SO and I can't agree whether to let kittens out or not

[cmxx]

My fiance and I adopted our beautiful fur babies in November and they are now 7months old. We've both always been brought up around cats - his mother has 7 and mine has 5. We moved to our own place in August and knew it wouldn't be too long before we introduced some little ones to our place.

Now we're having massive arguments about whether or not in the new year, we should start to let them out.


My cat have always been indoor-outdoor cats. They go out when they want, they come in when they want. We don't force them out, we don't make them stay out. They have a lovely street and a big garden with a shed kitted out especially for them, little cat kennels, food and toys left outside (as well as inside) etc. My parents don't have to clean litter trays anymore because they go to toilet outside.

My fiance has always had indoor cats. Okay so, his area isn't great, but there's dozens of cats there and I've not known of any getting hurt and its not on a main road.

I'm trying to be open minded. Personally, to me, cats are outdoor animals. I'd never considered having indoor cats. They're moggies, not purebred. Our little babies are so full of energy, it makes me feel so sad to think of them not going outside.
My SO just thinks its too dangerous for cats to go outside and keeps bringing up all the cats he knows that have been hit by cars or gotten lost. I completely understand this, I know there are risks. But our new house is in a lovely little street, we have a huge garden (when we bought the house we always commented that our future cats would love the garden) and there are literally hundreds of other cats in this street.

I'm trying to comprise with him and say that we'll try to keep them out for little time, make sure they're in at night etc. But he's not budging. He says I always get my way and this time he'll get his (childish yep.) But I'm feeling so sad for my little ones, I don't want them to be stuck inside all the time :(

What are your opinions/views and how do you think we can approach this?

[froglou]

We let ours out in the mornings before we leave for work and they can get back in and out when ever they want but get them in by 9pm each night and we keep them in over night, we let them stay out later in summer when it's lighter for longer. We only let them out the back so they can go across gardens rather than straight onto a road, although it sure they must come across roads when they're out which is why we keep them in at night. And also I'm not sure where you're from but you may have heard of the cat killer, if not have a look online, it's mainly around the m25 but there have been cases further out.
In short my advice is once they're chipped and neutered you could let them out in the day but get them in every night!

Regardless of if you let them out of not get them microchipped and get them a collar incase they get out and anybody's picks them up they can see they have a owner and then trace you by the chip.

[Gallavich]

If they are microchipped, neutered and flea treated then they absolutely should be allowed out. My dbro thought he could raise a flat cat but he was honestly so aggressive and mad - they moved to a house, cat started going out and was transformed. Cats are semi wild animals and they need to go outside for their mental health. Indoor cats are unnatural and they cannot be happy.

[AngelBlue12]

We have 4 indoor cats as the road we live on is fast and when we first moved in our two cats were both run over within 6 months sad

All of our cats are very friendly and are not at all mad! They never try to escape, we do have a secure run attached to the house that they can access whenever they want to though.

[Chrissiecat]

What about something like this?

My cat gets out during the day until it gets dark She so loves getting out.

[froglou]

To add I think it's dependent on the individual cats,my tabby meows every morning because she wants to go out, my black cat rarely leaves the house and never leaves the garden despite being free to do so she just prefers to be an indoor cat! Likewise my neighbours believe firmly in putting the cat (the white one pictured) out for hours on end which is why as soon as they do he heads straight to ours to sleep on our sofa to cuddle our tabby! (they know he does this and we never shut him in).
You should feel guilty either way unless it's distressing the cats :)

[Madshiplollipop]

We live on a busy road and have indoor moggy. She has plenty of places inside to play and indulge her hunting skills. We also have a vet-verified cat torturer in our area so no way is madmog going outside.

[hollinhurst84]

I think it depends on the cat. Mine goes out for a quick stroll around the circle of houses during the day and comes back within 20 mins (less if another cat glares at him)
He does complain to go out at night but that isn't happening!
He likes the window open so he can warm his bum but have his head outside to be the local neighbourhood watch but won't actually go out often

[cmxx]

Thanks everyone it's interesting to see how different people do things. I should've added that they're neutered, microchipped and flead/wormed

[gamerchick]

I think the cat ultimately decides tbh. If they want to go out it takes a lot of play to tire them out or they destroy the house.

Get them insured and let them decide. Really have insurance though.

[Floralnomad]

My mum has an indoor Ragdoll , he's never been interested in going out , but she has a largish house and lots of toys . Would the compromise be that you cat proof the garden so that they can go out but you know exactly where they are - in your garden . I do think that either way in or out they need to have a litter tray , our childhood cat used to go out but he preferred to come home and use his litter tray than bother to dig outside.

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

My cousin has 'posh cats' and walks them on leads which is kind of adorable.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Secure your garden if at all possible. I've done it in 3 houses and costs have ranged from £50 where garden was already mostly enclosed to hundreds for a full wood structure. Here's a pic of my current setup. It looks crap but I don't care, its only a rented house and I'd rather the girls have their outdoor time and stay safe.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Secure your garden if at all possible. I've done it in 3 houses and costs have ranged from £50 where garden was already mostly enclosed to hundreds for a full wood structure. Here's a pic of my current setup. It looks crap but I don't care, its only a rented house and I'd rather the girls have their outdoor time and stay safe.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Secure your garden if at all possible. I've done it in 3 houses and costs have ranged from £50 where garden was already mostly enclosed to hundreds for a full wood structure. Here's a pic of my current setup. It looks crap but I don't care, its only a rented house and I'd rather the girls have their outdoor time and stay safe.

[CatBallou2]

I have 3 cats, all rescues that came to me when they were very young. One cat who is a real scaredy, basically spends most of her life indoors and if she does want to pop out, I'm always with her. My other cat did go out a lot in his youth, but now that he's an old man and hard of hearing, he spends most of his time in deep sleep. If he wants to have a wander outside, I'm always with him. My 3rd cat is a recent arrival to the household and insists on going out - she would go bananas if I kept her in. They are all microchipped, wear collars with ID barrels & are kept in at night time. I would never let my cats out at night.

I don't like it when my cat is out. I worry the whole time and am delighted when she comes home. It's all very stressful. I think gamerchick is right, that cats ultimately decide.