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.

Tell me you have no idea about cats, without telling me you have no idea about cats. 😂😂😂

It’s not a bizarre comment. As I says, very obvious you know nothing about cats. Cats are only partly domesticated, they are not dogs. Keeping a cat indoors its entire life is akin to keeping wild animals locked up in zoos. .

It entirely depends on the cat. My 14 year old cat would be happy never to go out. She's incredibly timid so all her amenities are indoors.
The young cat would fade away and die if she had to live inside, she is out 10 hours out of 12 and it was the happiest day of her life when I first let her out. It would be very unkind to keep her in.
She has to stay in on bonfire night and Halloween and she hates it.
It also depends on where you live. I live in the country away from main roads. If I lived on a big main road I'd have a catio.

I think you’ve completely missed the point of my comment. I am not laughing about animals being locked up in zoos. In fact my comment was not said as a joke at all.

Not one of my previous 10 cats now RIP or the current ones have ever come a cropper with a fox and we have loads of foxes here.

My cat cannot go outside because he’s deaf.

I am sad to think that some consider him to have a shit life because he doesn’t go outdoors- I try really hard to give him a good life. He would like to go out I think, but he still seems happy.

My 3 cats are indoors.

They all have loads of enrichment things, each other to play with and a very happy life.
They are all an ideal weight, very cuddly and playful and exhibit all the signs of a well adjusted, contented cat

Indoor cats live longer and don't have the stress of fighting for territory or exposure to parasites etc.

There's also human theft and cruelty which is horrific.

A cat proofed garden would be ideal, but I personally think that letting cats (freely) outdoors is cruel and irresponsible.

A lot of breeders now state in their contracts that you cannot let the cats outdoors and this is for a very good reason.

I also feel that indoor cats have a much closer bond to their humans, which is very special.

I had cats that went outdoors whilst growing up and some got hit by cars, some just disappeared and they all were ferocious hunters.

I would never, ever let any cat outdoors (other than a garden) ever again.

I have two moggies and a Maine Coon and all show zero signs of trying to get out. They understand that home is their territory and they are content to stay inside.

My rescue cat is a fully indoor cat. He's very happy and enjoying life.

Whether they can be happy indoors only will depend on every cat's personality. My cat is very chill, he gets plenty of attention, DH plays with him every day, he has plan of toys and gets lots of different food. We also take him often outside the yard, but only with supervision.

Not all cats will survive outdoors in the streets if they're not used to and it would be dangerous for them.

I know these questions can cause a bit of black/white thinking but personally cats being out and about in the day don't bother me - and it probably is good for their welfare (some of them) to have freedom.

I just wish owners would keep them in overnight during bird breeding season. Earlier this year I got up to find the neighbour's cat had single-handedly killed all the young from three different nests that I was watching and getting so much happiness from.

11 young birds all gone in one night. It was upsetting and even more so because it was someone else's pet in my garden.

Cats should be kept to their owners property through cat proofing then you have the best of both worlds. If you are unable to do this either through cost, no space etc then don’t get a cat. Your cat your responsibility.

my last house had loads of cats on the street and my garden was full of cat 💩, now why should I have to clean this up or spend my money on deterrents? I don’t have any pets because I don’t want to deal with their 💩. House I stay In now is a village of houses down a main road so thankfully everyone is sensible and doesn’t have cats, only cats are the farm cats that I’ve only ever seen on the farm.

No.
Having a cat exposed to;
Dogs
Antifreeze and other poisons
Cars
Getting lost/locked in sheds
Cruel children
Cruel adults -some people dislike cats. One of my tenant's old cat, previously owned by his mother and very precious to him, was deliberately poisoned by a neighbour. Prior to this she'd tried multiple times to run over her.

And name any number of other, more usual hazards, is Cruel and neglectful.
I am not saying that every outdoor cat is in a situation where these things could happen but no, protecting your cat by keeping him/her indoors is not Cruel.

Why does it matter? Is it because you think your cat matters more than certain other species of animal? Just like you think your wants and needs outweigh anyone else’s? Thought so.

There will always be selfish people in this world who simply don’t care about anyone but themselves. That will never change. But there are also people with empathy, who can see both sides and who then look at how they can reduce their impact, whether that’s immediate or over time. Hence it’s worth pointing out the negative impacts despite those who then dig their heels in trying to defend the indefensible.

i agree. It’s no life for a cat to be stuck indoors. Indoor cat owners go on about enrichment and catios but it’s not the same as roaming, tree climbing, hunting etc. I love cats but don’t have one because the road I live on can be busy.

Ragdoll cats have no desire to roam or hunt.
They should be indoor cats because they don't have the instincts to keep themselves safe.

I got a ragdoll because I lived on a busy road and all my neighbours had had cats killed by traffic.

All had cats killed by traffic? But, it’s so ”rare” and “unlikely” for cats to come to a demise while roaming outside! 😂😂

The people posting daily on our local facebook pages must also be making it up, it can’t possibly be happening!

It's not ideal for a cat to be indoors all the time.
But.. my latest rescue cat totally refuses to go outside if the door is open; through anxiety and i respect that.

I won't force her to go out when she's scared to.
She was abandoned when her owners moved and spent a long time living outside begging the neighbours for food apparently before she was taken to the cat's protection so I think that's the cause of her anxiety.

She does seem content with her life. In fact she rarely even goes near the windows. Maybe twice a day at the most. If the windows are open she gets nervous about outside noises.

I know far more about cats than the average person due to my career, but hey, whatever helps you sleep at night knowing you risk your cats life daily based on false information x

It's a shame because I have a nice little garden she would enjoy but she likes to spend the day under the bed or in her basket asleep. She hides behind the sofa if she's really worried.

Totally agree with you OP.

If your cat chooses not to go out then that's one thing, but I think purposefully choosing a pet that's bred to roam and hunt and forcing it to stay inside four walls is cruel, no matter how many toys you buy or how much you "stimulate" them.

And I say that as someone who used to be a huge supporter of indoor cats!

I agree, and I say that as someone who in my lifetime has had two cats run over and one go missing. Keeping a cat indoors feels to me like having a dog and never taking it for a walk, which the vast majority of people would consider cruel. I can't see how indoor cats can get enough exercise or stimulation.

I chose my current house based on how safe I felt it would be to let the cats out.

I completely agree with you op.

It must also be a complete PITA in terms of litter trays, keeping windows shut, not being able to leave back door open in summer etc.

You all seem to be talking as if " cats" are one generic breed with similar characteristics. This would be similar to me saying that it is safe for "dogs" to be sleeping with children regardless of breed.

I can't see how indoor cats can get enough exercise or stimulation.

They can't imo, and many become physically unwell because of it.

If you watch the Jackson Galaxy show about cat behaviour, the cats all suffer from serious issues - stress urination, destructive behaviour, aggression - they fight and or go to the other extreme become severely depressed. It's awful.

I get that the US has issues with wildlife and coyotes etc. but in that case you shouldn't have a cat unless you can provide it with secure outside space to roam - even if it's just a garden.

Well, to me the equivalent is owning a dog and never taking it for a walk. It's cruel.

I agree with you OP. I think an indoor cat has a miserable life.