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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have a house cat?

88 replies

NancyCaroline · 27/09/2015 22:45

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?

OP posts:

Brummiegirl15 · 28/09/2015 07:10

I had an indoor cat. He was a rescue cat and had lived in a lorry drivers cab before he came to me, so zero interest in going outside.

He was all black and so beautiful and he lived to be 19 yrs old. Couldn't care less he didn't go outside and was actually scared of it. When we used to drive home and see my family we'd open the back door for him and he'd stand on the step with me but would never venture any further .

He was very happy and very content and I miss him so much!!! Vet said being an indoor cat is how he lived to be 19 yrs old.

Speak to the shelters, they will have indoor only cats

Oh and buy the best litter you can afford, makes all the difference

ProvisionallyAnxious · 28/09/2015 07:29

I see PPs have pointed out that the idea of what is cruel r.e. indoor / outdoor cats very much differs from place to place!

There are some excellent websites out there - mostly US-based that Ivey come across - with great advice on keeping an indoor cat happy. Basically you have to play with them a lot and think creatively to allow them to engage in the kinds of behaviours they are genetically inclined towards ('hunting', climbing etc). Two pieces of "cat kit" I saw as recommended for indoor cats was a) a cat tree and b) a puzzle feeder.

YouTheCat · 28/09/2015 07:39

My moggy is a rescue and an indoor cat. I was advised when I adopted her that she would probably abscond if allowed outside and also that, as I live right on a main road, they recommended that I kept her in.

She's happy and healthy and not squished.

HackerFucker22 · 28/09/2015 08:01

We have a very happy and healthy not to mention very spoilt house cat.

She has always had limited access to some outside space but is completely litter trained - so she comes in to do her business. Our current house has a small roof terrace which she lays out on in nicer weather.

GravityLucy · 28/09/2015 08:22

Have you considered being a fosterer for a shelter? You could help lots of cats that way.

Thefitfatty · 28/09/2015 08:35

We have 5 rescues who are very happy house cats. House cats live longer and are healthier then those allowed to roam. I'm a member of several animal rescue organizations and we always recommend people keep their cats indoors.

marzipancustard · 28/09/2015 08:39

I have 4 house cats only one of which has any interest in the outdoors. We've got half a dozen cat trees and lots to entertain them. I personally think it's U to have outdoor cats unless you're in a very safe area miles from busy roads. After losing our old boy to a car speeding all our cats will be indoor - it's just not worth the risk.

MyrtleMoaning · 28/09/2015 08:46

I have two house cats, and a permanent foster cat he's mine all mine. None of them show the slightest inclination towards going outside, and the foster in particular, who was a stray, seems horrified by the idea.

Better to be a loved indoor cat in a loving and stimulating environment imo, than be outside with all the risks of traffic, etc, whilst decimating the wildlife.

Brioche201 · 28/09/2015 08:51

They don't seem to give off "that" cat smell

a well cat shouldn't smell?

StatisticallyChallenged · 28/09/2015 08:53

We have 3 house cats - maine coons, from 3 different breeders and in each case the breeders recommend (and put in the contract) that they should be kept indoors. Mainly cos they're a bit dense, ridiculously friendly and easily nicked I suspect!

Mine are happy, have never gone outside and show no interest in doing so. We have big scratchposts, toys, high rise beds which they can lounge on whilst looking down on their humans...

I wouldn't try to keep a previously outdoor cat in though. That would be cruel

mmmuffins · 28/09/2015 08:53

YANBU, some areas are not suitable for cats to roam, basically those near a busy road. I lived on a busy 40mph country road for a year and know at least four cats were hit by cars on my street during that time :(

My two cats have been indoor cats, and outdoor cats depending on where we live. They do fine as both, and there was only one property where they seemed to enjoy properly roaming at - a farm!

aibubenadhem · 28/09/2015 09:23

FurryFucker here was a rescue cat who had never been outside and is in fact scared of it. I've never felt quite right about it but he has a better life than he'd have had without us.

Fizzielove · 28/09/2015 09:44

We've been adopted by a cat! A lovely black one eyed male! He comes and goes as he pleases .

Can I ask why as other PP have said that black cats are the hardest to rehome?

WhatstheT · 28/09/2015 09:44

We have two female house cats, very happy, play, run, chase, "hunt" very cuddly and tame. If we are out in the back garden they will come out too, but never roam any further, never try and escape from open doors or windows..etc. very content.

We don't have a huge house, just a terrace on a busy road.

We had a male house cat before that, no problems with him either.

There's positives and negatives to everything and depends on the cat's temperament of course. But with cars, illnesses, so many strays where we live, opportunity for them to be poisoned accidentally...etc we decided to try to have indoor cats, and it was great.

Lots of cat experts actually support having cats indoors and creating safe outdoor environments for them and "catios" Cat's outdoors can be put under a lot of stress, especially if there are a lot of neighbourhood cats.

If you decide not to get a kitten, and adopt, cats protection will help you find an indoor cat, that's where we got out first cat from and we specified we hoped to keep them indoors so they helped us find one that was already and indoor cat.

TheBunnyOfDoom · 28/09/2015 09:52

I have two house cats, siblings. We live in a flat with no outdoor access, and they've never been outside nor show any interest.

The tom requires a special diet and I wouldn't want to let him out in case someone tried to feed him - he's very good at pretending to be starving but too much of the wrong food could kill him, so he's safer in doors.

His sister is terrified of her own shadow and won't go near an open window let alone outside!

PuppyMonkey · 28/09/2015 09:56

I have a Ragdoll cat who doesn't really go outside. She can if she wants to as we give her access etc but she's just not that into outside.

AngelBlue12 · 28/09/2015 09:59

We have 3 indoor cats and they are fine - we live on a 60 mile an hour road and when we first moved here had two cats run over, I would never have outdoor cats again.

Over the years we have had cats killed by neighbors dogs and even one that was shot by a game keeper.

Indoor is the way to go - we are going to build an outdoor run for them next year so that they can get fresh air when they feel like it.

cantbelievemyeyes · 28/09/2015 10:22

Another YANBU. I've had two older cats, that I adopted, who had never been outdoors. Both happy, healthy, no behavioural problems etc. Current cat is 15 now and no-one could say she hasn't had a good life.

Fizzielove I think black just isn't as popular/ attention grabbing- people are often more attracted by striking colours like ginger, white, grey or fancy markings. The plain black cats are always being overlooked for something prettier.

Original poster

NancyCaroline · 28/09/2015 10:27

Thank you for all the replies. I feel better about the idea now. I think I'd go for a cat who has always been indoors (although FurryFucker was an outdoor cat until she came to me and seems perfectly happy. She is 9 though so might have something to do with it!)

I had no idea that in other countries keeping cats indoors was the done thing! Although I can understand why.

To the PP who mentioned having 13 cats- I'm just planning the one! (Although I may be swayed if 2 come in a pair)

OP posts:

Muckogy · 28/09/2015 10:32

i think its really, horribly cruel to never ever allow a cat out of doors.
how would you like to be locked up inside your flat until you die?

Marynary · 28/09/2015 10:36

Some cats don't like going outside anyway but you probably won't know that until you get the cat. Unless it needs to be kept in for safety/health reasons, I think it is cruel to keep them inside if they really want to go out. I think that you should ask the animal shelter for a cat that can't go outside anyway (for whatever reason).

SlatternLikesToRest · 28/09/2015 10:49

I had 2 house cats as I lived on an end terrace of a road that was a notorious 'rat run' for commuters. Poor things would have been dead in a week. As I had them as kittens it was all they ever knew and they were fine.

When I did finally move to a house that was suitable to let them out they were too lazy old to be bothered with going out and were quite happy to stay in.

A person once threatened to report me to the RSPCA for not letting them out! Honestly you couldn't have had 2 more contented moggies so I suggested they report away. I never heard anything further.

I gave 2 beautiful cats a loving and comfortable home for their entire cat lives. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it.

StatisticallyChallenged · 28/09/2015 20:16

Prize for projection goes to Muckogy

Firstly, it's a cat. Not a human.
Secondly, it's about 1/20th - 1/10th of my size. So my home is pretty generously sized by comparison.
Thirdly if being outside meant I would be likely to get run over by a giant vehicle hundreds of times my size driven by someone who might not be able to see me (childhood cat), killed by a fox (recent cat, long story), abused by vicious children/teens (numerous local stories) then hmm...being indoors sounds good
Fourthly if I'd never been outside and had slaves to give me unlimited pampering, attention, feed me, keep me water, provide entertainment...meh I'd cope just fine tbh.

You'd struggle to find more contented happy cats than mine.

Junosmum · 28/09/2015 20:47

A lot of rescue centre's will have a timid cat which would suit being an indoor cat. Rescues know their animals well and would point you in the right direction, it may mean waiting for the right cat. My friend had an indoor cat, it had fHIV, wasn't ill though and they got free vet care because of it (through cats protection) it was a lovely cat, happy to be in doors.

Some cats will never adapt to being indoors, one of mine certainly wouldn't. I also think that on the while it's a bit mean, but there are exceptions such as outlined above.

YouTheCat · 28/09/2015 20:50

I'd happily live the life of a house cat.

Someone to feed me.

Plenty of attention.

Best places to sleep.

Space to have the odd mad half hour.

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