Outdoor cats in London

[Mishna]

Are there posters on here who have cats who go outdoors and live in London? Just wondering if it's safe. Do you worry at all? I'm looking at different parts of the city and trying to figure out whether I should actually live outside London for their benefit.

Loads of London is much like any other town. My cat goes outside and whilst there is a risk (same as anywhere) I don’t think it’s worse. The vet told me that very busy roads are actually less dangerous than slightly busy ones, as cats tend not to cross the very busy road as they perceive the danger.

Possibly not in Piccadilly Circus, but certainly most of the outer London boroughs are just like any other town. Parts are almost rural. Even further in, much is just urban with gardens and side streets just like anywhere else.

I'm in NE London. Quiet sidestreet, main road approx 20 houses down, at one end & more sidestrees 6 houses away at the other end. No issues . My DCat follows me to the corner shop for around 6 houses then goes no further. Her patch is v small , she's more a fan of window ledges & garage roofs other people's garden.

I live in Zone 4 - cats everywhere.

SW19 with a free range cat. When I see her outside, racing, pouncing on leaves and climbing I know that I could never have a 100% house cat.

This is reassuring! I guess I would move out to one of the zone 4 parts. I definitely don't think rural life is necessarily safer, I used to live in a village and cats were constantly getting killed in traps, by hunters, and on the road that went through: it was so quiet that the cars would come bombing down

Just needed a bit of reassurance!

Can barely move for cats here.

I think cities are safer than the countryside for the reasons you’ve mentioned!
My aunt has a London based outdoor cat who has lived his 9 lives and then some

I'm more countryside and my neighbours cat got run over last week in a little dead end turning that only us 8 homes ever use. No one admitted to it though.

West London - there are several outdoor cats where we are including our neighbours. There is quite a lot of green space where we are so their territory seems to stick to that and the local gardens judging by where I see them.

If you can live 5 min walk / a couple of streets back from the main roads near some green space hopefully their territory would be safe enough.

Most roads in London are 20mph speed limit, and often due to traffic you couldn’t go much faster if you wanted, so I think it’s as safe as any town or city for cats.

East London Zone 3.
Our cats go outside and we are in a fairly quiet estate with plenty of greenery.

Also East London zone 3. I have over 20 cats.

In fact most of London is safer than many other places as there are so many blocks of Victoria terraces with adjoining gardens and no easy access to the roads.

Semi detached houses are less safe, but in that case all depends on the roads nearby.

I have had 2 outdoor cats in London. I did have a backgarden so I didn't let them out the frontdoor onto the road, only the back but goodness knows what they got up to then.

Moved to the back of beyond - lost a cat on the quiet country lane in front of my house.

I think the London pair had more road sense.

I see quite a number on my varied daily walks in north London.

There's more to London than the Elephant and Castle roundabout!

Loads of cats round here. I don't think mine goes onto the roads much of at all.

SE15 - millions of cats here!!

Those streets of Victorian terraces where the gardens back onto each other that you get so much in London always seem to be cat paradises. You can enjoy watching the constant feline soap opera from your back window .