To keep an indoor cat?

[AnneNonimous]

DS and I have lived in our new flat for a few months now, and as a person that has always had cats I feel that's what's missing! I'd love to get a kitten for us but I don't have a garden so would need to keep it inside with a tray. I know people do this so I'm just wondering if people thinks it's fair? And I'd be very interested to hear from people who have inside cats and how they keep them happy and healthy.

TIA

[lurcherlover]

Americans de-claw cats and use electric "invisible" fences to keep dogs in the gardens. I don't think they're the epitome of good pet owners, to be honest.

[Floralnomad]

I do think to a degree it is to do with breeding as I had a friend with two movie kittens and they were climbing the curtains to get out yet as I said our Raggie just sits by the windows . Like samu I don't think he would last 5 minutes if he got out , he has no traffic savvy , doesn't like temperature changes and is quite likely to be stolen as he looks like he'd make a lovely hat and glove set !

[Bramshott]

I would love my cat to be an outdoor cat. Sadly he has other ideas and bolts back inside if I ever take him out there !

[ComposHat]

Round our way the traffic is pretty heavy and the bastard kids seem to take great delight in taking pot shots at cats with air rifles. Inside our cat can't get into fights or pixk up diseases from other cats. in some ways she has a better life as an indoor cat.

[msrisotto]

My sister tried to keep her mog inside but it was just desperate to escape. She had to put her foot through the door first to move the cat back, before she entered the house! she gave up in the end and it was a happy outdoor cat.

Mine is an indoor ragdoll/moggy who is happy staying inside. I live in a busy area and have had cats killed on the road before so I am happy that she is safe.

[Sallystyle]

Well the Americans I know don't declaw.

I know someone who hates cats and if one came into his garden he isn't going to be nice! I do NOT agree with it at all but there are plenty of miserable bastards who aren't going to be nice if they catch one in their garden.

[prettybird]

If dh and I are going for a walk, we have to semi-block the male Siamese in upstairs and then leg it, as otherwise he would come with us!

He is a very sociable cat and we frequently see him crossing the (quiet) road to go visiting. On the other hand, our neighbours asked recently about his "sister" as they hadn't seen her in a while: we told them that they wouldn't as the weather has been too cold, so she chooses not to go outside.

Just shows the differences between cats.

[teenagetantrums]

i have two indoor cats, they are 4 now, we live in a 3rd floor flat and they dont seem to care, they hunt flies and we play with them and they have each other (they are brothers) have not read the rest of the replies but word of warning watch your windows and doors..£1800 vet bill after one of mine jumped out of the window. have to admit mine are a bit inbreeed though we have had other cats here who never did anything like that

[motherhen1949]

Yes we also tried walking our car hence to say i sat for 30 minutes with my cat on a lead with everyone thinking i was mad

[seeker]

"Inside our cat can't get into fights or pixk up diseases from other cats. in some ways she has a better life as an indoor cat."

No, she has what you think of as a better life, but you aren't a cat. Cats live in the moment, so they aren't worried about the prospect of getting run over or into a fight. What they do know is that they are confined- they can see outside and can't get to it.

People who keep their cats indoors are usually doing it because thy are protecting themselves from potential heartbreak. They are putting their own needs over those of the cat.

[juniper9]

I have an outdoor cat who is not fussed about the outdoors. When I moved into a top floor flat, she was happy being inside. Now I live in a garden flat (with no cat flap, incidentally) then she's indifferent to the world beyond. She may occassionally pop out, but it's rarely worth closing the door behind her.

Her predecessor was an outdoor cat and would have hated being indoors. But then her lust for adventure caused her death. I felt really guilty after she died as I'd allowed her to be out, but it would have been crueller to keep her in.

My point is, it depends on the cat's temperament and that's impossible to tell with a kitten. Some cats just have to be outdoors- they start climbing up the walls at the whiff of outside when they're about 4 or 5 months old.

[MaBumble]

We have two cats, Russian blues. They are very happy, and not keen on going out (to be fair I open the door when it's horrible out as we are too close to a v busy road)
But we do have a large house, where every door is propped open

We got 2 sisters from the same litter and while there is the odd territorial moment they do play a lot with each other. I understand a (neutered) boy & girl from the same litter works best.

[Spero]

Cats are predatory canrnivores. They like to roam and hunt. To keep them indoors is cruel. If you are disturbed about them crapping in gardens or killing wildlife, don't get a a cat. But they are not little fluffy toys. If you are going to keep them inside you have to provide a very stimulating environment and play with them, otherwise you are being very cruel and unkind.

[EmpressMaud]

But some breeds of cat are not suited to outdoors, would you say? They would be killed on the roads, or stolen, because of their appearance or value, their coats may be unsuitable for the climate (sunburn, and/or cold in case of Rexes or Sphynx).

[coppertop]

Ours is a lazy bugger who point blank refuses to leave the house. Personally I'd rather he went outside but he won't go.

[seeker]

I think breeding types of cwt who can't liv normal cat lives is wicked and selfish. And perpetuating such breeding is also wicked and selfish.

[Zara1984]

I have a Tonkinese and Burmese, both indoors. They used to be outdoors too, but when I moved overseas and they came with - they've been indoors.

It's much colder here than where we used to live - too cold for their thin coats. Also they are very very trusting and a thief or unscrupulous person could pick them up or hurt them very easily.

The Burmese doesn't mind being indoors, but the Tonkinese took a while to get used to it.

I would prefer to live somewhere warm with a garden but that's not the way my life is right now

[Zara1984]

Seeker I see your point, but in my case I would've had to re home my cats if I couldn't keep them indoors after moving. I thought keeping them indoors was less traumatic.

[coppertop]

Mine's just an ordinary moggy btw. It's a quiet area with lots of other cats wandering around, but ours just isn't interested.

[YouTheCat]

I have a rescue moggy that I got from Cat's Protection. They specified that they'd prefer her kept indoors in case she tried to run back to where she had been found and also because I'm on a busy road.

She has escaped once (due to me being half asleep) but just went and sat on a shed and wandered back 3 hours later - the cow.

She is happy enough indoors and at least I don't have to worry about her getting squished.

[mmmuffins]

I have two indoor cats (they have always lived indoors).

As long as you provide a suitable environment (meaning places to climb, like cat trees, and play time and affection) then your indoor cat should be perfectly happy.

[Snog]

We rescued our lovely cat 5 months ago. She is 6 years old and timid and has no interest in going out. Maybe she will want to once it warms up but I am not convinced! She doesn't really even want to go upstairs tbh but does seem happy.

[seeker]

"She is happy enough indoors and at least I don't have to worry about her getting squished."

But given the chance, she escaped. And you make my point. She isn't worried about getting squished- you are saving yourself from worry.

[Caladria]

@Seeker, antropomorphising much? I doubt indoor cats are reading Thoreau and musing on the great outdoors.

[YouTheCat]

If she's wanted to go though, she could have. But she came back. She hasn't shown much interest in escaping since (18 months ago).