Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think cats should not roam unsupervised like dogs?

717 replies

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:42

AIBU to think that if you dont leave your dog to roam streets unsupervised, then you shouldn't let other pets (cats), for the same reasons.

It blows my mind that people let their cats out because their sleep is disrupted and I wonder why they think its OK, when its highly unlikely they would put Fido outside if he kept the family up.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Original poster
estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:58

MyOtherProfile · 02/08/2026 09:53

Are you suggesting people stick their cats on a lead and walk them? Is that your solution?

Show quote history

Well yes, or provide them with a catio at night and a cat proof garden for the day.

We cant get a dog, or guinea pig, or tabbit unless the garden is suitable and safe. Why does the same not apply to cats?

BTW, I love cats and dogs. I am not a cat hater or an indoor cat person. I do think that they should be kept inside the house or catio at night and we should have to pet proof out gardens. It seems odd that people let their cats out but would never consider the same for dogs or guinea pigs or rabbits. Why do those animals need to wander less?

Its so sad to see lost cat posters when its totally avoidable.

OP posts:
NicolaSturgeon · 02/08/2026 09:58

Isn't this entire line of reasoning based on a flawed and in fact deeply speciesist premise? Why should it be a human's decision how the cat spends their time?

Unless this is some kind of weird reverse about controlling spouses or something.

MyOtherProfile · 02/08/2026 09:57

Castolaya · 02/08/2026 09:56

I completely agree @estrogone .

When I was a kid dogs roamed free like cats do now then 20 odd years ago that changed and people did not let them out to wander.

Cats can be very antisocial out and about. Our neighbours had loads of them and they pooped all over our garden, never in their own and left half dead birds/animals about the place.

We got a dog in recent years and thankfully no more cats.

A family member has a cat high up in an apartment building which she rescued while passing a skip and finding it left there, she doesn’t let it out due to the risk of falling. Not every cat goes out all of the time.

Edited

When and where were you a kid? I've never known people let their dogs roam on their own.

Seriestwo · 02/08/2026 09:57

cat people will never accept that letting cats wander is a risk. They say they love their pet but don’t mind it being killed on a road - probably after having dragged itself off and suffered immensely. The average cat life span is about 2, for an animal which should easily live to about 15. It’s disgusting negligence

NoNewsisGood · 02/08/2026 09:56

Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:50

Wildlife kills wildlife, are you going to ban all wildlife as well?

Show quote history

Domestic pets are not 'wildlife' 🤔And even some wildlife is heavily regulated where there are invasive species or no longer natural predators.

YourTidyGreyRobin · 02/08/2026 09:56

MyLimeGuide · 02/08/2026 09:54

Interesting theories OP 😍

No, they really are not.

Contrarymary30 · 02/08/2026 09:56

Limeandfigs · 02/08/2026 09:46

So do dogs, that's why most owners walk them twice a day.

Show quote history

That's not roaming .

Castolaya · 02/08/2026 09:56

I completely agree @estrogone .

When I was a kid dogs roamed free like cats do now then 20 odd years ago that changed and people did not let them out to wander.

Cats can be very antisocial out and about. Our neighbours had loads of them and they pooped all over our garden, never in their own and left half dead birds/animals about the place.

We got a dog in recent years and thankfully no more cats.

A family member has a cat high up in an apartment building which she rescued while passing a skip and finding it left there, she doesn’t let it out due to the risk of falling. Not every cat goes out all of the time.

Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:55

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:53

Well if that doesn't bother, does the fact that the cat could come a cropper (fights, foxes, cars, cruel people) not bother you?

I cant imagine just letting my pet out unsupervised because somebody, once said, oh cats NEED to roam.

Show quote history

As I said I dont own a cat.

LorenzoCalzone · 02/08/2026 09:54

I don't like how cats harm wildlife. I wish people would at least put bells on their collars. My garden regularly has a poor dead pigeon lying in it. I no longer feed the birds as it was just making them sitting targets.

But I feel sorry for indoor cats, no different to a caged animal - which I'd never own.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/08/2026 09:54

OP, I saw your posts on a thread in the Litter Tray about cats being kept in overnight. The majority of posters on that thread (including me) actually said they do keep their cats in overnight.

Ours doesn’t especially roam and is generally in our garden or next door, but he recently had to be kept in for a week following dental surgery - and oh my god, he was climbing the walls to get outside by the time the GA wore off!

CypressGrove · 02/08/2026 09:54

SorrellNightwind · 02/08/2026 09:46

Is that due to cats being in danger?

Cats need to be able to go out

Show quote history

No it's because they kill native species - many of which are endangered.

MyLimeGuide · 02/08/2026 09:54

Interesting theories OP 😍

NoNewsisGood · 02/08/2026 09:54

SorrellNightwind · 02/08/2026 09:46

Is that due to cats being in danger?

Cats need to be able to go out

Show quote history

Where I live it is due to the high number of other animals they kill. It's to protect nature from domestic pets. They are allowed, but must be on a lead, same as dogs.

7238SM · 02/08/2026 09:54

SorrellNightwind · 02/08/2026 09:46

Is that due to cats being in danger?

Cats need to be able to go out

Show quote history

I doubt the ban has anything to do with cats being in danger! Surely its to protect the native animals such as marsupials that get killed by cats.

Contrarymary30 · 02/08/2026 09:53

Cats are not like dogs . They are independent creatures who could survive without humans unlike dogs . I have 3 rescue cats , one is a house cat and is happy to never go out . 2 love to roam generally in the night and sleep most of the day . They would be miserable if I kept them in .

Original poster
estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:53

Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:50

Wildlife kills wildlife, are you going to ban all wildlife as well?

Show quote history

Well if that doesn't bother, does the fact that the cat could come a cropper (fights, foxes, cars, cruel people) not bother you?

I cant imagine just letting my pet out unsupervised because somebody, once said, oh cats NEED to roam.

OP posts:
Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:53

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:51

Who says they NEED to roam? Is this not just an excuse to absent yourself from the irritating and painful parts of pet ownership.

Sod the wildlife or the risk to the cat.

Its the same just with different parameters

Show quote history

Because cats need to roam. I dont even own a cat so I not trying to get away from the painfully part of over ownership 🤣

MyOtherProfile · 02/08/2026 09:53

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:51

Who says they NEED to roam? Is this not just an excuse to absent yourself from the irritating and painful parts of pet ownership.

Sod the wildlife or the risk to the cat.

Its the same just with different parameters

Show quote history

Are you suggesting people stick their cats on a lead and walk them? Is that your solution?

Original poster
estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:51

Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:48

Because cats are not dogs.

Show quote history

Who says they NEED to roam? Is this not just an excuse to absent yourself from the irritating and painful parts of pet ownership.

Sod the wildlife or the risk to the cat.

Its the same just with different parameters

OP posts:
Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:50

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:49

No just wildlife.

Show quote history

Wildlife kills wildlife, are you going to ban all wildlife as well?

MyLimeGuide · 02/08/2026 09:50

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:49

No just wildlife.

Show quote history

Humans kill wildlife too, give humans a curfew?

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/08/2026 09:49

Oh ffs, cats are not dogs, they are very different species, with different needs, different ways of life.
(I personally don’t let my cats out at night, they go out during the day if they want.)

Original poster
estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:49

AnonSugar · 02/08/2026 09:48

No but I do worry about roaming dogs killing people.

Cats dont kill people.

Edited
Show quote history

No just wildlife.

OP posts:
Poppinpoppinpopcorn · 02/08/2026 09:48

estrogone · 02/08/2026 09:47

But why do they need to roam? Would you let your domesticated dog roam?

Dont you worry the cat will kill the hedgehog babies?

Show quote history

Because cats are not dogs.

Swipe left for the next trending thread