Cat owners - advice please

[Cheesesconesfortonight]

My DD (almost 5) adores cats, she always did. We've recently been abroad to see my mum who lives in the country side in a large house with lots of land around the house who's got 3 cats and a dog and DD was mesmerised. She adored the cats and would love to have one here.

We live in a medium sized house with a small garden near Richmond Park. We don't have the space that my mum's cats have and I do find it dangerous for cats to live outdoors around here, lots of traffic and wildlife at night. I'd worry a lot but I wouldn't want an indoor cat as I think they need to be free and they'd much happier outdoors. Plus we travel a lot on holidays so cat will have to go to a cat sitter.

Cat owners please let me know how do you keep your cats and all the pros and cons about outdoors vs indoor cats. And what else do I need to think about before getting one.

I rescued a 4 year old FIV positive cat (have to be kept indoors) 18 months ago to a one bed house!

He is the love of our lives and 100% happy as a house cat. I am happy with him as a house cat as you see so many posts about cats run over and I would be devastated.

I grew up with outdoor cats and he his higher maintenance- requires 30-40 mins of play per day, I get someone to go in everyday if we are away etc to scoop/feed/play. My parents cats can be left alone for 2-3 days as they wander in and out of their own free will, hunt etc, so no need for play, toilet outside and they leave enough food/water.

He is a complete darling, verrrry cuddly, loves playing and follows us around the house (he even comes to the toilet with me…) and has completely enriched our lives.

Also, if we’re away for more than 2-3 days he goes to a trusted cattery- I worry he would be lonely in the house alone with just a stranger popping in for 15 mins. The cattery give him lots of love and attention, keep an eye on his health and he LOVES the other cats (not allowed to mix due to FIV but he “chats” to them through the dividers. He knows them know so is quite happy going there!

We have the best of both worlds- a catio attached to the house, so cat can be indoor or outdoor, but is safe either way. We originally planned to let her 'free range' but the vet said she would be at risk of theft- she is very friendly. She seems very happy and is much loved.

We got our catio from Danny's pet housing and originally got window covers from 'Flat cats' (though the covers aren't needed any more).

Be prepared for cat to live well into it's 20s! my current incumbent was a 9th birthday present for my son. Who has now left home (aged 24). Guess who is left with the cat and can't do spontaneity now she is child and partner free?!!

We have a siamese, who is apartment bred for many generations.

However, what we do, is that we let her out into the garden, under direct supervision. Being a cat, she hauls her fat arse over the wall, we locate her, then follow her, then we all run home when it's time. Remember to wear a bra when doing this. According to a friend.

Oh, and it's been a very calming traffic influence, as people are now used to mad cat, and mad cat family, and make allowances for them possibly popping up out of nowhere when they are driving up the road. . .

So sweet 😊, you for your posts! I love cats myself and I rescued a few when I was much younger living in my mum's house, a couple of decades ago. But yes, those cats were free range and very safe on their own, very low maintenance. I feel I know nothing about keeping a cat in a much more restricted environment.

@blobby10 That's a gorgeous cat!!

Oh sorry you can't be spontaneous, I guess all the furry cuddles make up for it? 😊

I got our kitten from a rescue and I asked for an “ outdoor” cat and they suggested her. I have no idea why they chose her in particular other than she has no particular health conditions. She has always been curious about the outside and we would never have been able to keep in her in even if we’d wanted to. Perhaps that’s what they saw in her. We live in a suburban area on a very quiet road and have a big garden with a playing field and woods at the end so pretty safe. There’s one other cat who’s 2 doors away who is her arch enemy and a variety of foxes who are cautious of her now. ( she used to be chased) She’s clever and a prodigious hunter and has bought many a surprise gift into the house - dead and alive. She’s very cuddly though and when she is in the house particularly enjoys a lap on her own terms. There’s no guarantee with any cat that they will like to be petted. Some of the extremely pretty pedigree cats I follow on Instagram seem to be as thick as mince if I’m honest. I doubt they’d survive half and hour on their own. Cute though.

@Seaswallow gorgeous cat!!😊

We rehomed an indoor cat last year. He’s allowed in the garden for ten-fifteen minutes a day supervised, but we don’t let him out of the garden. He no longer requires a harness to enforce this, he knows the rules and only tries to break them if we don’t pay attention 😂 he refuses to go out if it’s raining, he doesn’t like getting wet paws.

He requires about 30 minutes a day minimum play but we try to give him more. He’s more affectionate than some outdoor cats I’ve had in the past, but also more vocal and definitely higher maintenance.

We live in a busy road and he’s part Maine Coon so very pretty, if we let roam about I’d be worried he’d get hit or stolen. He’s not streetwise enough to cope, and after 4 years of staying indoors he can’t even climb or jump well. Our previous cat was a former stray, and very savvy. He did much better outdoors until he got old and frail. He moped and was miserable when he was kept indoors (after a move and an operation).

Indoor cats do fine if they have the temperament for it, and you play/give them lots of enrichment. I’d look at rehoming a middle aged indoor cat and see how you get on with that, to be honest.

Cat tax enclosed!

@Seaswallow Gorgeous!

@Whatsthestoryboringglory

That's interesting about the harness,can you say how he knows not to run off ? And how you get him back if something catches his eyes?

OP, meant to add if you do get a cat get them microchipped regardless of them being indoor or outdoor. My neighbour had her cat returned after 3 months when the chip was scanned by a rescue centre, and my vet said it’s worth it especially if they sadly get hit by a car. At least then you know, rather than looking endlessly.

And does he go out ebry day? Does he do his business out there?

I think with children an indoor only cat will be difficult to keep in.

There is no guarentee , no matter how much your DD loves cats that they will return the favour
We have two (Bro/Sis) now 4 yo (got them at 1yo)

They barely acknowledge my exsistance . They love DH (the female cat) DD (the male cat ) tolerate DS and positively sneer at me or look in horror if I say hello .

We all wanted the cats .and spent a good while researching (had a cat before ) , spent £ on the cat door (in a new glass frame) knew that we could offer an adult only quiet home
I chose them from the CPL , are they grateful ? Are they heckers like .

It is so SO very wrong of me to expect the Fur OverLords to be in the least bit affectionate to me .
Cats do their own thing.

I am fine with it (honestly ) but your 5yo might not be !

He’s ridiculously food motivated and a shit climber. 😂 He’s learned that a hand clap and “come on!” Means he has to go back inside and we always give him a treat when he does. He got very used to the harness when he realised it got him both a treat and a walk round the garden, but the treats and the clap now work to get him back in so we don’t bother with the harness unless he’s away.

He gets looked after by family and last time they took their eye off him and he managed to drag his furry butt over their fence and disappear, but after some frantic dreamie shaking he came right back; treats beat everything apparently!!

His treat ball that he pushes around to get them out is his favourite toy. It’s made him much easier to train, being so keen on treats.

Our cats have always been indoors only, but we have a second-story deck where they can get some air and watch the world. Outdoors isn't an option due to coyotes. They're fine. I also had cats when we lived in a flat with no deck or catio, and they were fine too. If the space is cat friendly and they can climb and have their little nooks to nap in it really should be fine. You also need to give them toys and play with them.

Do you live on a very busy road? I personally feel that cats are happier if they can go outside. You could keep your cat in at night. Lots of people do this - it reduces the chance of them being attacked by wildlife (although I don't think this a big risk, my cat only fights with other cats!) and they're less likely to hunt in the day. We go away a lot too and I can see my cat doesn't like it. We now use Housesitters (there's a website called Trusted Housesitters which is excellent) who stay with him and he's much happier to have human company.
You can also get cat sitters that come in once or twice a day. I do believe most cats are miserable at catteries so I'd never use one.

He won’t go out if it’s raining. He’s a princess. He also doesn’t poo outside, he prefers his litter tray. He initially had terrible smelling poop when we rehomed him but after asking on here for advice I switched him to a high quality dried food which means his tray barely smells at all.

I have two indoor with a catio and one old lady (we've had her 23years) who spends almost all her time outside, constantly refuses to come inside. Summons me for feeding six times a day and sometimes for bestowing fresh kills on us.
My dad cat sits the old one won't do cattery so you are restricted.

I have two indoor cats, both pedigrees so I’d never dare let them out. They both seem very content, guess they’ve never known any different.

Cats Protection recommend cats are kept indoors at night as this is when most are injured or killed. It also helps the wildlife.

We used to lock ours in at dinnertime (or 5pm in winter) and she never made a fuss about going out until after breakfast next day.

I have cats in a very busy part of London but do not allow them to go out the front in the street, only the garden. I agree that indoor cats miss out, I couldn't imagine denying any of the cats I've had over the years access to all the activity, smells, insects & sunbeams they especially love to sit in.
Not sure of your house set up but you can buy cat-proof fencing etc to keep them where you want them.

I'd go down the route of adopting and already established indoor cat.

Our boy is an indoor cat (we are very central London, near a road, not much of our own outdoor space - just a roof terrace, lots of urban foxes etc) but he was an unwanted kitten I cannot understand how as he is and always has been the most delightful creature so we took him as we didn't know where he'd end up.