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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

207 replies

monkeysafari · 18/09/2012 12:54

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??

OP posts:

SparkyTGD · 18/09/2012 16:08

Think the statistics for life span are probably affected by chances of being killed on the road at any age.

Keeping them in at night is meant to minimise that risk.

aldiwhore · 18/09/2012 16:22

Catsmama our outside cat is nearly 18 and still going strong, so not sure where the statistic comes from either!

She goes out all night, that's when she hunts, she snoozes throughout the day.

Do indoor cats really live until they're 40?? lol. It seems there's two types of cats and owners. Those that want animals and those that want trophies/babies... I can't say I have an awful lot of respect for the latter type, or breeders.

WelshMaenad · 18/09/2012 16:35

Balls, my ex-MIL has four pedigree cats from three different breeders (three British Shorthairs and a Korat) and all her cats go outside. One of the breeders is also her dog groomer and comes to the house, she's fully aware and happy that the cats are outdoor cats.

OP, if you've got a cat that wants to go outside, you're going to have to get used to the idea that gifts may start appearing. My sister has two indoor cats, Russian Blues, and they are quite happy to be indoors. I have two half-Blue kittens who are 4 months old and ITCHING to get out the door, I've had to fish one out from underneath my car several times after she made a dash for it then panicked. They will go outside post-neutering at 6 months. I don't think you can keep a cat that eager for the freedom of the plains indoors for life, it will be too much stress for it and you. I nearly ended up with a Bengal cat that someone was trying to rehome, it was intended as a housecat but was making the whole family miserable with his pleas for freedom.

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 16:38

I don't 'get' the whole house cat thing but it maybe not hunt it will but let it out for a little while to be a cat, My friend said her cat was a house cat it bolted as soon as she left a door open 1 day she did come back 3 days later and pregnant the cat not my friend if you have a garden let it out

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 16:40

MY outside cat was over 18 when she died I was a lax with her boosters did worm her sometimes but she was roboust and hardy , where as my aunts inside cat died at 9 no cause of death apparently

crazynanna · 18/09/2012 16:41

My 11 month old is mainly an indoor cat...but mostly because of the local fox problem in the area (two regular adolescent cocky foxes seen in my garden).

But when she does venture out and under the fence to next door...the most she has "brought home" is sticky thistle plant things stuck to her head,and spider webs hanging from her whiskers

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 16:42

the most she has "brought home" is sticky thistle plant things stuck to her head,and spider webs hanging from her whiskers

awww

crazynanna · 18/09/2012 16:45

I know...she looks so funny. DD compares her to a teenager coming home after a night out with one shoe on

StatisticallyChallenged · 18/09/2012 16:45

I don't think choosing to have a particular breed or keep them inside means I am looking for a trophy! My front door opens directly on to a road- no pavement at all, I have no garden. They are daft as brushes and extremely pretty, and we have had a spate of cat thefts in our city over the last few years. And it's no balls, it might not be in some contracts but it's in mine!

It's funny though, pedigree cat owners seem to get a really hard time for being snobs yet many of the same people will happily discuss the merits of various dog breeds.

ratspeaker · 18/09/2012 16:46

I think the oldest recorded cat was in its late 30s

I had an outdoor cat that lived until 21, he was a bit arthritic and couldn't chase other cats out the garden but would mew plaintively until the dog came running out barking at the intruder.

Our current cat likes going out, we tried to keep him in last Guy Fawkes night, much against his will, he went out the first floor window falling onto railings , so that was a trip to the emergency vets ( thank goodness for pet insurance )

I am currently cat sitting a wee soul who will not go out at all, her owner tried various methods but kitty refuses to step over the threshold, she's not too sociable either, the cat not the owner, but she now deigns to let me brush her.

So basically its a question of cat personality, on the whole they like going out. Ours doent bring us presents
My sisters cat does the presents, a tinned peach slice, half a j cloth...

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 16:59

she sounds a stop out

30 No way really I knew a 22 yr old cat she was old and grumpy.

ErikNorseman · 18/09/2012 17:05

Fgs let her out. Cats are half wild anyway, they need to roam. I know some cats are happy indoors but this is an active kitten with no health issues - don't be unkind.

squoosh · 18/09/2012 17:08

I feel sad for all these house bound cats.

reluctanttownie · 18/09/2012 17:20

YABVVU. Why get a cat if you're not happy with basic aspects of cat ownership?

How would you like a life of forced house arrest? Indoor cats are mostly tragically bored and unhealthy from lack of exercise. It's not natural for them and IMO is totally totally wrong unless done for very good reasons (deaf, blind or FIV cats etc).

Only 1 of the 5 cats I've lived with have been hunters, anyway, so your reasoning is even more dubious than the 'I don't want precious kitty to get hurt' brigade.

patchesmcp · 18/09/2012 17:32

I obviously disagree with a lot of people because I think there is nothing wrong with having a house cat, indeed we have two. They are perfectly happy and contented.

If it was a terrible thing to do the Cats Protection League wouldn't have re-homed the cats to us. At least they can't get run over like one of my last cats :(

mrsbugsywugsy · 18/09/2012 17:45

when we got our cat from the rspca, they insisted she had outdoor access - if we hadn't been able to give her this we would have had to adopt an older or disabled cat who they felt would be suited to an indoor life.

to me it seems cruel to keep a healthy young cat indoors unnecessarily. even if they live an extra year or so on average, at what cost to their quality of life?

Mellower · 18/09/2012 17:46

Mines live indoors. It's a nightmare I can never open windows wide!! No birds though, smelly litter trays instead!

BertieBotts · 18/09/2012 17:46

Keeping cats in is okay for some cats/reasons but I have to disagree massively with your reason. Why did you get a cat if you don't want it to kill things? Get a rabbit instead.

YABU.

Mellower · 18/09/2012 17:47

EH?

Just read a few comments on this thread, some cats cannot got out, they are too thick!! They don't "get" traffic, or horrid people trying to steal them!

Mellower · 18/09/2012 17:48

Mines do have an "outhouse" though.....mines are spolied, they have cat trees and cat nip and lots of toys!! I also have one who goes out, she gets in fights and gets fleas and is generally a weird little thing but still I love her!!

Pancakeflipper · 18/09/2012 17:56

Our old cat was 21 when he died. He loved being outside. One night he rewarded us by bringing a frog into our home.. Oh the fun we had that night with that bouncy frog and us chasing it around the house....

I bet you barricade your cat in OP.

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 19:15

Jay cat once put a mouse head in my bed I have never shrieked so loud in my life she looked hurt I didn't like it

LadyBeagleEyes · 18/09/2012 19:19

Mine bring in everything. I've had mice, birds, stoats, moles, baby rabbits and a couple of snipes.
They haven't always been dead, I have rescued a few things and put them back outside.

Mrsjay · 18/09/2012 19:21

ive rescued baby birds dead things dont' worry me tbh cats hunt its nature but if they are still alive and if i could rescue them then I would, The mouse head was a wee bit sinister though

SarahStratton · 18/09/2012 19:28

Mine live inside, neither of them have ever been outside and they both show absolutely no interest whatsoever in going outside. They do have plenty to do, a very big cat climbing station, and lots of attention though.

Some cats aren't interested in going outside, particularly if they've never had the opportunity.

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