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.

I do think it’s quite selfish to choose to cause injury, death and suffering, plus nuisance to your neighbours who are just wanting to enjoy their property in peace. I appreciate you can choose to do those things, but I think it’s important to be called out as well.

There are lots of invasive species living in the UK - do you have issues with all of them or is it just cats?

The chickens are bred for eating.
The wild birds are not, and may actually be species with low numbers. This applies to some small rodents too.

Cat proofing gardens is a great idea, and solves the roaming cat issues. Most can’t be bothered to do this though.

Cat proofing gardens is a great idea, and solves the roaming cat issues. Most can’t be bothered to do this though.

We did "bother" to cat proof but it still made one my cats so stressed he was sick (urinary blockages). Being a prisoner in a garden is still being a prisoner.

Who owns all the grey squirrels? Who is it that bred and bought them, then let them out?

No one, they’re not pets. There’s also already rules on invasives around not being able to release them into the wild, e.g. if you find an injured grey squirrel, you can’t then let it back out into the wild.

The problem with cats is they’re owned - and people are purposely buying them and then sending them outside in their millions.

Back to my point of cats not being a suitable pet for the 21st century 🙂

I feel so guilty reading this that my cats can't go outside

Well, as has been said multiple times, if you have an issue with the laws that give cats the right to roam, take it up with the government 🤷‍♀️

You clearly think outdoor cat owners are awful moral failures but the point still stands that it's perfectly legal - your complain is with the wrong people.

I’ve already answered this several times over 👍🏻

@Dreamskies maybe not, but in the meantime people are going to do what's best by their pets.

Mine is legally allowed out to roam and for unwell when I kept him inside - to the point that he nearly died twice through stress. He wasn't from a breeder, he didn't cost me anything, but I chose to keep him and unless the law changes, he's going to keep going outside because that's what's best for him and his health.

It’s legal to smoke in your front room with your baby next to you, is that ok too? 😬

You shouldn’t need a law to police your behaviour.

@Dreamskies morally it's not okay, legally it is.

We clearly have different morals regarding cats so 🤷‍♀️

Yes, I think we have all got that message 🙂

No, we have different morals regarding the needless killing of animals and causing constant nuisance to neighbours.

Excellent news 😁

Good for you @Dreamskies clearly freely a much better person than me 😂

We have two ferrets, and devote several hours a day to following them round the garden holding the other end of the lead. Ferrets are such escape artists that we could never let them roam the garden unattended, not even if we spent thousands on fencing and trying to stop them tunnelling out. They are outstanding diggers!

When we first got them, I was inclined to keep them indoors. But they absolutely come alive when they are out following scent trails and digging. This is what they were born to do. (Well, that and murdering rabbits, but they have no opportunity to hunt anything bigger than a worm.) They are very nose-orientated. Now, I feel there's no way I could keep them always indoors in good conscience, no matter how much space they might have and no matter how many toys we might buy them.

Luckily, ferrets sleep nearly all day long, so this arrangement seems adequate for them. All the same, I have been questioning the morality of pet ownership. They would clearly prefer to be off the lead and to come and go whenever they want, not just the few hours when we're prepared to walk them.

You’re providing a safe and enriched environment for them, whilst not leaving them unsupervised or able to cause problems to anyone.

I, too, have questioned the morality of pets ownership over several years, I doubt I’d ever buy another pet. I don’t believe any pets should be bred anymore, too many neglected animals out there 🫤

I don’t believe any pets should be bred anymore, too many neglected animals out there 🫤

Bloody hell - something we agree on. All of mine have been strays, other people's 'accidental litters' or rescues.

Most cats will just accept whatever they are used to.

I had rescues that were indoor cats, and they were initially very frightened outside, but I gradually got them used to pottering around the garden. They were never truly comfortable though.

I have also had rescues that are outdoor cats, including one feral cat. It would have been cruel to keep them indoors exclusively as they were used to being free to roam outside.

The “accidental litters” boil my piss. Neuter your damn pets! My friend has just done this twice and I’m like “how????” 🤬

Can't criticise me for that one. Our cats are neutered.
One pair was from a neighbour, cat was booked to be done but escaped a week before. (nearly 40 years ago).
Our other set were farm kittens 27 years ago.
Current cats are all rescues.

Why are you so aggressive? Perhaps you should get a cat - they are very calming you know. 🐱

They are very calming. Mine has been asleep on me all night, then got up this morning and brought me his ball to play with- very cheerful and sweet.

I wasn’t criticising you?

I’m angry because I suffer constantly due to neighbours cats. It’s a constant blight on my life, and while it may seem insignificant to you, it’s not insignificant when it’s a daily problem.

I’ve never wanted a cat, even when I was younger, they don’t appeal to me at all. There are many far better pets out there, but these days I don’t really believe in the whole “keeping of pets to make humans happy” thing. It’s selfish, and causes a lot of neglect. I prefer to enjoy animals in nature instead, and then help those out when needed.