To feel guilty I have indoor cats?

[Mycatlivesindoors]

My DS is autistic and was desperate for a ragdoll kitten. They have been described as being great “therapy” cats due to their calm and devoted nature. DS has had a difficult time at secondary school (he’s 12) and he researched ragdolls thoroughly, showing me lots of articles and videos about how lovely they are and how they really help people with their mental health.

I also researched the breed and read how most of them don’t really like going outside as they are quite “lazy” cats and like to spend their time with their owners. More importantly everything I read said they should NEVER go outside as they are too dumb to navigate roads, will let strangers pick them up, get lost etc etc

I bought 2 sibling kittens from a reputable breeder so they would always have a friend, someone to play with. They have lots of toys, we play with them constantly but all they want to do is go outside. It probably doesn’t help that our house layout is such that they are surrounded by glass overlooking the garden. It’s the only thing they see. As a result they both cry and wail to go outside.

After months of listening to them crying and howling by the door I took them outside, supervised. They loved it. I have been taking them out twice a day and they run up and down, watch the birds and generally have a lovely time. However our garden is not cat proof. It means DS and I have to “guard” the areas where they could escape. Last week one of them shot through a tiny hole in the hedge into next doors garden. Luckily we got her back but ever since the two of them spend all their time trying to escape.

I have had quotes from companies to catproof the garden but it is expensive and we are planning to move in the next year or so, so I can’t really justify the expense. I am now wary about taking them out in the garden as it is inevitable they will escape again! I have blocked the hole in the fence but they have now started on a new area in the garden trying to jump the wall.

I feel so guilty about keeping them indoors. But I’ve been told by so many people that if they get out the garden some awful fate will befall them because ragdolls should never be allowed to roam free.

I wish I’d just bought a cat that can go outside now, listening to 2 ragdolls howling at the door all day is so stressful.

Better kept in than out. Protects the cats and wildlife. Harness training is a great idea though and then they can safely explore outdoors.

YABU to have bought genetically modified animals that have been engineered out of their natural behaviours

Aww 😸 good age. Definitely one happy kitty

Not cruel at all.

Why stop at cats? Let’s stop keeping dogs on lead and let them roam free. And take down all the fences so that sheep and cows are not caged 🙄

I have two very happy house cats. They have the run of the whole house, and happily stay in the garden. I’ve seen too many cats dead on the side of the road to let them out.

I'd 100% keep them home & get a catio. You only have to look at your local Facebook site to see all the desperate people trying to find their much loved cats.

I do think it sounds depressing for cats when they're kept indoors for their entire existence. But then they're a menace killing so many birds, that maybe it's shit for them but better overall.

These threads are always polarising. While it's perfectly true that some cats are happy to be indoor cats, others are not, including apparently those belonging to the OP.
Given this, as a minimum I'd suggest you need to provide outside space for them in the form of a catio or cat proofing your garden. Yes it's expensive, but not if considered over the lifetime of your cat.
Ours have always been outdoor cats - personally I think the risk of a short life should be balanced with the animal's quality of life. Having said that all of our previous cats have died of illness/old age rather than accident anyway.

Protectapet changed my cats life! He’s so happy now. We got the DIY fence brackets and whilst it doesn’t look pretty it’s worth it. Cheaper than an installation service too.

Don't feel bad. We have an indoor cat who is 16. She is terrified of going outside anyway and is timid. She loves her home comforts.

Id sort out a Catio with direct access from a window or door in your situation. Make sure you check it regularly for gaps.

https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/

I have three pedigree cats that are often considered indoor cats.

They are very very very stupid.

They all wanted to go out.

They all got lost.

They all now have collars with AirTags so I can go and get them when they get lost (frequently).

However a lot depends on your environment - I am on a very quiet cul de sac in a very quiet housing estate. Very little traffic no foxes etc.

If you are on a main road it's a bit different.

We made a DIY catio - wasn't expensive but DH can do some basic DIY. You can buy some though I think they are pricy.

Also harnesses - we walk them out on harness took a while to get used to them but they did.

We've also put in cat shelves round entire kitchen dinner room accesses via a cat pole - platforms and scratching posts that goes to ceiling and they jump off that to shelves and beds high up on wall.

When our cat was a kitten we put a harness on him and attached the dog retractable long line. It allowed him to play in the garden without us having to follow him round everywhere. Thankfully it was summer so we could just sit on a chair and relax in the sunshine! Could you set up something similar?

Walk them on leads?

I’d just let them out - my cat only comes in to sleep.

I have a ragdoll and true to his breed he’s a complete idiot. He’s generally happy as a house cat but does sometimes make a dash for the door if he’s not supervised. We take him out on a harness and lead in the garden when it’s sunny and he loves it and only wants to go outside when it’s nice. When it’s cold and rainy he would prefer to be in our bed with the electric blanket running.

My Ragdolls roam free as they wish. We are fairly remote but they’re well able to mouse and battle crows and climb on the ridge line of the shed.

Let them out. It's cruel not to. At least you're thinking of what's best for the cats.

I have a very daft British shorthair cat who in no way is suited to a life outdoors. He's clumsy, falls off the bath and sofa and the other week he banged his head on my desk when he got excited. He's allowed on my second floor balcony under close supervision. It has tall glass sides so nowhere he can squeeze through, and doesn't really have a ledge to land on. He's never tried to jump up.

He likes to sniff the plants and poke his nose in cobwebs, and on a warm day he'll sometimes lie on the chair for a bit but the vast majority of times he wants to come in after a few minutes or not go out at all. He's very timid and follows me everywhere, so I don't think wandering off appeals to him.

He has lots of toys, places to jump and hide and gets lots of playtime and attention from me. He seems very happy.

I think it does really depend on the cat. I specifically went for his breed because they're suited to an indoor life, and I didn't want to keep a high energy/adventurous cat indoors.

You need to decide if they are in or outdoors - they don't understand being both.

No one knows your area or cats ability, some ragdolls go out and others don't. Mine doesn't but would love to - made the mistake of taking him for walks which resulted in cysitis as he didn't understand why he couldn't access the outside area constantly but if he did go out alone it would be like letting your toddler out.

Best for the cat to get hit by a car? What about what's best for our decimated wildlife?

Unless you know the breed, you won't understand.... its like letting a puppy / toddler out alone

@Merula Best for the cat to get hit by a car? What about what's best for our decimated wildlife?

Might not get hit by a car. The wildlife will cope if the cat kills some.