AIBU to think cats should not roam unsupervised like dogs?

I suppose if I agreed with you that cats shouldn’t roam then yes I wouldn’t deem my home as being suitable for a cat because I don’t think our garden would be big enough to be stimulating for her so I wouldn’t get one, but as it goes I don’t agree with you that cats shouldn’t roam and it’s not because I am easy or cheap, I just have a different opinion to you. I value my cat’s quality of life (yes over the wildlife she takes, just as I value my diet over the life of the animals I eat) and so I deemed my home and lifestyle as appropriate to have her.

Nice try.

I’ve had cats all my life. The only one I’ve lost in horrible circumstances was killed in broad daylight in my cat proof garden while I was in the garden with her. She was killed by a neighbours out of control dog. Obviously that’s very rare and was the fault of the neighbour and not a reflection on all dogs/owners. Nothing is 100% safe. I am happy to take a small risk by allowing my cats out because it gives them a better quality of life.

Yes, my previous cat was an indoor cat for the first 5 years of his life. Behavioural problems galore, grumpy, shouty, going from door to window to door trying to get out. Beat up his cat flat mates.
We took him on as the owner couldn't cope, took him out on a harness to show him around the neighbourhood, then after a couple of weeks put a catflap in.

100% turnaround. One very content cat, affectionate, purred loads, no shouting, friendly to everyone, dogs too. We taught him not to hunt wildlife (he was an exceptionally smart cat) and in the end we saw him sniffing noses with local squirrels and the birds were not frightened of him and would come close. He was a smashing cat and most importantly, happy because he could explore. The boredom of staying in isn't for many cats and can stress them out completely.

People do put the dog outside when its disturbing them, and if Fido can escape the garden to wander the streets he will, just most dogs cant

From my point of view it's better for an animal to have a short fulfilled life than a long boring one.
Fortunately in 40 years of cat ownership I've never had a cat die of anything other than natural causes (usually helped by euthanisation of course) but it is a risk I'm aware of. My last two cats died aged 17 and 20. My current cats are two 15 year olds and two 8 year olds.

My cats wouldn't agree with your position - and your suggestion that I don't care about my cats is crass stupidity. Please also note - I've never started a thread suggesting that people who keep their cats inside are cruel - I'm mature enough to accept that people have different views and approaches.

Enclosed are pictures of my terribly mistreated cats outside the house for you to criticise.

The posts and the scientific paper!

That’s complete bs, I’m afraid. If you do your research, the ‘statistics’ for outdoor cats are heavily skewed by the inclusion of feral cats and cats who live exclusively outdoors without easy access to food, shelter and veterinary care. Cats which are fundamentally domestic pets, but are able to go outside freely, are slightly more at risk from accidents and attacks, but even so have an average lifespan of about 11 years. And from experience, many cats with access to outside can live much longer than this.

Cats also keep vermin at bay. Thats why farmers keep them around

Why are you ignoring all the posts from people saying their cats have become unwell from being locked up indoors and in catios? Is it because they don't fit with your narrative?

I have three cats. Two are happily roaming as we speak. One doesn’t like going outside, but she was seriously abused as a kitten and she’s incredibly nervous. Still; she looks outside with longing because she WANTS to go, so even with her history the urge is there.

Cats are not dogs. Just like horses aren’t dogs, or grasshoppers or whatever. You can’t treat animal species the same when they have very different needs.

In my FIL (London) childhood, dogs were frequently put outside while the owners went to work all day.

It’s not the same standard though. Dogs aren’t harmed by being close to their owners, it’s their preferred place, my dog would be anxious if let out by himself and would want to be home.

Cats are much more autonomous, all of mine liked to roam and explore, they wanted out at night to satisfy their very natural hunting instincts. I’d argue that if your pet can’t satisfy their natural behaviours to some extent you’re being neglectful. Those natural behaviours come with risks but you balance the possibility of them being injured against the certainty of stress that they can’t roam or hunt.

It’s a bit like asking why dogs aren’t kept at a stable and checked on daily for a much out and feed… they’re different animals and they have different needs.

in certain areas of the world there are predators that are more likely to kill your cat so having ‘indoor cats’ is the norm and a legal obligation. I personally believe keeping cats in, is cruel and wouldn’t probably want to keep a cat if I lived somewhere where they couldn’t go out.

Domestic cats are not a native species. The Scottish wildcat is a different species altogether (Felis sylvestris).

Dogs are more closely related to wolves than domestic cats are to European wildcats.

Cats are classed as wild animals. They dont have rules and they cant be trained.
They also dont tend to attack humans unless provoked and I have never heard of a domestic cat killing people

I’d say it was a rural thing more than a city thing. Places where the neighbours would recognise the dog and know it was owned. The only issue I can remember was concern about sheep worrying especially in lambing season.

There were fewer cars in this period and children played outside with pets in tow. At some point the dog would do its own thing, usually involved sleeping or playing with another dog.

Dogs won’t roam in the same way as cats because they will want to stay close to their owners and property. They are also pack animals who see their family as the pack. Without that they form packs which is why strays are heavily controlled.

As to cats, the UK has had outdoor cats for a few thousand years, making them part of ecosystem. They aren’t invasive and they don’t have wild predators.

Your thread title and OP make the voting very difficult to understand.

I am sick of people’s cats ‘roaming ‘ aka shitting in my garden. Really sick of it. ‘Cats need to roam’ - so maybe not an ideal pet if you live in a densely populated area with small gardens? Not my job to provide ‘roaming’ opportunities for your pet.

I have to spend money and time constructing cat proof beds to grow my beans and tomatoes, otherwise it is all dig up by shitting cats. I have stopped foxes coming in, cats are harder.

If they get run over, that’s an occupational hazard of roaming.

I do not want your bloody cat killing birds or frogs in my garden.

Cats are not dogs. Different needs so to compare them is silly.

Cats do attack wildlife, some of them. Not all cats are hunters. But I find humans complaining about cats and wildlife are utter tossers considering how much wildlife has been and continues to be destroyed by humans. Far greater damage than cats. Perhaps once we control human destruction we can then revisit the cat issue.

Cat poop in your garden is a fair complaint, it's horrible, it's yuck. Not all cats will use a litter tray and unfortunately they have to go somewhere... At least most of them bury it.

Cat proof garden is a pretty tall ask. Firstly I’m sure most people’s average gardens are not going to be overly stimulating for cats who like to be outside. Secondly, I can’t imagine the level of investment and ugly changes that would need to be made to make a garden cat proof would be desirable.

I know ! Cats are excellent climbers and extremely persistent, they’ll find a way out eventually. Plus there’s bound to be a weak spot, a gate or something.