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Original poster

If you have a pedigree cat, do they go outside?

30 replies

Fettuccinecarbonara · 13/03/2019 19:28

We have our first ever pedigree cat. She’s currently indoors due to the fact she’s not been with us long.

So many people have advised I keep her as an indoor cat.

All of our previous cats have always gone in and out as they wish.

We live in a sleepy town with fairly low crime rate on a quiet cup-de-sac

Wdyd?

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 13/03/2019 19:29

Yes. Cats are natural hunters who enjoy the putdoors.

AnyFucker · 13/03/2019 19:29

*outdoors

Wobblington · 13/03/2019 19:30

I had a Siamese and ragdoll who both went out. The ragdoll didn't go far and was rarely out of the garden. Siamese had a larger territory. I don't think there's any right answer tbh

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Cats
wigglypiggly · 13/03/2019 19:31

Our kitty was out all the time with her siamese friend. Are you worried that your cat will be stolen because of its breed.

StillMedusa · 13/03/2019 19:33

I have two..and my previous boy...(all Maine Coons) and yes the go outside.
Cats are natural hunters and IMO a long bored life inside is no real life for a cat. My last cat made it to 19 , and I'm hoping these will get to a ripe old age, but watching them pouncing on leaves on a windy day, or sunning themselves in the garden... I would never keep them inside.

One of mine in particular is spectacular.. a 25 pound ginger Maine Coon, who frequents several houses and is adored in all of them.

Let her out :) (she may not go far..I find my pedigrees lazier than the moggies I've had!)

TapasForTwo · 13/03/2019 19:33

We used to have a Siamese cat who could come and go as he pleased. We had a cat flap that we locked at night because we had a lot of foxes roaming around.

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 13/03/2019 19:34

I have a Siberian. We have a secure catio that she has free access to but she's not allowed properly out as she's frankly too stupid to cope with London.

Sammy867 · 13/03/2019 19:35

Yes we have a Bengal. She stayed in until she was two then when we moved we let her go out. As a result she’s more cautious than she would have been as a kitten and prefers to stay in our garden mostly

Justonedayatatime11 · 13/03/2019 19:36

We have Savannahs and they're only allowed in the catproofed garden

Nuvanewname · 13/03/2019 19:36

I've seen a few out where I live and always think the owners are very brave, because even standard moggies end up being stolen sometimes.
I have seen posters up for one that was missing more recently though Sad

Original poster
Fettuccinecarbonara · 13/03/2019 19:38

I’d fully planned to let her out. We have a cat flap installed and it goes against every instinct to keep an animal caged.

It was simply so many people told me she must stay indoors that made me wonder why.

I’ve not heard of any cat thefts in this area, and there’s few cars, though obviously there’s a first time for everything. I’m not particularly worried, I was canvassing opinions to see if I could see any good reason for keeping her indoors.

OP posts:
theconstantinoplegardener · 13/03/2019 19:46

I have a pedigree cat and she is allowed out. I do however try to restrict her to the back garden. Our house is mid-terrace so she would have to cross our neighbours' gardens to get to the front of the house, and their dogs seem to put her off.

If we lived in the situation you describe and I couldn't restrict her to the back garden, I think I would still let her out because she loves the garden so much, I would hate to deny her access. She becomes a different cat when outside, a miniature panther, climbing trees, stalking birds (she hadn't caught any yet) and dashing around with my DC with her tail to the side.

Perhaps you could train her to be wary of cars and strangers, by letting her out but having a friend rev their car engine at her or walk past with a lively dog on a lead, so she learns to prefer the safety of your back garden?

RogersVideo · 13/03/2019 19:47

I initially kept my two bengals in, but after a couple years ended up in shared living situation where it wasn't feasible to demand everyone kept the windows and doors closed, so they became outdoor cats. They have been for 5 years now and it has its good points and bad. I do worry about cars, but the cats don't interact with strangers.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/03/2019 20:16

I have rescue Persians. They go into my enclosed garden. But I try and avoid them going out the front. They are not the brightest and they are very beautiful cats so I'd be worried about them being cat napped. Cheddar would go to anyone. She's so friendly.
If they were a bit more intelligent I'd probably allow them out a bit more!

Toddlerteaplease · 13/03/2019 20:17

They are not hunters and wouldn't know how to catch a cold!

Desmondo2016 · 13/03/2019 20:19

Pedigree or not, my cat's poos definitely belong in the neighbours' garden, not a stinky litter tray!! So yea, let them out!

FudgeBrownie2019 · 13/03/2019 20:19

We have lots of cats and one is a pedigree. She's as ridiculous as the day is long and would trot off with anyone who tickled her under the chin, so she's only allowed out of the back door (she's too silly/portly to climb the fence to the front) and she never tends to go far.

She does often bring me bath sponges and flannels from various neighbours homes, though, so she obviously can climb, but only when she feels like it.

InfiniteCurve · 13/03/2019 20:28

Our pedigree cat goes out,she was brought up as an indoor cat but when she came to us I didn't want to keep her in,I don't think it's fair.
She has never gone far though and now she's older mostly she just wants to look out of the open door - though last week she shot past me when I came in from work,and raced into next doors garden to look at their skip Hmm
When I called her she came out,right up to me,then was zipping through my legs and heading off at a run in the other direction!
Don't know what that was about Grin

DontCallMeShitley · 13/03/2019 20:34

Pedigrees are often stolen to be sold on. I know someone who had hers stolen from a cattery run, due to publicity they were reunited fortunately.

Just a look at the lost pet sites shows how many cats go missing and are reported, and there are plenty that don't get on those sites too.

I still have an image of a squashed Bengal at the side of the road, a busy road and people kept on running over it, it was horrible to see.

I would suggest securing your garden with cat proof netting, it can be done for a reasonable price, your cat would have freedom and be safe. www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cat-runs-cat-proofed-gardens.211361/

DontCallMeShitley · 13/03/2019 20:36

There are many reports that the UK Cat Killer is still about, if it is not the same one, it means that someone else is doing it. Not all reported by SNARL, some were put online by vets.

PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin · 13/03/2019 20:39

We have a good sized back garden and it’s secure so our cats can’t get out, which feels like a safe compromise to me.

GlitterPixie · 13/03/2019 20:41

No we have 3 Persians and an Exotic Shorthair and they don’t go outside

StatisticallyChallenged · 14/03/2019 00:27

Three maine coons here, very definite house cats. No garden and they wouldn't last 5 minutes out roaming

ComtesseDeSpair · 14/03/2019 00:37

Our Bengals and Savannah were outdoors from when they were neutered at six months old. Before that they were nightmares, literally tore the house to shreds. We lived rurally and they roamed the fields. Mega hunters - we’d get rabbits, crows, pheasants, moles and once, a weasel, brought home.

Ours were friendly with everyone they knew but cautious around strangers. As long as they aren’t daft about allowing all and sundry to pick them up they should be fine.

IHaveBrilloHair · 14/03/2019 00:39

I have four indoor cats, they are very happy and very spoiled.
Nothing wrong with keeping cats in.