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AIBU?

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Original poster

To keep an indoor cat?

129 replies

AnneNonimous · 02/04/2013 12:11

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

OP posts:
EmpressMaud · 02/04/2013 16:30

I wouldn't personally describe it as 'wicked', providing there are no health implications of preserving and continuing breeds (e.g. munchkin cats). And any behaviours are particular to, and 'normal' for, the breed.

seeker · 02/04/2013 16:32

Calabria- no, they aren't. But the people who think keeping an animal whose instinct (note- instinct) is to roam and hunt closely confined is OK appear to think that they are reading Plato and musing on the illusion of the reality they see outside the window.

juniper9 · 02/04/2013 16:40

After my last cat got knocked down and killed, I did seriously consider keeping my second cat indoors. As it is, she isn't fussed about being out anyway.

In fact, the younger one is out now whilst the older one is sitting on my shoulder and trying to lick my ears. She is a bit odd, though.

RunRabbit · 02/04/2013 16:42

Why is ok to lock your cats up indoors but not dogs? Hmm

goldierocks · 02/04/2013 16:50

I rescued a litter of kittens (5 in total; 3 girls and 2 boys) back in 1993. They were too small to go outside until after their vaccinations, so I kept them indoors. When the kittens had their injections I opened my back door and not one of them would venture outside. The back door was open almost all summer long when I'm not at work and none of them showed any interest in being outdoors, ever. They died aged 16, two at age 17, one at 18 and one at 19.

Two months after the 19 year-old died, I got another two kittens from the Cats Protection League. They came to do a home visit. My contract actually specified these were to be indoor cats due to their timid nature. It took them a month to feel brave enough to venture out of the front room and into the kitchen.

They are now nine months old and thriving. 100% indoors and 100% happy. If the experts (Cats Protection League) advise keeping cats indoors - depending on the cat's temperament - then I will take that advice.

Good luck with your kitten if you decide to go ahead....:-)

Floralnomad · 02/04/2013 16:55

Working on the theory that animals have a right to follow their instincts I should allow my dog to run riot in the street off lead killing all the local cats ,and infact nobody should keep any animals as pets . Add to that I think the instinct of lots of children is to not go to school so let's go down that road and all do as we please . It's a ridiculous conversation , some cats are happy indoors and their owners are happy having them indoors ,it doesn't make it wrong . Likewise some people leave neighbours to feed the cat when they go on holiday instead of using a cattery ,I wouldn't do it but its personal choice , it doesn't make it wrong.

Salmotrutta · 02/04/2013 16:58

I don't like the idea of indoor cats either.

That's not their natural lifestyle at all.

I have plain old Moggies who love being outside.

I agree with whoever it was who challenged American ideas about pets.

A very large proportion of US cats are declawed - and that means removing part of the digit right up to the "knuckle" - because if the cat doesn't go out it doesn't wear it's claws out effectively.

Add to that delightful things like de- barking dogs and I don't think I'd be taking pet advice from US pet owners.

FrenchJunebug · 02/04/2013 16:59

I have an indoor rescue cat. He was found badly beaten and is terrified of people apart from me and DS. He loves nothing more than sunning himself by the window and looking at the world go by and is very affectionate.

Get an indoor cat but not a kitten. There are plenty of indoor rescue cats looking for a home

anonymosity · 02/04/2013 16:59

Where I live most people do keep their cats indoors because the coyotes come down from the hills in the night and kill / eat those which are still outside. Every week there are several new signs on lamp-posts "Reward: missing kitten" etc.

Salmotrutta · 02/04/2013 17:04

I should also add that my cats also love lounging around on the sofa Hmm

Caladria · 02/04/2013 17:06

@seeker,

Oh I don't know, I can quite see my cats as Platonists. I do see your point, and I'd have agreed with you before getting my two, but they show every sign of being happy so I can either believe they are happy live in the moment creatures or assume they are thinking Henri le chat noir thoughts to themselves.

RunRabbit · 02/04/2013 17:14

Floralnomad Not sure who said to let them all do as they please Hmm

IMO it is cruel and selfish to keep cats locked inside 24/7.

You don't lock your dogs inside 24/7 but you find ways of keeping them safe. For example keeping them on leads when they're outside.

If people are so afraid of getting their cat stolen, or run over or killing other animals. Why not take it outside on a leash? or get a cat run?

Why is the only way to keep a cat safe by caging it within four walls 24/7?

Floralnomad · 02/04/2013 17:36

No one said exactly that but the implication was taken from all the comments re it being selfish and cruel . My response was intended to be extreme , however my dogs greatest wish ( IMO as his owner and having watched his behaviour ) is to kill cats ,I don't let him because its unacceptable .Yet on the other hand my mother is being cruel and selfish because she doesn't allow her cat to go out and hunt . You can't have it both ways .lots of indoor cats are very happy , if they weren't they would exhibit the kinds of behaviours seen by stressed animals in zoos/ circuses .Most indoor cats that I know are very laid back , lazy ,generally spoilt beasties who have lovely lives.

Floralnomad · 02/04/2013 17:37

Also ,if its outside in a run how is that different to being free to walk around a large house ? I know which I'd prefer .

LillethTheCat · 02/04/2013 17:41

We have an indoor cat. He was never going to be an indoor cat, but once we'd had him a bit we encouraged him to go outside and he never wanted to. We have a house though and a special cupboard where we keep the litter tray.

Snoopingforsoup · 02/04/2013 17:46

Have the critics of indoor cats here ever had an indoor cat to know what they're talking about?
Some cats can't and won't be kept indoors. Others are quite content slothing around the house all day.
I've had both indoor and outdoor cats. Here in London, there are lots of indoor cats who are happy and content. If mine did venture outside, I don't think he'd have the sense to survive.
That's my call as an owner to keep him safe. Think what you like - you've never met him!

countrykitten · 02/04/2013 17:52

I have both. We have a Ragdoll who is never to be allowed outside by himself as he is clumsy and incredibly stupid and would have a serious accident within minutes. He is allowed supervised playtime outside but is never out alone. Our Siamese is never allowed out full stop and does not want to go out. We have another (moggy) who spends most of his life outside hunting and who comes in to sleep.

Keeping an indoor cat is not cruel at all as long as it suits the cat's temperament - that is the important thing. Some cats would go crazy indoors all the time - our Raggy has not been out for months due to the weather and is happily here on my knee. Tbh - he is not bothered about going out as he is so people focused. Our Meezer is mad and runs like hell when you open the door - in the opposite direction!

A couple of things I would say about getting a cat in your situation - a kitten is really not a good idea with a small child. Rescues veto this for a reason. Also kittens should really be acquired in pairs (unless you have an existing cat) as they need a playmate and this is even more important if they are to be indoor cats.

Your best bet imo is to find an adult rescue cat who needs to be indoors and who needs to be completely spoiled and adored! You will become his/her slaves....Grin

wonderingsoul · 02/04/2013 17:53

we have an indoor cat, just a normally cat. we had her from a kitten and has never been out side. we now live ina flat. shes happy and healthy. shes lays on the window sill for sun and even sits on the windows when open, she could make a run for it if she wanted to as we are only on the first floor and always scares people when they see her sitting on an open window but she just likes to chill on there.

i would say its unfair if there used to being out side, but froma kitten you should be all right. i think alot depends on the personalty of the cat, so its usefull to see the mum.

allso Siamese and simpler breeds are quite indoorsy. but they dont tend to be as affectionate. weve allways had Siamese growing up, indoor cat to. and they only want cuddles on their term.. where as our ore is just sappy as hell and loves affection to the point you have to push her away.

countrykitten · 02/04/2013 17:55

Runrabbit an indoor cat is not 'caged' for goodness sake! You are using hyperbole and don't sound like you know cats very well. Our last cat had free access to the outside and went out occasionally until she was about 12 and then spent the next 10 years inside - of her own free will! Some cats love the warmth and comfort of being inside and are perfectly happy living like this.

countrykitten · 02/04/2013 17:57

Yes Siamese cats can be rather aloof - ours is a madam. But Ragdolls are like massive puppies and are ridiculously affectionate!

SarahStratton · 02/04/2013 17:57

I've had indoor and outdoor cats. Both were equally happy, as others have said, it really depends on the cat's temperament and whether they've been brought up as indoor cats or not.

I have 2 indoor cats now: FailCat, who is a Pixiebob; anm,d MagnifiCat, who is a Snow Bengal. FailCat has never been outside, he was 18 months old when we got him, and is, quite frankly, far too thick to ever be allowed out alone. MagnifiCat used to go out occasionally, but shows absolutely no sign of wanting to here.

They have the run of a 4 storey house, lots of interaction with us, and a lot of things to do - big multilevel cat tree, a small dog to chase, that sort of thing.

countrykitten · 02/04/2013 18:04

Grin at 'a small dog to chase'!

Just a quick word to those who have said that it is cruel to not let cats out - it would be extremely cruel of me to let my Raggy out as and when because I estimate that he would last about an hour before he got in to a very serious scrape. His chances of surviving a night outside, say, would be slim - I do not exaggerate. They are not really like other cats and cannot cope - they have a different temperament, honestly!

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/04/2013 18:10

I've had indoor cats and outdoor cats. We have 3 indoors at the moment - Maine Coons who we got as kittens at different times from different breeders. They all seem perfectly happy - they do however seem to quite like cat company and the boys especially will normally be found pretty close together.

We do have a couple of huge scratch posts though.

They're also great with our toddler - I personally am an advocate of introducing kittens and it has worked very well for us although Maine Coon kittens are a bit larger than normal (understatement alert!) We got one of our boys 2 weeks before our almost 3 year old DD was born, and we got another a couple of months ago (also a kitten) and both are amazingly good with her.

countrykitten · 02/04/2013 18:12

Love Maine Coons Smile

RunRabbit · 02/04/2013 18:14

I'm not taking about cats who choose to stay indoors. I'm talking about cats who are forced to stay indoors by paranoid owners who think the worst will happen if they let them outside.

I have a cat who prefers to be indoors actually. But on occasion he likes to go out for 5 minutes and roll around on the garden path. And I think it would be cruel and selfish of me to not let him out just because I thought someone was going to run off with him.

And as far as I know the preference for being in/outdoors can't be bred. Even cats within a breed are different. What will OP do if her kitten decides he/she wants to be an outdoor cat and is desperate to get out?

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