indoor or outdoor kitty?????whats best!!

[ktlynn]

Stella12, you posed the question "should we keep our cats indoors...or let them out to roam free?"

From your responses to all who have replied to you,  I'd say your mind is already made up.

Just FYI, cats are not born street wise.   Plenty, in fact too many, are hit by cars.  And as a member has already pointed out, it only takes one car even on a quiet street and poor timing on the part of your cat, to end his life.

Outdoor cats also find favorite spots to eliminate in, so they often do return to the same area to do their business.  Frequently, they will contract various parasites from digging in dirt other animals have been in before them.  

You are fortunate if you don't have predators like coyotes, owls or hawks, any of which can kill a cat.  Raccoons will severly injure or even kill cats if they fight over food.  Cats are fast, but they aren't always able to outrun dogs. Cats are not immune to toxins and poisons which occur naturally and unnaturally in all environments.  They are not immune to fleas, ticks, lice, worms, fungal and bacterial and yeast infections so please be prepared to budget for an arsenal of pills and topicals which you'll need to administer monthly.   There is a vaccine to help prevent FeLV (feline leukemia) but it is not 100% effective.  In the majority of cases, this is a fatal disease.  There is no vaccine for FIV (feline aids).   This too is ultimately fatal, manifesting itself often in various cancers.   Your cat may contract any of these from stray or feral felines he comes into contact with while outdoors.

As has been mentioned a few times, there is sadly, the ongoing threat to cats from evil, sick people.

If you're ok with all of this, and can live with the fact that your cat may just disappear one day and never return, go right ahead and do what you've apparently always intended to do anyway.

 

[minka]

i do have a big yard...and i know where your coming from..but your american..and from what i've heard from americans lately...you mostly all live in a animal danger zone,i live in britain...no where near freeways,busy roads,and wild animals of any kind..we gotta go the zoo to see them them...

Stella, this is an international forum..
The forum language is English, that's all. We have members from England, Australia, Europe, India, you name it..
It is not only 'us Americans' that have the opinion of keeping cats safe by keeping them indoors.
It is always your choice to make your cat indoors or outdoors, but if you are going to ask, we are going to warn you of the dangers.

 

[orientalslave]

<snip> but i live in england near no freeways or wild animals.....worlds apart really

It's nothing to do with living in England if it's relatively safe where you are, it's everything to do with where you are.  All the cities in the UK have cars which are the biggest danger to a cat, but not the only one.  In towns, cities, even small villages there are nasty people who do nasty things to cats, careless people who leave antifreeze and slug pellets where cats and other animals can get them, thoughtless people with unneutered males who will fight anything and damage it, stupid people with dogs that are out of control...

 

[stella123]

but i could walk down the street and be attacked by a person,could cross a road and be hit by a car,eat something that had been poisoned...but i'm not going to worry day in day out...and as much as i would want to keep my cat indoors to protect him the same as i would a child..these are not humans but animals who by nature still have a wild streak..want to climb,want to explore,want to pee in more then one place.

my cat is a stunning make..and i wouldnt dream of letting him out for a few weeks after neutering is done..but i dont even believe in keeping rabbits in a hutch so i would never lock a cat way for life in my home watching it looking out the window at a world he will never be part of.....but we will have to agree to dis-agree as america does seem alot more dangerous for cats..i dont live in a city,town,etc..if i did..my cat would be going out on a lead only in my back yard..and i'd never have a cat if i lived in a high rise flat or apartment...

 

[sivyaleah]

I feel like you have already made up your mind and nothing anyone says will make any difference. Not sure why you posted it since you seem to have very strong views one way and don't want to hear other's opinions to the contrary which make sense for the benefit of your cat's health and well being.

Best of luck.  I'm going to stop reading this thread now.

 

[dejolane]

Our cats have always been indoors. I 'm afraid if I let them out they will not come back. They are my family and I love them both alot. Bella has been with us for 3 years and Thunder 8 months. I don't know what I would do without Bella or Thunder.

If they go outside they may get hit,take and I won't see them ever again.

dejolane

 

[yayi]

I have a huge yard with 6ft walls...and i will get a cat flap installed..after he is neutered 12th feb...

I dont think having a litter tray in your house for 15 yrs is the best for a cat..i clean mine out twice a day..but can't help but think he is getting his own urine on his paws then licking it off..i don't think this is healthy..outside cats dont go toilet in the same place twice..they are clean animals by nature too..

nor do i want to be cleaning litter trays for the nest 15 yrs either...my cats pee stinks the second in hits the tray..i know this won't be as bad after he's neutered soon..but still..i think that from what i'm hearing from americans...your home towns do sound dangerous for a cat..but i live in england near no freeways or wild animals.....worlds apart really

Well, I live in Southeast Asia. I have a huge yard with walls. My cats have always been indoor outdoor. They are also fixed.

There are some things you mentioned that are not correct. Outdoor cats do go toilet in the same place. They do not go everyday, though. Because they bury their waste, they wait for a few days until traces of it is gone and then they reuse the area. You still need to have litter boxes inside your house. I have 5 which accommodate my 6 cats. The main reason for having boxes inside is that there are times when cats will not do it outside. Maybe the soil is too wet because of the rains or it's too cold to go out and so they prefer to stay indoors.  I scoop once every day (at least 2 of the boxes are used). Keeping a box clean will minimize any odor. Also putting an odor absorber will likely eliminate any bad smells. 

I do not understand your aversion to the idea of "getting his own urine on his paws then licking it off" when there are more ugly things he can pick up outdoors. Besides in all the years I've had cats, I have not seen them stepping on their own wastes when using the box. As you said, cats are clean animals. 

 

[stella123]

simba is now getting neutered next week..as i found a local vet who will do it sooner...

 

[stella123]

cats may well use the same area to go toilet..but not twice in the same place in that area....watch your cats indoors with the litter tray..you will see this.

i have had cats for a long time..not had one for a few yrs now til i got simba last week...all my cats had the freedom of going inside or outside the toilet...but in the ene they chose to just stop using the litter so i took it away til the winter..even then it was only used a couple of times a month...every cat is different of course...they are clean animals....but cats do prefer the fun of the outdoors as much as the comfort of the indoors too..

 

[stella123]

i totaly understand that worry..i have the same concerns...for my cat and my daughter...

but do i not let my child out of my sight because i'm scared she might go out and disapear???course not...

like i've said before you have to judge the area in which you live...i.e..traffic...wild life...trains..etc...and make a decision..i dont live near highways or busy roads..i have no wild animals living on my doorstep...and only dogs round here are on a leesh...

i'm not saying its the right choice for every cat owner all over the world..but it is for mine...he will be a fit active and happy cat because he will be healthy and free....some cats do prefer to stay indoors..if my cat is one of them ..then he will be staying indoors..

 

[stella123]

you do all live mostly in places where there seems massive amounts of dangerous elements right in your back yard....wild animals..ferral cats etc...but i am on another website for cat disscusions..they are mostly british...and it would seem british people agree alot more on allowing our cats outside after neutering has been done and the cat has been kept in long enough to know where home is....

i think we will have to agree to dis-agree on this...as we treat our animals as just that...a part of our family but do not forget they are not our babies nor our possessions..but domesticated wild animals..and we our lucky enough to have....not keeping them in the house forever cos its possiable if we let them out they're going to die in some god awful way...we don't live that way..every time we step outside our door these days we take a risk..but we live our lives as full as we can...i want my cat to have the same privilege too....but i think we should agree to dis-agree that not all areas we have cats is a cat death trap....

 

[huntercats]

Depends on where you live. I live on a small farm and our housekeeper has an indoor/outdoor cat. It's really happy roaming the farm chasing down lizards and bugs, watching birds. She never goes near the fence and once when I took her out for a walk she ran back in at the sight of the nearby traffic. So I know she'll never leave. By day she's in a land of never ending fun with tasty bugs and by night she curls on the housekeepers bed or couch. Oh but make sure it's neutered before you let it have all the fun.

 

[stella123]

totaly yer,he's getting neutered on tuesday....and by the end of march i'm hoping to let him outside for a look around....i find so many people treat these amazing creatures like new born babies for all the years they have them..cats do know fear..children not so much...but cats sense danger..run from loud noises..etc.do you people dress your cats up in booties and bonnets too..these are fantastic creatures worshiped by many religions...not  cuddley toys that breath and eat...they have needs and wants just like us..if my cat decided's he likes to go outside..great..if not he can stay inside...

 

[stealthkitty]

As circumstances differ greatly, each one has to make a responsible choice about letting their pet outdoors or not. The options should not be whitewashed into making one appear "best", as the "best" choice in one situation will not be the right choice in another.

One main reason that I would keep a cat inside is the same reason I would keep a dog inside: to prevent them from invading others' property. After all, if you wouldn't let a dog run loose, why would it be OK to let your cat run loose? In a rural area, that might not be as much of a concern as it is in an urban setting. (Of course, in the case of a dog in a city it would be imperative to take them out on a lead regularly; and many cats can also be trained to accept a harness in order to enjoy the outdoors with less risk.) In more heavily populated areas, an enclosed area in the yard is an acceptable compromise. Of course, not everyone has a yard... About half of the world's population lives in cities, so it should not be shocking that a good number of cat owners keep their cats indoors.

Some valid points have been made here about other things to consider before letting your pets out. Diseases, predators, traffic, vengeful neighbors, etc. In many parts of the world (not just the US) those things must be taken into account and are legitimate reasons to keep pets indoors. (BTW the US is not a "cat death trap"--otherwise, there would not be a problem with overpopulation and ferals--just as not all of England is a large backyard far away from freeways.)

But since you seem to live in a lightly populated area and have a large backyard, it's lovely that you can let your cats out without worries.

And I agree; I think it's over the top to compare a grown cat to a toddler.

 

[huntercats]

I also find find it strange when people lock up their cats and treat them like helpless babies. Cats are really hardcore and can take care of themselves. But I can understand the dressing up. Kittens are so adorable I guess sometimes you can't help it. The little guy in the pic (Cupid), does the darndest things. Sometimes I wish I had props so I could take cheesy pics too

.

 

[callista]

Good lord, no. Dressing up our cats would get us scratched. I have always found that the best approach to cat care includes remembering that cats are not human babies.

In the modern world, most people live mostly indoors. When we go out, we go in cars. We even go to gyms and indoor swimming pools and sports fields to exercise. And we're mostly happy that way.

We've domesticated cats to live alongside us. They are mostly happy indoors, too. To a cat, a small apartment is the size of a barn, and a house is as much territory as it wants to explore. (Intact males do like to roam, but they do this to look for females: A neutered male has a territory about the size of a female's.)

If a bunch of apes like us can come down from the trees and live happily in suburban houses, city apartments, and even single rented rooms, why shouldn't a domesticated cat? Provided that the indoor environment includes mental and physical activity, interesting things to interact with, it can provide everything a cat needs.

And then there's the trouble with the outdoors. Here in the US, cars are very common. Practically everyone has one. Everything's far apart, so cars are necessary. Cats and cars often end in tragedy. And in the areas where there are fewer cars, there's still wildlife that can pose a real danger to cats. Hawks, coyotes, bobcats, even on occasion wolves and cougars, though those are rare. And we have rabies here, endemic in the populations of bats, skunks, and raccoons. Even though we vaccinate our cats, that won't stop them from being attacked and severely hurt by a rabid animal.

If I lived in a safe neighborhood, where there were few cars and no dangerous wildlife, if I could count on my neighbors to care what happened to my cat, then I would be okay with my cat going out. But here, where there are rabies cases reported each year, sociopathic youths from the nearby city who think it's fun to torture an animal, feral cats desperate to protect their territories, drivers who don't look where they're going, and pools of antifreeze and other poisons all over the place? No. It's not safe. Outdoor cats die within five years, for the most part. That's like a human dying before thirty.

I feel we have a responsibility toward the species we domesticate. We've changed them forever to suit us; now it's our job to protect them. They can go outside on leashes, or in enclosures; or they can watch the outdoors from a windowsill. Indoors, they can keep the mouse population down, or just take out their hunting instincts on toys and cat teasers. They can involve themselves in what we do, or just lie across our laps to keep us company. An indoor cat can truly have a full life, and one that's less likely to be cut short by accident, illness, or violence.

 

[jennyr]

I am British by origin, but I( have retired here to France. I bought my property so it would be a paradise for my then 5 cats, over 2 acres of land, the whole surrounded by fields and no through traffic. The cats were in heaven. And then 3 months later my Napoleon was poisoned. He died in agony. ANd I felt so guilty that I had brought him here to die. since then I have oincreased my cat family to 8, and 2 of them go outside because that is totally their natuire and they are hunting cats, miserable if they are inside. The others, I have kept indoors because they have adjusted totally to it. I live in a very rural area, and most of my friends have cats, but they all lose them regularly to roads, foxes, rabbit traps or poison. I have very reluctantly concluded there is no safe place. You just have to make the best decision you canm based on the personality of your cat and assessing the individual risks of where you live. Good luck with Simba, I am glad he is getting neutered soon and can start to live the kind of life you want him to live..

 

[stella123]

i know everyone has totaly valid points...and i never ment america was a death trap for cats..just that some people commenting are really making it seem that way...i dont have wild hungry animals snacking on our domesticated cats..i'm luck and happy for that.

but i do have a large yard as do most of my nighbours and they also have cats too...(always ripping my binbags open)..but my yards big enough for my cat to wander round safely and i do have a vest&walk harness for cats..which for the time being i am trying to introduce to my cat indoors til he's use to it then i'll take him out into my yard on it.

i was never going to open my back door and wish my cat luck then throw him out shutting the door behind him..lol..as if i would do that.

I only rescued this cat just over a week ago,so he wont be going outside my home for a few months yet..thats only if he wants too..i'm not going to make him an outdoor cat at all..i'll see his reaction to it and he will decide...

we all live worlds apart..many of us british people have cats that live indoors but have a choice of going outside too...

as for dogs and cats...comparing the two is mad..cats rule...dogs drool...lol

 

[stealthkitty]

And then there's the trouble with the outdoors. Here in the US, cars are very common. Practically everyone has one. Everything's far apart, so cars are necessary. Cats and cars often end in tragedy. And in the areas where there are fewer cars, there's still wildlife that can pose a real danger to cats. Hawks, coyotes, bobcats, even on occasion wolves and cougars, though those are rare. And we have rabies here, endemic in the populations of bats, skunks, and raccoons. Even though we vaccinate our cats, that won't stop them from being attacked and severely hurt by a rabid animal.

If I lived in a safe neighborhood, where there were few cars and no dangerous wildlife, if I could count on my neighbors to care what happened to my cat, then I would be okay with my cat going out. But here, where there are rabies cases reported each year, sociopathic youths from the nearby city who think it's fun to torture an animal, feral cats desperate to protect their territories, drivers who don't look where they're going, and pools of antifreeze and other poisons all over the place? No. It's not safe. Outdoor cats die within five years, for the most part. That's like a human dying before thirty.

Just want to add that what Callista wrote holds true in many (most?) parts of the world. The predators may vary, but the US is not the only place with those risks. In my part of the world, in addition to the cars, sociopaths, etc, the predators include both poisonous snakes and large snakes that will eat a cat whole.

There are outdoor cats that live to be a ripe old age, but it's not common. So, evaluate the risks in your area and then decide what kind of chance you want to take; also think about what you can do to minimize risks. Even taking all precautions (including the precaution to keep a cat indoors), not every accidental, premature death can be prevented. But we can make informed, reasoned decisions with our eyes open; and if the worst happens we'll at least know we did all we could in our circumstances to provide a happy, safe life for our pet.

"It's what everyone else does" is not a good basis upon which to make a decision. And "it's what the cat wants" must be used sparingly. Cats often want things that aren't good for them.

Jenny, I'm so sorry about Napoleon. That must have been terrible.

 

[stella123]

i take all your imput on this matter and respect it,but wolves,bobcats...snakes????non are really an issue in my country..and i live far from our wildlife..fox's that it mostly..so risk to my cat from wild life does not exsist at all...cars..yer a few cars owned my nieghbours..but you can not speed into my street as its a speed free zone due to restrictions..most can only enter at 10mph if that...but thats all...no major danger...but i feel for you who have these dangers on thier doorsteps..i'd be scared for my cat and my family to be honest living where you do..sounds crazy them animals living so close to you really..so yer i'd keep your cats indoors too...but i dont have them dangers at all...so i don't think judging me on your circumstances is really fair..i have had 3 cats all out/indoor...all happy cats and lived a long time..not til 3-4..one was 14 yrs..died of old age...