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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:

Junosmum · 28/09/2015 20:52

Some cats cope well being indoor cats, I don't think it's just a case of getting them as kittens though- one of ours was 13weeks old when it made a dash for outdoors at every opportunity (upstairs Windows, downstairs Windows, running for the front door etc)

SecretNutellaFix · 28/09/2015 21:06

Mine have been housecats for 12 1/2 years and are perfectly content. They have forays in to the small back yard in summer when I'm working out there, and are very happy. I always know where they are, I can monitor any health issues, there are no fight wounds, I don't have to worry about the shitbags who use the estate as a ratrun hitting them with their vehicles.

They sit on the windowsills and sleep wherever they damn well please. They have toys to play with but prefer the challenge of bottle tops and cotton buds. :)

The vet is very happy with their condition and I currently have the heavier lump lying up my thigh and clawing my stomach. His sister is sulking next to my husband because she still has to wear a Buster collar due to her biting herself while grooming about 10 days ago; and can't fit next to the laptop.

ComposHatComesBack · 28/09/2015 21:32

We live in a 3rd floor flat and got our house cat from the Sspca. She was eight when we got her and ahe has been a housecat all of her life. She shows no interest in going outside and seems perfectly content. We live in the city centre and the busy traffic along with lots of other cats contesting a comparatively small territory she is probably better off inside. In Australia and parts of the US where there are many more wild animals that would attack a domestic cat, a great deal many more cats are house cats.

TheCatsMother99 · 28/09/2015 22:36

I think it all depends on the cat. FWIW, when my mother was re homing a cat from the RSPCA even though the cat was almost completely blind they weren't happy that my mum was originally thinking to have him as a house cat and they asked/told her to let him go outside otherwise they pretty much wouldn't re home a cat with her.

Skullyton · 28/09/2015 23:34

my cat has garden access, but she only pops out for maybe 20-30 mins at a time, mostly to go chase frogs and sit in the sunshine.

She's still 80% house cat and perfectly happy.

As long as they're stimulated, indoors is fine.

YouTheCat · 28/09/2015 23:39

My house cat had a fight with another cat through a slightly open window. She's a vicious little madam. I hate to think what she'd be like if she got her paws on another cat.

Original poster

NancyCaroline · 29/09/2015 18:11

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely going to be looking into adopting a rescue cat once FurryFucker has gone back to her owner. It just won't feel right not to have someone bossing me around and bravely protecting me from wires. Plus, I've not seen a spider all September and I suspect she is the reason!

OP posts:

OTheHugeManatee · 29/09/2015 18:30

Some rescue cats need to be indoor only, eg cats with FIV. Adopt one of them and you're doing a good deed. It's only when people have healthy, energetic young cats and force them to stay in that it's a bit cruel.

blacktreaclecat · 29/09/2015 18:43

I have 2 black rescue moggies as house cats. We had them both from kittens, neither has been outside at all. They seem perfectly happy. We have a large house and they have their own playroom (shared by DS train table!) with a large cat tree.
All the vets I have spoken to are happy with them being house cats, because they deal on a daily basis with cats who have been hit by cars. The average lifespan of a house cat is 14, of an outdoor cat it's 5, because so many are lost to the road.
I know it's a balancing act but I would be so upset if one of mine was run over. It depends on the cat and also on where you live.

limitedperiodonly · 29/09/2015 19:50

My adopted cat was a housecat but I take him for daily walks. That's not strictly true - he takes me and I wouldn't dare insult him with a lead. He refuses to go out unless it's sunny and loudly blames me if it's cold or rainy.

Mumtodogs · 29/09/2015 20:52

Another vote for contacting your local rescue - many have older cats or FIV positive cats who'd love a safe,indoor home with lots of cuddles! let them know what your circumstances are and they may be able to match you up!

GinLimeandLemonade · 30/09/2015 12:26

We've got two housecats. We've had them since they were kittens. They've never been out since they were abandoned by their Mum at a week old so they don't know any different. The rescue and the vet encouraged us to keep them indoors but we'd already decided we would anyway because of the amount of cats that go missing/get hit by cars round here. They're happy and healthy and spoilt

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 30/09/2015 12:52

Aww. I'm melting here, imagining tiny week old cute vulnerable trusting kittens. What a wonderful experience that must have been to rear them and see them flourish.

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