats' escapades to a point where she could not even acknowledge the possibility that I, too, made my choices out of love for my critters. The issue has been costly for me, but I thought I'd try to add my perspective. I hope I've kept it sufficiently calm.

INSIDE ALWAYS! One of my girls, Princess, goes outside in the backyard with me every evening to water the veggies. I have eight foot walls around the yard, so I do not worry where she goes in the yard. Also, she weighs 17 lbs and wouldn't be inclined to make that kind of jump if she did take a notion. Besides, if I go in the house for a minute she comes running to the backdoor and scolds me for leaving her to the cold cruel world! I chase her around the yard and try to get her to exercise a bit and lose that belly. My eight other kids never go outside. I have enough room so that they all have a window to look out. My house is furnished for the cats so everyone is comfortable. This fall, I plan to have a "sun-room" built on the back of my house where there is already a slab. It will be built partially on the grass so that I can have plants for them to enjoy and a large fake tree to climb. It will cost about $9,000.00 as it is a very nice room with sliding glass windows to remove in summer.
Of course, we adults (Mom and me) will enjoy it too, if the kids will let us out there! I HATE it when neighborhood roaming cats come into my yard and spray my shrubs and doors. It upsets my cats mightly. I feel so sorry for those throw away kitties that no one cares for and lets wander around. I have trapped and gentled two of my kids (Holly and Tinka) and they are perfectly happy indoors. INDOORS!!!!!

When I had my first kitten as a young child, the adopter told me that I should keep him in the house until he become 2 years old. My mother allowed him to wonder out at night and he returned in the morning. Then he started staying out longer where we didn't see him for a day sometimes. By the time he was 7 years old he never returned home. We thought the worst that he got hit by a car or was caught by a dog. One day when I was in junior high, I was talking to a classmate about how much I missed my cat. She said she had a picture of her cat and showed it to me. I could have burst out in tears, it was my cat, he had a scar above his left eye. She lived about three blocks from me so I had a feeling he wandered in her neighborhood. I asked her where did she get him, she said he always came in their yard so they decided to keep him...in the house.

When I told my mother about it, hoping that we would go to get him back, he said to let him stay since he had gotten older and was probably comfortable in his new home. That was MY cat. She got me another kitten but never again have I allowed my cats to go outside.

Rain