indoor or out door?

i ask this question because i am wondering weather to let socks out, my mum keeps her cat indoors only, and she just wants to get out all of the time.. so i was just wondering?

Sierra is strictly indoor only! She has rare ever so carefully supervised outside visits so she can explore a bit and enjoy rolling around in the sunlight on the soft grass. She also enjoys rolling around on the porch steps in the sun!

My boys are indoor cats only. I do take them out to walk on a leash and harness and they love it. It took me awhile to get them to walk on the leash and sometimes poor Oscar is still scared to death of the grass and all that but he likes it. The Sammycat was hissing and growling at my neighbors kids the other day when I was walking him. But they did try to run up and pet him He doesn't like children too much.

I have never had an outdoor cat. Rowdy has a harness and leash and I take her out into the backyard, now and again. Buddy and Opie wouldn't go out, if you paid them. THEY are quite happy, lolling on comfy furniture, eating whenever they like and not having to deal with the dogs.

Charlotte is an indoor only cat. I live in a 2nd floor apartment next to a very busy main street. It's just not safe to let her outside and she would bolt if given the chance....cuz she's sooooo nosey!! I've thought about getting a harness for her but I'm afraid she'd slip out of it.

I would never let Dori go outside, she is strictly an indoor kitty. I tried to do the harness thing, but she was too scared. I think cats are so much safer inside. If you have plenty of toys, places for them to scratch and climb, etc. I think they are just as happy being inside than out. Dori is perfectly happy where she is

My four are all indoor cats. Tara and Pebbles used to go out before I had them. I have had them 7 months now and they have never wanted to go out. The four of them are quite happy driving me nuts inside. I would never let them out because of the traffic, foxes, dogs and mad people, plus they would be more vulnerable to viruses.

Fluffy and Socks are indoor. They do like to sit on the chairs on the patio though.

I had 5 outdoor cats and sadly 2 were poision and one is missing . So I still have 2 outside cats . But I would never let any cats be a outside cat again beside the two , never again . There is to many danger out there and lets not talk about all the sickness like feline leukemia ect ect .....

All the rest of my cats are save inside and enjoy the outdoors in the cat enclosure my husband build for them .

My kid Patches is strictly an indoor cat .... Me and roomie live in an apt complex with a lot of kids and fast cars so she stays indoors where it is safer for her. I do occasionally let her go in the hallway of our apartment building where she climbs on top of the washer and dryer .

My cats are indoors only, and every now and then I let them come out with me on my enclosed porch. I just make sure and play with them ALOT so they get alot of mental stimulation, and thats actually why I have more than one cat... My first cat started to kind of mope around like he was lonely while we were gone, so I got a buddy for him. I really think that provides them with enough interaction to kind of make up for some of the fun they would have outside. But otherwise there are just too many dangers outside. In addition to all the cars, there are too many wild animals here in Texas, and not to mention other cats with coodies. Its just not worth the risk.

Originally Posted by cazx01

i ask this question because i am wondering weather to let socks out, my mum keeps her cat indoors only, and she just wants to get out all of the time.. so i was just wondering?

Click to expand...

Carrie,

If you love Socks you will keep her indoors. A poll here on TCS comparing how long outdoor cats survive as compared to indoor cats would probably dramatically demonstrate why Socks should remain indoors. That is a dangerous world out there for furbabies.

We are speaking, of course, about cats who are permitted to roam free outdoors. If they are restrained with a harness or such at all times when outdoors that is a differenct story.

All the very best,

My cats are strictly indoors. I live in town on a semi-busy street and there are alot of dogs that run loose as well as stray cats. The outdoors to them is sitting on the screened in backporch.

JC is an indoor cat. He has constant access to an enclosed balcony, and I take him out in the backyard on a harness and leash every day. He does get the same vaccinations an outdoor cat would, though, because he interacts (in a negative fashion) with neighborhood cats that hang out in our yard, and always manages to catch mice, shrews and an occasional rat.

Hi I'm new to the Forum. My cat Patches is almost 21 years old and has been an indoor cat since she was seven. My vet says this is why she has lived so long. when she crosses the Rainbow (I pray it isn't any time soon), I'll get more cats but they'll be be INDOOR cats only!

Kitty and Robin are both indoors. Leash is ok, but the harnesses we have now are risky. We'll be getting SafKat when we have the money.

BTW, good point about hunting. But it's not just disease I'm worried about in that respect--there's also poison. A lot of people try to poison "pest" animals that cats can catch, and some cats eat what they hunt, so they can be poisoned even apart from poisonous plants, antifreeze, eating "pest" poison directly, and such. Besides which, if it's a toy vs a living, feeling animal, I'd rather the toy "die."

Patchesmommy, how wonderful that Patches is almost 21 years old. He must be a very happy and well loved cat.

Carrie...if you are considering allowing your cat outdoors...the safest way to do this is to have an enclosed porch. That way your cat can enjoy the scents of outdoors but cannot get lost or end up being killed. I lost my indoor/outdoor cat as a kid and I will not go through that again..so my cats are strictly indoors.

Katie

I have 4 indoor cats. I grew up with indoor/outside cats and have always pleaded with my parents to keep them indoor only cuz it's safer.

As I grew up, I have seen my old indoor/outdoor cats getting in fights so we'd have to take them to the vet to have the wounds cleaned (some would get infected so that didn't help either). I always worried about people stealing the cats, dogs catching the cats, etc so i never had peace of mind when I had indoor/outdoor cats.

One cat almost had to be put to sleep by the pound. My parents and I had to fight real hard to get her back-she had caught a bat. That's a LONG story which I won't get into but the point is that cats are exposed to many dangers outside.

My mom often complains about finding dead birds and mouses in the house and I keep telling her that I have had NO problems with that with my indoor cats!

Now, when with my indoor cats ONLY, I have almost NO worries cuz I KNOW they are inside SAFE from harm.

I STRONGLY recommend keeping ur cats indoor. Be sure to have plenty of toys, cat trees, give them attention and they will be happy!

Beau and Felicia don't go outside. Except in their carrier.