To think having an indoor cat is cruel?

Helping one animal while needlessly killing another doesn’t clear your conscience. Quite an odd double standard in fact.

I've done that too. Lots of times. Not due to my cats. And hedgehogs, squirrels, voles.

Such an evil bitch

The birds I’ve rehabbed or watched die don’t agree with you either. They think you’re pretty evil.

I think it’s cruel if they have no interaction. This is an issue when you go away and they just exist in a space alone - no stimulation etc I think that’s horrible and cruel yes. Same applies to any animal that is confined alone. Looking after a rabbit for neighbours last week I thought the same thing, poor thing is just bored all day. Must be torture

This exactly

I think there’s now enough support and knowledge in the UK to take this to parliament to make changes and I’ve absolutely considered this. It’s a shame that some people need laws to change in order for them to make the right decisions, and that so many don’t have the moral compass to do this by themselves.

A bit like the smoking ban - people needing forcing to refrain from affecting other people with their smoking habits (and created a stink about it too!) yet it’s blatantly the right thing to do. People shouldn’t need telling that their pets shouldn’t be outside both being at risk and causing such harm. But here we are.

they don’t get mauled by dogs because dogs don’t free roam 🤦🏻‍♀️

they do, however, go missing and get injured and killed constantly. I see daily posts on local groups and roll my eyes every time.

It depends on your dwelling, surely? A cat in a bedsit or studio flat is cruel... some indoor cats thrive in a nice big house.
Some breeds are better kept indoors, and some rescue cats have health conditions (off the top of my head - feline HIV) that means they must stay indoors.

I used to have a cat that was an indoor one, but we lived in a spacious flat. My ex took her when we split, and he moved into a house. She still refused to go outside.

I do think that better care should be taken when letting cats out anyway. Far too many are hit by cars, and the drivers always blamed for "going too fast" or not stopping etc.
Nothing wrong with having a catio type thing... do they need planning permission though?

Well my cats don't agree with you. They'd think you were rather mean.

It’s arguably pretty cuntish to send your pets out to kill and injure things for fun (including people’s pets), or crapping on other people’s property.

Breeding, selling, buying and keeping cats is a choice that people don’t have to make. No one has to keep cats, so if it’s not possible to keep them in a way that’s safe, appropriate and fair for everyone, then it’s best not to keep them at all.

. People who wang on about cats not being let out to live their lives are cunts IMO.

I could say the same about people who don't understand that there are different breeds of cats and some are not suited to being outside 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'll be sure to let our various local animal protection charities know that they're a bunch of cunts.

My cat was adopted as an indoor cat. He cannot go outside due to a health issue. He has never shown an inclination to escape. Plenty of interaction and toys. He has a great life and seems perfectly happy!

The amount of posts I see on NextDoor about dead cats, lost cats and stray cats often with awful health issues makes me glad I don’t have that worry.

Which would you choose? If you were a bird, and I don't see much difference.

A 'cruel' life where you are allowed to fly free and enjoy every moment of every day, but you will likely die at the mercy of nature after 3 years.

Or a long life of 6 years but you are confined to a cage and cannot ever really experience freedom or the sun on your back. It's a grim existence where every day is the same, but as a bonus you get to watch life happening through a nearby window. Only it's to the other birds, not you.

Ok, maybe we should let all the dogs out roaming and enjoying chasing and killing the cats? Or perhaps the lions from the zoo? They’d enjoy some good exercise and hunting wouldn’t they? 🙄

Domestic pets shouldn’t be out causing any of those things. They are the responsibility of their owners, so really it is the owners causing the death and nuisance. If the owners don’t care about that, it says a lot about the owners.

Haven't RTFT but no you are NBU. It's no life. To me it's similar to birds in cages. Cats need to roam and hunt.

I recently lost two beautiful moggies that were always out and about (but in at night). They both lived a full and happy life to 16 years of age. People who wang on about cats not being let out to live their lives are cunts IMO.

about 30 years ago my sister and I got cats at about the same time
Me - indoor cat, central London, she'd go outside when I took her on holiday.
My cat lived until she was 15, and sadly had to be euthanised because of kidney disease .
Sister - very rural, outskirts of a small village. Three cats that got runover by the time they were about two, then one that survived for about seven or 8 years, lived mostly outside until the dog died, cat suddenly switched to hardly ever going outside, died shortly after my cat.

So glad my neighbors cat is indoors. The cat poo from other neighbours cats in the past in my garden has been horrendous and my son has stepped in it various times.

The last neighbours cat was also the second to get killed by a car on the road outside our house in the last year.

It's a really rural road so I get the impression cats have poor road sense. As much as I dislike cats, I'd never want one to get hurt in any way.

cats (felis catus) don't event exist in the wild. They are fully domesticated. Feral and stray cats aren't "wild" cats which are a totally different species. And they are in fact considered invasive basically everywhere, including in Scotland where they're a part of wiping out wild cat populations by interbreeding with them.

Catio

I dont think cats should be permanently indoors or roaming free outside either. I think an outdoor patio with cat flap into the house is ideal, and if I ever have a cat again that's what I'll do.

It’s cruel to let your cat outside. My dad’s cat died last month at 11 months from being run over. Growing up I had 3 cats that died from being run over / eating rat poison all at very young ages.
You wouldn’t let a dog out without a lead / without supervision.
I have two indoor cats who are very happy.

In Australia we have a massive problem with feral cats. It’s actually illegal to let your cat roam here. They must be contained to your property. People ignore it though. Our council hires cat traps so if someone is letting their cat out on your property you can trap it and drop it to the pound, the owners get called and fined. It causes so many arguments on community pages.

My cat is an indoor cat by choice. She's very stressed going outside. She loves her home comforts. Occasionally she'll sit in the sun for 10 mins then she's back in! Not all cats are outdoor.

That said, if you do have one who loves being out and you move somewhere where it cannot go, that's cruel and you're better rehoming. I once had a beautiful black tomcat who lived for being outside. When we had to move to a flat, he was so miserable that I gave him to my cousin who had a big back garden. It hurt to let him go, but as soon as he was outdoors again he was a different cat. They're all different and they let you know what they like.

Not all cats.... Ragdoll's couldn't give a shit. All they want to do is sleep in a room with a human

My cat wakes for breakfast at around 4.30am after breakfast he enjoys some cuddles in bed with me. Followed by his treats in the sitting room. Then he hangs out with me while I get ready for work. He tends to spend the morning by the kitchen window which is always left ajar for him. Hes got a variety of cat friendly plants he likes to smell\chew and bully. He will probably stretch in the sun for the morning by the window.

He may have a play with any of his many balls, climb his tower,lay on his cardboard or lick his favourite mouse toy. Then sleep for a bit on the sofa. After lunch he usually goes to the bedroom for a nap. Around 5 he is at the sitting room window catching the sun and watching the neighbours kids playing. In the evening he usually watches some cat tv on youtube. A nice supper. Then cuddles with me at bedtime.

He loves visitors because they give him extra treats and cuddles. Some play with him. I have no doubt at all my indoor cat is safe and happy. So no I don't feel cruel.