To be worried about adopting a cat?

Have a look on their website. Like all things it’s only advice, but a lot of the reasons for not waking a cat on a lead make sense.

If you find the right cat it honestly won’t be a problem at all. We have a girl who is an absolute homebody, she completely ignores the front door but will occasionally venture into the back garden, we’ve had the door open most of the summer, she’ll pop out and sunbathe for a bit but was often back inside long before we were. She is just not interested in being outside. Our boy however would go crazy without the ability to come and go as he pleases. Im sure the perfect kitty is out there for you

My cat doesn’t go outside and is a very happy little chappy. But we’ve had him since a kitten so he’s never known what it’s like to go out. You need a cat who either is normally an indoor cat or a kitten, it would be cruel to have a cat who’s used to being able to roam and keep them inside.

This is what I did, my two adopted cats both have FIV. They're both older girls now but they've always seemed very happy/content. One of them is a ragdoll and I don't think she'd have the nerve to be an outdoor cat anyway!

I am surprised by that - harness walking enriched Elton's life beyond measure. We were always led by him though which normally meant pottering at a very slow pace around a nearby carpark which he loved.

Personally I don’t agree with keeping healthy cats indoors or in catios. Having said that go and speak to a shelter as there will probably be a cat that will need to be kept indoors for some reason. My friend adopted a blind cat.
I’m sure there is the perfect cat out there for you.

Cats can and do live happy lives indoors. But I do think you need a cat that hasn’t been used to go out- either a kitten that doesn’t know any different or an older indoor cat from a rescue. It’s also worth bearing in mind that British houses aren’t ideal for this. In the US for example where cats are always house pets (unless you live on a farm or something) you’ll have bug screens on your windows and air conditioning so the cat isn’t going to get out accidentally because you’ve opened the windows on a hot day. So it’s worth considering how you’ll practically manage it. Or maybe you’ll just get lucky. Mine do have access to the outdoors but the former American housecat never goes at all and the British kitten typically just lays on the patio when it’s sunny, doesn’t roam and has never even been round the front of the house.

I think it’s only cruel if they want to go out and cant
my cat isn’t fussed, I sit with the windows and doors open and he’s “nope”

It really doesn't seem to make any difference from the point of view of their health. They should of course be fully vaccinated.

The RSPCA advises against walking cats on leads as it can distress them. Cats are territorial and need to be in control of their environment which it can’t do if on a lead.

Can you cope with litter trays? The thought of a creature soiling in my home makes me feel sick.

@thecatneuterer I have an FIV+ cat who has access to a large catio. He doesn’t free-roam but this is for HIS safety rather than the fact he might pass anything on (as you say, unlikely). Surely it’s a good idea not to allow an FIV kitty to roam so they don’t catch anything that can harm their already-weakened immune system?

The narrative around FIV+ cats is still so sad from many quarters, including lots of vets. My boy is happy and healthy and loving his life. OP, look into offering a home to such a kitty. Yours sounds perfect x

Get a catio. It’s like a conservatory but made of mesh instead of glass. I was thinking about a big one that I could open my patio doors onto and sit out with my adopted cat. Ended up proofing the whole garden instead though.

We also have indoor cats - purely as I wouldn't want it attacking the wildlife around us. I do think 2 cats are far easier and happier (if they're bonded that is!) to keep together indoors as they keep each other occupied. Shelters near us often only offer cats in pairs. We've tried taking them out on a leash but then they just flop on the floor and refuse to get up. One escaped out of fear once, but spent the entire day hiding under a bush. After two years indoors, I think they have become quite fearful of the great outdoors. We've been burgled last year and the thiefs left the window open but even then they didn't venture outside.

Higher fences won't help at all, unless combined with some cat proofing system.

Catio?

In some places it’s illegal to have outdoor cats because they decimate the wildlife. Giving a stray cat a safe and loving indoor home is a great option.

I've just said that above. I'm with Celia Hammond's and we don't think FIV cats should be kept inside if the are used to going out.

But we do home indoor only cats. These are either cats that have come from an indoor only home and so know no different, or are cats which for one reason or another just don't seem bothered about going out .

It's true that you can't easily know their personality when in a rescue, but some are with fosterers which get to know them, and some come in with a known history. Also, with enough experience, rescues can make a reasonable guess at how a cat would react to being indoors only.

We don't have many we consider suitable, but we always have some.

In this case though cat proofing or a catio would be the Ideal solution.

You are fine to keep a cat indoors as long as it has plenty of enrichment. My Cat is an indoor cat and I'll be keeping any cats I get in future as indoor cats.

I'm with Celia Hammond's. We don't think there is any need to keep FIV cats inside - once neutered they aren't going to pass on the virus. And most of them are used to outdoor access and hate being kept inside.

OP - you are right to be worried. Country roads, as you describe, are the MOST dangerous roads for cats. There isn't constant traffic - which makes cats wary- but the cars that come, come very fast. You should not have an outdoor cat unless you can cat proof the garden (Protect a puss website for example) or build a catio.

A rescue should be able to find you a cat that will be happy to be indoors only - and then you will always need to be very careful with windows and doors.

Also - I am not even that worried about cars so much as people stealing cats or, as happened to poor Bert, hurting them

https://www.facebook.com/100088351991676/posts/update-on-our-beautiful-bert-many-of-you-know-berts-heartbreaking-story-this-gen/770950402526686/

there are definitely people doing awful things to animals for their own disgusting reasons and I think it’s responsible to protect your pets from this. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to mine!

The only problem with getting a cat that is designated by a rescue as an indoor cat, is that quite often no-one has told the cat that! Elton was FIV so was meant to be indoors only, but just wouldn't tolerate it. We cat proofed the garden and harness trained him to give him as much outdoor time as possible, but I think he would have preferred to have unfettered access.
It's often difficult for the rescues to really understand a cats needs, as they are usually a bit shut down in a rescue environment and don't really show their true character until they are in a home environment.

An elderly or FIV cat might be your best bet, or one with a disability - blind, deaf etc. that needs an indoor home. I don't think it's cruel to keep a cat indoors if it has always been an indoor cat and knows no different, but if had been an outdoor cat and was still young and active, it would get frustrated at being kept in.

I have ragdolls but they want to go outside so I ended up cat proofing the garden. They still want to escape but they have access to the garden now so they are definitely happier. Best money I ever spent. You could get a catio if your garden is too big or make an enclosure. However I follow all these cat rescues and the poor cats have been through so much, it would be better for them to have a loving home, and your house sounds huge, than nothing. So please adopt a cat! I need to adopt more - I used to live in a flat and had no luck getting an indoor rescue but now I know about all the smaller rescues or ragdoll rescues I think I would have been able to.
Raggie paws, protected paws, the ginger cat house i reckon would rehome to you.

also I got my cats harnesses and let them in the garden on those before I got cat proofing. They weren’t that keen but better than nothing !

Just get an indoor only cat! There are plenty that need homes.

Some people say it's cruel to keep them indoors, but outdoor cats can be terrible for the local wildlife so I don't think there's a right or wrong, as long as the cat is getting plenty of enrichment.

Look up cat-proofing your garden, rather than higher fences.