Indoor cats?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

Are there any breeds that can't be an indoor cat? If we get them from a kitten? Looking at tabby cats/moggies.

@burnthur5t

People who have indoor cats are very selfish. Cats love to sit outside in the sun and explore their surroundings

Selfish? How do you come to that conclusion? It would be soo much easier to have an outdoor cat! Litter trays aren't exactly fun to clean and in the Summer it sucks to not be able to leave doors open. It is the last time I choose a breed that needs to be indoors (as much as I love Ragdoll cats now!)

We have an indoor cat, she came to us from a rescue centre as an indoor cat, and desperately one her occasionally standing at the garden doors, she's spooked by the outdoors. It's not cruel to keep an indoor cat indoors, you can't force them out.

Why? Are you in a flat or other accommodation that doesn’t have outside space?

Our 4, beautiful though they are (and they seriously are) are “just” moggies. From 4 months or so, each of them sat at the glazed back door, staring, clicking their jaws as birds flew over, miaowing, jumping up trying to reach the handle. None of them had been outside before they came to us, knew nothing but indoors, but nature will out.
Cats aren’t indoor creatures. Obviously, an indoor life is better than life in a shelter but you’ll need to go to great lengths to enrich it and, please, don’t just have one if that’s the route you decide to take.

38 years of keeping cats (as an adult, 58 in total) tells me that, despite what many say, they really aren’t solitary creatures.

Also, it’s very easy to catproof outside spaces. Specialist companies charge a fortune but DIY isn’t at all difficult.

@SilverHairedCat I’d rather live a shorter life with some freedom than spend all my life indoors or on a lead. Just because the cat got to 16 doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have rather have only got to 10 going out. A lead doesn’t compare to running and jumping and chasing they can do without.
We don’t lock up our children just because it’s safer for them to be inside.
The rspca inspector is putting her own wishes above those of her animals and yet probably wouldn’t apply the same restrictions to other animals. Completely hypocritical.
People shouldn’t have pets if they can’t give them as near natural life as possible and would sacrifice that just because they don’t want to lose them.

I just can't see at all how it is unethical to have an indoor cat. Canada is like the US in that very, very few cats are let out to roam around.

Our friends and family with cats have very happy cats who live indoors. They lie in the sun in windows.

We are told here that it is unhealthy and unsafe for cats to roam. I have seen cats in my neighbourhood seriously injured or killed by coyotes. Perhaps cats are an apex predator in the UK.

Cats kill 1,000s of birds. They are also exposed to viruses and diseases like leukemia. They get hit by cars. Vets are totally behind cats being indoors.

I understand the focus on cats roaming in the UK but would never support that here.

I’d rather live a shorter life with some freedom than spend all my life indoors or on a lead. Just because the cat got to 16 doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have rather have only got to 10 going out. A lead doesn’t compare to running and jumping and chasing they can do without.

But you're not a cat. You're an adult human with the capacity to understand dangers and avoid risk. You also have mental capacity to make decisions for yourself because you understand the dangers and whether the benefit of say, getting in the car is worth the risk of getting in an accident.

Cats only have the IQ of a 2-3 year old toddler - and you wouldn't send a toddler out to run about in the street unattended because it's more fun than playing indoors. They don't understand the dangers of being outdoors and many get sick and badly injured running in the roads.

We don’t lock up our children just because it’s safer for them to be inside.

But we don't let them run off without us either. They play in the garden (or in parks under supervision) where we can see them and keep them safe, because we understand that they can't assess risk and danger for themselves.

People shouldn’t have pets if they can’t give them as near natural life as possible and would sacrifice that just because they don’t want to lose them.

Would you argue the same for dogs? That they should be allowed to run free no matter what, because keeping them on leads and stuck in houses is unnatural?

LoveFall

Our friends and family with cats have very happy cats who live indoors. They lie in the sun in windows.

You think that’s a positive?
They have never felt the feel of the sun on their backs except through glass (felt the wind and rain, chewed grass, chased butterflies) That is really sad.

People felt that it was ok to keep bears, elephants, lions, tigers and other roaming animals in enclosures in Victorian times. Those practices have, quite rightly, been outlawed in civilised societies because we all acknowledge that it’s cruel,
Cats confined indoors is equally unnatural.

I have 2 cats, brothers from the same litter.

One goes out. One chooses not to. If his brother has been out too long he hisses at him and gives him a swipe when he comes in.

I think some rescues from abroad are rehomed as indoor cats eg arabian mau as their coats are too thin for British weather or have disabilities that prevent them being safe outside. On Facebook there are a couple of groups Meow Meow rescue and Cat Rescue UK who seem to rehome to people with children.

I have a 21 year old cat who is an indoor cat as she is now deaf and would be vulnerable outside.

Cats confined indoors is equally unnatural.

Hmm - most things about modern life is unnatural, both for us and our animals.

People keep rabbits inside in living rooms.
Dogs are kept on leads and prevented from hunting and practising their natural predatory behaviours.
Birds are kept enclosed in cages or aviaries and can't run free.
Guinea pigs, rats, mice and hamsters are kept confined in cages for life.
Horses are kept, broken in, and ridden for pleasure and to earn us money.

None of that is natural.

The reality is that nature is cruel and most pet owners just don't want to see their animals getting run over, poisoned or injured outdoors when they can be kept safer inside.

It's not like indoor cats are locked in crates - they have free run of their house, they have meals and water on tap, they have toys and company and clean, safe places to use the toilet. They're kept safe from disease and unwanted pregnancy, fights, poisoning and the roads. There are far, far worse fates out there than being an indoor cat.

The entire existence and life of a pet is unnatural.

There is the option of a catio for fresh air and a change of pace, but as PP said, no I don't want my cats roaming round the neighbourhood.

Humans confined in offices completely abnormal but we do it.

All you cat freedom
Fighters ought to get a life.

My boy used to be free range, but as he has aged, he no longer wants to go out as much. He will have a couple of five minute stints outside, but prefers the sofas or the beds. He has FIV, which we only discovered when he was 17.

My other boy who died just before lock down, didn't like the outdoors, unless one of us was with him. He was deaf, and preferred just to lie on the patio table if I was sat at it.

My first three cats were free range, but we lived on the edge of Dartmoor, so it wasn't an issue. They were then indoor cats for 4 years when we moved, and then free range again, when we moved rurally.

It depends on the cats. A neighbour abroad had 5 Maine Coons, only one of whom wanted to be out.

My parents have a Birman cat and whilst he is free to go outside, he rarely does of his own accord and prefers sleeping 23 hours a day, this might be the cat for you

I had a Birman, she was an indoor cat; sadly had to be pts last year. 😢
She was quite ditsy and would have gone off with anyone, so had always been kept indoors. Never wanted to go out at all though.

@Cyberpunk2077

Ragdolls and Russians blues are meant to be indoor cats but any cat can be really

I disagree. Next door has a ragdoll and he’s out all the time. He’s a competent jumper and climber.

Mine are burmese and they also go out. They’re way too energetic to keep inside.

Pedigrees are fine on the outside, they look fancy but they’re still cats. My old neighbour has a pure white Persian and he loved a good roll around in the dirt!

Get one from a rescue who can’t go out alone (FIV, deaf) then try harness outside time, or better, cat proof your garden. Otherwise I think being an indoor cat is a bit of a half life. I love watching mine outside, stalking bees, chattering at birds, whiskers forwards, ears satelliting, climbing high, rolling around.

My two were always indoors for a good 7 years till we moved to a quiet neighbourhood and they started going out. They got such joy from jt that I personally wouldn't have indoor cats again having seen the difference. Remaining DCat doesn't go far, but she loves to sunbathe in garden or go running through the grass.

I have a British shorthair indoor cat. When I got her I was in central london with little outdoor space so I wanted a breed that would take well to being an indoor cat and heard that British Shorthairs are content indoors. She has never shown any inclination to go out and when I moved further out of London 7 years ago I thought she may enjoy going out in the garden but she refuses to go out.

Our previous cat was a rescue who was quite old and had previously been an indoor cat. Whenever the back door was open he would put his head out and sniff the air. If he decided it was hot enough he would walk about 10 steps to the patio and sleep in the sun. Usually he decided it was much too cold and went straight back inside! He much preferred our bed, or even better one of our laps to the great outdoors!
I liked knowing he was safe inside but had he been younger/not previously kept inside we would absolutely have let him out.

It really depends on the cat. We got a kitten off the streets from about 6 weeks old. She never went outside for the first year or so of her life (she basically lived in one room) but as soon as there was an opportunity for her to go out she was off like a shot. Some of them just have that adventurous spirit. She disappeared before she was 3 and I wish she hadn't loved exploring so much but that was the kind of cat she was.

knitnerd90

The entire existence and life of a pet is unnatural.

There is the option of a catio for fresh air and a change of pace, but as PP said, no I don't want my cats roaming round the neighbourhood.“

Ours don’t roam the neighbourhood, our garden is cat proofed.

Those saying it's cruel to keep them in, but at the same time cat proofing their garden to the hilt, the irony, you're making your garden into just another room with boundaries!!

Some cats prefer indoors, it's like us humans, some of us are home bodies, others like to wander.

OP you are not being cruel by wanting to home an indoors cat, quite the opposite in fact.

My two are indoor only and perfectly happy spoiled princesses.

Both are moggies - one is a white girl who was a stray and rescued while heavily pregnant. She is at risk of skin cancer if I were to let her roam.

My old girl passed at 19 and was an indoor / outdoor cat but much preferred to be indoors. She hardly spent any time outdoors and she was free to go in and out as she pleased.

I suggest getting two - so they have some stimulation if you are gone long hours.

Also if you can build an outdoor enclosure that really gives them the best of both worlds.

marieantoinehairnet

Those saying it's cruel to keep them in, but at the same time cat proofing their garden to the hilt, the irony, you're making your garden into just another room with boundaries!!“

It’s a very large garden. Trees, wild areas. They have a lot of freedom but don’t bother anyone else.
Keeping them away from roads was a condition the charity laid down 🤷‍♀️