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Original poster

Cat owners - advice please

92 replies

Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 16:18

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.

OP posts:
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12
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/08/2022 17:33

RayneDance · 25/08/2022 17:19

7os adorable! But Sharp claw's 😂

Ahh she's only playing Grin

Whatsthestoryboringglory · 25/08/2022 17:52

@RayneDance it's a dog treat ball I got in pets at home, but dreamies make a weeble wobble style treat ball that he loves too.

Sally99 · 25/08/2022 17:56

I haven't read all the posts but my small garden has netting around the perimeter so my cats can go outside but not get out and come to harm. Works brilliantly well

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Cats
sunshinesupermum · 25/08/2022 17:59

My daughter and I both have indoor rescue cats and they are more than happy with their lives! We use www.trustedhousesitters.com when we go away. You daughter would get so much pleasure from having a cat.

Seaswallow · 25/08/2022 18:08

@Whatsthestoryboringglory
@CheshireCats
Ha! All cats are lovely...

Obeythedancecommander · 25/08/2022 18:09

Look up ragdoll cats, they are often very docile and love a lot of fuss (some don't mind being lugged about under a child's arm either). They are also a bit stupid so lots of people keep them.as indoor cats. Some get cat proof fencing to add to the top of their fences or a catio etc to keep them in. Ragdolls are lovely and make great pets for children.

Peasplease12 · 25/08/2022 18:13

We have two cats who have can go outside during the day via a cat flap, but who are locked in over night. I would say that indoor vs outdoor is definitely a personality thing- one of them really couldn’t care less if she never went out again while the other one I think would drive herself (and us) mad if she were indoor only. A rescue centre might be able to match you with a homebody cat so even if they were allowed outside they wouldn’t venture far or for very long

Leafy3 · 25/08/2022 18:16

I've never constrained my cats right to roam and don't believe in it (usual exceptions to the rule), however I've always lived fairly rurally and would think twice about having a cat in the city.

Cat proofing your garden is a great idea. Every cat is different though and some don't cope well being constrained. I'd recommend a rescue cat who is not able to roam. Either a housebound cat (although I think it must be stressful always having to make sure they don't escape) so an older, lazy cat is probably the answer.

Rescue centres are generally quite good at pointing you to cats who are likely to stay close to home - out of choice or necessity.

A note as to foxes: generally cats are pretty good at standing up to them and I've yet to see fox not immediately back down! (Currently live where we have lots of urban foxes.)

Once a cat lover, always a cat lover. Welcome to the Cat Slave Club :)

Leafy3 · 25/08/2022 18:17

Either a housebound cat (although I think it must be stressful always having to make sure they don't escape) so an older, lazy cat is probably the answer.

Meant to say either a housebound cat or one that doesn't like to roam

iloveeverykindofcat · 25/08/2022 18:18

My two have GPS collars. They're great. They only go around the neighbours etc and they're in at night, but I wfh and I'll keep am eye on the app while they're out. There's only one significant road near here and if one gets too close I go fetch her.

FoofOfTheWalkingDead · 25/08/2022 18:26

@Cheesesconesfortonight , if you're in a busy neighbourhood definitely keep your cat inside!

We inherited our lovely purebred Siamese from my MIL who let him outside her house. We did the same when he came to us but he got hit by a car and had to have emergency surgery on a ruptured bladder and crushed pelvis, eventually losing his hind leg. He's an indoor guy now but he is desperate to go out so we take him out on a lead. We take him out 3 or 4 times a day and he loves to be put on the shed roof so he can see and smell what's happening. He has to stay on the lead at all times because if he spies a cat in another garden he'll be off like a shot to fight with it. We call it 'going out for sniffs' and he gets dreamies every time he comes in. Sometimes he asks to go out, we get him on the lead, he steps outside, sniffs, then walks right back in for a treat. Cheeky sod.

Leafy3 · 25/08/2022 18:31

Sometimes he asks to go out, we get him on the lead, he steps outside, sniffs, then walks right back in for a treat. Cheeky sod.
😆

I used to have a cat who loved this trick. Every bedtime when locking up he'd dash outside the front door, sit on the patio and wait to be bribed in with dreamies.

Sideorderofchips · 25/08/2022 19:46

I've got three indoor cats now

One is 10, one is 5 and one is 4 months. None of them have shown any desire to go outside and the 5 year old cat came to me as a 2 year old rescue foster (which I failed at obvs) and doesn't care to go outside. I don't find it stressful keeping them in. They have no desire to try and get outside and live a pampered life with lots of playing and attention. My old boy is a maine coon cross and he'd rather just sprawl on the bed or follow me around.

Cat owners - advice please
Cat owners - advice please
Cat owners - advice please
Burnt0utMum · 25/08/2022 19:56

I had 3 cats originally. One was hit by a car and another one was poisoned by a neighbour. These are the risks of having outdoor cats. We have one left and she's now 16 and still doing well. She still goes outdoors but only at the back of the house away from the road and doesn't tend to go far anymore anyway. I couldn't stop her from going further and getting into danger but she seems to know her own limitations these days. I don't think I could ever have had any of them as indoor cats as they always begged to go outside even from very young before they had their injections. It was hard keeping them in for even those necessary times so would've been cruel to them long term. However, some cats may never have a desire to go outside and could be perfectly happy as indoor cats.

user1471548941 · 25/08/2022 20:01

Cat tax… my FIV indoor boy who wouldn’t dream of stepping out the front door and just wants constant cuddles (trying to get anything done is hardwork…)

Cat owners - advice please
MissConductUS · 25/08/2022 20:18

These are our obviously miserable indoor cats. 😁

Cat owners - advice please
Cat owners - advice please
Original poster
Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 21:34

MissConductUS · 25/08/2022 20:18

These are our obviously miserable indoor cats. 😁

Awww 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 21:35

user1471548941 · 25/08/2022 20:01

Cat tax… my FIV indoor boy who wouldn’t dream of stepping out the front door and just wants constant cuddles (trying to get anything done is hardwork…)

Bless 🥰

OP posts:
CountrysideVibes · 25/08/2022 21:39

I have three cats that would be miserable if we kept them in!
We live on a relatively busy road but they wise up pretty quickly.
I have a smart cat flap that you can set a curfew on - so after 6pm once they are in it doesn't let them out again.
Having said that one of my girls is particularly naughty and enjoys the odd night out - worried me the first few times but not anymore. She just comes back from her holiday a bit tired and hungry a few days later!
We can leave the cats for a couple of days on their own (with lots of dried food). Longer than that that the neighbour pops in once a day to feed them :)

Original poster
Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 21:43

Sideorderofchips · 25/08/2022 19:46

I've got three indoor cats now

One is 10, one is 5 and one is 4 months. None of them have shown any desire to go outside and the 5 year old cat came to me as a 2 year old rescue foster (which I failed at obvs) and doesn't care to go outside. I don't find it stressful keeping them in. They have no desire to try and get outside and live a pampered life with lots of playing and attention. My old boy is a maine coon cross and he'd rather just sprawl on the bed or follow me around.

That's amazing, I always assumed that cats prefer being outdoors.

Great to read everyone's comments.

We live in a detached house on a reasonably quiet residential road but with enough traffic to be concerned about a cat being run over. I'd worry. Our garden is quite small but I've been thinking about the cat proof fencing that was suggested by pp and keeping the cat indoors at night.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 21:50

Thank you to everyone who responded, I have read all the messages. Very helpful.. and I think I'm on board with having a cat 🙂.

We tend to travel a lot around UK and usually hire a cottage for a week or so. Some places allow pets, would you consider taking the cat with you?

OP posts:
Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 25/08/2022 21:55

If the accommodation allows cats - then yes. That might be quite hard.
We take our 5 indoor cats caravanning and on our narrowboat. (They are on leads and we own our own caravan and narrowboat.)

SallyWD · 25/08/2022 22:17

Cheesesconesfortonight · 25/08/2022 21:50

Thank you to everyone who responded, I have read all the messages. Very helpful.. and I think I'm on board with having a cat 🙂.

We tend to travel a lot around UK and usually hire a cottage for a week or so. Some places allow pets, would you consider taking the cat with you?

I know there are exceptions but I think for most cats it would be highly stressful to take them on a long journey and then put them in another house. They're very territorial animals and going somewhere unfamiliar that doesn't have their scent can freak them out. Every time I've moved a cat they've been very stressed - lots of hiding, howling at night etc. I wouldn't put them through it needlessly. Also if they manage to escape you'd probably never see them again. Happened to my friend's cat at a holiday cottage. Far better to get a cat sitter.

Leafy3 · 25/08/2022 22:18

Never done so but taking cats away with you seems to be more of a thing these days. Tbh I've yet to meet a cat that genuinely copes with the change, it seems to induce a lot of anxiety for most cats; even if they seem to cope well at the time they can become more nervy and timid as a result.

Old fashioned, but I think a cat sitter is the best option.

freeandfierce · 25/08/2022 22:27

I have two indoor cats, due to divorce I left a house that backed onto fields in a quiet hamlet to a town centre house on a main road. I take them out on leads and they are used to it now. Ones a spynx and the other Maine coon. My spynx is like a little dog in his behaviour. Had cats all my life, born with one on the bed. Very independent. I have a cat sitter if I (dare) to go away. I leave a timed feeder when I'm at work. Cats are fiercely loyal and loving if cared for. Also infuriating and naughty on occasion but they all get into your heart. Think it would be a great experience for your family!