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.

Bullllllssshhiiiittt. Of course they kill things. Even if they didn’t, it’s the mindset as a whole that needs to change. There’s millions of cats out there doing constant harm.

The whole “humans are worse” is such a shoddy argument. THIS is human damage, just because you’re using a cat as your proxy doesn’t take the responsibility away from you. And this harm is needless.

Ok. Well we'll just agree to disagree, because I'm never keeping my cats in. They're all rescues, all were used to going out and I'm not stopping them.

I wouldn't like to live my life cooped up inside, it would be cruel if it were a dog or anything else for that matter.

Have a lovely evening

Mine are out most of the day and night. Their choice. They love being out. I used to keep them in at night but now I feel bad as since the cat flap they've been out at night.

I do feel sorry for indoor cats when I see them sat at flat windows. All mammals should get to walk around outside 😭

As I said earlier- I don’t necessarily agree that keeping them in a house 24/7 is what’s best for them (if you can’t provide a large outdoor pen etc) but letting them out isn’t ok either. My view is that they’re not an appropriate pet for most people because they can’t keep them safe, protect wildlife, neighbours etc. Hence I don’t keep them and don’t agree with breeding more and more of them.

have a nice night.

Well I have 2 ragdolls, they are so silly and they have no homing instinct - also highly susceptible to being stolen as they will go up to anyone for cuddles and are beautiful looking.

We have a garden that they have access to but they rarely go out, they hate the rain, they love being inside. There are many reasons people have indoor cats. Mine were adopted on the proviso that I don't let them wander.

I am sure it was an even more shit life for my cat two years ago when he went out and did not come back. He is microchipped and has not been found. We have checked with the local authority who told us that they scan the microchip of any deceased animals found and he has not been found by them either. We have another cat who is a house cat as a result. We do all we can to provide enrichment and he has a conservatory which has become a sort of catio for him. We are looking at getting a wheel too. I would rather this than potentially be killed or used as bait for dog fighting.

I agree with the breeding 100% I'd never buy a kitten. There are too many homeless cats. But until there are no waifs or strays, I will forever have one.

Idk if it’s true but I’ve read that if cats are getting enough protein they won’t kill birds to eat while they’re prowling around. But then some cats seem to kill wildlife to bring their owners gifts so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I genuinely think you need to do a bit of research of the impact cats have, you really don’t seem to understand. 🫤

Yes - cats kill other people’s pet birds and small animals - including inside their properties. Which is just as heartbreaking as if someone’s dog came onto your property and killed your cat. Which no doubt you’d be raging about.

Yes - it’s OF COURSE fine for a native wild bird to kill it’s natural prey to survive as part of the ecosystem 🤦🏻‍♀️
however, allowing a DOMESTIC, NON-NATIVE, INVASIVE pet out to needlessly kill and torture wildlife in their millions is NOT ok. Species of bird have gone extinct in some places due to this.

I wish they did stay away from people who don’t want them around but sadly they don’t. And your attitude shows what a selfish neighbour you are.

I agree with you op

I have known cats who have the option of going out but only sit on the door step/window ledge (my cat was like this when he was very old) but cats shouldn’t be kept in because they are at risk of being picked up or a not particularly smart

there is more risks but that’s a chance you take

I mean I get the argument that it's safer for them to be inside their whole lives but that's the same for humans right? And I don't expect anyone would advocate for that.

I have indoor cats. I believe it's the kindest way for them to live. BUT my choice comes with a Huge caveat. I invest in my cats mental and physical stimulation. In the absence of the wild they NEED that. Fortunately cats are sprinters not marathon runners. So a commitment of playing with them three times a day is enough. I play with them with wand toys for about 10-15 three times a day. Running all over the house. Dropping treats when they "catch" or.
I have cat walls up the stairs where they have high and low levels/ ladders and climbing poles. They have floor to ceiling trees in almost every room. They have a variety of toys that get circled in and out. Food puzzles, kickers, electronic toys, tunnels, springs etc. I never keep any toy out too long or they'll get bored. Novelty is key. I grow sheets of cat nip and cat grass for them on the bathroom window. They have hammocks and beds in the Sun across the house- so they can comfortably follow the sun to sleep in through the day.

Imo to keep a house cat is to have a similar pet to a dog. Whilst the walls and engagement are all home focused they are proper commitment. It's the traditional view of an easy pet that a cat is associated with.

There have been numerous campaigns and petitions to make it a law to stop if you hit a cat with your vehicle.... and many cat owners are very vocal about this.

It is the law with dogs that you have to stop, as dogs should not be roaming anyway.

So cat owners want it both ways... want their cats to roam, but want people to be held to account for running them over... come on, cats have shit road sense. They wait for a car to come before they cross the road.

Who says they don’t come from my own reality? I also know that it’s far from JUST being my reality. What part is nonsense exactly? Absolutely none of it, you’re just struggling for arguments now.

The fact you’re getting so het up when having a mirror held up to you to review your behaviour is telling. I’m just glad that these days there are a large number of people against outdoor cats, and one day common sense and morality may prevail.

Our cats are technically indoor cats, we have windows open and doors open basically all summer, they go into the garden and can come and go as they please in the summer months, they go out into the garden but after 4 years havent even made it off the patio more than once or twice. If it's cold or raining, they have no interest what so ever. They don't have a cat flap and are never put outside.

They are British Shorthairs and they are not especially bright and wouldn't know what to do in the wider world and have no interest in finding out.

I think though cats should have access to some sort of outside space atleast some of the time.

A friend of mine has a cat and lived in an apartment for years without a cat flap. He would get chucked out of the window about 730am and wouldn't be able to get back in until she came back from work 12 hours later. Didn't matter how cold or wet it was that cat was out all day - I think that is cruel.

I have an indoor cat. He's a ragdoll. He's not allowed outside. We may eventually cat proof the fence and allow him in the garden on a lead, but that would be it.
He isnt over weight and doesn't appear to be lacking any stimulation. The breed is notorious for being too laid back. There's another one around our area that's allowed out, and I've come across it a few times, laid in the road when cars approach and doesn't move. Mine would be the same.
To me, allowing him outside freely would be setting him up to fail.
Aslong as indoor cats have enough mental stimulation and their weight is managed i don't see the problem. It would be different if the cat had previously always been out. But mine doesn't know any different.

I got british short hair and will definitely get stolen if i let her outside. She allow to go to garden. I dont think she is interested to go outside because i left her in the garden for hours and ahe just sit there and if she is tired she will come inside again. She always being an indoor cat.

i think its depends on the breed. If its moggies i think its cruel to make them stay inside because moggies are street savvy and quite active. British short hair its very timid and not street savvy at all.

Cats in the UK have a right to roam and that therefore includes the right to kill some wildlife. Show me proof that they're killing other people's pets, because I think you're making silly melodramatic comments for effect.
As for causing upset and nuisance to other people, the amount of that caused by cats is as nothing compared to that caused by dogs. Dogs crap everywhere and their disgusting owners don't pick it up, dogs bark incessantly day and night and their stupid owners don't stop it, I have 2 neighbours whose dogs bark every single time someone walks past their garden and their owners do nothing. And finally dogs bite and can maim and kill humans, no cat has ever killed a person. Yet I don't see you saying that dogs should be kept indoors.

I have experienced it INSIDE my own property. I’ve also heard/read countless stories of cats getting into people’s homes and killing rodent pets, getting into aviaries and killing people’s birds, even replies. To think this doesn’t happen with millions of roaming cats is more than a little naive.

Again, just because an archaic law hasn’t been updated and allows you to cause death and upset, doesn’t mean you have to actually do it. You’re allowed to police your own behaviour and actions, you don’t always have to wait for others to do it for you.

Maybe you weren’t aware of the myriad problems of outdoor cats, but it’s possible to learn about it and then modify your future choices. Hence I think it’s important to raise said problems.

Look at what Australia are resorting to due to the damage caused by cats - they have a device that detects and poisons cats. That’s the extreme they’ve taken to in order to try to deal with the problem caused by years of outdoor cat ownership.

Dogs ARE kept indoors or are out on leads supervised by owners - exactly how cats should be kept, so no… I haven’t said that at all.

@Squiddlydiddle glad you find it hilarious that people’s animals, including mine, have been killed by cats who shouldn’t even have been on our property. It truly shows what kind of person you are.

If you actually went and looked for the information you’d find it’s far from isolated.

You can’t “safely say” where your or your neighbours cats have been because you don’t know. You don’t supervise them because you don’t actually care enough about them to bother.

Mine was an indoor cat for the first 3 years of life (I was told the breed should be kept indoors), I moved and started letting him out in the garden with me then just out whenever hw wanted, he was soo much happier and healthier. Better quality of life. No different to how a moggy would behave and I think the ‘indoor breed’ stuff is made up.

I shall never stop letting my cat go outside as he pleases.
I would be extremely surprised if the UK ever brings in a law to stop cats having the right to roam freely. Even the Downing Street cat wanders around outside. The UK won't go the way of Australia however much you hope for it.
Dogs are off the lead in numerous places, beaches, parks, fields, I see them every day and they certainly aren't under the owners' control as they are required to be by law.
You may want cats to be regulated but at the moment and for the foreseeable future, fortunately the law is on the side of people who want to let their cats outside. You may think that's morally wrong but the law does not agree.

@Squiddlydiddle one thing you cannot profess to be (and have proved you are not) is an animal lover. You seem like an overall unpleasant person, mocking the death of much loved pets. Let’s see how you feel when your cat gets run over. I guess you’ll just replace it, cats are disposable to their owners after all.

You keep deluding yourself, I’m off to bed with a clear conscience.

The RSPB doesn't want to alienate cat owners who donate to them. Birds are already under stress from loss of habitat, why make it worse because you're too cheap to cat proof your garden. Even if they didn't affect the numbers, how would you feel if I let my dog loose to maul the occasional feral kitten because it didn't affect the numbers. Cat owners have toxo brain when they're okay with a mother bird watching a cat slowly torture a helpless fledgeling while they're unable to do anything, if you wouldn't reach your hand into a nest and scoop out a little fledgeling blackbird and break its wings and smack it around a bit don't let your fleabag do it in the name of freedom. My dog would quite like to roam and kill deer and cats and foxes in order to be 100% free and happy, I don't let it because it's barbaric from a domesticated animal that doesn't need to hunt to survive.