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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Letting cat out or not

60 replies

Holdencaulfieldshomeboy · 01/04/2020 13:12

I have a young cat, not long been going out the house, but is slowly going out more weather depending. All neurted and vaccinated. Concerned she may bring the coronavirus in on her. She jumps on the bins to get out the back garden and then goes off, who knows where. Should I keep her in? I don't want to force my children to stay in if the cat might bring it in anyway. We aren't leaving the house at all apart from the back garden. Should I let her out or am I being neurotic? Thanks.

OP posts:
nomdefuckit · 01/04/2020 13:13

I don't think it can live on cats.

Cats are generally excellent social distancers anyway!

EerieSilence · 01/04/2020 13:14

Both of my cats are in an out. They don't transfer corona. They clean themselves. We shouldn't be going over the top now. What if you open the window and someone's just walked by on the street and had corona and breathed in your house's direction?

IrishPeaches · 01/04/2020 13:15

There's no evidence that pets can pass it onto humans so it's fine!

MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 01/04/2020 13:16

Cats are clean.

It's filthy dogs with their noses up each other's bums you need to worry about.

JammieCodger · 01/04/2020 13:17

The cat is extremely unlikely to bring it in, even if she’s one of those incredibly sociable cats who demand and get strokes from every passer by. And if she’s not like that then the chance is nil.

PositiveVibez · 01/04/2020 13:19

It's filthy dogs with their noses up each other's bums you need to worry about

Absolutely not relevant to this thread whatsoever.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 01/04/2020 13:23

You are not going to get Covid because you let your cat out Hmm.

madcatladyforever · 01/04/2020 13:23

My cat goes out...with much fuss and grumbling because my new garden is pebbles and she hates them, she wants grass. Unfortunately I can't lay grass for the old girl because of the lockdown situation.
The neighbours say she's been round to say hello a few times (looking for food more like).
I haven't seen any of the neighbours cats recently, they seem to be keeping them in at the moment.

Original poster
Holdencaulfieldshomeboy · 01/04/2020 13:33

My main concern is her bringing it in on her paws, then she jumps down onto my child's little table, what if the virus is on her paws?

OP posts:
SQuueze · 01/04/2020 13:35

That’s like so unlikely. She’d have to have padded through where someone had just sneezed, and even then she’d wear it off before getting back in the house. If you are worried put a little damp Lansing mat where she lands back in the house.

BearSoFair · 01/04/2020 13:39

Our two are in and out all day like usual, only members of the household who can keep their usual routine at the moment!

BovaryX · 01/04/2020 13:41

It's very sad what is happening to pets across the globe because people suspect them of carrying the virus. Your cat bringing the virus in on her paws is very unlikely. What about when any member of your household goes outside for daily exercise? Are you worried about the virus being brought in that way?

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 01/04/2020 13:48

I think you need to perhaps worry more about your own irrational anxiety levels before the cat. They are verging on extreme.

Zilla1 · 01/04/2020 13:51

If she is not intended to be a house cat then don't change her behaviour based on COVID, provide she only goes out for one of the four approved (feline) reasons.

caringcarer · 01/04/2020 13:56

I am letting my 6 cats come and go as they please. They would not understand if their cat flap was locked. If you are concerned about cat jumping on to child's desk just use a antibacterial wipe on desk.

cactus2020 · 01/04/2020 14:32

Ours is a monstrously popular local character stroked and petted by everyone walking past. We briefly wondered this, but really you can't do anything about it and keeping ours in would be impossible after years of being outdoors. I would let it go and focus on things you can control.

HarrietThePi · 01/04/2020 14:34

My cat would probably murder me in my sleep if I didn't let her out. As far as I'm aware there is no evidence of it being carried in by pets.

Windyatthebeach · 01/04/2020 14:37

Ime make up a cosy bed in the middle of your kitchen table and the little buggars won't go anywhere...
Day 3 of no dcat action in the house..
Chucked out at 10 pm after being asleep since 9 am. Back in the boxes til 6 am today...

Letting cat out or not
GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 01/04/2020 14:47

Mine are all still going out and my son is higher risk and a couple of them are really social, I think the risk is really slim. They can’t contract the virus or spread the virus directly, I don’t think the virus can last long on their coats and cats wash a lot. If I tried to keep mine in they’d go stir crazy and trash the place, one of them certainly he has a proper paddy when he wants letting out!

Lamentations · 01/04/2020 14:53

Good grief don't inflict self isolation on your cat. It's bad enough for us humans having to stay in.

RatherBeRiding · 01/04/2020 15:04

Yes you are being neurotic.

Doobigetta · 01/04/2020 15:25

We are living vicariously through our cat at the moment. I wouldn’t dream of keeping her in, why should she suffer just because we are? And with few cars on the roads it’s actually safer for them than usual.

DisinfectantDoris · 01/04/2020 15:27

Our little fluffy darling pees in the carpet if she's not let out (yes we have litter trays for her)... So no keeping her inside!

DisinfectantDoris · 01/04/2020 15:29

@Doobigetta I'm worried about the cars... If they get too comfortable I'm sorry worried about them getting hit when traffic returns to normal Sad Ours was sticking to out the back but as its got quieter and less scary out the front where the road it she's venturing there now!!!