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..

Mine definitely has the choice, Ive been at home with the window open since 5pm. He hasn't been out, had a quick glance out but not interested. If he does go out then he's in by dusk and isn't allowed out at night

Our rescue cat has to be an indoor cat because he has a compromised immune system... he’s not remotely bothered that he can’t go out.

My cat is indoor through choice. She used to be a feral cat but since I've had her she shows no interest in going outdoors.
Doors and windows are open all the time, esp in good weather, so she could easily go if she wanted to.

Wow, a lot of people commenting on this post are morons who don't deserve to own cats. It's so cruel to keep your cat confined. I feel sorry for your animals if you imprison them...

Have you ever tested your cat for diseases you say they don’t have? You know that almost all the outdoor cat population carry the calici virus? You know that if they get into a fight with a cat infected with FIV (feline aids) they can catch it? Unless you’ve blood tested your cats you have no way of knowing if they carry any of them or not.

I’d say people leaving their animal to be killed are morons and cruel but I’m capable of having a debate without resorting to shouting insults at other posters.

They actually get depressed when they're forced to stay inside.

Ha ha ha! What are you, a pet psychiatrist? Oh you've given me the biggest laugh all day!

My cat has been inside for ten years. No suicide attempts so far!

I've got a moggy from Cats Protection, he's gorgeous. He can go out but I'm funny about leaving him out all night. My husband thinks I'm barmy for calling him in last thing at night, if he wasn't allowed out at all he'd probably arrange for me to me psychiatrically looked at!

I can see people's point on busy roads - I used to live somewhere busier, but then we just stuck with dogs. I wouldn't have had a cat where we lived before because I've always assumed cats need to be let out.

Wish my neighbor would keep her cat I'm, keeps shitting in the plant pots that my young children have worked hard on with their flowers. Its absolutely foul and I'm pissed off that I have to keep cleaning up someone else's pets shit. If I took my dog over to her garden and let it shit there I'd get fined yet its fine for her cat to do it to mine.

Inside cats don't kill wildlife. And enough with the 'natural predators', cats are not a natural component of the British ecosystem they are domestic introductions.

My older cat has epilepsy so has to be kept inside. We fostered the younger cat when she was taken from her mum too early and the older cat pretty much adopted her. We couldnt split them up as they are so close so now that cat is indoor only as well. They have the run of the whole house, and multiple cat trees. They are perfectly happy.

Let’s look at the cat rescue centres in the UK, litterally overwhelmed with cats and kittens, ones that have been left unneutered, got lost, been injured etc. If all cats were indoors we’d solve the rescue situation very quickly! Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, using the “wild animal” argument no longer applies. If cats were so wild and capable of hunting you wouldn’t see the stick thin ones that come into rescue because no one has been feeding them.

Hahaha. Well none of my cats have attempted to throw themselves down the stairs in their 8 years of life because they are depressed but I will update you the moment they do.

😂😂

Oooh nice insult the person who is concerned for native species, you really prove your lack of IQ when you resort to name calling. No wonder you have outdoor cats, I wouldn't want to live with you either.

Absolutely hate the 'they're wild animals' point. People could say the same about dogs, we aren't all letting them roam freely and shit in peoples gardens though can you tell how annoyed it makes me

I think you’ll find if you do research it’s an uncontrollable instinct in any feline to hunt.

I'm not sure if that was aimed at me, or whether you just happened to post it after my post, mywoman, but that was kind of my whole point - of course it's their natural instinct; that's why I don't want them in my garden with 'my' wildlife!

Proper lol at cat-proof your garden. How, exactly?

You get the non-injuring spikes or rollers for the tops of all your fence, Past, or the overhanging cat-proof things that they can't get over. Simples, really, but people can't be arsed to spend the money because they don't have to. If your dog gets out and causes havoc, you'll get into a lot of trouble, so... surprise surprise, responsible dog owners dog-proof their gardens. You're not obliged to do it with your cat, so you don't, because you don't care what your cat does outside your garden. It's as simple as that.

Lol at my cats being depressed. I've never known happier sunnier natured creatures.

My cat is the most playful and affectionate one I’ve ever owned; indoor or outdoor!

The thing that amazes me about these that’s is that people will openly say things like “oh my cat is so thick I couldn’t possibly let it out out, it’d get killed immediately” as if that means buying an animal (and therefore support its breeding) that is as thick as mince is somehow mitigating! These people are still cruel. Same as people who buy deformed bracycephalic dogs, hairless guinea pigs and keep birds in cages are cruel.

keepingup you can’t compare letting cats roam free with letting dogs roam free!! They are completely different animals with different natures and behaviour.
If dogs were allowed to roam around, they would quickly form into packs, terrorising everyone.
As regards crapping everywhere, dogs do that anyway, it’s only the owners who pick it up!

Dog shit litters the pavement round here so I doubt every owner bothers to pick it up.

oh my cat is so thick I couldn’t possibly let it out out, it’d get killed immediately” as if that means buying an animal (and therefore support its breeding) that is as thick as mince is somehow mitigating!

I did not buy either of my cats. One is blind and deaf so cannot leave the house and one is a former stray who won't leave the house.

We always had outdoor cats growing up but many of them were incredibly stupid. None of them were pedigree, just common or garden moggies.

But go ahead and continue ranting if it makes you happy.

I think you’ll find if you do research it’s an uncontrollable instinct in any feline to hunt.

Not my two. I let them in to the back garden when it's warm and dry. There was an abandoned vole from a neighbourhood hunter on the path and my girl ignored it and the boy sniffed it, poked it and freaked out and ran back inside. Wouldn't come out until I had binned the corpse. They get distressed if I close the back door when they are outside- they prefer human company and always have done.

In the house they will watch if we have a daddy long legs and sometimes will follow it around the room, but if they spot a cotton bud or a bottle top they'll go after them instead.

As for cat toys? They have a fucking bucketful. Nope, they want nothing to do with them. They'll play with the point from a laser pointer for about 5 minutes and then will just sit and stare at the person who's moving it around.

Their vet is very happy with them, especially for their age and they both have a Grade 2 heart murmur and have since kittenhood which hasn't got worse and the vet thinks it's because they haven't been stressed by being let out. They are now 15 years old.

I am happy that they are house cats- they are safe, happy, healthy and sociable animals, and I don't think it's cruel for cats to be kept as such.

Urgh they are not ‘wild animals’ they are bred to be pets. Cats don’t Magically fall from the sky and need homing. It’s just a pet rat but one that shits in other people’s gardens and kills wildlife.

I would happily ban outdoor cats. Make them all have a curfew and give the birds a chance.

puffycat I am and can compare someone else's PET to my PET. I'm responsible and clean up after mine, they let theirs shit in other peoples gardens putting my child at risk. My children like gardening but we've completely given up on the front now as they keep getting shit on by someone else PET. If you have a pet you're responsible for what it does, surely....yet for some reason I've not a leg to stand on with this as people like.you excuse it and it pisses me right off.

Yes, the streets are full of dog shit, the owners can and should be fined if caught....why is it then no different for cats?! Anyone, dog or cat owner, is selfish if they allow their pet to foul and not clear it up. If you let your cat roam free you shouldn't have one IMO as you aren't being responsible for cleaning up after it and that's disgusting.