Do Siamese have to be indoor cats?

[Pleasemrstweedie]

That's it really. I've been looking at getting a rescue Siamese, but I have been told that they have to be indoor cats. One lady told me I would not even be able to have windows open in the summer.

I couldn't live like that and I'm not sure a cat should have to either.

Is this true?

[BertrandRussell]

No cat has to be an indoor cat, unless there are particular health reasons. I would go so far as to say no cat should be an indoor cat.....

[TeddyIsaHe]

My grandparents have always had Siamese, and they compromised by cat-proofing the garden. That way they could go out and about, but stay safe. It did make life a lot easier, but it is another expense to consider before getting the cat. Maybe something you could look into?

[Twogoats]

It's not uncommon for breeds to be stolen sadly

[Orientalcatlady]

I have know a few who go out. No problems. My mum lives round the corner from one that is always sat on a car roof, they are cats and cats o like to go out. Deans where you live, busy road?

[MsMims]

We have indoor cats. We have custom fittings on the windows so they open about an inch or two, there's also a product called 'flat cats' which is a strong mesh you fix to the window so you can have it fully open.

We also have a pen that comes off the side of the house that they have free access to. If you have a normal sized garden cat proofing is a good solution.

The main issue for us is coming in and out the front door. You can't leave it wide open as you come in and out which may be difficult if you have children. If you have a porch and operate a system of not opening the inner door until the outside door is shut that would be easier.

Having had both indoor and outdoor cats I really believe not being free to roam is better for them and their welfare. There are so many risks to them outside: cars/ accidental poisoning/ dog attacks/ being stolen (especially pedigrees)/ horrible people who kill/ hurt them. Out of my extended family alone one cat slipped off a fence, broke her neck and died instantly. Two were run over and killed. Two were attacked by dogs and killed. One almost died from poisoning when young, then last year he went out one day and never returned. A witness said he had been hit by a car but the people who tended to him lied about what they did with his body afterwards and we never managed to find him and put him to rest. A second cat went missing a few months ago, hasn't been seen since, presumed dead. Two have reached old age and been PTS. This is all in 'naice' areas too.

People used to ignorantly let their dogs out to roam years ago, I believe in the future we'll look back on cat ownership in the same way. Cats don't have an innate need to roam.

[BertrandRussell]

".Cats don't have an innate need to roam."

So why do you have to be so careful about opening your front door?

[MsMims]

Bert because one of my cats would walk out if the door was left wide open and unattended. Just like one of my dogs would be off like a shot given the chance too. What's your point? Do you think I should let my dog bugger off in the same way too?

[Fluffycloudland77]

There's two in our road who potter about their front garden. Dh is always trying to get them and the Maine coon to come to him but their having none of it.

[PurpleMcPants]

I disagree completely with MrsMims, cats are predators and have an innate need to hunt, you can see it in kittens hunting balls and string. Yes it's probably safer for them indoors but it's a half-life in a gilded cage IMO. Obviously if there are health reasons why a cat can't go outdoors that's different.

[MsMims]

Purple there are so many toys e.g. da bird that can be used to fulfil a cats need to hunt without them killing wildlife. I certainly don't miss having half dead mice/ birds/ squirrels (!) dragged into the house.

[mistermagpie]

My parents had siamese who went out, they were fine. no cat has to be an indoor cat.

I have indoor cats though with a set-up like MsMims including a large pen off the side of the house that they can access. I do think cats have a happier (although possibly shorter) life if they can go out, but one of mine has health issues that mean he can't roam freely and I don't feel it's fair to let the other one out and not him - they were litter-mates and do everything together .

[PurpleMcPants]

Yes there are but to me it's like the equivalent of the enrichment that zoos etc provide for their animals. It's ok as a substitute and certainly better than nothing but it's not like the real thing. My kitten certainly reacts very very differently to having a real live (or dead) mouse in his mouth to a toy one. And dealing with dead/dying wildlife is pretty rank, I agree, but is also part and parcel of being a cat owner.

[BertrandRussell]

If cats were happy to be indoor cats you wouldn't have to lock them in.

I know a couple of cats that never go out through choice. Door open-cats sits on doorstep and go no further . But I know others who are desperate to go out, but their owners selfishly keep them locked in.

[MsMims]

See how you conveniently ignored the rest of my post Bert

That's why dog owners have no fences and open doors isn't it? Because the dogs are just so happy they'd never wander off.

Selfish

[tabulahrasa]

I had one that was supposed to be an indoor cat, she had other ideas.

After giving up on keeping her in, she went out fairly often and was an annoyingly prolific hunter until she was about 3...weather permitting, she didn't do wet or cold. After that she still went out, but much closer to home and by the time she was about 7 it was pretty much in our garden and only in summer, lol.

But she was always ok outside, we're not in a high traffic area, but she was suitably cautious about cars, though she did once beat up a dog and chase it down the road

As for being stolen, she'd have been pretty hard for someone to catch, she was nosy and friendly with strangers inside the house, but she wouldn't even let people she knew a bit get near her outside, only us and close friends.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

I have a Siamese, she has access to the outdoors and did used to go outside to hunt (in warm and dry weather only, obviously. She was never a fan of the rain). However at 13 years she is now an elderly lady and the furthest she goes is just outside the door to sunbathe on the stones of the terrace.

I don't see why Siameses should be kept indoors more than any other breed, unless it's to keep their cream bits pale?

[TroysMammy]

My parents had a Siamese when I was a teen, bloody awful cat. He only went out into the garden on a collar and lead and once attacked a visitor who wandered up the garden. Other than that he was an indoor cat. Luckily really because he used to follow the window cleaner from window to window bearing his teeth and snarling at him.

My parents paid £30 for him in 1981, a lot of money then and kept him indoors because he was valuable.

[ifyoulikepinacolada]

Mine's half siamese and an indoor cat. I can open the windows fine and leave the front door open while I'm unloading the car etc - although I'm in central London so would always keep an eye out anyway!

If she were constantly trying to escape I'd reconsider. I'd been advised to keep her indoors but decided to make up my mind when I got to know her. Her complete lack of interest in going out swayed me, tbh; I think it depends so much on the cat.

[BertrandRussell]

"He only went out into the garden on a collar and lead and once attacked a visitor who wandered up the garden. Other than that he was an indoor cat. Luckily really because he used to follow the window cleaner from window to window bearing his teeth and snarling at him."

Presumably his behaviour was at least partly due to him being confined?

[TroysMammy]

He wasn't stressed he was just plain nasty. He once sat on a friend's lap. She sat there with her hands held away from herself, shitting her pants. He would growl when the doorbell was rung and race to the door. My DM would shut him in the front room and he would spit and snarl from behind the door.

The vet used gauntlets when he went for his jabs.

He was an absolute angel with my parents and sister and in their eyes could do no wrong. He would snuggle under the blankets with them but took offence at anything I stopped him doing, eg jumping up and down between my bed and the window at night or if I told him no, would result in scratches, paw slaps and bites.

Siamese are majestic and beautiful cats but William has made me dislike them for ever more.

[mistermagpie]

My cats are 'confined' you use your word Bert and they don't act like that. They are really sociable and friendly with visitors and strangers alike, not all indoor cats are the same surprisingly enough...

[Orientalcatlady]

Lots of pedigree breeders say that whatever breed should be indoors only. I'm not at all convinced. Our last cat was meant to be indoors only as sold by breeder. That was fine as where we lived we wouldn't have chosen to have an outdoor cat (london). He was an escape artist and desperately wanted out. We moved to the country to have children and gave up and let him out. He was fine and a very happy heathy cat who was a hunter despite being a pedigree Birman. He was a cat and quite simply all he wanted was a chance to go out and hunt each day. Lots of pedigrees out roaming our village all fine and happy the only one Anyone has an issue with is the bengal as it attacks any dog that gos past it's house. But apart from that he seems happy and god knows what he would do if he couldn't get out.