Indoor vs. Outdoor

You are absolutely right to want her to be indoor only. IMO, cats do NOT belong outside. Many people on TCS allow their cats outside, but it's all a matter of opinion and if they think it's safe enough to allow their cats to go outside that's fine. To me, there are just too many dangers outside for me to feel comfortable enough to let mine out.

First, there are too many cruel people in this world, who don't like cats. If they see one running loose, or in their yard, they can, and WILL hurt her. They could kill her, or toture her, and I know you don't want that..Then, there is a matter of people thinking she's a stray and taking her in, at which point there is a possibility that you will never get her back. Soetimes, people leave poison out for pests to get to and if your cat were to follow her instincts, and hunt and eat a mouse or other rodent that was poisoned, then your cat could die from that.

Then there is a chance of her getting hit by a car, which you already mentioned. There are also predators that can kill your cat.. If she were to get into someone's yard, if they have a dog that doesn't like cats, or that is just vicious, can kill, or seriously injure Lola..

There are many, many more reasons to not let your cat out.. It's just WAY too dangerous to let her outside..

She is YOUR cat, you make the decisions regarding whether or not she is indoor or outdoor.. So don't let your room mate tell you its cruel to make her stay indoors, IMO, it's more cruel to let her outside to face the potential dangers of being outside. If you want her to be indoors only, then tell your room mate to mind her own business, and ignore her remarks about you being cruel by making her stay inside. Your kitten is still young, you can always go to a pet store and buy a leash and a harness and harness train her, so that you can take her outside on it and she can still enjoy the outdoors - with YOUR supervision. Again, don't let your room mate make you feel bad about wanting your kitty to stay inside. Like I said, there ARE options that you can try so that she can enjoy the outdoors, without putting her in danger. YOU make the decision, and nobody should be able to make you feel bad about wanting your cat to be safe.

I hope you can come to a decision about this with out your room mate getting into the middle of it.

Is the cat your cat or the roomates cat or double ownership. If it is your cat, then you get to make the decision. I don't feel under any circumstances it is right to turn a cat out and let it roam. I do think that outdoor enclosure can solve problems people have about keeping cats inside.
My husband is very allergic to cats. At the time we first became cat owners we did not know it. In fact he never had a problem until we added the second cat. Then he was seriously ill from it. As a solution, he bought the cat fence in system and attached it to our chain link fence. It is not as safe obviously as having an inside cat, but it works for us. I have been told, all kinds of things, even get rid of hubby and keep cats inside. As much as I love them, I don't love them like I do my husband, so I am in agreement that our cats can't live in the house. I do hope you can work out a solution with your roomate.

Yes I totally agree....this is your cat right? Then I don't see a problem. You just smile and say "well, it is my decision." and let it go at that.

I think letting a cat outside to all the dangers is equal to letting a year old child outside unsupervised, near traffic, other people, and dark nights. That is the ultimate test IMO.

It really is none of the roommates concern. She does not have your cats best interests at heart. She knows not of what she speaks!

Many cats do enjoy some outdoor time, I know mine do. BUT it must be in a cat safe fence, enclosure or harnessed. Free roaming cats are an entirely different story.

Since you are the owner it's your choice, don't let her make you feel guilty for keeping the kitty safe.

I agree - indoor all the way. We got our SPCA cat at 1 and a half years and we've had him for three months. It was difficult to train him to be an indoor cat. I think he was used to running outside. He would sit at the window and cry and cry to go out. It was so pitiful. But we have trained him that outdoors means harness or walking jacket and leash. (We have both a small harness we bought at a petstore and a walking jacket that we bought online at Petmet.)

Sometimes when I sit on the deck, I'll tie his leash to a long line we have there - but I would never leave him alone - even on the leash.

Too many dangers outside. OUr city has leash laws for both dogs and cats.

lin

Just a thought how bout looking into a ferret harness? I got a ferret collar for a kitten. I do let a few of mine out but only the ones who came to me as outside cats already. I let them out while I am cleaning the cats room and I can watch them-they stay on my property or the neighbor(she loves the one cat who comes up to her)

I've had both indoor cats and those who like their freedom via the cat flap.

I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons very carefully.

If you live by a main or busy road - forget it. Keep your cat indoors.

Outdoor cats do run the risk of being chased by other animals (usually dogs), fighting with other cats and there is always the risk that someone might see the cat, think "Oh, what a lovely cat. I'll take it home" and you never see your cat again.

That nearly happened to my neighbour's cat earlier this year. As it turned out, it was a sweet story but gave my neighbour such a scare. Her cat is getting on a bit and she usually stays in the garden or sits at the front gate. She always comes in when she's called.

One day, she didn't. My neighbour asked if I'd seen her cat. No, but I'd keep a watch out for her. The next afternoon, I'd just come home from work when my neighbour came out. She'd got her cat back.

I turned out that a little girl - she's about 9 years old had lost her cat (illness I think) and she'd been pining for her furry friend. Seemingly, they'd only moved into the next street a few days previously but the little girl had made friends with some of the children in our street. She spotted my neighbour's cat and decided to sneak her home. Her mother found out when she heard miaowing coming from the little girls bedroom, went to investigate and found my neighbour's cat. She promptly took my neighbour's cat back, apologising profusely. What the lady didn't realise, that her daughter was missing her feline friend very much. The cat had been there long before the little girl was born, so she had grown up with the cat.

They had had their cat a long time and hadn't planned on getting another but that weekend they decided to adopt another cat. I'm sure that little girl is loving her new cat very much.

As far as outdoor cats being more prone to catching diseases, I know by experience that that is not always the case. If you plan to let your cat out, make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. At least here in the UK, we don't have a Rabies problem which is something else to consider.

I'm afraid I do not agree with Kittilove4 (sorry Kittilove4). Cats are, by nature and what they are, very much outdoor animals. Indeed, here in the UK they are still (wrongly IMO) classed as wild animals but they adapt very well to living inside. There isn't a cat I've ever come across who prefers cold and wet to curling up infront of a cosy fire or claiming your lap to sleep on

Like I said, some of mine are indoor/outdoor cats and others indoor cats. My late Lucy was 22 years old when she passed to RB just over a week ago. She was an indoor cat only due to her being crippled. Even so, it didn't stop her nearly dying from cat flu 5 years ago. It took us all by surprise, even our vet but he said she'd probably had it as a kitten and it can lie dormant for years, maybe never even rear it's head again or can flare up.

My two half-Bengals are indoor cats only. They are beautiful and I'm sure they would disappear quickly if I let them out. We are getting a half-Siamese beauty soon and he will also be an indoor cat. I intend to train him on a harness and lead.

I'm very lucky where I live. We have a 20mph speed limit and our road is a dead-end so cars tend to come down very slowly. Most of us have cats and there are always a lot of young children playing in the small field to the front, so we are vigilent.

To the rear of my house there is a cats playground - a woodland full of interesting things to do and see for the cats. I used to get an abundance of little presents from there - anything from mice, rats, frogs, toads, birds to the two most unusual "gifts" from my cats - a mole and a squirrel tail. What happened to the rest of the squirrel, I haven't got a clue.

Since Lucy's passing, my oldest cat is now Blue who is 15/16 years old. He has the freedom to go in and out as he pleases but these days prefers to stay in, only going out to do what he has to do and coming back in. In winter he refuses to go out at all so we always put a litter box for him.

At the end of the day, it is your cat, not your room-mates so it is your decision.

If you have a large enough yard or garden, a good compromise would be to build a run for your cat.

Don't worry about not agreeing with me Python, I don't expect everyone to agree with me. Everyone has their own opinion about this subject.

I do understand most cats love the outdoors.. Monster was born outside in a semi-feral colony. I've has him since he was 4 weeks old, and he's grown up being indoor only, but that doesn't stop him from trying to get outside. I live on a major highway, so I don't trust him being outside (that's not the only reason I want him inside, but that IS the main reason).

About 6 years ago, Mike's(my BF) cousin moved in with us, and he brought his cat Smokey. We all loved Smokey. I fed him when he needed to be fed and he cuddled with me all the time, I loved him like he was mine. Back then our back door was left open in the summer, so the dog could go out and come back in whenever he felt like it. So Smokey started going outside. One night, Mike went out to pull his car in the driveway, and he came running in screaming that Smokey got hit by a car. Smokey died a few minutes later, the only good thing about that whole situation was that he didn't suffer.

Losing Smokey taught me a huge lesson. When I got Monster, there was never a question in my mind about whether I'd let him outside. That decision was made before I'd ever even thought about it. I don't let myself feel bad about the fact that I know he wants to go outside and I won't let him. But that's because I know if anything happened to him I'd feel A LOT worse.

I tried harness training Monster, but everytime I took him out on it he'd try to bolt and the leash would catch and he would flip around in the air. I plan on having an enclosure built in the backyard.

I think most towns do - that it doesn't specifically say that the law is just for dogs. I know my town does have it written for both cats and dogs... and various livestock - you could get in trouble for letting your cows or horses run loose (waking up to your neighbor's horse looking through your window is a interesting experience, btw ).

It's just that no one bothers with cats because in most areas it's been done for so long that it's accepted as normal.


IMO it shouldn't be an indoor or outdoor debate, there doesn't even need to be one. Follow leash laws and don't let any of your pets run loose. Then you won't have to worry about your cats and you don't have neighbors coming over to complain about cat poo in their garden/flower bed or cats on their vehicles.

Besides, it gets incredibly hot in Phoenix. Better to know where you cat is.

I just started a thread about losing Dusty. She's hanging on, but she isn't eating, and I don't think she will last the week.

Dusty was always an outdoor cat before she came to us. We tried keeping her inside, but she was miserable, so we ran the risk and only brought her in at night.

She would prefer to drink muddy gutter water rather than clean water in her bowl. I don't know if this was the cause, or if it was the weeks she lived on birds and rats before she came to live with us, but she has kidney disease. She is anemic. She is dying, and she is only about 8. It breaks my heart.

Our other cat, Squeak, we've had for a year now. We got her as a kitten, and she's never been outside. She is perfectly happy to live in the house, and if the door is left open, she won't even try to go out.

Please send some warm weather over here. It's quite cold for being mid-summer. Yesterday, it was so chilly, I wore a polo-neck jumper and was still cold.