Cats banned from going outside in Australia, could it happen here?

[JamBiscuitBun]

I'm interested to hear thoughts on this. Article here I can't ever see it working in the UK. I also remember Australian farmers having apocalyptic mice problems on some of their farms, so I'm not sure how this fits in with that. Though there are many people who'd love to never have the neighbour's cat pooing in their garden again. What d'you think?

Cats kill songbirds? So? Humans kill billions of animals every second. keep them all inside.

I absolutely believe that cats should have the choice to stay in or go out. This was proposed during lockdown. Whenever we kept our old DBoycat in when we moved house or if he needed to because he was unwell you could see the decline in his mental health and he never went far.

DGirlcat2 will only go out if I go out with her but still she loves the fresh air and the smells.

And how are the government going to monitor this? Considering it couldn't even monitor track and trace?

The part of your post that led me to think that you felt Australians liked their cats less was 'I think attitudes to cats over there probably aren't as welcoming as UK.'
Which did seem to me to suggest that Australians didn't like cats as much - otherwise why wouldn't they be welcoming? Apologies for misunderstanding, though now a little confused about what you did actually mean.
In any case, the statistics suggest that Australians are more welcoming to domestic cats than British people.

I clearly wasn't talking about cat owners but the more general population who have concerns about their local wildlife - pretty justified concerns which will naturally impact on how they view cats generally - ie they will be less keen on roaming free cats and may tolerate restrictions more and may reluctantly feel feral populations need eradiating

It's an awful situation when you have to kill wild dogs and cats I can't see anyone relishing having to do that but clearly it's felt necessary.

Cat have less impact on wildlife in UK - so roaming is considered more normal practise and why indoor cats are frequently greeted with horror on MN.

Ah - that's what wasn't clear to me but 'clearly' was to you!

Yes - on the whole I think Australians draw a much clearer distinction between feral and domestic animals, even of the space species, and there's definitely much greater awareness of the impact of feral animals - just as there is a much greater impact caused by those feral animals.

This won't make me popular (but I'm too old to start worrying about that now!) but I would never again have an outdoor cat.

I was lucky: my first cat was an outdoor one (years ago - only those funny New Yorkers 😁 kept indoor cats back then) and lived to a ripe old age, despite me living on a busy road. I then had a gap without cats (dogs instead) until deciding to get a kitten from a friend who was a breeder.

Kitten was of an oriental type, known to be good at being indoors-only, so this is what I did. She is now 12, has never been outside and looks horrified at the idea. After she'd been with me for 2 years a stray turned up in the garden. All attempts to find his owner failed so, with the help of the local Cats Protection people, I took him on. It was clear that he was used to being outdoors, but I decided to keep him as an indoor cat (had had too many people sobbing on my shoulder when their cat was run over by then) and he was perfectly content. Like cat number 1, he eventually died of old age.

Here's the unpopular part.... I absolutely cannot understand (and I include my younger self in this) why anyone would have a pet cat (that they presumably love) and let it outside (other than in a garden with an enclosed run). Would those of you with a toddler feed it breakfast, then take it to the door at 9am, let it out and say, "Have fun - I'll call you for your tea later" and just shut the door? Of course you wouldn't! (If you would, this is an entirely different conversation!) I truly, honestly, simply don't get it.

I forgot to mention the increase in our road networks and also road widening and driveways with non permeable surfaces
And of course plastic grass
All of which kill off the ecosystem below than hence reduce the food available for birds.

Comparing butterfly poo to a stinking pile of cat shit 🙄, I’ve heard it all now.

Dcat would approve, she hates that we insist she goes in the garden, but she won't use the litter box so there's no option, stupid creature (yes we have a very lazy cat). We have a balcony she does like

Moth shit ruined one of my duvets once when it was on the line

Here's the unpopular part.... I absolutely cannot understand (and I include my younger self in this) why anyone would have a pet cat (that they presumably love) and let it outside (other than in a garden with an enclosed run). Would those of you with a toddler feed it breakfast, then take it to the door at 9am, let it out and say, "Have fun - I'll call you for your tea later" and just shut the door? Of course you wouldn't! (If you would, this is an entirely different conversation!) I truly, honestly, simply don't get it.

@whyhere I sometimes think this as well but would never say it in RL as it's so out of step with the majority UK view.

Even on here you have to be careful what you do say never mind dealing with the poor reading comprehension which is so rife.

I think it’s a great idea. Wouldn’t have to pick up cat shit from my garden before DC can play in it.

And the unsubtle passive aggressiveness when people take what you've said on face value. It's a curse, I agree! 😂😂

Exactly this.

Because it's not a child and honestly the infantilisation of animals is a whole other topic.

My sister has a cockerpoo. For those who aren't aware cocker spaniels and poodles were both working dogs. What the dog wants and needs is rigorous training and work until it is physically and mentally tired. What is gets is fussed over like a child, given its way, a long and a walk. Understandably it is bored stupid and acting up.

Cats are exactly the same. An adult cat is not a baby. An adult cat is smart and should be treated and respected as such. Young cats might be dumb as a sack of cement - I hsve a vet friend who reckons the vast majority of cats who end up on roads are a year old or younger - but the majority of adult cats are smarter than we give them credit for. Babying them benefits no one.

It jolly well benefits the cat more than being squished would!!

I live in Australia and this is the first I've heard of it. The article just says that an expert recommends keeping them in at night. I'm not saying it is a bad idea, but it's not being talked about here that I'm aware of.

I don't agree with cats killing birds and think people should think twice about owning them tbh but I'm a bit surprised at the posters saying that cats should be kept indoors or only in an enclosed run. I think keeping them inside is cruel. Like any caged animal - hamster, rabbit, bird etc. Obviously I am not suggesting letting all pets like hamsters roam free outside or whatever but just the idea of keeping any animal as a pet cooped up in a space is not fair. People shouldn't own caged animals. Time to put a stop to this cruel practice. Keeping a cat indoors is similar, in that you're limiting its natural inclination to roam.

I'm not sure if this attitude is hypocritical, ironic or just ignorant, but if we're interested in species which have a disastrous environmental impact, I'm not sure it's the cats we should be gunning for.

Yes this is how I feel

All animals have a territory and are confined to that territory. Even wild animals.

This.

@GloomyDarkness well you’ll have to continue not to understand why people allow their cats outdoors but I’m sure being an adult you can work that out for yourself and that not everyone shares the same opinion that you do (one being you think cats should be kept indoors!)

This

Are there a lot of birds out at night?

In their nests, yes. There are also small rodents. Why can't you keep them in your own garden?