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.

Then you haven’t listened to anything I’ve said. I don’t hate cats, if you’d actually read my posts I said how hard I found it seeing all the strays suffering in Turkey, I couldn’t live there and see that every day, its awful.

Cats aren’t my top pet, and I’ve never wanted one, but I don’t hate them. I hate the attitude people who own them have when they let them roam then won’t accept all the many reasons why this is a bad idea.

There was quite clearly a poster laughing and mocking that I’d had animals killed, and by virtue of sending cats out to kill each day, owners are absolutely supporting it. I’ve never killed, nor had a pet that killed.

My point is, we are discussing cats

My point is, the reasons for “letting cats roam” is relevant to most animals. So it’s not a reason to simply let them do it.

The only pets that people own in any great number are cats and dogs. Dogs can't just roam, cats can. Get over it @Dreamskies

Thank you. Be more cat: chill

Because we always find the odd dog in our gardens don’t we. Ownership of dogs and ownership of cats is completely different

Yeah, we're so awful we spent thousands on him at the vets, kept four other cats (over the years) happily indoor, spent even more money on cat-proofing our garden, rushed him to the vets at midnight on NYE and then followed professional advice to let him outside - yeah, we're really awful 🙄

Respectfully, do shut up. You have no idea what you're talking about.

I've had cats for all of my adult life. All of them have been able to come and go as they like with a cat flap. Until now - I have two Maine coon rescues and I don't let them out as I'm worried they'll be stolen despite being neutered, or hit by a car. I take them out every day on very long leads but I won't let them out by themselves. They have a good life. Previous cats I always let out, but these two I won't. They're happy, purring and chirping all of the time.

You keep banging on about how you think cats shouldn't be allowed to roam, it clearly upsets you that they can.
I'm sure it would reduce your levels of stress if you could just accept that by law, cats are allowed to roam freely, and there's absolutely no sign whatsoever of that changing in the foreseeable future. However much you want people to keep their cats indoors or in their garden, it's not going to happen, so you should try to get used to that, rather than fruitlessly wishing that people would stop letting their cats outside.

Same as @sunsetsandboardwalks our cat is an integral part of our family whom we love and who loves us. We have saved his life with expensive veterinary treatment on more than one occasion. He loves his life. He comes and goes as he pleases. To have him shut up indoors would be beyond cruel

Basically

Thanks @Cattery

As I've said multiple times, I used to be a huge supporter of indoor cats and while it may suit some, it really doesn't work for all of them. And at the end of the day, it's not a life to be locked up and miserable.

If you have a cat who is suited to indoor life then great - I have two of those as well, but I have one for whom it just doesn't work. It's not the other cats, he adores them and seeks them out constantly and they never fight - he just needs to be out. His parents were barn cats so I do wonder if it's genetic.

@ShuvieTupya why not? There’s the same justification for it.

@Cattery I’ve no idea what you’re on about

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt I know this. But I’m also allowed to point out how hypocritical it is, and the damage caused. Some care, some show how selfish they are.

Exactly.

Which bit? I thought I’d articulated my views perfectly well

About not finding dogs in our gardens or something? Made no sense.

Don't be ridiculous! They never so much as stalked a bird in our garden!

One of them brought home a cheese wrapper, a cigarette packet and a used teabag. The other was partial to cooked chicken breasts and chops. I never found out who he nicked them from. I had them for 10 and 14 years respectively. I think I'd have bloody known if they ever killed anything!!

Even the birds seemed to realise that our last old boy was no threat!

Your views are extremely narrow. Whilst I am happy that my cats are content indoors, I don't think a cat that wants to go out should be denied the opportunity to go. You clearly don't understand the nature of cats!

Interesting to hear. I would have got a catio if my cats had shown any interest in going out but none of the three has. There's pretty much always someone at home and they're spoilt rotten - they get all the attention and stimulation a cat could want!

Mine bask in the sun from indoors. The eldest one reacts badly to other cats, so I don't know how she would fare on the streets, even though that's where she came from. One is part Maine Coon, the other half Maine Coon, half Ragdoll, and I can't imagine they'd have any road sense - although they'd both been outdoors before going into rescue.

I would love it if my cat went outside, but she simply refuses. She may go for a little five minute saunter into the back garden but the door has to be left fully open, even though she's got a cat flap! It makes me sad to think she has chosen this life, especially on a beautifully sunny day, but I have to go with what she wants ultimately. I've had cats on and off throughout the years, but this is the first one who shows such disdain for outside life. I've taken to showing her " cat videos" on YouTube ( birds/ squirrels etc) which she is absolutely entranced by just so she can get her fix of life outside the window.

Well thank god for small mercies. You don't have the faintest notion about cats!

If they left your property unsupervised then you can’t possibly know what they’ve done.

I do understand the nature of cats, but that shouldn’t be inflicted on the world.

Sadly I do.

You must live in the back of beyond then.

I've had cats in my life for 60 years - in a rural setting as a child, and an urban setting as an adult.

Off the top of my head, I've had 6+ cats killed by cars. I've had a 6 month old kitten killed by a predatory stray full tom. He literally just tore into her throat. I'd a couple hit by cars that survived. I've had several that just disappeared.

I had a ginger boy who was a fighter even though he was neutered. He was with the vet regularly, and he was limited to getting out when we were at home, and wasn't allowed out overnight. He contracted FIV and died of kidney failure when he was 10.

AFAIK I've not had one poisoned but then I had some that I never found out what befell them. A neighbour a few doors up had her cat poisoned - she was a regular in our garden.

I haven't had a neighbour complain but I know Brian up the street used to chase my last old boy with a broom when he shat in his garden. Clever boy, didn't shit at home lol - until he got a litter tray in the house and then he would come in from outside to use it!!

Well you're keeping it well hidden.

What pet of dreamskies did this local cat kill?