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 am asking them about their views on keeping other pets, as animals are an interest of mine and this is something that has been on my mind. Perhaps i should have sent a PM, but i thought this was an appropriate thread to ask on.🤷‍♀️ You are stupidly invested in responding to me when it's nothing to do with you what I ask someone tbh.

you're not the only person on here to ask what about dogs, what about guinea pigs and what about insert pet here. Of course pet owners can care for their pets how they see fit and within the law. It seems to irk many that cats are allowed to roam free, but why not, they enjoy it and they're allowed to.

It’s a largely urban and hostile environment that is proven to be dangerous to cats,

No, not where I live, which is why I’ve had many many roaming cat over 40 years with only one minor accident.

Nothing in life is risk free, so you need to work out the risk of your situation, taking into account your specific circumstances, and act accordingly.

If you live in an urban, cat hostile environment where cats would be in a lot/regular danger outside then you shouldn’t own a cat.

I’m referring to cats not lizards. Cats by nature like to roam and hunt. They thrive on the freedom.

Well it hasn't irked me. I've had cats living both ways. So I remain on the fence about it (my outdoor cat lived to a grand old age of 18, only had to live an indoor life once she turned blind). I knew you were annoyed because you thought I didn't like cats free roaming.

Well said @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

Yes…it’s my opinion, obviously. But my opinion is based on actual facts, statistics and case studies reported and assessed for years rather than your outdated “but my cats have always roamed and been fine” lucky (and quite rare) personal accounts 😂 idiot! Surely you’re not stupid enough to believe your single account trumps literally hundreds and hundreds of case studies and averages. Although I’m beginning to think perhaps you are 😬

Domestic cats are capable of living for up to 20 years. There’s tons of different studies across the UK, but the general consensus is that outdoor cats live an average of 4-5 years less than indoor cats. Indoor cats have an average lifespan of between 14-18 years, outdoor cats have an average lifespan of 10-14 years (and these are the lucky ones who live in rural areas/barn cats.

It’s a waste of time replying to entitled owners like you tbh. You live in a bubble where “well MY experience is the true experience”. I won’t be wasting any more time on you 😘

Or you could own an indoor cat and look after it properly, providing it with an enriching and safe home, away from the risks of the ‘cat-unfriendly’ man made environment. You’re literally repeating yourself 😂 Crack on though! Good luck to you and your cat, and remember when you’re posting on your local community FB whinging that your cat hasn’t come home for dinner, you took that risk and paid for it because you won’t listen to fact x

Imagine being banged up in a house when all you want to do is hunt and feel the fresh grass on your paws. What a sad life those indoor cats lead.

I would never whinge on Facebook.

If one of my cats disappeared (which is very unlikely) then I’ll be fully aware that I took that risk when I let it out- that is literally how risk analysis works.

I agree op

Indoor cats may have a longer lifespan but my God, they’ve been miserable

Or you could own an indoor cat and look after it properly, providing it with an enriching and safe home, away from the risks of the ‘cat-unfriendly’ man made environment.

Yep, been there, done that multiple times over the years. Four of them were fine - one became severely unwell with stress and nearly died because of it.

It's all very well saying "get an indoor cat" but you have no idea whether your cat will be happy inside until they're already alive and in your home, and then what? Do you really believe people should keep their cats locked up even though they're stressed and unwell? Even when they're becoming aggressive or withdrawn and refusing to eat or engage with the world around them?

I've had multiple cats over the years and used to be a massive supporter of indoor cats until I had one who wasn't happy - even with catio access. I really didn't want to let him out to roam for all the reasons mentioned, but ultimately his health was more important than my anxiety. Our vet was clear - if we kept him in, he would keep getting urinary blockages and one day, it would kill him.

I decided that a life of being unwell and trapped on my property wasn't fair on him - he deserved so much more. So we took a risk and let him out - and it's like a switch flipped in his head. He stopped over-grooming, he stopped urinating on the floor, he stopped getting UTI's. He's never needed to see a vet since (apart from his boosters). His fur has grown back. He's more confident. He's happier than I've ever seen him.

I wasn't about to have him PTS when I could legally let him out to roam. If something happens to him, of course I would be devastated, but I would be just as devastated if he died in my house from a preventable stress-related illness too.

Wow thanks so much for talking on behalf of every indoor cat ever! It must be so amazing to know how every single indoor cat feels based on absolutely nothing solid or factual!

I think whether an indoor cat is happy depends on size of the house. have a fairly small one bed flat, there's no way I could keep a cat happy and enriched indoors. Luckily we have a garden so they can go out safely.

I've had 6 cats in my lifetime and all were allowed out, including Harry for many years before we catproofed. All bar 2 lived until they were at least 18. One died at 14 because she was diabetic and it was in the days before it could be easily treated and we have no idea how old the other one was as he was a stray my mum had taken in. He was PTS because of a brain tumour.

When we do rehome we may consider a deaf or FIV+ cat as they can't roam so the cat proofed garden will be ideal for them. Either that or a senior whose roaming days are over.

Really?! You mean there are OTHER types of problem neighbours?! 😱 well, I never knew that! What a revelation! In that case, maybe we should all do whatever we want and cause upset to everyone!

Hey, you’re welcome to selfish neighbours like Grumpy! Keeps them away from the rest of us 🤣

My direct neighbours are problem free, and I’m always conscious of not creating any issues for them either. It would be wonderful not to have neighbours, but sadly most houses come with them.

I tend to agree, for most cats

Because I’m above the “if you can’t beat them, join them” mentality, I can’t be bothered to look after a cat, I’m allergic to cats, I have better things to spend my money on, I have no desire to torture wildlife, and I shouldn’t have to spend my time and money on a cat just to stop someone else’s cat from going where it shouldn’t be.

Would you like any more reasons? 😊

Dogs like to roam and hunt too. What’s your point?

The law is the law is the law. Those outdoor cats are just flexing their rights.

there’s a vicious cat near me that has attacked several dogs , it should be an indoor cat but apparently cats have a right to roam , which seems totally unfair to me

I quite clearly explained that comment, but like others you only read what you want to read 🙄 it was illustrative, to point out the sheer hypocrisy of outdoor cat brigade mentality. Only the cats owners are the ones putting their pets at risk, nothing to do with me whatsoever.

Seems your sense of decency is supportive of people’s pets being killed (just as long as it’s not cats). So no, you’re far from being better! Cat owners actively cause harm, one provocative comment, with no actions to perform any harm, doesn’t.

I would only ever get a cat suited to being inside. I dont like cats killing the local wildlife, and I don't want to run the risk of them coming to harm.
I have a lovely fluffy lazy rescue Persian who has no interest in roaming. He comes in the garden with us but goes straight back in.
He also lived with us before we had a garden and was perfectly happy looking out of the window. He is now 17 and still healthy, but once he passes away we will only look at Persians or ragdolls for our next pet.

No one is supporting anyone's pets being killed FFS other than you with your pathetic comment about dogs. (I know you say you explained it but decent people wouldn't have said it in the first place)

You hate cats, I think we all get that by now.