indoor cats

[OrkyBetta]

We had an indoor cat who got fleas. She must have picked them up from something my dog brought in.

 

[mm_simb]

I'd have to disagree about the whole comparing our domestication with that of cats. Yes, we can get mugged, run over by cars, get in fights, but a cat has no way of being able to call the cops or get help from somebody. I know that when my friends see a cat fight all they do is laugh because they think it's funny. They don't do anything about and if a person were to get in a fight we wouldn't laugh, now would we?
Also, most people that run over cats just throw them to the side of the road if they do at all. Sometimes the cat may be alive but the majority of accidents with a car result in death for a cat. You don't just throw a person on the side of the road if you run over them and you help them if they are still alive (which the majority of people that get hit by cars do actually live).
I don't look down on people that have their cats outside or as indoor/outdoor animals as long as the cats have all their shots, deworming every 6 months, fixed, and flea and tick prevented. Personally samson is/will be the only outdoor cat I will ever have.
He came back already though No sign of anything on him. I think he was just freaked out by the fireworks.

 

[Ruby Shark]

I have two indoor cats...one is 19 and the other is 12. When we take one of them on our back deck (with me right by her side) thinking she might enjoy the sun, she sits there for a minute or two and then cries to get back in.
They have never had an urge to go outside...and I'm thankful for that.

I live in the city and I can't even imagine letting my cats roam outdoors here. At the clinic, I have seen too many horrific things over the years as a result of hit by cars, poison, infection, maggot infestations etc. I would elaborate, but I would rather spare you all the upsetting details....

Yes we could easliy be hit by a car and no we shouldn't stop going outside. But we have to go outside in order to live and function in the world. We also know where to cross the street, and what a red and green light means (granted humans are still killed and/or injured by automobiles etc...but those things still work in our favour...you get the point). If a cat doesn't know the difference, why raise the chances of something awful happening by letting them outdoors?

I really can't comment about letting cats outside if one lives outside of the city as I don't know what the wildlife, shootings, etc. is like there. It would have to be pretty darn safe in order for me to do it myself anyway though.

Also, I think once you have had a cat that used to be outdoors in some shape or form it's a lot harder to keep them inside a lot of the time. I can totally understand why those in that situation would want to let their cats out.

I think my cats have a great life; therefore, I don't feel it's even an ounce cruel to keep them indoors.

In the end, I think everyone is just trying to do what they think is best for their animals.

Great topic by the way!

 

[Ruby Shark]

I'd have to disagree about the whole comparing our domestication with that of cats. Yes, we can get mugged, run over by cars, get in fights, but a cat has no way of being able to call the cops or get help from somebody. I know that when my friends see a cat fight all they do is laugh because they think it's funny. They don't do anything about and if a person were to get in a fight we wouldn't laugh, now would we?
Also, most people that run over cats just throw them to the side of the road if they do at all. Sometimes the cat may be alive but the majority of accidents with a car result in death for a cat. You don't just throw a person on the side of the road if you run over them and you help them if they are still alive (which the majority of people that get hit by cars do actually live).

I totally agree and was trying to make a point about that in my last post. You did a better job of it than I did though. lol

 

[OrkyBetta]

Thanks guys! This is turning out a lot cooler than I thought it would. lots of good opinions.

 

[Bloo]

I think the main thing is, we can all see it would be beneficial for cats to have outdoor access - however things don't always work that way depending on a very wide variety of reasons. We all do what we think best under the circumstances and I do not think anyone can knock anyone else for that.

 

[bigmick474]

i'v got 2 cats. I live in a fairly busy area but both are allowed outside and come and go as they please.
I dont think i could keep my cats indoors.
i do get worried about them getting hit by cars but no more than i worry about people getting hit. Cats are smart animal, i've seen mine crossing the road, she looked both ways, and then ran across.
I suppose, imo, my cats are part of the family, and get treated like part of the family. we all have freedom.

 

[Bloo]

Cats are smart animal, i've seen mine crossing the road, she looked both ways, and then ran across.

I'm afraid cats grossly misjudge the speed of cars. Looking both ways will unfortunately help little to nothing. The only thing saving them from getting to the other side of a busy road is luck & speed.
When I worked as a vet nurse, the amount of cats hits by cars every single night (just in my direct area in London) was horrendous. Day time not as much as people tend to see cats and slow down and try an avoid them. Night time we struggle to see cats and more often than not, far too late.

Far more than most people realise or even think of

 

[paige]

my cat called (shadow) she comes in when she wants and goes out when she wants. I know what you mean by them tring to escape when kept inside,we used to have a kitten called Rolfy and because he was only little we decided to keep him in for a couple of weeks well 1 day he tried to escape by jumping out of the upstairs window luckly he landed on his feet and was alright (he was feeling sorry for himself though) and then when he was starting to turn into his playful self again he decided to climb up are bran new curtains and jump out of the window.he was one little buger because when he got outside he would get on someones car (mainly the exspensive ones) and slide down them but we still loved him

 

[wrs]

you shoulndt make a wild animal, ie a tiger/tigar (I cant spell) an indoors pet, just like you shouldnt make a domesticated cat live like a wild animal, especially one of the fancy types.

 

[abstract]

you shoulndt make a wild animal, ie a tiger/tigar (I cant spell) an indoors pet, just like you shouldnt make a domesticated cat live like a wild animal, especially one of the fancy types.

i dont really see how just because they are domesticated they shouldn't be let outside....dogs are let outside and its not considered making them live like a wild animal..

 

[Bloo]

you shoulndt make a wild animal, ie a tiger/tigar (I cant spell) an indoors pet, just like you shouldnt make a domesticated cat live like a wild animal, especially one of the fancy types.

Now well I agree to some extent and greatly disagree on another.
Fancy Breeds in other words Siamese, Orientals, Persians etc. etc. I take it fall under that category, do they ? Well they were some of the very first domesticated cats back in the Egyptian days ! Kinda doesn't make sense that one.

Howeeeeeever, some of the more recently domesticated breeds such as the Bengal for example still has a very wild and strong hunter /killer / roaming instinct and that's an entirely different kettle of fish.
Not saying that ordinary moggies and other pure breeds do not have a strong hunt instinct (some of the fancy breeds have almost none at all such as the Persian & chinchilla) but the more recently domesticated breeds however do more so. And it's far more difficult (and almost cruel) to try and keep such cats indoors.

 

[moray]

bloozoo2 sometimes it's like listening to myself

 

[mm_simb]

I work at a clinic too and we see a lot of cats get hit by cars, get in cat fights, or get infested by fleas all the time.
A dog is different though. A dog can be kept in a yard if it is properly secured and a cat will jump over it. You build an enclosure in the yard and I'd say that it was fine to have your cat out as long as it has flea and tick prevention and all the shots. A dog shouldn't be let out of the yard without a leash for the safety of the dog and safety of other people. Same with cats. If you walk a cat then more power to you for having your cat leash trained but having them loose is just not something I would do.
Also if the cat is not fixed (whether male or female) they will try to escape no matter what you do to entertain them. That is why I do not take the excuse "I let them out because they always try to escape when I dont". Neuter or spay them and then see if they are still that desperate to go out. My kitty simba use to try to escape when he wasn't fixed. He wont even step out the door now because he's so scared. Sky never wanted to go out and I understand her because she is also fixed and when her other owners had her out they wouldn't have any flea stuff on her so she was full of fleas and smelled horrible. I bet she thinks I would do the same thing to her if she was let out. But I wouldn't do that to her. The only way I'd let my indoor cats out would be if I made an outdoor enclosure.
I do understand people who let cats out that would not use the litter box and that would spray (if they are neutered) if they are strickly indoors. But I don't understand with people who have never tried to teach their cats to use the litter boxes or not to be spraying.

 

[lilmisstrouble]

I think this thread is really interesting, especially the opinions from the UK and US....

Personally, I grew up in a tiny (UK) village and my cats had constant indoor/outdoor access. They were fine. But our road was totally quiet and when I drive to visit mum and dad people driving round there crawl along the road becasue the cats sit in fromnt of the cars and refuse to move.

I now live in a suburb of London and my kitten-cat is 1 yr old next week. He is allowed out in the day only (because we have a lot of foxes here which attack the cats). He is also not allowed out the fron because we have a main road nearish us. But that is as much as we can do to discourage him from roads.

Personally, I think where possible cats should be allowed out but agree with some of the comments on here. My neighbour has persians and they are indoor only. Likewise, your cat needs to have all the jabs to make sure he/she doesnt catch anything. I also owned an FIP cat who, obvs, was indoor only so as not to infect other cats. So I guess it depends.

Interesting to read the opinions tho'.

Oh, also, I wont go into declawing other than to mention that in the UK it is illegal because it is considered to be hugely cruel!