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.

Very much depends on the house where the cat is, whether it has enough activities and climbing possibilities, plus ideally it would have a companion. Cats get bored and need entertainment! Personally I wouldn't keep a cat indoors only, but I think it can be done successfully.

I'm onto cat no.6 now and all have been outdoor cats - surprisingly very rarely have they had fleas (they aren't treated), if they do get an infestation then it's flea combing and drown the buggers, so it's short-lived. Never found a tick on one, that doesn't mean they haven't had one I guess.

Not all cats do! The last three cats I had that went outdoors didn't kill anything. My last elderly boy didn't even disturb the birds! If other cats came into the garden they'd fly away. They just ignored him. They seemed to know he wasn't a threat.

I still don't quite understand the attitude of "Yep, I know my pet defaecates on your lawn and regularly kills the local wildlife, but I'm so wrapped up in myself and my own needs that I don't give a damn about yours".

Or words to that effect.

It doesn’t make it right and also doesn’t make your attitude any nicer .

Of course they don't!

Given your day job, do you think cats with outdoor access are happier than indoor ones? I don't think my three indoor floofs could be any happier than they are!

It really depends on the cat. The cat I had growing up would have been miserable as a house cat. He’d go out for days at a time. We tried to keep him in when we moved house and he managed to break out he was so desperate to get out. Cried for hours thinking he was lost and wouldn’t know his way back and he strolled back later 🤣

I now have a house cat who is perfectly happy being one. I got her when I lived in a flat in London when I was in my twenties. Stupid decision in hindsight as if she’d wanted to go out a lot she would have been unhappy. She had access to a courtyard garden at the back but wasn’t at all interested. A couple of years later we moved to a house with a big garden and she had zero interest in going out. Sometimes I bring her out into the garden when I go out and she just looks at me like ‘why?’ And goes back in! She’s part British shorthair and I’ve heard they are often indoor cats so maybe that’s why she is the way she is but she seems to have a happy life.

YABU allowing cats outdoors is cruel and irresponsible. Your mother is being responsible instead of being a lazy pet owner. We need more cat owners to be like her.

Most people are not advocating locking them indoors , we are saying cat proof your garden or get a catio but keep your animal on your property . I own a patterdale terrier , he is naturally programmed to kill all things small and furry , would it be ok for me to just let him loose on the neighbourhood cats ?

Yes but cats have a massively unfair and completely unnatural advantage over wildlife. They occur in much greater numbers than they would if they were living in the wild and have all their medical needs met for them as well as being fed by humans.
They are literally doing massive harm to the ecosystem, endangering some species and upsetting the natural balance. Cat owners like to justify this by saying "it's natural" and it's "what cats do" but no, it absolutely is not natural and it's not cats doing it, it's humans. We are doing the damage by letting domesticated cats free roam.

YANBU OP. Keeping them caged indoors is against their nature and they’re usually desperate to get out (until their spirits are broken that is).

Unless they're a ragdoll cat. It's NOT in their nature to hunt and roam.

They should be kept indoors for their own safety.

Yeah, really cruel.

Nice 🙄

EXACTLY!

Oh they ENJOY the killing and endangering? oh! I didn't realise! Please, continue!! How unreasonable of us! 🙄

My cats have contracts that state they need to stay indoors, they are a breed that has little outdoor intelligence. Many neighbours cats over the years have died being hit by cars. My cats don’t get sick often, they don’t get fleas, they have their vaccine but really even that is questionable (so says vet).

They live in a large house and have plenty of space to hide, lots of big windows which open safely for them to feel outside safely.

They seem happy and if they do ever see an open door they are scared of going out.

I mean, I'm not particularly bothered by what a stranger online thinks of my attitude, lol.

My cats' health comes first to me - and keeping him confined was making him so unwell he almost died. I'm not going to keep him in on the say-so of someone online - I'll go with what my vet has recommended, especially as it's solved all his health issues and he's never been happier.

As for the argument about dogs - it's illegal to have your dog out of control. Cats, however, have the right to roam. If you don't agree with it, take it up with the government.

There are certain breeds that would die if let out. I have 2 Ragdolls, which are the usual example breed like this. Some people risk it and theirs are fine - but it's just luck really. Depends how typical of the breed they are. A lot of Ragdolls are dopey, too trusting and non-streetwise. One of mine would definitely flop in front of a car and not budge (and there are many people who purposely speed up to kill them).

I do find it cruel to keep one cooped up if it has ever been outside though (unless for medical reasons - my childhood cat turned blind with old age and therefore had to be kept inside, in her later years). If they've known an outdoor life before then of course they will crave it again.

My ragdoll was a proper little adventurer! Really clever, as well. I'd be out somewhere and he'd turn up, marching in like the celeb with an all areas pass. He was, in fact, a local celeb due to his super-confident ways 😂

My country moggie, by contrast, was a ferocious hunter and explorer ... until I moved into town. After that, she flatly refused to go out 🤷🏻‍♀️ Even if I took her outside, she'd sit by the door.

Which is to say - you cannot safely assume anything about a cat's preferences. They'll get what they want anyway!

Of course it wouldn't, because the law is that dogs must be kept under control wherever they are. By law, cats have the right to roam free.