to have a house cat?

[NancyCaroline]

Posting here for traffic. More of a WWYD.
For the past 4 months I've been fostering a cat. As background, I've wanted to get a cat for a long time, but as I live on the first floor and on a busy road, I ruled it out. Then this came up as an emergency and I took her in for a friend as she (cat, not friend) had no where else to go. Anyway, She's going back to her owner next week and I already feel bereft! even though she can be an irritating little furry fucker!

She doesn't seem at all bothered by not going outside but I don't know how I feel about making that decision for a kitten/cat. I always thought it was a bit cruel.

Opinions?

Yes, a black or black and white cat, they are the hardest to home (and are lovely, I've had 4).
A shelter should be able to match with you with an indoor cat.
Post on 'the litter tray' thread. Lots of cat advice on there.

There are lots of cats that need to be kept as indoors-only furbabes. As mentioned FIV+ but also deaf or blind ones who are incredibly hard to re-home. Older cats tend to not want to go out that much and they are the second band of hard-to-rehome. Any sensible shelter will likely cry with joy if you enquire.

Somewhere out there is a pusscat who is waiting just for you.

Margaret FurryFucker has a beautiful cat bed. She prefers to sleep in a box she dragged out of the recycling

We bought some super lovely expensive cat beds but they refused to even go near them. They love the cheap ones from Home Bargains though.

I order all their food and litter online and always order toys as well, but when their parcel arrives they have no interest in the toys but love the bit of plastic that's tied around the box.

I've got 2 house cats, they hate the outside! The don't like loud noises, strangers, dogs or other cats they're happy, they don't even try and get out the door since I tried to let them be outside cats. They're happiest indoors so I'm not going to force them to go out. They've got 2 very large cat climbing trees and get extra play time and they're perfectly happy. Plus this way there isn't a chance they could get run over or poisoned and I live near main roads.

Ha she also loves a wire. I had to give her my old laptop charger to stop her electrocuting herself on my phone charger!

I'm really going to miss her FurryFuckerness

Black cats that turn red in older age do so because of too much exposure to the sun, I read that on here.

That makes sense MissMarple (SUCH an appropriate name!) He absolutely loved the sun and was either to be found on the garden table or following the patch of Sun as at tracked across the living room!

One of my black cats is a bit red in places. He had a grey belly for about a year after he was neutered and had to be cut open because they couldn't find one testicle, it must have been the trauma!

Aw, Nancy, I hope you get another little cat (or cats?!) in your life soon. I couldn't imagine not having one around now.

I have three cats I did have four but he died:(
They are all indoor cats and I have a relatively big house so there is plenty of room. Two of them were dumped outside my partners work so had been outside and been a bit feral but they have no problem being inside. They do need extra entertainment though and decent litter we use the silica gel one from home bargains it is so much less stinky!

Worth looking to rehome an older cat who won't mind being indoors, or one who has never been outside (or of course a kitten, who won't have known any different) if feel less comfortable about a cat who has previously been allowed to roam, being kept indoors.
As long as you have plenty of space, and are prepared to spend time playing with it/providing stimulus to keep it busy, and ensuring the litter tray is kept clean, there's no reason not to keep a cat indoors.

If you've any doubts or queries, talk to your local shelter, they should have advice for you, and many will make a home visit to check out your house before rehoming, so will be able to guide you as to how to make your home cat friendly.
Good luck

Nancy you've just proved the theory correct

We have two cats. The female chooses to stay indoors, snoozing on her bed (which she has pushed off the table so it rests on the radiator) and gazing out the window. She is scared of "outside". She is very content indoors while my male cat likes being out on the shed roof.

So there are cats which prefer being in.

In my country of origin, cats are usually strictly indoors. Some people even consider it bad stewardship to keep them outdoors or even allow them out. Cats are cons good, relatively low-maintenance pets for people living in apartments with no gardens.

I think the relatively small size of average British homes means that keeping the litter box inside is more difficult.

I have 3 house cats. I find it easier and less stressful. They have each been outside/inside cats before but one went missing for 5 days and I was really sad and worried. They also can get fleas, ticks and other diseases from outside. They love being indoors and don't cry to go out. Cats sleep most of the time anyway. I say go for it, get a rescue cat you will fall in love.

They each have their own litter tray which is disinfected, washed and changed at least twice a day. You will need to keep on top of it so you don't get any smells.

Ragdoll cats are specifically house cats too

We have two house cats now, since moving overseas to a place where cats are not allowed outside. Our two old boys occasionally show an interest in making a dash for it outside the house, but generally are very happy indeed to be insiders

My kitten is a housecat. I live on a higher floor. There are also a lot of thefts of wandering cats and also dogs left in gardens by people who use them as bait for dog fighting.
A local friend lets her cat out and had very expensive vets bills due to her cat fighting and ended up with quite a nasty infection

PETA, The American Humane Association, Petfinder, and every Vet I've ever had recommends keeping a cat indoors only. In fact, if you get a cat from a shelter here in the US, you have to sign an agreement that you won't let the cat outside.

If you're looking for something closer to home, I found this article (NOT the Daily Mail):
www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/pets/should-we-feel-guilty-about-keeping-cats-inside-9736751.html

Someone I know has 13 indoor cats,in a 2 bed terrace. They work full time and while they're working they lock all the cats in one bedroom. That's just cruel IMO but I'm sure just a few cats kept as housecats do very well.

In Australia, it's recommended for wildlife preservation reasons to keep cats indoors, particularly at night. Near where I live is a 'cat-free' estate - again, for the same reasons. Your cat will be just fine indoors. If you really want him to get some air, you can get a special cat leash and take him for a walk

There are some cats who can't be let oput and are ideal for people in flats, contact your local rescue.

Cats with FIV can't be allowed out, and if you get one from Cats' Protection they will cover medical treatment for life.

I think the adopting a cat with FIV (or other health needs) is a brilliant idea. I would strongly advise not adopting a small kitten, rather an older cat who obviously prefers the indoors. All the cats we have had (all adopted) have been desperate to get outside to the point of climbing out of upstairs windows. It would have been very challenging to restrict them to indoors.

I live on the fifth floor and have two indoor cats. One would like to go outside sometimes, but the other is perfectly happy and barely even looks out the window.

In Australia, most states are changing cat-ownership laws to make it illegal to let your cat roam outside.