AIBU to think cats should not roam unsupervised like dogs?

[estrogone]

AIBU to think that if you dont leave your dog to roam streets unsupervised, then you shouldn't let other pets (cats), for the same reasons.

It blows my mind that people let their cats out because their sleep is disrupted and I wonder why they think its OK, when its highly unlikely they would put Fido outside if he kept the family up.

I remember frothing facebook post about dog poo that turned out to actually be cat poo. Very awkward all round.

Same with local forest trust banging on about dog owners not picking up poo - I'd wager many times it is fox poo and they cant tell the difference.

Cats are independent creatures unlike dogs who like to be in a pack with their owners.

Actually the vast majority of what that poster said was totally incorrect.

Yes, if he gets hit by a car it’s my “fault” but the alternatives were to either have him PTS or to keep him locked up and medicated forever. A catio made no difference. A secure garden made no difference. And that was after years of keeping him indoors entirely.

There are many feral cats here. They’re great because they keep the rats down, we live near a stream. When we first moved here, I never saw another cat and the rats were everywhere! We need cats to keep the rats away from the homes. Farms have them too to deter rats and mice away from eating their grains.

I think you're using US data.

UK cats live to an average of 11 - 12 years.

YABVVU. I adopted two kittens last year. At first I considered keeping them in because I worried something would happen to them. But our house backs onto a field. They used to look longingly out of the window and it was obvious they were bored and wanted to go outside and explore. Our fencing wouldn’t stand up to cat proofing (it’s really topped with tall trellis which isn’t strong enough) and having a catio is not the same as the freedom they would need from being able to explore the garden and beyond.

The moment I started letting mine out I saw they acted completely differently outside compared to what they do inside (which is mainly sleep).

I personally think it’s cruel to keep them in. And if you’re not willing to then you shouldn’t have a cat.

One of mine has only gone out the garden once. The other one mainly goes into the neighbours gardens on either side. And over the back fence once. But even if it were more I would still be ok with that.

I actually asked our vet, who has years of experience working with animals. And he said on balance, he believes it’s kinder to let them out.

Cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, rats- all very different creatures and different habits.

My cats have freedom to roam all the time. Yes there is an outside risk they might come across a mad dog or a fox but they can handle themselves. And for me it’s a balance of risk- my cats have a fantastic life and would be genuinely miserable if i tried to put them in a catio or keep them inside. And I’d hate to see it.

Plus as others have said cats are, as a rule, much more intelligent than other pets.
My cats know “their” territory, they sense and will avoid danger, they know how to come and go as they please. They are much better equipped to be independent than other pets.

As I said, my cat rarely leaves our garden and has made it to 18 so spends most of the day sleeping now so its not something I really worry about, no.

I’m glad your cat no longer suffers but that is not relevant to what I’m saying.

The poster said if your outdoor cat died as a result of being outdoors then you as the owner are responsible, which is ultimately correct. Whilst I understand why you let your cat outside your reasoning doesn’t negate that. There are lots of reasons people let their cats out, but if something happens the owner is still the one responsible for that decision.

Clearly you have decided that letting your cat outdoors was less of a risk, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be ultimately your responsibility if something happened whilst he was outside, you have made that choice, him being poorly whilst in the house doesn’t mean that the responsibility doesn’t fall on you as an owner if something does happen, although obviously it may not.

Yep, and I’ve never seen a single owner of outdoor cars in the UK who denies that there are risks involved in letting them roam - they just believe those risks to be worth it when it comes to their cats’ overall quality of life.

I say all that as someone who lost a cat to the road a few months ago.

Yes, I’m aware of all that. When I say she wasn’t entirely correct I was referring to some of her other comments.

Cats don't leave their shit in the street for people to stand on. Cats are more considerate. Roaming dogs are stupid and much more likely to be in an RTI than a cat.

I feel the same way about my cats. I've lost one (also to the road. If we're all so concerned about wildlife we'd ban cars) but she would have had a miserable and small life as an indoor cat.

My two living cats aren't hunters but still have a dusk-to-dawn curfew to protect birds who go to roost at those times, and to protect nocturnal animals.

It works well.

Yes, we tried bells. Got them off within minutes!

They need to roam because you can’t take a cat out twice a day for a walk/run on a lead.
you're comparing two completely different mammals
yes cats can and do hunt and that’s a problem in some areas. That’s for the owners to deal with.
my cat never hunts. Too lazy.

The poster’s comment was more along the lines of wishing the cat a nasty death so the owner would feel guilt. it was rightly deleted.

I do have a dog, I don't have a cat. Learn to read

I’m pretty sure you’re not my neighbour, I only have two and one of them is a vet and isn’t the least bit bothered by my cats. Neither is the other one.
My cats are free to roam in the countryside and are no bother to anyone. They have the best life.

When was the last time you saw someone taking their cat for a walk on a lead?

You aren't comparing like for like.

X

🤣

I read the comment myself and it did not say that.

It isn’t what I would have said but it definitely did not wish a nasty death to the cat. It said the owner should feel guilty if the cat dies but did not say they hope the cat dies a nasty death. I obviously would not have posted saying what they said was correct otherwise.

You have to weigh up the risk. We let our children out despite the risks, as much as they’d be safer indoors, it isn’t natural for them, they also come across dangerous dogs, speeding cars, general sickos. And yes I am comparing cats to children. 😅

Oh, I read it too. Then reported it as a personal attack, with which MNHQ agreed.

Some cats like mine do. Several years ago she had an accident and after that I tried to cat proof the garden to keep her safe. She was constantly escaping, finding ways to escape, weeing everywhere and pawing at the windows. She was totally miserable so I gave up and let her out.

When we moved she lasted a week before climbing the walls to be let out.

She's older now and doesn't go out much but if she has to be kept in for any reason she goes mental again.
.
Cats aren't trainable like dogs, in my experience having indoor cats means it's a military operation every time you want to open the door because they try to escape. You could have a cat proofed garden the size of 2 football fields but they will be desperate to see what's on the other side.

Waking them is hit and miss, they can easily escape harnesses if they want to and I wouldn't trust a dog not to try attack it.

Some cats are docile enough to be kept in and are happy with it but not a chance mine is so for her sanity and mine she is allowed out.

I don’t think it’s an either/or situation. Both are problems. Domestic cats kill 55 million birds a year.

But given these are domestic cats (so pets), it might be argued that this is a human issue as much as a cat issue. But trying to deflect away from cats completely (as you seem to be doing) is nonsense.