To think it’s cruel to keep cats indoors?

[awomensworkisneverdone]

I have two cats.. two females both 12 years old and both intelligent,affectionate and lovejy.
I couldn’t imagine confining them to just the house or garden.. now I know there are exotic breeds of cat that cost a lot of money and they are supposed to be kept in, but I can’t help think this is cruel! Cats are naturally inquisitive and have natural predator instinct they kind of come and go as they please and are intelligent animals. Someone educate me please. Is an indoor cat deprived? Do they have the same instinct as a cat who has a choice to explore? What would happen if they did accidentally leave the house? Do they use a litter tray or go in the garden? Has anyone ever had an indoor cat and then they decided to let it out? Me and my other half have discussed getting a more exotic breed when our two girls have gone.. but face having to keep it inside but I don’t think I can do that..

I think unless you have a huge house I’m inclined to agree. I don’t think cats are able to display all their natural behaviour indoors. I have pedigrees (Burmese) and they love being out, sniffing air, maintaining claws, climbing, sunning themselves on shed, chasing critters. Plus keeps them nice and slim. Only problem is their friendliness and habit of going into other people’s homes. I also suspect they are getting treats as go off their food in the summer. The v posh white Persian down the road likes nothing better than rolling around in the dirt and getting oil on his fur. They seem to cope just as well as the moggies. I appreciate some breeds might be disadvantaged outside because of body type or lack of fur.

They definitely need to roam. I know someone who keeps two cats in a wooden cage thing in the garden –it's quite big and they have shelter and warm beds in it, platforms and beams etc for exercise and so they can move around at different levels, but I still think being confined like that is unnatural and cruel.

Our cat, Alberto, much prefers being indoors, and always has done, he’s 11 now
He loves being out in the garden with us and will follow us on dog walks down to the river etc, but he doesn’t wander off on his own. We live rurally and our nearest road isn’t close to the house so haven’t kept him indoors purposely - he just prefers it. He’s not scared either and will actively ‘chase’ deer/foxes/ badgers out of our immediate garden 😂 ....they’re not bothered though and usually ignore him...ahahaha

People will argue it's safer but that's just their way to justify having an animal cooped up for their own gratification.

Cats are not supposed to be shut in houses.

I would rather not have a cat than have one that was confined indoors.

Yes, I think it's cruel - and that's despite having had 2 cats run over, even though we are quite a distance from anything like a busy road. Better a happier, shorter life, surely, than a longer incarcerated one?

My cat-loving SiL once had a rescue cat which had spent its entire life - something like 10 years - in a 9th floor flat. The poor thing was too frightened for ages to go in the garden - but loved it once she'd got used to it - for the few years she had left.

I think all animals need outside space, even if it is just a small garden. They need to roam.
If you cannot provide that then you shouldn’t have a pet. I do see it as cruel although I don’t think that is the intention.

Mine doesn't want to go out (she runs and hides when the door is open), and I'm happy about that. In the past my outdoor wandering cats always had something wrong with them - fleas, bites, weird gunk on their fur etc. or they'd go missing for long periods.

I think I'll never have outdoor cats again, to be honest. I think next time we're getting new cats, we'll look in shelters for cats that need to be indoor cats, eg. blind or other such issues.

I think it's cruel because my cat was an indoor cat for a few years and then we moved and she was able to go outside and she changed completely, she appeared so much happier and relaxed and now she comes and goes as she wants. I think she was depressed before, she used to destroy all the furniture and now she doesn't. It's hard though because there are more dangers outside but luckily she's a savvy madam and stays away from cars!

I can understand why they do it and vets and behaviourists advocate it in parts of USA - as they have predicator that will eat and go for cats.

I do find it odd in the UK – unless they are real reasons like extremely busy roads immediately near house or health reasons.

My brother has a rag doll cat which has to be kept indoors or an enclosed garden. He seems quite happy. If let out he would lie down in the road and his last thought would be what’s that big thing coming towards me! They have no sense of danger

My cat Georgie prefers been indoors, when it’s nice I leave the door open so he can go explore. He does go out for short spurts but doesn’t really like people so if there are people about he comes back in.
He used to go out longer before we moved but that was because a lady used to come round and leave the strays ham. Now he’s not fed when he goes out he doesn’t see the point

One of my old cats was an ex feral who the rescue were very worried about because they said she hated being indoors and they didn't think she was strong enough to survive outside. Once she had her paws in my house she changed totally and hated outside even though she had access to a garden when she wanted .

I am supposed to be minding an indoors only cat this summer (she normally lives in a flat) she will have to be kept indoors, but I am hoping that the novelty of life at street level and being able to see out of my front windows will keep her amused.

I'm another cat owner who has a cat who refuses to set foot outside unless it's to sunbathe right by an open back door. Not all cats want to go outside.

Keeping cats indoors is the kindest thing for the wildlife they would otherwise kill or maim. Cat ownership is just another way by which selfish humans damage the environment.

We used to have a neighbour who thought it was cruel to let a cat OUT. Kept threatening me with SSPCA!

We can't keep our current cat in when he wants out, he'll jump out the windows, but my friend has a rescue cat that will not go out under any circumstances, will not come out from under the bed when there's a stranger in the house ( ie friend's siblings)

I've seen " catios" which is an outside run for cats, ideal if you live near a main road.

It really depends on the cat , if they want to go out it's best to let them imho.

Yes, I think it's cruel. I understand why people do it, but I think if you should pick a pet based on your suitability to keep it, rather than keep it in a way that suits you.

I live directly in the middle of a busy city centre, my cat is not going out. Rather him alive than squashed under the 21A.

I think if anything it is more cruel to let them go outside and be at risk of all sorts of accidents. As well as the damage that cats cause to wildlife.

If you have a cat who is desperate to go outside then keeping them in would be cruel, but I had indoor cats who didn't know any different and were fine. If I was to ever own cats again I would try my best to have indoor ones.

As long as they have a lot of exercise and stimulation it can work out fine. They can also go on a lead for some fresh air. My ragdoll cat would have died within minutes outside.

Kept ours in for 2 years even though I knew it was morally wrong. We relented and moved house solely for the purpose of having a massive garden and quiet road for our cats.
They are old now and tend to stay in their little coppiced area of the garden. They love being outdoors. You just have to take your chances - they cannot be cooped up.

Our windows are open 24/7 when we're home, and the 15-year-old cat has never in her life gone out of one, so I guess she's just weird?

I have 3 cats - one is indoor.

The indoor one is a rescue and she just will not go outside - you can leave all the doors and windows open and she won't set foot outside. I think she must have been an indoor cat as a baby and she doesn't mind at all!

I had indoor only cats when I lived in an area that was too dangerous - the cats knew no different and were really content - if they had got out though then they would have been terrified and probably come to harm. If you have indoor only cats then they do need to be properly catered for with cat grass available, places to climb and lots of toys.
My indoor cats were not in the least pedigree!

I have a friend who is keeping her cats in now as they live where lots of cats have been mutilated - the cats have taken quite some time to adjust and aren't completely happy - so I think if they are to be indoor they need to be from kittens.

So no - I don't think it is cruel to keep cats inside as long as there is adequate space and stimulation. Some like it, some don't. I think it is a bit unfair to take away their freedom if they have been used to going outside, but it is better than dead and sometimes needs must.

I don't think it's cruel, as such but as someone who has indoor cats who now go outside, I wouldn't get cats to keep them indoor again (actually I won't ever get cats again but that's a different thread entirely).

Our two (10 and 11 or so) have just started going out in the last couple of months since we moved house and I feel a bit guilty that they spent so long being indoor cats as it's obvious they love being outside. Of course there's a risk, although remote as we're in a v quiet estate where cars go slow, that they might get knocked down and killed, but I'm willing to take it as I don't think they had much of a life inside, really. I'd rather they had a shorter but more enjoyable life, I guess.

Ours have adapted to being outside very quickly despite 10+ years of being indoor only. One mostly stays in our garden but the other one goes further. He's sometimes waiting for me on the doorstep when I come home from the shops!

I think it's cruel to me to let your cats out to crap all over my garden...

Couldn't agree more strongly. I've had two cats- one moggy who came in off the street, and one pedigree we paid a lot of money for. Both utterly miserable and stressed if unable to go out. I watch my girl in the garden, and she's alert all the time, watching and listening and sniffing the air. There's always something moving for her to chase, or plot to chase. They just don't get that level of stimulation indoors, no matter how hard you try and compensate. Yes, there are risks. I basically leave a little piece of my heart out in the open every day with no protection. But she doesn't know that. All she knows is that she goes out and has adventures and then comes home when she's tired and gets fed and dreams about squirrels. You owe that to your cat, it's what they were born to do and yes, it's cruel to deprive them of it.