Indoor vs Outdoor cat

Ridiculous comment as obviously not everyone lives in these circumstances

The majority of my cats have been indoor cats and have been fine. I currently have a older rescue persian who is perfectly happy inside. It all depends on the cat. I have had a couple that would have driven me mad if kept inside. As others have mentioned your best bet would be to go to a charity and get one specifically suited to being indoors.

You can own one cat and be a long time cat owner. It does not make you an expert. By having an inside cat how many birds survive? How many cats survive?

All pets should come with some responsibility.

As a long-time cat owner who used to be very pro keeping cats indoors, I now believe it’s cruel and you shouldn’t get a cat if you aren’t willing to let it outside, even if that is an enclosed garden.

I’m not sure that’s true about vets and animal protection. I’ve googled and can’t find stats to back it up either but I can see from a glance that Blue Cross, RSPCA and Cats Protection don’t recommend indoor only.

My sister is a vet and has a big house. All four of her cats have free access to the outside whenever they want it. She says cats generally aren’t happy being kept indoors and she sees more in practice for behavioural issues related to that than she does she outdoor injuries.

Some cats have to live indoors and most rescue centres will have one of them from time to time.

Not even close! I’d prefer my cat where he is now. Alive and well.

My outdoor cat was attacked and killed by a neighbours dog, while me and my family were in the garden. Obviously this was horrific for all involved. She didn’t usually go far, but never went into their garden due to the dog. Until that one day. I’ve kept my other two indoor only since and both are very happy. Lots of stimulation, places to hide, toys and their own space.

Also litter trays do not smell if used correctly .

Stainless steel fully cleaned out weekly with sanitizer , odor minimization clumping litter , and all deposits removed asap

I also have a carbon air purifier for good measure .

I am a bit of super smeller - I am not immune to the smell of my own house sadly for me 😆

I hate the smell of the cat food far more

For me it's like keeping a bird in a cage, I couldn't do it. I feel like it's better for the cat to live a free life even at the risk of dying younger. That's my view.

It's much safer for your cat to be indoors.

I volunteer for a cat charity and regularly collect cats that have been hit by cars it's horrendous .

They will be just fine with suitable space and enrichment

I’ve been heart in my mouth many times since we started letting our girls out, and it’s not been without issues, but I’m firmly in the “cats gotta cat” camp. And yes, they might get hurt. And yes, that would break my heart. But firmly with the PP who said they believe their cats would choose a shorter life of freedom.

It depends on the cat. My last very loved cat was indoor by choice (despite me installing a cat flap for her). Of my two cats now, one would hate being confined indoors, the other likes sitting outside close to the house and would be okay as an indoor cat if needed provided there was adequate worship and stimulation. Somewhere out there will be the right cat

I am a cat fosterer and also have adopted quite a few. I personally like to let cats roam and it is a risk I take, but many I have had actually have never wanted to go far. If you are getting cats, please look into rescue, they are all over flowing as people do not neuter their cats! Smaller rescues, like the one I foster for, tend to be more flexible (I know people complain that many make adoption impossible). If you are on a busy road, I am sure most will be looking for you to take indoor cats, but to be honest when they are in your care it is your decision.

Perfectly reasonable if you provide the right environment and enrichment . Our Siamese does have a large catio but indoors she also has floor to ceiling poles to access wardrobe tops , a few different cat trees and wall shelves and walkways . We did try a wheel but she wasn’t keen . She gets played with a lot as well .

Thank you.
we had a cat when I was a child who moved to a neighbours too! That’s why I love cats I think the are so independent. Dogs pretty much love you unconditionally but cats you have to work to get their trust and love. It means a lot when a cat chooses to love you. One of mine actively attacks me often yet adores my daughter. Their personalities just make me laugh. Some cats are naturally indoor cats and the OP may find one in a shelter. At least with an indoor cat you won’t wake up to a mouse’s head on your kitchen. Floor as I often do!

I totally understand and sending you hugs.
Cats are different to other domestic pets.
I firmly believe, after having more than 30 cats over many decades, that they would choose a shorter life, doing their own thing, than a restricted life that suits their owners, not them. And cats don’t see us, the people who house and love them as owners, they choose to stay with us. I had two gorgeous ginger kittens, Ronnie and Reggie. Ronnie stayed with us, Reggie moved on, Both treated exactly the same. Reggie decided life with a neighbour a few doors down suited him better. I don’t know why, but cats do what cats do. He’s happy, so we are happy too.

I have three indoor cats, have an enclosed garden so they can go out there, mine have never been outside, they don't show any interest in going outside (other than the garden). There's arguments for both but personally I wouldn't have outdoor cats again

My spotted town page is filled with dead cats on the A roads. All of you letting your cats out are dicing with their lives.

I have two indoor cats. They have a huge cat tree, a massive variety of toys to play with, places to hide, comfy places to snooze and things to scratch. They don’t have to be flee’d, they won’t get worms, they won’t get run over, attacked, get into fights, manage to poison themselves or be catnapped by a stranger taking a fancy to them.

I put in a lot of time playing with them and trying to keep them from getting bored.

I also live very close to an A-Road that seems to have a new dead cat on it every week :(

As long as you are willing to put in the extra work to keep them enriched (and can cope with the litter trays) then it isn’t cruel to keep them indoors. You can always lead train them as well. I tried with mine, but they hate it 😆

That would rule out virtually 80% or more of the population though. Vets and animal protection organisations seem to widely endorse keeping indoor cats for their own safety (as well as local wildlife). As long as they’re stimulated and played with and in a reasonably sized home and that’s all they’ve ever known I don’t think it’s as massive an issue as people think otherwise there’d be an epidemic of indoor cats howling at the doors/windows, depressed, not grooming themselves, eating etc. Also better the cats in rescues go be indoor cats in a loving home than minimal attention forever in a holding pen.

I’d only say it’s cruel if it’s a rescue cat with circumstances where the rescue advise it be an outdoor cat because of its existing history and experiences.

I live rurally surrounded by fields. Have 3 cats now. I lost a cat on the only road near me, it was utterly heartbreaking. I spent ages obsessing about why it went on the road not the fields but this cat was a hunter and wanderer and loved being outside. My remaining cats are still outdoor cats. It’s in their nature to be outside, hunting and doing cat things. I feel it’s unfair to stifle them by forcibly keeping them in. I still worry if one’s not back for a while but I know they are happy. Cat protection are happy for me to foster and adopt as my property is deemed as safe. It was awful and heartbreaking but I know that my cats have a happy life however long it may be.

ETA when I was a child we had many cats and lived very close to an A road. We didn’t lose one cat to the road. I guess I’m saying you don’t know what will happen. Cats can die young of disease or then can live near busy roads and live for 20 years!

I‘m also in the ‘outdoor camp’, our cat goes out the back into our relatively secure garden - although does jump over the fence to visit next doors cat, in their garden. She’s not allowed out of the front door, although obviously, once she’s out, we can’t really preventing her going where she likes. She’s not much of a roamer fortunately.

With rescues overflowing with cats needing homes however, I still think they would be happier in a loving, indoor home as opposed to living in a rescue centre though.

My moggy isn’t allowed out. He’s fine. He’s loved. He won’t be run over or bring dead birds home.

Many Americans view letting cats outdoors as cruel. They see it as too high risk.

I'm camp "outdoor only". As a vet I see so many behavioural issues in indoor cats - toileting outside their box, anxiety, clinginess.
They tend to be bored and frustrated.

Medical issues like cystitis and obesity are also more common.

Indoor cats need alot more interaction and work. If you are willing to do this most rescues have cats that need to be indoor only, maybe because of FIV or disabilities. Countries where cats have to be indoor only are where there is a significant risk of them getting eaten by something further up the food chain. In the UK I firmly believe the risk of them getting run over is far outweighed by the benefits of them going outside and living natural cat lives.