"Indoor cat"

[ilovesouthlondon]

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

I've always had cats that were free to go outside and then at some point someone gave us a cat that had lived for 2 years as an indoor only cat and because we lived in a 4th floor flat he couldn't go out. He was a happy little thing, seemed as content and chilled as any of my other cats. Owing to its working alot we rehomed him with our family and he now has access to a garden (after 8 years of being inside only) and he loves it but he only goes on the grass and under one bush and seems to prefer to be inside

My previous house was in the middle of nowhere and my cat loved to be out in the woods and in the field with the horses.

We moved house last year into the town, and unfortunately she went blind around the same time so is now definitely a house cat. I have a tiny courtyard garden now and she'll go out there if we are out there too.

I feel sad for her that she can't roam like she used to, but she's an old girl now (17) so has earnt a rest!

Thanks for responses everyone! Looks like it depends on the cat from what most people are saying but I cant help feeling they have rights to come and go as they please!

How do you cat proof a garden?!

My friend has 6 cats. All indoor.

I have two indoor cats. Both seem very happy and don't try to get outside etc. Just worried about them getting hurt if let out unsupervised as neither of them have any sense 😬 If they showed an interest in outside I'd take them on a lead and see how they do but nope, showing zero interest.

Agree it depends on the cat. My cat was a rescue and was told she was a lap cat which she definitely was. We had a flat when we first got her so no outdoor access which was fine as she was 'indoor' but even when we moved to a house and gave her access to the garden she'd only go out very occasionally. She much preferred being curled up on the bed.

@ilovesouthlondon

How do you cat proof a garden?!

Cat proof fencing. Catios. Only let the cat out on a lead/harness.

I think it's negligent to willingly let a pet out into danger. It doesn't matter if you think it's best for the cat, you can let your cat out safely by cat proofing your garden or having a catio. Just letting them roam is irresponsible.

Cloudy did you purposely miss out the part where I said about cat proofing the garden?

Dogs also like to roam and hunt. I suspect if I let my dog into your garden to hunt you'd soon be upset about it.

I have 2 cats, both indoor. One just isn't bothered, she would sit beside an open door and not even be curious about what is out there. The other is bald so best if she stays in.

My two cats are indoors only with access to a netted balcony.

Both of them are perfectly content and healthy. One of them is white so being in Australia we need to be mindful of the sun.

I hear neighbors cats getting in to fights and thank god I don't have to worry about that.

I think if you have the option to have an outdoor enclosure that would be perfect - the best of both worlds.

Why do you ask how to cat proof a garden? Did you not google it?
If a cat owner gives a shit about the animal, they don’t release it to be hit by cars, stuck, attacked by other animals, poisoned, lifted by animal abusers, lost, cold, scared, annihilate native species, etc. Cat owners are like ‘MY cat is safe outdoors and has not yet been hit by a car ☺️‘
Get a teddy bear instead, if you’re unwilling or incapable of keeping a cat safe.

I think all cars should be indoor cats.

They kill lots of birds, and shit in other people's gardens. They're also very vulnerable to abuse/injury from nasty people (someone near a friend of mine was poisoning cats with anti-freeze a year or so back). Cats can also suffer some nasty injuries from fighting other cats and car accidents.

I don't think it's cruel to keep them in as long as you put effort into making their lives interesting.

Shit cat owners- let us all know where you live so that we can come and shite round your garden, attack each other and exhibit ‘natural behaviours’!

It depends on the cat's personality and the size of the house.

My old flat was much bigger so sporty cat had lots and lots of space to run around as he likes to go fast. Current flat is much smaller so he likes to go in the (enclosed) garden as he can sprint up and down the lawn.

Shy cat will sometimes go outside if the other two go with him, but he never goes more than a couple of meters and rushes back inside to me if something moves. He's very happy being an indoor cat and just likes having lots of furniture to climb up and lots of hiding spaces.

Hunter cat likes going outside as there are lots of new things to hunt, but she is happy indoors as long as you play lots of hunter games and leave lots of toys around for her.

None of them like going outside in the cold or rain, they only go out during the summer and stay in all winter without even trying to get out. During the summer sporty cat and hunter cat will whine to be let out.

So it really does depends on the cat's own personality. Keeping a cat that really wants to be out roaming locked in a tiny flat/house could be cruel, but also many cats wont go out even when given the chance.

I have three and would never think to let them out to roam. I figure we domesticated them, we owe it to them to keep them safe. And, mine are so entitled, they expect me to treats them like royalty. I am only staff.

Depends on the cat - in some cases (e.g. elderly, FIV) it's unavoidable, but in other cases it's as cruel as "indoor dog that's never walked"

It’s cruel to let your cat outdoors. I’m in the US and the rescues make you sign documents promising that your cat will remain indoors unless in a proper cat run or leash trained.

But cats aren't people. They're cats. And it's really not helpful to try and anthropomorphise them like that.

I think this line of argument could easily go both ways, though. I don't think cats particularly value a long life and safety in the way that human beings do. We value those things for them but I am not convinced it is kinder to the cat, as such.

And I am always unsure why we would not apply the same thinking to other animals that are not pets. I live where there are bobcats, we see one occasionally. They are a lot like regular cats in terms of behaviour outdoors and their mental capacity. Of course they would not be happy indoors. But - no one feels bad for them that they live with all the risks of nature (though many will feel badly about things like cars.) Most of the animals in the wild live a short natural life and die of violence, disease, exposure, or starvation. But we don't tend to think - oh gosh we have to somehow mitigate all that so they will be happy and never suffer. In fact many people would think that would be a less satisfying like for them and rather sad.

Domestic cats get more satisfaction from being with people and we obviously don't want to let them die of exposure or starvation or slowly of disease. But I think cats that have the chance to really be outdoors do have a kind of satisfaction in that which is different that indoor cats do not experience. Does that come at the risk of some of the similar things wild animals face every day? Yes, but don't see why this would be more intrinsically bad than it is for animals that live in the wild all the time.

@MixedUpFiles

It’s cruel to let your cat outdoors. I’m in the US and the rescues make you sign documents promising that your cat will remain indoors unless in a proper cat run or leash trained.

How is it cruel?

Laws about cats being allowed to roam or not are one thing but I don't see how allowing a cat freedom outside is cruel - especially in a country where many homes have a lot more surrounding space than in other nations.

My cat is an indoors-only kitty. There's a few reasons for this. She's a Burmese, and this breed isn't known for road-sense. We also live in an a rural area with lots of native wildlife, and there is actually a by-law forbidding homeowners from owning cats, let alone allowing them to roam. (So I'm already breaking that - ssh.) There are also domestic and native dogs wandering about the streets - my neighbour's huge cat was killed by one. Lastly, we have venomous snakes on our property and I wouldn't trust my cat not to take one on. I care too much for her safety to let her outside.

I'm in the US where it's considered reprehensible to let a cat roam. And rightly so.

Cats make nuisance in others' gardens and kill billions of songbirds a year.

My maine coin lived a great life to age 18 indoors. Of course he sat in tge garden with me evenings but supervised; he was not permitted to leave my property.

Letting a pet roam freely is unimaginable.

@MixedUpFiles

It’s cruel to let your cat outdoors. I’m in the US and the rescues make you sign documents promising that your cat will remain indoors unless in a proper cat run or leash trained.

Same here.

They get hit by cars, pick up and transmit disease, get in fights with other animals, kill things, eat unsuitable items and make nuisances of themselves toileting. All pets of any species should be confined to their home property unless leashed. That's the law here. Thankfully.

iv had a cat before who I let out, live in a quiet street, but she died at 18 months old, don’t know how, waited a while and got another, been trying to keep her in but it’s clear she wants to go out, can’t open a window, door without her escaping, she always comes back but I was scared to let her out as I want to keep her safe, but iv just had her spayed and chipped and she’s going out once she’s healed properly, so my answer would be, depends on the cat, no matter how you feel, I know I’d be mean keeping mine in just because I’m scared of something happening. Suppose it’s the chance you take with some cats