To want my cat to stay indoors for a very silly reason?

[monkeysafari]

I have a 4 month old kitten. My partner wants to let her out soon. I really don't want to let her out at all, ever. Why? Because I don't want her bringing home dead, or living, birds/mice etc.

Is it really wrong to keep a cat inside? Do they have to go out??

I think it's wrong but plenty of people do it, you won't be the only one.

Your cat might not be a hunter though, not all cats bring you 'presents.'

Lots of people will tell you to keep it in anyway cos they don't like the shit in their gardens.

Personally I wouldn't get a cat and keep it in because they can get stressed out and display some weird behaviour.

Then there's the risk they'll jump out of an open window anyway and if they do, they won't be used to traffic.

Cats can live indoors, but most will want to go out. It would be hard to make a cat into an indoor cat if it doesn't want to be one, as it will try to get out every time a door or window is open.
If you don't install a cat flap, your cat won't bring you dead birds or mice into the house anyway.
she'll just leave them on the doorstep

Some cats are housecats, but they should at least have the option of being a proper cat first.

You shouldn't have a killer as a pet if you don't want their gifts.

Sorry YABU!

Our cat brings us 'gifts' all the time, but she doesn't come in with them because we've no cat flap. I say thank you, pat her on the head, then close the door, they get eaten.

Okay so the huge rabbit was a bit grim, especially when I stood in the lower intestine in bare feet... but meh, I chose to have a killer as a pet.

You cant have a cat and keep it in...that is just wrong.

Cats are hunters, if you have a cat you need to accept it as one of their traits. Some are worse than others but you cant use that as an excuse to keep him in, its not fair.

If you keep it in from a very young age it's fine as that is all it will know. If you got an older rescue cat who had been allowed outside all its life and kept it in that would be cruel. YANBU or cruel to the cat.

Dont get a cat flap. We just shut the door after our cats gone out, then when he wantsnto come in, he gets vetted through the window :D

If you keep it in from a very young age it's fine as that is all it will know
Not true, some cats make it very clear they want to go out and will make a dash for the door/window.

Sorry, YABU. If you don't want to risk the 'gifts' then you shouldn't have a cat. You get used to it

I wouldn't keep a cat indoors, but there are ways of managing it. As long as you provide plenty of opportunities for the cat to indulge in normal behaviour it can be fine. So, toys to play with to mimic hunting (which may mean you actually playing with the cat on a daily basis), opportunities to climb, run and jump, etc. Also, indoor cats can need dietary supplements, such as cat grass, which you can get online or from the pet shop.

YABU Let it out! If you don't you'll have a stinky litter tray in your home.

When we first had our cats I didn't want them going outside for fear of an accident or them getting stuck in someone's garage/shed . However when they started sitting on windowsills looking outside I had to give in as it seemed cruel otherwise.

Put a bell on her.

WRT to bells - some cats get very 'spooked' by bells, they hate it.

It's only reasonable to keep her as an indoor cat if you are prepared to put a lot of time and effort into enriching the environment so she can display her natural behaviours. You are much more likely to end up with a stressed, bored cat with behaviour problems. Next to that, the odd rodent doesn't seem so bad. You can get something called a Liberator collar that sets off an audible alarm when a cat pounces to reduce the number of prey they catch. Please get her spayed before letting her out though, they can come into season as early as 5m old.

Wouldn't keep her indoors.

If you want to look out for your neighbours train her to ue a covered litter tray and keep that in the garden when you let her out.

You can by a door where you can set it to "out" only, this means you'll be abe to let her in and that way she can't bring her kill.

Wouldn't it have been a good idea to have thought about this before you got the cat though?

Loads of cats are kept indoors but usually because there's no access for them to get outside, say if they live in a flat or something.
But if there is access I think you should let them, my cats are out all the time and yes, they do bring a lot of wildlife in.
That's what cats do.

If you want a pet you can keep indoors, get a budgie

My cat has always gone out a couple of times a day and has never brought a dead animal back. She's such chilled out thing I don't think she'd be capable of catching one tbh.

If you don't want to let it out don't have a cat.

They aren't all hunters, though. And I am afraid the most skilled hunter I ever had wore a bell- it made no difference at all- we suspected him of hunting on three legs, muffling the bell with the fourth.

Just get your dp to deal with the corpses. I am corpse clearer in this house, because dp is a wimp a sensitive soul.

Seeker

Both my cats have always lived indoors. Very happy and well adjusted cats. Now we have a garden I let them out when I am home but they rarely venture far. Litter trays are a pain but no worse than clearing up after a dog and especially if you feed them decent food. What makes me happiest is knowing my cats will never end up as road kill.

Pah to those who say it's cruel/wrong to keep a cat indoors.
No reputable breeder of cats will sell you a kitten if you admit to giving it free outdoor access - the risk of disease/injury from other cats is not one they are prepared to take for their kittens.

If your cat is bored provide entertainment, if their litter tray is stinky, clean it or feed a better quality of cat food.

Giggling out loud at the thought of seeker's cat doing ninja style hunting!

RugBugs, both the CPL and Battersea one cats to owners who openly acknowledge their intent to let the cat out.

Don't get much more reputable than BCH.