"Indoor cat"

[ilovesouthlondon]

Is it cruel to keep a cat indoors and never let it out? Opinions please!

Absolutely depends on the cat. I used to think it was a bit cruel to keep cats indoors but many of them seem perfectly happy. If I could only have an indoor cat, I’d pick a blind, deaf, tripod or FIV cat.

@Ponoka7

Unless it's a breed suited to being indoors, it's cruel. Have you enjoyed lick down and staying in? We have lots to amuse us, so why did any of us need to go out?

There are older etc indoor cats up for rescue, so go for one of them.

Funny how it's the valuable breeds such as ragdolls that 'have to stay in because 'they don't have any sense' Call me cynical but you don't see many moggies being kept as housecats. At least be honest. The main reason these cats are kept prisoner is because the owners are worried about them being nicked. I think it's cruel. It's similar to keeping a Bird in a cage or a Rabbit in a hutch.

I always said when I got my own cat I would let it out but I got my cat as a kitten and I decided to keep her in because I live near a really busy road. I always felt quite conflicted about it until I went on holiday when she was about two and I put her in a cattery. They had the option of pens with cat flaps that led outside to an enclosed run and I booked one for her because I thought she might enjoy it. The owner of the cattery said she never went further than popping her head through the cat flap so I don't feel too bad now. I suppose because she's never been outside she's too scared.

@mycatisgivingyouthefinger

I give the option. Current cat won't set a paw outdoors after 7 years of coaxing. Very frightened little thing and happiest at home. My partner has designed runs up the walls and ceilings as she's happiest up high. Gave up feeling guilty years ago.

Hi, do you have any photos of what you've done? My ex and I had put various shelves and cat beds randomly up the walls which my previous cats loved. The lazy buggers I have now never used them so when I redecorated we took them down. I'd love to put something else up which they'd like

Call me cynical but you don't see many moggies being kept as housecats.

Mine are all moggies - £10 each off a local farmer. I still keep them indoors because I feel it's too dangerous to let them out.

Nothing to do with them being nicked - I don't want them injured on the roads like so many other cats around here. Seems to be at least one a week taken to the vet after being hit by a car.

I have had Siamese cats for 34 years. I have always let them out to enjoy running, playing and climbing trees. I had a lull of 10 years because the one we had died, we were moving, so waited. In the event we moved to a house on a relatively busy road, so didn’t get another until I moved to somewhere quiet (a cul de sac) and cat friendly. Our cats have always been content and happy. My vet is delighted. She hates to know that cats are kept indoors as it’s so unnatural for them. She said this when I was explaining that one of ours was hit by a car on our quiet cul de sac and died. She said that in her opinion, it was better for him to have a shorter, happy, natural life, than a long life couped up indoors. He is the only one we have lost like that.

Our Siamese wouldn’t get nicked as they are fast and suspicious of strangers. I did have an Oriental black who was far to friendly for her own good, but to a cat thief, she probably just looked like a skinny regular black cat!

Unless it's an FIV+ve cat, it's cruel.

@FangsForTheMemory

Unless it's an FIV+ve cat, it's cruel.

Not if it’s terrified of outside due to the previous owners. Mine were tied up in a bag and thrown in the Thames, thankfully rescued and we have them but the are terrified of going outside and I won’t force them.

Morgankitten, no one is talking about forcing a cat outside if it prefers to stay indoors!

We have two cats that we got when their owner could no longer care for them. They were aged 2 and 4 and had only ever been indoor cats.
Once they had settled with us we let them outside. They loved it, and spend as much time as they can outside. They can come and go as they please via the cat flap and will choose to be outside unless the weather is dreadful.
I think its cruel to keep a cat indoors

@AnnieSnap

Morgankitten, no one is talking about forcing a cat outside if it prefers to stay indoors!

Of course they aren't but blanket statements outlining what is and isn't a cruel reason aren't helpful to anyone.

Most people I know don't know why my cats stay inside, I'm assuming this is true of most indoor cat owners it's not exactly something that often comes up in conversation. For all they know it's simply because I prefer them to be house cats which is a perfectly valid choice. I'd be very unimpressed to hear them calling me cruel just because my reasoning didn't match their arbitrary list of why they thought a cat could be kept inside without it being deemed cruel.