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.

What about a harness and lead arrangement, so he can go outside for a bit with you or if your Mam has the money what about getting a catio built leading off one of the windows so he has free range to be outside but still inside if that makes sense

No it’s not cruel, it’s responsible. In my area of the world, no rescue will let you adopt a cat if you plan to let it outdoors. Letting your cat wander is also illegal. They are subject to the same rules as dogs.

My cats would be hunted by coyotes, bobcats, hawks, and eagles if they stepped outside. Even with cat proof fending they would be vulnerable. The raptors swoop down and pick up rabbits out of our garden when they need a meal.

I've got an old cat who was a barn kitten who pretty much spends all her time outside except in midwinter when it's really cold. This is her choice and she sleeps in our caravan.

My young cat is mostly indoor but is enjoying being in the garden in this weather. I couldn't deny her the pleasure of rolling about in a sun patch!

It isn’t illegal to let them wander in the UK, and rescues are happy for them to go out.

I have posted about my cat on many other threads .
He is a out and out thug , when I first got him I let him out after a few days .
He shot across the road and completely unprovoked attacked a cat that was sat there minding it's own business. This wasn't the usual handbags at dawn and yowling that cats normally do, he barreled into the poor thing knocking it over and set about it .
It took me 2 or 3 minutes and a lot of scratches to get them apart.
I kept him in for a few days , then late at night I took him out after checking there were not any other cats around , unfortunately my neighbour let her elderly cat out and again my cat attacked it .
He managed to draw blood from the cats nose and mouth .
I have tried taking him out on a harness and lead and he still tries to attack any cats .
Therefore he will always be a house cat .
He has the run of the house , the bedroom window is always open with a child lock on so he can sit on the sill and get fresh air whenever he wants .

This made me chuckle, he sounds like a character.

I have three indoor only cats. Two 2 year old girls (sisters) and a soon to be 1 boy.

They have the run of the house, a million toys and a huge cat tree with scratching posts. They also have a catio surrounding my patio doors. The catio has shelves, rope bridges and ramps. I have also had a cat flap installed on my patio door so they can come in and out at night and when we're out.

Indoor cats will not get run over, stolen, tortured or attacked.

I wouldn't like to keep a cat in all the time.

I have one that chooses to very rarely go out, the others all come and go as they please. They love being outside.

If an indoor cat was not happy, it would very easily find a way to get out. Cats are all different and cats who have never been out are not deprived of anything. Why is this such a heated topic? I don't think there is a right or wrong way. I have just had a cat hit by a car at a year old and would rather that didn't happen again.

I think it is relevant, as to whether or not keeping an indoor cat is "cruel", that it's entirely the norm in a lot of countries for various reasons, including countries that are otherwise culturally similar to the UK.

I disagree! Our persian goes outside. The first 3 years of his life hes never brought anything home. We always thought “great, hes too stupid to hunt”. Then all of a sudden he started bringing all kinds of animals back, once a ring snake still alive 😱
He does just stay close by the house usually. Our moggie travels much further and is outside longer times. But the persian loves sun bathing on our lounge and controlling our border (fence) 😄
Nobody has stolen him yet, but of course that was always a bit of a fear of mine. Hes 8 now.
I really do think his life is much better than if he was indoors only.
I understand the fears though. My best friend got a new kitten a couple years ago. He got run over by a car at age 2 😢 He was a moggie from a farm, but that didnt help him.

Because people are saying it is cruel to keep cats indoors.

it’s a cultural choice to think they are unhappy indoors.

it is absolute fact that in many places they are at high risk outdoors.

people in the uk seem to underestimate the risk given how upset posters get when their cats don’t come home, get injured, or get killed. They post like they could not have done anything for the animal they pledged to protect.

The UK is one of the only countries where you can write this and not start ww3 immediately 😂 (big assumption by me there OP sorry)

My cat came from living outdoors 24/7 before we met each other but is now indoors only as it’s just not safe (plus any outside animal is a stray here). But I’ve been wondering more and more if it’s something she misses. Obviously not the regular food and water and stuff but the wandering. Anyway

she doesnt have a super long time left I don’t think, and I’ve been wondering about trying to organise somewhere back home for her to go and sniff the grass and chase butterflies around before she goes. Although I would miss her terribly, she loves going out on the balcony and sitting in the sun and twitching her nose in the morning air before all the heat and the dust and fumes start up, so I think she would love it.

I think cats (like people) vary. When I was younger I had an indoor cat. She seemed very happy. When she was 5 or 6 we moved to a house where she had access to the outdoors. For the first few months she wasn't interested and ignored all open doors and windows. Eventually she started venturing outside but never went far or stayed out very long.

My DS OTOH has an indoor cat. The poor thing is clearly desperate to get outside. It is constantly clawing at doors and windows and trying to sneak out.

They really all don't love being outside, our patio doors, windows are open all the time, my cat only makes super quick trips out into the garden, she really just doesn't like being outside.
She is perfectly content indoors with her numerous beds, scratching towers, toys and window seats where she can watch the world go by.

I have indoor cats. I live in a city quite near busy roads, and although there are other outdoor cats in the area I'd be too worried. I adopted them (at 2) as indoor cats; I wouldn't agree with taking a previously outdoor cat and keeping it in.

I make sure they have plenty of indoor enrichment, though: lots of scratchers, big cat tree next to a window with bird feeders, plenty of cat grass, carpeted wall shelves to run and play on, etc. I think it's important to create a cat-friendly environment - plus they have each other to play with.

We’re not talking about birds at the population level. We’re talking at the hyper-local level. I can assure you that the local cats have a far bigger effect on the birds in my nest boxes than climate change, because I’ve caught the little shits with fledglings.

She’s being a responsible cat owner, which is unusual (in the UK anyway) so kudos for that.

I do think they should have a large outdoor enclose and/or be taken out on a lead. Tbh I’m not sure they’re really an appropriate pet for the 21st century if it’s not often possible to keep them safe and contained (and not making a nuisance of themselves) but also that most people don’t have the facilities to give them the contained outdoor space they need.

For years they’ve been the lazy persons pet, and that needs to change.

I have a dog too, so does that exempt me from being lazy? 😉

Out cats have the best of both worlds as they can safely explore our garden and not get out (collars and invisible wire). Our hunter caught a mouse today he literally goes out just to see what he can kill, nasty bugger.

I don’t know, are you? If you keep your cat contained and entertained then no, if you let it out to cause death, damage, nuisance and put it at risk, rather than spent time keeping it safe and entertained then yes, quite possibly 🤷🏻‍♀️

My cat wakes for breakfast at around 4.30am after breakfast he enjoys some cuddles in bed with me. Followed by his treats in the sitting room. Then he hangs out with me while I get ready for work. He tends to spend the morning by the kitchen window which is always left ajar for him. Hes got a variety of cat friendly plants he likes to smell\chew and bully. He will probably stretch in the sun for the morning by the window.

He may have a play with any of his many balls, climb his tower,lay on his cardboard or lick his favourite mouse toy. Then sleep for a bit on the sofa. After lunch he usually goes to the bedroom for a nap. Around 5 he is at the sitting room window catching the sun and watching the neighbours kids playing. In the evening he usually watches some cat tv on youtube. A nice supper. Then cuddles with me at bedtime.

He loves visitors because they give him extra treats and cuddles. Some play with him. I have no doubt at all my indoor cat is safe and happy. So no I don't feel cruel.

Not all cats.... Ragdoll's couldn't give a shit. All they want to do is sleep in a room with a human

My cat is an indoor cat by choice. She's very stressed going outside. She loves her home comforts. Occasionally she'll sit in the sun for 10 mins then she's back in! Not all cats are outdoor.

That said, if you do have one who loves being out and you move somewhere where it cannot go, that's cruel and you're better rehoming. I once had a beautiful black tomcat who lived for being outside. When we had to move to a flat, he was so miserable that I gave him to my cousin who had a big back garden. It hurt to let him go, but as soon as he was outdoors again he was a different cat. They're all different and they let you know what they like.

In Australia we have a massive problem with feral cats. It’s actually illegal to let your cat roam here. They must be contained to your property. People ignore it though. Our council hires cat traps so if someone is letting their cat out on your property you can trap it and drop it to the pound, the owners get called and fined. It causes so many arguments on community pages.