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Indoor vs. Outdoor

post #1 of 12
3/22/10 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 
I've been reading a lot on the board, since I'm new. I was always of the impression that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives, and all cats should be indoor.

But after reading so many of the posts on this site, it seems as though many of you, who are knowledgable and care for your cats, actually DO let the cats outside.

While I won't be doing this (our yard isn't a shape that can be fenced in properly, and I know there are strays lurking about), I wondered what the general consensus really is. I don't think there's a hard-and-fast rule here, but it just came as a surprise, since I was always preached to about keeping the cats inside.
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post #2 of 12
3/22/10 at 7:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Staceyloobug View Post

But after reading so many of the posts on this site, it seems as though many of you actually DO let the cats outside.
Really? I get the opposite impression. Majority here have strictly indoor cats.
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post #3 of 12
3/22/10 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe it's just the posts I read, but in a few cases, I was under the impression that they come and go. Maybe these are in fenced-in areas, or in cat enclosures, though. I don't know about that.

Or there have been posts about cats being lots or getting pregnant, and no one really has said "why was it outside?"

Maybe it's not the people GIVING the advice, but the ones NEEDING it that let their cats outside, then...and that might make sense.
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post #4 of 12
3/22/10 at 9:53pm
customs are different in different countries, too. here in the US, it's much, much safer for them inside - traffic moves way to fast, even on small roads.

but in other countries, outside or inside/outside cats are far more common.
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post #5 of 12
3/22/10 at 10:26pm
I think you'll find that the vast majority of people on TCS are strong supporters of indoor only, but some are willing to allow the possibility that what's right in their circumstances is not necessarily so in other circumstances, and are willing to allow those in other circumstances to judge for themselves -- "other circumstances" being characteristics of neighbourhood, country, specific household and/or cat dynamics, you name it.

And then there are those who, with only their kitties' best interests at heart, believe that allowing access to the outdoors is not in and of itself bad, and only ask that others allow them the right to assess their own situation, and act accordingly. These latter, and I am one, tend not to be very vocal for the most part, because we know what the general consensus is -- but every so often, a thread appears which attracts our comment. There have been a few of late, so that's probably how you got the impression that there are more outdoor proponents than indoor. I'm sure that misconception will right itself soon.
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post #6 of 12
3/22/10 at 11:01pm
I don't agree with roaming cats, I have no problem with cat fences, enclosures or harnesses. My cats love their contained outdoor time.
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post #7 of 12
3/23/10 at 8:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
I don't agree with roaming cats, I have no problem with cat fences, enclosures or harnesses.
Same here, as long as the additional health precautions of outdoor cats are taken. Autumn goes out on a harness because when we first got her there was no keeping her inside and I will not allow my cats to roam. Over time she has lost interest and doesn't cry to go out but will come if I get out her harness. She always gets a lot of attention when walking along the lakeshore path and the ladies working at the coffee shop I stop at always give her a bit of cheese or ham

That is one of the reasons mine would never be allowed out unsupervised, people like to feed them, and usually something I won't give them. It is bad enough getting my toddler neighbour to stop dropping treats through the letter box and my neighbour who bought a cat treat cookbook.

It is the norm in the UK however, and many shelters there insist they have access to the outdoors.

I think many of the ones who speak openly about their outdoor cats in the US are talking about their ferals, for the most part if I mention a cat outdoors its one of my ferals. No one around here lets their cats out - its rare to see an owned cat (and if I do, I usually know who it belongs to and take it home).
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post #8 of 12
3/23/10 at 7:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
I don't agree with roaming cats, I have no problem with cat fences, enclosures or harnesses. My cats love their contained outdoor time.
Me too! I take mine out in harnesses...although I can't see how that's really all THAT fun for them. I wish I could fence in my hard completely, but the way it's laid out...there's really not a way to do that. We are putting up a 6 foot privacy fence across the back, but it won't fully enclose the house. If I COULD do that, I'd have no problem letting them out when I'm out. That was one of the downers with choosing this house...but the "uppers" have outweighed the downers.
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post #9 of 12
3/23/10 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
Same here, as long as the additional health precautions of outdoor cats are taken. Autumn goes out on a harness because when we first got her there was no keeping her inside and I will not allow my cats to roam. Over time she has lost interest and doesn't cry to go out but will come if I get out her harness. She always gets a lot of attention when walking along the lakeshore path and the ladies working at the coffee shop I stop at always give her a bit of cheese or ham

This is adorable! I don't think I could get my cats to relax enough to fully walk in the harness like a leash...as it is, it's kind of them steering me around...not the opposite.

That is one of the reasons mine would never be allowed out unsupervised, people like to feed them, and usually something I won't give them. It is bad enough getting my toddler neighbour to stop dropping treats through the letter box and my neighbour who bought a cat treat cookbook.

He drops thinks through the letterbox? Come on, this is cute!

It is the norm in the UK however, and many shelters there insist they have access to the outdoors.

THIS is wild! I didn't know this...it's completely the opposite here!


I think many of the ones who speak openly about their outdoor cats in the US are talking about their ferals, for the most part if I mention a cat outdoors its one of my ferals. No one around here lets their cats out - its rare to see an owned cat (and if I do, I usually know who it belongs to and take it home).
In general, I always get a little nervous when I see cats outside...it's just so rare! Then again, I get nervous when I see a dog wandering around, too...
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post #10 of 12
3/23/10 at 7:23pm
I'm yet another one that believes cats shouldn't roam, but that outside is fine.

I bet you could make some sort of enclosure or fence for your backyard if you get creative. Cost just depends on what materials you use. We divided our backyard because our driveway is back there. One portion of the fencing is a DIY version of the purr-fect concept - 2" diameter square polypropylene netting (came in a 7'x100' roll), UV resistant PVC piping with elbows used to make it angle in at the top, zip ties, and some old metal piping that my FIL hand laying around. Metal pipe was hammered into the ground and the PVC pipe slides right over.
A pipe bender + more of FIL's leftover tubing/pipe was bent to make a custom 6'x6' gate which we zipped tied netting to. The rest of the fence is wooden stockade that we just added a welded wire "cap" to prevent climbing and jumping out - stapled to the fence.

I've seen others section off areas of their yard and make raised wire "tunnels" to run out to it from a house.

The only real limit is one's imagination.
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post #11 of 12
3/23/10 at 7:25pm
I don't believe in outdoor cats in town - however I am OK with farm cats (however only if vetted). I myself have farm cats & hosuecats......that said, farm cats don't have the easiest life. Mine have it pretty good, a lot better than most.
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post #12 of 12
3/23/10 at 7:34pm
I believe indoors is best for safety reasons, and the cats that I've had from kittenhood were raised to be indoors. It's very easy if they never know anything different. However, when an older cat is accustomed to going outdoors, it can be hard on them to keep them in, and I think it's kinder to them to let them out if the neighborhood is safe enough. For example, at one apartment, Chilsa didn't go out, except for door-dashing and I always grabbed him [I didn't even want to go out for a walk in that neighborhood], but at another apartment, we were far back from the road and the neighbors were mostly retirees and quieter college students, and there were trees and bushes and other things to keep him interested without having to go far. He liked to follow me to the laundry room and back, and roll around in the dust on the sidewalk, and lay in a sunbeam and watch the birds that came around to a grassy patch where one of the older ladies put birdseed out.

Indoor or outdoor depends on the cat and the situation; every cat's human needs to think things through and decide what's best.
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