To think having an indoor cat is cruel?

[Catnope]

I was looking after my mother’s cat last week - feeding him while she was on holiday and changing the litter tray - and I felt so incredibly sorry for the cat. It’s not the first time I’ve looked after him for her, and not the first time I’ve thought that.

What a shit life for the cat.

Of course I don’t like the idea of cats killing wildlife out there, but to be a prisoner indoors 100% of the time your whole life?!

It’s cruel. Right?! Just me?

Of course I was nothing but lovely to my mother and took good care of the cat. My mother doesn’t let him out because she fears he’ll get stolen or run over. She lives on a quiet and safe street, so I don’t think anyone will want to steal him. At this point, I also think he wouldn’t have a clue how to kill a bird.

Well, presumably if she suddenly started letting an older cat outdoors, he would be likely to freak out, stray, run into the road, get hopelessly lost, get stuck somewhere etc etc, as he's not used to it? I mean, it's not just bird0killing he wouldn't have a clue about. Whatever your position on indoor cats in general, I'm not sure that your mother suddenly deciding that this cat is allowed outdoors is necessarily going to improve his quality of life...?

Is the cat always an indoor cat, or just for the holiday?

We say not to let ours out when people pop in to feed if we're away, but that's so they're not stuck waiting and he's not left outside til they pop in the next day, and he really doesn't care.

He’s not that old, I think she got him three years ago, he’s a pretty breed but he doesn’t look very good (overweight).

And I wonder if just letting him go in the garden would be good for him - I don’t think he’d go far, tbh.

But honestly, I think having an indoor only cat was cruel in the first place.

Always, she doesn’t even let him in the garden. He lives in her bungalow indoors with nothing but her for company and toys that he plays with when I go there because he so lacks stimulation. She still works so it’s not like she’s at home all the time hanging out with the cat.

My mother adores him, and I love my mother, but I feel sorry for that cat.

Habituated house cats have no nous outside.

Our cats come and go as they please (country life) but they are moggies. Some pedigrees like british shorthair are a bit thick unsuited to outdoor life.

We got a cat when she was 2.5 she had never been outside and has never shown any desire in the 7 years we have had her to go outside. I leave windows open, doors open and she just sits and looks. She is a lovely cat but thick as 2 short planks, I genuinely don't think she would last a day outside. All of that is to say it doesn't seem to bother her and at almost 10 years old now I can't see it changing. We didn't set out to get an indoor only cat, a neighbour was moving back to Russia and asked if we would have her. It is what it is, she has always seemed happy enough so I've never really thought about changing it.

Always had cats and always let them out. There’s a higher chance of danger but they need adventure. My cats are always in overnight, though.

I 100% agree with you, however people want pet cats in places where pet cats are not safe.
Maybe invest in a Ragdoll if you want an indoor cat?

I think indoors with a catio is the responsible option, so they can run around in fresh air whenever they want but aren't a threat to wildlife and don't risk being run over either.

Depends on the breed. My Persians could not be outdoor cats. They are not streetwise and they old get stolen.

Bloody hell I'm no cat lover, but breeding an animal that is totally unsuited to ever going outdoors is pretty reprehensible.

My cats are indoor cats and never want to go out. They come out onto the garden and then they want to go back inside when i am inside. They do not have a shit life, and have free roam of a large property,scratching furniture and are calm and contented thankyou.

Cats can be fine indoors if they have never been outdoor cats. The cats protection league says: As long as your cat has the space and resources to express all of their natural behaviours and isn’t frustrated when they can’t go outside, there’s no reason they can’t live a perfectly happy life as a house cat. However, cats used to having outdoor access find it difficult to make the adjustment as adults

two cats would be better than one, as cat would have company and a playmate.

Our cat has been an indoor cat for the last six years and occasionally roams in the garden, but that is it. The change was due to a house move and a busy road. It would be more traumatic for her to have been rehomed or worse. She’s living her best life with us as a caring family.

Truthfully, though we won’t get another one though, as I do believe cats should be able to go outside.

Don’t let your mum’s cat out in the misguided believe that you know what is best.

I was surprised when i got my first cat in Canada when the vet said they recommended keeping them indoors. Keeps them safe and healthy, they say. No cars/dogs/wildlife to worry about. It's an offence to let them off your property.

I thought 'that's no life for a cat'. She climbed out a window first chance she got.

Ours go out when the weather's fine and we're at home. Indoors at night always. Only one can actually jump the fence and get out, and since he's got older that's not so often these days. They just potter about in the garden chasing the odd mouse. Mostly bugs and leaves

We have 2 perfectly happy indoor cats, healthy, good weight, playful. I've known too many cats injured by thugs with air rifles and bb guns, and run over in the street so all our cats have been kept indoors.

In the USA most people think it's cruel to let your cat go outside. It's certainly the case that life expectancy is higher for indoor cats.

Our cats are a breed that needs to be kept indoors. I think it's important to enrich their environment if you have indoor cats.

I have two house cats that were conditioned by our first cat. Cat1 went outside for the first time after her injections and fell in to the pond, second time she went over the fence and was bitten by next doors dog. After that she had no interest in going outside.

When Cats 2 & 3 came to us and were allowed out after their injections they never left the house if we take them in to the garden they run straight back inside. Our doors and windows are always open but they have never go out.

I’m in Australia and some States here have a zero tolerance policy for cats out of a night. So many indoor cats. It just means people have more dedicated set ups if they want cats. The people I know with cats have a perimeter enclosure around their backyards and catflaps in their back doors. The perimeter enclosure is like a one way net they fall back on at the top of the fence, but can’t climb over IF they get to the top of the fence. So they get to roam around the backyard all day and night IF they want and shit in their own owners backyards😁. It’s an expensive setup for sure, but that’s responsible cat ownership for you. No wildlife destruction and no Tiddles getting into cat fights or being run over.

My cat was rescued as in indoor cat. She's 7 now and has only been an outdoor cat since we moved nearly 3 years ago. She absolutely loves it, I barely see her in the summer through the day, she visits all the neighbours and often brings me 'presents'. So yes, her life must've been really boring when she was confined to indoors but she wouldn't have known any different

I’ve always had cats, and they’ve never been indoor. 1. because they love basking in the sun, scratching trees, exploring the garden and B. I couldn’t think of anything worse than having a litter tray in the house. Cats are private, sophisticated creatures, apart from the kitten stage, I’ve never seen my cats wee or poo, they handle their business out of sight, why would you want one shitting in your house?

Where I live in Australia you're not allowed to let your cat outside and you can get fined for it!

But if you let them out, they’re not 100% indoor cats. My mother’s cat is never allowed outside, she blocks the door so he won’t get out (he does sometimes when she’s not paying attention and he just stands there on the path and doesn’t do anything).

Our previous cat was an indoor cat by choice, she just didn't like to go outside.