Indoor or outdoor cats just a question

[Jack31]

I have one outdoor, one soon to be indoor/outdoor and two indoor only.

I think you have to feel comfortable with your own decision and only you can make that decision for yourself. I live in a quiet neighborhood with neighbors who respect my pets, they also have two indoor/outdoor female cats.

Leslie

[furryfriends50]

Mine are indoor barn cats if that makes any sense

[ink]

My husband installed a cat door in case at some point Sasha wants to be indoor/outdoor. Right now it is locked shut and will most likely remain that way. We live in a small town but it isn't very safe for cats. Too many people here don't like them.

[esrandall2000]

My four kitties are all indoor cats. That way I know they are safe, not being hit by cars, not bringing home dangerous diseases, living longer, not disappearing, not getting into fights, and not being killed or tortured by some nut case. And I still worry in case there is a fire or earthquake and I'm at work and can't get to them.

[Jupeycat]

I'm in the UK and have four indoor cats, its still frowned upon by a lot of people here including some of our vets but it's tough luck because my cats are staying inside! I do have a couple of harnesses but don't use them that often, next door's kids are usually out and are really noisy which scares my cats. When we buy our own house I'm going to have some sort of enclosure for them to go outside safely, I've already been looking into it and can't wait!

[HosMan]

Alley is my very first cat and she is 100% indoor!Your pet will have a MUCH longer and safer life being an indoor cat.I do feel guilty that she is missing the great out of doors but since I know she will be exposed to numerous dangers and health risks "out there" it kind of offsets that.It is a very harsh and cruel world out there.I`m sure you love your baby too much to expose her to that,eh? (end of guilt trip).

[ink]

I can think of too many childhood cats that something happened to for me to be able to let Sasha out.

There was Thomas, an awsome shorthaired tuxedo cat. He was poisoned by our neighbor and died a horrible death.

There was Shadow, a short haired black cat. One night when the windows were open we heard a cat scream. We ran to the door and called for the cats ( we had four), they all came running in with their tails bushed out and scared. Everyone but Shadow. We never saw him again.

There was Twerp. An extremely neat young cat that was hit by a car and killed.

China, a beautiful long haired dark calico with siamese points and blue eyes. Killed by a car.

Carrot, a short haired orange tabby, wandered too far one night and was shredded by coyotes (I have never quite got over this)

There are more but its too sad to recount. Anyone still considering letting their cat roam, look at that list. These were all cats that could have lived a long wonderful life. Each one represents horrible heart break. Save your kitties and keep them inside or build a good enclosure.

[esrandall2000]

Originally Posted by ink

Save your kitties and keep them or build a good enclosure.

Your a great mom to Sasha!!!!

[ink]

I hope so. I will always do everything I can to make sure she is happy and healthy.

[P&R]

Rosalie's mainly an indoor cat, she only goes out for bathroom use and occasionally to stalk the dogs, LOL! I was hesitant about it in the beginning seeing as our cat of nearly 9 years "ran away" (although I SWEAR my neighbor had something to do with her going MIA) after being an outdoor cat since she was 3. She's a happy girl though and she keeps inside the yard and always comes in when "called" (aka she hears a bell or the cabinet door close-which is where her food is, lol).

[fifi1puss]

Originally Posted by ink

I can think of too many childhood cats that something happened to for me to be able to let Sasha out.

There was Thomas, an awsome shorthaired tuxedo cat. He was poisoned by our neighbor and died a horrible death.

There was Shadow, a short haired black cat. One night when the windows were open we heard a cat scream. We ran to the door and called for the cats ( we had four), they all came running in with their tails bushed out and scared. Everyone but Shadow. We never saw him again.

There was Twerp. An extremely neat young cat that was hit by a car and killed.

China, a beautiful long haired dark calico with siamese points and blue eyes. Killed by a car.

Carrot, a short haired orange tabby, wandered too far one night and was shredded by coyotes (I have never quite got over this)

There are more but its too sad to recount. Anyone still considering letting their cat roam, look at that list. These were all cats that could have lived a long wonderful life. Each one represents horrible heart break. Save your kitties and keep them inside or build a good enclosure.

I think anyone that has suffered the death or disappearance of a cat knows how badly it hurts. I really feel for you and all you have had to witness. I can't get over Shadows story. Absolutely horrifying. It is why I just cannot see letting a cat outside, looking at my cats today I cannot imagine any of them meeting a fate like any of your cats did.

[ink]

Shadow still haunts me. Even my hardcore cats should be able to go outside parents now believe in keeping cats indoors. Of course back in the eighties and early nineties when I was still a kid at home, keeping cats inside wasn't gernerally accepted, so I can't really blame my parents. But even they look back at the years of loosing cats and the heart ache and wished that they had kept them in.