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.

I accept that, although Ragdolls are more prone to PKD and HCM than moggies due to inbreeding and a Royal Veterinary College report reports that the average lifespan of a Ragdoll is 10.1 years against 14.0 years for a crossbreed (moggy).
But even ignoring that, I stated above removing any sense of self protection.. This was the line specifically referring to Ragdolls.

I’m amazed that the average lifespan of a Ragdoll is only 10 yrs . My mum had a very well bred one ( champion showing lines) that had 2 bowel resections as a 16 week old kitten for volvulus , was allergic to everything and he made it to 16 and eventually died because his thyroid medication gave him acute liver failure .

Link to the report. It's from 2015 so a few years out of date - but is interesting.
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/VetCompass/Infograms/150515%20How%20long%20do%20cats%20live%20-%20June2015.pdf.

Neighbours of mine have a tattoo and he's walked on a harness and lead, they're out twice a day walking as you would a dog, very sociable happy cat.

ragdoll!!

I think if it makes you feel guilty then deep down you know what's the right thing to do.

Personally I would never have a cat if it had to be indoor. Unless I adopted an older one from refuge which has always been an indoor one.

I couldn't agree more.

I have 3 rescue cats. All three of them were used to being out. None of them has ever looked to go out. One had been a stray in a city centre, one had been neglected and left out in all weathers (now if she gets a drip of water when you're washing your hands, she takes off like a split streak!), and the newest one had fields to roam in. I have a cat flap that's microchip operated and I had fully expected them to want out, but they know when they've got it good!

I'd have got a catio otherwise.

I do think some previous posters don’t understand the difference between a rag doll and a ‘standard’ cat. I have a similar breed - a Birman - which I think rag dolls might originate from (these are not a modern, ‘genetically modified’ breed but an ancient one that has been preserved). Normal cat sensibilities don’t apply! My kitten currently loves escaping over the garden wall but it’s not safe for her to be out alone. She loves a walk on the harness and lead and I’m about to cat proof our small yard so she can be out there without me having to watch her like a hawk (still won’t be unsupervised). I think part of it is adolescence as she’s 9 months old, my last Birman didn’t want to venture out.

i had similar worries to you and posted a thread in the litter tray where I got great advice. I have also done wider research and have made the decision not to allow her to roam alone. They’re too trusting, not street wise and liable to be stolen. I chose this breed because of household allergies but I wouldn’t judge any one’s reasons for having one. My brother also adopted one who was allowed to roam for 10 years, but got into lots of scrapes during this time which ultimately resulted in a front leg amputation (this injury happened prior to my brother adopting him). Although this cat was a bit miffed to be kept in at first he is happy now.

An indoor cat will require more play, enrichment, exercise, company etc than an outdoor cat, but if you get this right they are on the whole very happy as house cats. There are good indoor options for climbing using shelves/ladders etc on the walls.

Google some diy options for cat proofing. As long as they’re not too determined you can often knock something up using shelf brackets and mesh netting. Also I am looking into growing spiky plants up the walls to further put her off trying to scale them.

Cat tax here (would love to see yours)

I don’t agree with keeping cats trapped in a house against their will. I think they should always have a choice. If they want to be lazy home cats then great but it should be their choice.

Yabu to feel guilty. I don’t want to be graphic but have you ever helped a cat that has been hit by a car? It’s absolutely shocking and brutal, and I wouldn’t knowingly let any of my pets die that way.

Don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t have ragdoll experience. My parents have two and when they are approached by a dog they roll over. They would be torn to shreds outside.

I think my cats missed that memo.

pay the money and cat proof the garden. If you had the money for an expensive breed of cat, and two of them then you should dig a little deeper in your pockets to give them the best quality of life you can and let them be able to be out in the garden safely.

How big is your garden? We have an invisible wire running round at the top and bottom of our hedges. The cats wear special collars when they go out and if they try and get out the garden, they hear a high pitched sound which warns them off before they get a nasty "tingle".

The system is endorsed by Cat's Protection and is used by farmers to keep their livestock in. My cats never get a shock as after a couple of times they understood.

It's a good compromise.

I love cats and have had many over the years. I feel quite strongly that they should be allowed outside. I always think how life would be if I spent 15 years inside never smelling fresh air or feeling grass on my feet. Yes there are risks in everything but none of us would ever do anything if we thought like that. Tracker collars are great as you can see where they are.

What is this system called? I've never heard of it before but am intrigued.

@Minimum85percentCocoa Your Birman is beautiful!

Ragdolls shouldn't go out unaccompanied as they have no sense of danger.

I have a ragdoll and DH a BSH and both are indoor cats. They have plenty of enrichment through toys, windows to look out of, us chatting to them, and playing together - they often race round the house together!

In the summer they come out with us on their harnesses into the garden, we use "cat walking jackets" as they are much more secure than a harness.

Please please don't let yours out unaccompanied, they are so vulnerable to being stolen, or knocked down by a car as they're so trusting and don't sense danger. I'd far rather they were safe

You ARE however being unreasonable for not posting photos! My absolute favourite breed I'm BESOTTED with mine she's such a character ❤️

My friend is quite sorted, her smallish garden is enclosed by stone walls too high for the cats to climb so they can be outside safely

The system is called Freedom Fence.

I’m disgusted by this thread. Talk of not one but two gorgeous ragdolls and there’s no photos 😱

Agreed, we must have photos!

As long as you go round your neighbours' gardens and pick up your cat's poo.

Free roaming domestic pets can be a nuisance. I had indoor cats, they were litter mates and both died after reaching 19 and 20. Our vet was all in favour of indoor cats. She said she had to patch up or put down so many after they were run over or ingested stuff they found in random gardens.

I agree with all of this. I have two indoor cats, one of which is a raggy and the other a Persian. They do not have any sense at all. They are very happy.

We also have two outdoor cats who would be distressed to be kept inside - these are moggies and love their outside time.

Here's mine 😍 I'm mega obsessed with her and my phone is full of photos of her 😍

Does anyone else who has them find they get "obsessions"?