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..

awomensworkisneverdone
If my neighbour came to me and told me that my cat was often shitting in their garden, I'd be a decent human being and keep it inside or find a way to get my garden enclosed. It's not fair. I don't give a toss about the cats right to roam. It's not fair to the people who's garden it's taking shits in and it's certainly not worth more than my child's health. And I love cats, especially my own indoor one.

Freudian mine has developed a love of peering into next doors garden. I thought he might want to hunt but it turns out there's just a bush he likes sleeping under

I don't give a toss about the cats right to roam.

And that's the biggest problem.

rainbow sadly, I know exactly how the world works - people do exactly what they like, with scant regard for the people and nature around them. Because most people are selfish cunts. Just have a read of the recent neighbour thread to see how utterly selfish and inconsiderate the majority are. Or look at the beauty spots I walk my dog at, which are blighted by piles of dog shit and plastic poo bags left/hung up. And litter. And fly tipping. And twats who are careless or malicious about starting fires.

Every single one of these relates to HUMANS.

Nothing to do with how things work in the wild. Cats will kill yes, but so will birds. They eat worms. My point about how the world works wasn't about people being cunts, it's was about how animals behave naturally.

I have two pedigree indoor cats, I keep them in because I know they'd only last a couple of months on the busy roads near us. I have seen them sit in the middle of the road and not move when a car comes when they have escaped, it's quite remarkable.

They have no danger instincts, their mother was a house cat as well so they didn't learn any survival skills as kittens.

Mine go in our garden frequently with us and we have a large house, bigger than most cat territories I would think.

I think it depends on the cat and depends on the house but I believe they have a decent life.

I have an 18 year old cat....she spent most of her life shut outdoors with little shelter or comfort....i took her on 18 months ago and she prefers to stay in the house....if i go outside she will follow me but will dart back inside as soon as i do...i think she is terrified of being locked outside again.

Cats will kill yes, but so will birds. They eat worms. My point about how the world works wasn't about people being cunts, it's was about how animals behave naturally

The fact that it happens naturally isn’t the point. What the end result is, is that I end up dealing with the consequences of a pet that isn’t mine.

Clearing up a dead worm is far less onerous than clearing up next door’s cat’s latest kill...

rainbowdash sorry, I don't quite follow, what's the problem? If it has become known to you that your cat is consistently shitting in your neighbors garden, and their 2 year old grandchild gets covered in cat shit camouflaged amongst autumn leaves, which could have made him very ill indeed, you're just going to say "meh, my cat has rights" odfod.

It is definately not cruel. I have 2 cats. One outdoor and one indoor. The back door is currently wide open and said indoor cat is sleeping on the bed as he can't be bothered to go outside. At most he will sit outside for 2 mins - do a quick assessment that being outside is pointless- and then he will come back in. Even if I am outside for hours in the garden with the door open he stays inside.

I think it's cruel, unless the cat has a medical reason for being kept inside, or you have a huge house with attics/cellars for them to play in.

Keeping it indoors because you're afraid it will get lost/stolen/matted seems unkind. It's a living animal not an ornament!

kitten

No. I never said anything of the sort

Mine have ventured out now as there is a gap in the deluge. They don't look impressed but they have the choice. I would hate to take that away from them even if I am a crap rain switcherofferer.

rainbowdash Well, you did insinuate that my way of thinking was the problem? My post was specifically about cats who shit all over people's gardens, was it not? Well, the one on the previous page, anyway.

I've got two indoor cats. One has got to be kept indoors as she is blind but the other could go out if she wanted. She doesn't want to. I could leave the front door open all day and she still wouldn't leave.

Cats, much like people, are not all one homogenous mass.

I have two pedigree ragdolls, I signed a contract agreeing to them being house cats. They go for walks on their harness but would be clueless alone

Freudian mine doesn't hunt
"Friends mama, not food". He runs away from spiders

No kitten

Peoples complete disregard for cats needs are what I disagree with. The cats that don't want to go out because they come from generations of house cats it's not normal for the cat.

And I should add kitten that I already stars I do not have a cat. The reason for this is simply because I live in an area where it is not generally safe for cats to roam (near main road) so I put the cats needs before my own desire and simply do not own one

The cats that don't want to go out because they come from generations of house cats it's not normal for the cat.

The cat I have who doesn't want to go out was a stray moggie who came from a family of local ferals.

Depends on the cat. With some who want to wander, it's cruel. With others who don't want to set a paw outside, and definitely not at the slightest hint of rain, it's not.

2 oriental girls-live on a busy road-house cats-but let out under supervision. They are perfectly happy girls with the most beautiful temperaments

It's not 'cruel'!!!! It may not be ideal in certain circumstances, but it isn't cruel. Starving a cat, beating a cat, abandoning a cat etc are things that are cruel.

Yes YABU.

I have three cats, one who comes and goes as she pleases but rarely goes far and is back within the hour usually.

The other two are indoor cats who I will let in the garden with me if I'm there. One is a British shorthair who won't go outside on her own, she panics if you close the door if she's in the garden and will only come out if you sit outside with her. She never attempts to leave the garden, she barely even makes it to the end of the garden!

The other one has a back leg amputated and, whilst he would love to go adventuring and I would love to let him, it isn't safe. He gets stuck in people's gardens because he can get over fences one way but not the other (depending on what structures he is able to use to help him climb them!) and then is attacked by other cats because he can't escape.

Cats are individuals too! I agree it's nice to let them go out if they want to but it doesn't work for all of them.