I feel kind of judged on here......

Originally Posted by mrblanche

If your children were apt to roam anywhere in the neighborhood, go over any fence, into any yard, into any street, and you had no way of explaining to them the dangers of cars, cruel people, and cruel animals, I suspect you WOULD keep them in.

In many US areas, it is now illegal to allow an animal to leave your property, and that includes cats.

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Well said, Mike. The comparison to children really doesn't work at all... especially when you add in all the disease and parasite exposure that's also involved. I know in my area, the SPCA says the average life expectancy for an outdoor cat is just two years.

Bengalsmum, most of us here are aware of the cultural (and sometimes situational) differences that lead some members to let their cats roam. Even though we may disagree with your decision and feel morally bound to raise the question, very few of us would go so far as to pass judgment on you based on this issue. I, for one, would never let a cat out -- but I deeply treasure the friendships of many members who do!

When people mention it to you, try to remember that they're thinking of the well-being of your kitties. They want to make sure that you're fully aware of the ever-increasing dangers involved in letting your cats roam. Some of them may not be very diplomatic in how they state their concerns, and for that I apologize -- but their hearts are in the right place.

I grew up in the country, and our cats were always indoor/outdoor. Currently, my mom has a 16yo indoor/outdoor cat who's healthy and happy as can be. We've had other cats live almost as long.

I think it's all about the setting. Where I live, there's no way I'd ever let my cat outside. It's an apartment in an urban area, right along an extremely busy road. The thought of him escaping makes me sick to my stomach, and I'm extra careful every time I open a door.

I'm certainly not about to judge anybody for letting their cats outside. I know Pants is dying for a taste of the outdoors, and I plan on harness/leash training him soon. All of my cats growing up loved being outdoors, and they were always well cared for, vetted regularly, and dearly loved.

I live in an area that poses few threats to my cats. Everybody on the block has in/out kitties, we are backyards have woods behind them, and since it is a dead end st not near a main rd. Nobody ever comes down here unless they belong here, as it is very secluded. Our kitties pretty much stay in the yard, except when visiting the elderly gentleman next door, who plays with them and gives them treats. Since I joined tcs I had been dead set against letting my cats out, but they are so much happier, and the litterbox scooping has been cut by at least half. My main problem is keeping other cats for coming inside and joining mine for dinner.

I'm sorry that you feel this way honey.

My Pip was an outdoor cat once but due to moving into a flat, we had no choice but to keep him indoors.

In South Africa, it is the norm to allow cats to roam and i'd never heard of a cat being kept indoors until I came across this site! I still thought that it was cruel until I had no other choice but to!

We are now in a house again and although Pip is dying to go outdoors on his own, I will just not let him. My partner says sometimes he really wishes that he could let Pip out but knows that it's not the best option because of the area we live in - although rather rural, does have a big busy road right out our back door!

Whatever you decide for your cat, is your choice!

I choose to keep my kitties indoors. because we have people in our neighbourhood who poison cats, there are many feral around and they are veiwed as pests.

Judging by your user name, I'm assuming you have Bengals. I do find it surprising that if you do, that you would let Bengals outside, because they're expensive cats. I would build and enclosure for them, if I wanted to let them out, or I'd get a harness and take them for walks.

I guess from growing up with indoor/outdoor cats and seeing them die at young ages, I decided I would never let my cats out. Sadly, my mother went out and bought her dream cat, a seal point Siamese named Chang, we all loved him so much, he was litterally a member of our family, and my mother allowed him to be indoor/outdoor, because that was how she was what she believed in. Had it been my father's decision, he would have been outdoor all the way. That is, until he fell in love with him. One night we were all playing in the yard, when a car raced down our street, only to speed up when he saw our Chang crossing the road, and hit him with extreme force, and didn't bother to stop, but continued to speed off. Not only did all of us children sob and cry, but even my father broke down in tears. It was awful. My mother bought other Siamese cats though out the years, but after that she never let any of them outside again.

There are a lot of people in the USA who let there cats go outside, though. I personally wouldn't, but I wouldn't judge anyone for it I might not want to see it, but I do know that some people allow their cats to be indoor and outdoor, and I know that in the UK, that it is more common than in the USA, but I just think there are safer ways to let a cat enjoy being outside without the danger.

My cats are indoors only, and I go to great lengths to make sure they don't accidentally sneak out (including never using the front or back door & coming and going through the garage, making sure garage door is down before opening the door to the house). I keep them in for my own peace of mind, because I would worry myself sick if they were roaming around outside.

That said, I often feel sad about depriving them of the joys they could experience outside, and wonder if I'm doing right by them in the long run. Maybe indoor/outdoor cats do have a shorter life span, but maybe it's a happier one? I don't know. I would never judge anyone whichever decision they make.

Duke is an inside/outside kitty.. wether I like it or not
He will scream and cry to go outside but he's only out for less then an hour at a time

My others are inside only. Tonka because someone declawed him before I adopted him and because he's an old man


I don't judge people on wether they let them inside or out. All I care about is if they're loved and cared for

It's a very personal decision we make, when we decide whether our kitties should have access to the outdoors and on what basis. That decision can only be made based on the particular circumstances, which is partly the physical/cultural situation and partly your own feelings about quality of life. But the bottom line is that nobody but you can know precisely what that combination of factors is, so only you can make the decision. Whatever my own feelings and situation are, I cannot impose them anyone else, and I have to assume that a person who is sufficiently besotted with kitties to hang around here for any length of time, is going to be making that assessment out of love and with the best interests of their critters in mind. As long as that's the case, what the decision is, is none of my affair, and I won't presume to try to sway anyone to my way of thinking. All I ask in return is the same consideration.

However, I remind myself that, even when that consideration is not given, the motivation is not mean spirited, it's just someone being passionate about kitties and their well-being. Sometimes, it's uncomfortable, but I try not to let it get to me.

My kitties are indoors, we will be moving to Australia where 98% of the population believes that cats need to be outside. I am currently in a battle with my FH He needs to know they are not allowed outside!

My cats are mainly indoor only cats. They will go out once in awhile but not for long! I don't like the idea of them getting hit by a car, killed by another animal, stolen, or poisoned. that's why mine mainly stay indoors only. I will not let them out at all. My parents do sometimes but i have no control of that since I live with them but they are 99.9 % indoors only and I wouldn't have it any other way. If they sneak out I am totally on their tail because we live by a busy street. I think it's a personal preference but I think cats live happier and healthier inside. Same with dogs! all of our dogs are indoor dogs. I dont believe in having a dog outside at all 24/7. when we go somewhere the cats and dogs are ALWAYS inside. but Dogs need exercise and mine for sure get that when I walk them and play with them outdoors.

In most parts of the US, it is absolutely the right decision to keep cats indoors or finagle some way to do outdoors only under supervision (Zissou, for instance, loves to go to the public parks here on her leash).

You have to remember that, as you said, a majority of members here are from the US, where we have rabies, a lot more natural predators, a lot more cars, and sadly more people who think it is "fun" to do terrible cruel things to cats. Most of us understand the differences in the UK, and maybe some people don't, but try to look at it from their side-- here we are trying hard to convince our neighbors not to let their declawed cat out in their tiny yard on a busy street, and to us it looks like you might be in the same situation.

That, and the lifespan of outdoor cats is significantly reduced. We have enough problems trying to get cats spayed/neutered, and if everyone would keep them in... well, we wouldn't have to kill so many poor innocents just cause there's no place for them.

That said, if you live in an area with few cars (or a very low speed limit), no predators, your cat has claws and was let out from kittenhood on, has a tendency not to stray too far, then it's a personal decision. I would say this in the US too, but that is true of very few households here.

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

One thing our members need to keep in mind when replying to posts such as yours is the cultural and geographical differences. Many shelters in the UK will not adopt to anyone that states the cat will be an indoor only cat. You must provide outdoor access for the cat and they will do a home check at times. That's the bottom line. You may or may not agree with it, but that is how it is and you must be respectful of the difference in culture.

If anyone feels they are being attacked in a thread, please remember you have the option to report the post. You can do so by clicking the exclamation point in the red triangle that can be found in the upper right-hand corner of the post. Please do not respond to the perceived attack. Let the Mods handle it. That's what we're here for.

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Emphasis added. I live in a semi-rural area of Germany, and the vast majority of the area shelters will only adopt out indoor/outdoor cats. Although I've had cats all my life, Jamie is the first "indoor-only" cat we've had, and he -- isn't. He's trained to a leash, and I take him for a 30 - 60 minute walk every day (often longer), because he attacks other cats, and can't be trusted alone outdoors. The only reason I'm not in violation of his adoption contract is that I got him from a cat rescue organization in the metropolis where I work, and that organization prefers that "big city cats" be kept indoors only.We don't live in the big city, and since he wasn't adopted from a local shelter, his outdoor access can be "regulated" as I see fit, taking his needs and behavior into consideration.

Originally Posted by mom2raven

(I am not judging). I think that the stance of the catsite (although I do not know where to find this) is to keep cats indoors.

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TCS is against declawing. Although some rather vociferous posters might leave you with the impression that TCS is against allowing cats access to the great outdoors, that's not the case. Our membership is international, with rural, suburban and urban inhabitants, and country-based "norms", so any such pronouncements are personal opinions only.

Originally Posted by bengalsmum

I wouldnt dream of keeping my children cooped up in the house, if they wanted to play out nor can i watch them 24/7 its the same with my 2 cats they are let out and in when they please and have a happy balance.Yes one of them is hurt due to being poisoned outdoors...

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This is how others might feel: Would you dream of letting your own (or any) young toddler children roam in the neighborhood all alone and hope for the best? Across streets? Would you let the young children mix with bullies and be bullied and turn a blind eye to your own's suffering? I see your cat was poisoned and you are still thinking it is alright to let them outside? What if the cat dies? Can you see why some might, just maybe, object to that when it could have been prevented and if it happens once it can and probably will happen again? It isn't that cats shouldn't go outside at all, it is that they should be watched or in a secure area if you decide to let them due to the dangers, and those dangers are endless if you are a cat in the US...humans, cars, other animals, wild animals, busy streets, parasites, and so on.

I would never let gizmo outside because there's too many threats to risk it. I sometimes wish he could roam around outside but i know I'll never put him out. He seems perfectly content to just sit by the widow watching the cars pass by and the birds fly around. Truth is he doesn't even seem all that interested in going outside anyhow.lol


I may not agree with letting cats run freely outside but I try to judge ppl who choose to do it.

I would love to be able to let the tribe outside so they could go cattin' around, but the enclosure is as close to the outdoors as they get. I live on a park boundry road, so I'm not very worried about traffic. It's the coyotes, bobcats, at least 1 cougar and hawks the size of small airplanes that I worry about.

I am among the indoor only advocates, but I think it's a personal decision. My issue with indoor/outdoor or outdoor only is only when people are irresponsible about it. If they are not speutering, vaccinating, they live in an urban or otherwise dangerous location for the cats, etc. Everyone on TCS has a deep connection with cats, and therefore will have strong opinions about their welfare. That is to be expected, IMO, but if you're feeling judged/attacked let it roll off your shoulder. If you know you're doing the right thing for your situation, that's all that matters.

Currently we have two cats, one of which is horrified to go outside so we don't need to worry about him, and the other who loves to go out and roll around in the grass. The latter we take out on a harness only.

When I live in a rural area (sometime in the next 5 years) it's possible that I might have both indoor only and outdoor only cats.

I think so many of us look down upon it because we keep our cats inside and don'thave a problem with it.I have 7 indoor only cats, and they are far from cooped up. They have each other, they have us, they have toys and entertainment, and none of them will ever have to worry about being poisoned or hit by a car or killed by a wild animal. It's very easy, although I do know that the norm in the UK is to let cats outside, although if I lived there my cats would be indoors just like they are here.

I think everyone will have their own purr-sonal opinions on this subject.

IMO, it is safer to let cats out in some places of the UK than in the US.

I have indoors only cats, or outdoors only cats. There are people who don't like that I have outdoor cats, but that's their opinion. It irritates me sometimes, but I know I saved their lives by bringing them home as farm kitties, where many were to be euthanized.