Cats

[thegoodnameshadgone]

Hi

I've two kittens. Planning to keep them as indoor cats until we move (no sure date) as my neighbor has racing pigeons. I think this is fair. They've never known any different. My friend thinks I am being unfair to the kittens. I'm sure I'm not! Any thoughts??

[piglover]

If they are kittens who don't know about the outdoors, I think it's OK. But I do think cats get such joy from the outdoors that I hope you'll give them this when you move.

[cardibach]

Kittens have to stay in for quite a few months anyway, surely? I'm not a fan of indoor cats, but I think this is ok.

[Mycatsabastard]

You can't let them out until they are least 6 months old and neutered with full vaccinations anyway.

Just make sure they have lots to do indoors.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

How old are they? They're supposed to stay indoors until 6 months old anyway, which is when they can be neutered. Agree that if they've never known different it's not a problem.

[SecretNutellaFix]

Nope, you aren't being unfair- my now thirteen year olds twin cats only have access to a fully secure garden when I'm out there and it has always bee this way for them.

They have the run of the house, a huge litter tray, lots of attention and toys and they don't run the risk of being hit by a car, shot by a lunatic with an air rifle, being poisoned, getting nicked because people think they are stray. They don't run the risk of getting in to fights, or picking up diseases from the local ferals and the local bird/ wildlife population don't have to worry about being eaten by them.

Win/win in my view. I've had cats who were allowed to roam free- two of the three who have died were hit by cars. One whilst crossing the road, the other by a driver who actually mounted a pavement to kill him- a family friend saw it happen.

[ghostyslovesheep]

no you are being sensible - anyway they can't go out until they are older

[WhooooAmI24601]

We kept ours in for the first 7 months as they'd not been neutered. After that they only went out for short periods with us for another couple of months to get used to the outdoors.

You can buy cat harnesses and leads to walk them on; there's a lady near me who walks her cat like a teeny tiny evil dog. It madness, but works since she doesn't trust it not to abscond. I bought one for our cats in the hopes of making the sturdy one lose weight, he would lay on the floor on his side as I dragged him down the drive like an overweight cat cadaver.

[HardcoreLadyType]

Domestic cats are responsible for the extinction of over 60 species.

Definitely keep them inside.

[SecretNutellaFix]

We tried walking ours on a harness when they were young. One did a great impression of a lump of fur and the other turned into the devil cat from hell in dire need of an exorcist. We gave up.

[WhateverWillBe]

I think it's unfair. I don't think most cats are meant to be housebound and that 'not knowing the difference' actually makes very little difference.

I do speak from experience. We had an 8 week old kitten when we lived in a flat. She'd never been outdoors before (and actually came from someone who lived in a flat, the mother was a house cat).

She was fine at 9 weeks, fine at 12 weeks, fine at 4 and 5 months. From 6 months it went downhill rapidly...she was pacing, clearly frustrated, sitting at the window, trying to squeeze out of a tiny gap. Going in and out of the front door was a right PITA, you had to be so, so careful or she'd be out and past you. She was meowing whilst sitting on the windowsill and looking outside (I swear that meow was 'please let me out').

When she was 9 months, I stupidly left the window open too much one day. She got out onto the outside sill. She saw me coming and I could tell she knew I was coming for her (that makes me sound mad...hopefully yknwim). And she jumped. Off the sill, from the second floor. I thought she'd be dead but she was fine, without a scratch. I obviously raced downstairs and I found her happily sniffing around the gardens about 15 minutes later.

Anyway, in summary...you might be lucky and have a placid cat that appears 'fine' indoors - but you might well not and taking that risk is unfair IMO.

[AlpacaPicnic]

Do you have a garden? Could you build them a cat run? The thrill of being outside but with no danger to them or the birds? I think you are being very considerate to your neighbour :)

[AlpacaPicnic]

Here
are some prebuilt ones but if you are handy you could build one yourself I reckon.

If it were me, I'd build it so it was accessible to them via a cat flap via a door you don't use much, or a tunnel in the wall, so they could go in and out as they like!

[Leopard12]

Keep them in for now and if you get into whateverwillbes situation maybe then rethink, two together is better than one as they should entertain each other and try and have a proper play and interact with them at least once a day

[dybil]

I always thought it was unfair, because my cats were allowed outside, but now I live in a country where it probably isn't safe to let them out, but lots of people still keeps cats and the cats seem content enough.

Also, as another poster had pointed out, domestic cats that are allowed outside have a very negative impact on wildlife.

[Kanga59]

cats are not made to be kept locked indoors for life. I think it's selfish to inflict an indoor life on a cat. If you can't accommodate a cat, don't get a cat.

[cate16]

I have a self imposed house cat, so they can live happily indoors even when given free choice. She does like to sit by an open window/door so I guess she likes fresh air in her face.

[someonescj]

I tried keeping mine as indoor cats, they have loads of toys to keep them stimulated but they were miserable trying to get out all of the time and wrecking my furniture, got them neutered at 4 months (brother and sister) they went outside a few days after their op, they love it outside but spend more time indoors now they have that freedom.

[ragz134]

My husband had two cats that began as indoor cats, lived in his flat for a few years quite happily then went on to new homes and adjusted to outdoor life.
Personally I don't like the idea, but the kittens won't care. I don't even like keeping animals in cages though...
Kittens will be fine. They are lucky to have a considerate and caring owner.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

I'm sorry Alpaca but that cage gives me the creeps. Its not very big and a cat wouldn't get an opportunity to run/pounce in it. I think its almost more cruel than keeping it in.
We compromise by keeping ours in at night. The sheer joy she gets from being out in the fresh air is not something I could take away from her. Rather a shorter fulflled life than a longer stifled one.

[Vixyboo]

Yes keep them in until you move so they don't try to go back to your old place. Then once moved keep in for a few weeks and let out once old enough and vaccinated etc etc.

People on here seem to be assuming you are going to keep them in forever, I presume they will go out at your new address?

I have two cats and fought with them for months to get them to accept we had moved house. They are fine now but it was a nightmare at first! They would go back there for days at a time! So frustrating! I won't move again as they have accepted where we are now!

[ForalltheSaints]

I think you are being very fair. It will be difficult to get them to adapt once you move and so you will need plenty of patience.

[YellowCrocus]

It is not true that domestic cats are threatening endangered wildlife, certainly not in the uk anyway.

www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/cats/birddeclines.aspx

I think cats take such pleasure in roaming outside that an indoor cat is unlikely to have a very happy life. Indoor cats are more likely to suffer psychological and behavioural problems because the environment is not stimulating enough for them. Of course it's fine to keep them in until after their vaccinations and neutering, but please make plans to allow then access to the outdoors after that.

[RazWaz]

I have 3 cats who are now 3 years old. They were 100% indoor cats until they were a year old as my old flat was in between two major A roads and I didn't feel safe.

Now that I have a new place with a huge back garden (shared between 18 flats, imagine a tower block sideways, 3 flats high and 6 flats wide - and they are all large 3 bedroom places). I'm on the ground floor so let them out the window into the garden whenever they "ask" by sitting in the window and meowing.

Honestly they only ask about once a week and never spend more than 2 hours outside each. Cats can be very happy indoors as long as they get lots of toys to play with and about half an hour of individual attention a day.

[Beth2511]

I have a weirdo cat who refuses to go outside! Not all cats like exploring the hreat out doors

[stumblymonkey]

I think it's fine as a temporary situation....they will have access to the outdoors when you move. You're being very considerate of the neighbour and their pets (I can only imagine how they would feel if one of their pigeons was killed by a cat).

The cats may reach an age where they won't be super happy about it but then you can use an outside run to keep them content enough until you move.