To think having an indoor cat is cruel?

Most cats will just accept whatever they are used to.

I had rescues that were indoor cats, and they were initially very frightened outside, but I gradually got them used to pottering around the garden. They were never truly comfortable though.

I have also had rescues that are outdoor cats, including one feral cat. It would have been cruel to keep them indoors exclusively as they were used to being free to roam outside.

I don’t believe any pets should be bred anymore, too many neglected animals out there 🫤

Bloody hell - something we agree on. All of mine have been strays, other people's 'accidental litters' or rescues.

You’re providing a safe and enriched environment for them, whilst not leaving them unsupervised or able to cause problems to anyone.

I, too, have questioned the morality of pets ownership over several years, I doubt I’d ever buy another pet. I don’t believe any pets should be bred anymore, too many neglected animals out there 🫤

We have two ferrets, and devote several hours a day to following them round the garden holding the other end of the lead. Ferrets are such escape artists that we could never let them roam the garden unattended, not even if we spent thousands on fencing and trying to stop them tunnelling out. They are outstanding diggers!

When we first got them, I was inclined to keep them indoors. But they absolutely come alive when they are out following scent trails and digging. This is what they were born to do. (Well, that and murdering rabbits, but they have no opportunity to hunt anything bigger than a worm.) They are very nose-orientated. Now, I feel there's no way I could keep them always indoors in good conscience, no matter how much space they might have and no matter how many toys we might buy them.

Luckily, ferrets sleep nearly all day long, so this arrangement seems adequate for them. All the same, I have been questioning the morality of pet ownership. They would clearly prefer to be off the lead and to come and go whenever they want, not just the few hours when we're prepared to walk them.

Good for you @Dreamskies clearly freely a much better person than me 😂

Excellent news 😁

No, we have different morals regarding the needless killing of animals and causing constant nuisance to neighbours.

Yes, I think we have all got that message 🙂

@Dreamskies morally it's not okay, legally it is.

We clearly have different morals regarding cats so 🤷‍♀️

It’s legal to smoke in your front room with your baby next to you, is that ok too? 😬

You shouldn’t need a law to police your behaviour.

@Dreamskies maybe not, but in the meantime people are going to do what's best by their pets.

Mine is legally allowed out to roam and for unwell when I kept him inside - to the point that he nearly died twice through stress. He wasn't from a breeder, he didn't cost me anything, but I chose to keep him and unless the law changes, he's going to keep going outside because that's what's best for him and his health.

I’ve already answered this several times over 👍🏻

Well, as has been said multiple times, if you have an issue with the laws that give cats the right to roam, take it up with the government 🤷‍♀️

You clearly think outdoor cat owners are awful moral failures but the point still stands that it's perfectly legal - your complain is with the wrong people.

I feel so guilty reading this that my cats can't go outside

Back to my point of cats not being a suitable pet for the 21st century 🙂

Who owns all the grey squirrels? Who is it that bred and bought them, then let them out?

No one, they’re not pets. There’s also already rules on invasives around not being able to release them into the wild, e.g. if you find an injured grey squirrel, you can’t then let it back out into the wild.

The problem with cats is they’re owned - and people are purposely buying them and then sending them outside in their millions.

Cat proofing gardens is a great idea, and solves the roaming cat issues. Most can’t be bothered to do this though.

We did "bother" to cat proof but it still made one my cats so stressed he was sick (urinary blockages). Being a prisoner in a garden is still being a prisoner.

Cat proofing gardens is a great idea, and solves the roaming cat issues. Most can’t be bothered to do this though.

The chickens are bred for eating.
The wild birds are not, and may actually be species with low numbers. This applies to some small rodents too.

There are lots of invasive species living in the UK - do you have issues with all of them or is it just cats?

I do think it’s quite selfish to choose to cause injury, death and suffering, plus nuisance to your neighbours who are just wanting to enjoy their property in peace. I appreciate you can choose to do those things, but I think it’s important to be called out as well.

Pet cats are a domestic species. They’re not native in this country, nor in any other, as they’re not a wild animal. Even if they were a wild species, adding more of them is still not going to be ok, and would still throw the natural balance. But they aren’t, they’re invasive.

this has been covered by a few posters earlier on if you’re actually interested in finding out.

You can think I’m weird for having a cat, I can think you’re weird for being so angry about birds- the variety of opinions and preferences in the world is one of the nicer things about it I think.

Haven't RTFT but here is an interesting idea. My sister's elderly indoor cats were overweight and diabetic. The vet suggested letting them out. Sis was cautious, fearing they would run off and get lost or knocked over by a car.

But she tried it and in their case, probably because of their age, it worked great. They had no inclination to roam, but instead just pottered around the garden for a few hours a day. It had a chest-high fence, so they could have got out if they wanted, but they didn't bother! It perked them right up. They lost weight and seemed MUCH healthier and happier.

I get that, and many people seem to ease their conscience in this way. All I ask is that you consider the many negative impacts your (and other people’s) cats have on your neighbours and on the ecosystem, plus the constant risk you’re putting your pet at each day. Maybe a different pet would be more appropriate next time 🙂