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.

It’s cruel to let your cat outside. My dad’s cat died last month at 11 months from being run over. Growing up I had 3 cats that died from being run over / eating rat poison all at very young ages.
You wouldn’t let a dog out without a lead / without supervision.
I have two indoor cats who are very happy.

I dont think cats should be permanently indoors or roaming free outside either. I think an outdoor patio with cat flap into the house is ideal, and if I ever have a cat again that's what I'll do.

Catio

cats (felis catus) don't event exist in the wild. They are fully domesticated. Feral and stray cats aren't "wild" cats which are a totally different species. And they are in fact considered invasive basically everywhere, including in Scotland where they're a part of wiping out wild cat populations by interbreeding with them.

So glad my neighbors cat is indoors. The cat poo from other neighbours cats in the past in my garden has been horrendous and my son has stepped in it various times.

The last neighbours cat was also the second to get killed by a car on the road outside our house in the last year.

It's a really rural road so I get the impression cats have poor road sense. As much as I dislike cats, I'd never want one to get hurt in any way.

about 30 years ago my sister and I got cats at about the same time
Me - indoor cat, central London, she'd go outside when I took her on holiday.
My cat lived until she was 15, and sadly had to be euthanised because of kidney disease .
Sister - very rural, outskirts of a small village. Three cats that got runover by the time they were about two, then one that survived for about seven or 8 years, lived mostly outside until the dog died, cat suddenly switched to hardly ever going outside, died shortly after my cat.

Haven't RTFT but no you are NBU. It's no life. To me it's similar to birds in cages. Cats need to roam and hunt.

I recently lost two beautiful moggies that were always out and about (but in at night). They both lived a full and happy life to 16 years of age. People who wang on about cats not being let out to live their lives are cunts IMO.

Ok, maybe we should let all the dogs out roaming and enjoying chasing and killing the cats? Or perhaps the lions from the zoo? They’d enjoy some good exercise and hunting wouldn’t they? 🙄

Domestic pets shouldn’t be out causing any of those things. They are the responsibility of their owners, so really it is the owners causing the death and nuisance. If the owners don’t care about that, it says a lot about the owners.

Which would you choose? If you were a bird, and I don't see much difference.

A 'cruel' life where you are allowed to fly free and enjoy every moment of every day, but you will likely die at the mercy of nature after 3 years.

Or a long life of 6 years but you are confined to a cage and cannot ever really experience freedom or the sun on your back. It's a grim existence where every day is the same, but as a bonus you get to watch life happening through a nearby window. Only it's to the other birds, not you.

My cat was adopted as an indoor cat. He cannot go outside due to a health issue. He has never shown an inclination to escape. Plenty of interaction and toys. He has a great life and seems perfectly happy!

The amount of posts I see on NextDoor about dead cats, lost cats and stray cats often with awful health issues makes me glad I don’t have that worry.

I'll be sure to let our various local animal protection charities know that they're a bunch of cunts.

. People who wang on about cats not being let out to live their lives are cunts IMO.

I could say the same about people who don't understand that there are different breeds of cats and some are not suited to being outside 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s arguably pretty cuntish to send your pets out to kill and injure things for fun (including people’s pets), or crapping on other people’s property.

Breeding, selling, buying and keeping cats is a choice that people don’t have to make. No one has to keep cats, so if it’s not possible to keep them in a way that’s safe, appropriate and fair for everyone, then it’s best not to keep them at all.

Well my cats don't agree with you. They'd think you were rather mean.

It depends on your dwelling, surely? A cat in a bedsit or studio flat is cruel... some indoor cats thrive in a nice big house.
Some breeds are better kept indoors, and some rescue cats have health conditions (off the top of my head - feline HIV) that means they must stay indoors.

I used to have a cat that was an indoor one, but we lived in a spacious flat. My ex took her when we split, and he moved into a house. She still refused to go outside.

I do think that better care should be taken when letting cats out anyway. Far too many are hit by cars, and the drivers always blamed for "going too fast" or not stopping etc.
Nothing wrong with having a catio type thing... do they need planning permission though?

I think there’s now enough support and knowledge in the UK to take this to parliament to make changes and I’ve absolutely considered this. It’s a shame that some people need laws to change in order for them to make the right decisions, and that so many don’t have the moral compass to do this by themselves.

A bit like the smoking ban - people needing forcing to refrain from affecting other people with their smoking habits (and created a stink about it too!) yet it’s blatantly the right thing to do. People shouldn’t need telling that their pets shouldn’t be outside both being at risk and causing such harm. But here we are.

they don’t get mauled by dogs because dogs don’t free roam 🤦🏻‍♀️

they do, however, go missing and get injured and killed constantly. I see daily posts on local groups and roll my eyes every time.

This exactly

I think it’s cruel if they have no interaction. This is an issue when you go away and they just exist in a space alone - no stimulation etc I think that’s horrible and cruel yes. Same applies to any animal that is confined alone. Looking after a rabbit for neighbours last week I thought the same thing, poor thing is just bored all day. Must be torture

The birds I’ve rehabbed or watched die don’t agree with you either. They think you’re pretty evil.

I've done that too. Lots of times. Not due to my cats. And hedgehogs, squirrels, voles.

Such an evil bitch

Helping one animal while needlessly killing another doesn’t clear your conscience. Quite an odd double standard in fact.

I have a ragdoll who couldn’t give a shit about going outside. She does occasionally go out in the garden but only if we’re there too. Otherwise she sleeps all day on DD’s bed. and when she’s out she likes to roll about in my thyme. Shes a bit odd tbf.

I've had 1 cat that killed things. The others don't bother apart from an occasional butterfly.

I don't think humans can take the moral high ground here. We are literally destroying the earth. I don't eat meat, drive, fly. So I'll take the hit on a few birds

@Squiddlydiddle I’ve quite clearly stated in my posts the reasons why it’s not appropriate. If you still don’t understand… well, that explains why we are where we are doesn’t it!

If people want to put their pets at risk, that’s their weird lookout, but it’s not their right to kill wildlife or other people’s pets, nor to cause upset and nuisance to other people. That will never be ok no matter how much you try to defend it.

Wait 'til you hear about chickens.