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.

Well if that doesn't bother, does the fact that the cat could come a cropper (fights, foxes, cars, cruel people) not bother you?

I cant imagine just letting my pet out unsupervised because somebody, once said, oh cats NEED to roam.

Cats are not like dogs . They are independent creatures who could survive without humans unlike dogs . I have 3 rescue cats , one is a house cat and is happy to never go out . 2 love to roam generally in the night and sleep most of the day . They would be miserable if I kept them in .

I doubt the ban has anything to do with cats being in danger! Surely its to protect the native animals such as marsupials that get killed by cats.

Where I live it is due to the high number of other animals they kill. It's to protect nature from domestic pets. They are allowed, but must be on a lead, same as dogs.

Interesting theories OP 😍

No it's because they kill native species - many of which are endangered.

OP, I saw your posts on a thread in the Litter Tray about cats being kept in overnight. The majority of posters on that thread (including me) actually said they do keep their cats in overnight.

Ours doesn’t especially roam and is generally in our garden or next door, but he recently had to be kept in for a week following dental surgery - and oh my god, he was climbing the walls to get outside by the time the GA wore off!

I don't like how cats harm wildlife. I wish people would at least put bells on their collars. My garden regularly has a poor dead pigeon lying in it. I no longer feed the birds as it was just making them sitting targets.

But I feel sorry for indoor cats, no different to a caged animal - which I'd never own.

As I said I dont own a cat.

I completely agree @estrogone .

When I was a kid dogs roamed free like cats do now then 20 odd years ago that changed and people did not let them out to wander.

Cats can be very antisocial out and about. Our neighbours had loads of them and they pooped all over our garden, never in their own and left half dead birds/animals about the place.

We got a dog in recent years and thankfully no more cats.

A family member has a cat high up in an apartment building which she rescued while passing a skip and finding it left there, she doesn’t let it out due to the risk of falling. Not every cat goes out all of the time.

That's not roaming .

No, they really are not.

Domestic pets are not 'wildlife' 🤔And even some wildlife is heavily regulated where there are invasive species or no longer natural predators.

cat people will never accept that letting cats wander is a risk. They say they love their pet but don’t mind it being killed on a road - probably after having dragged itself off and suffered immensely. The average cat life span is about 2, for an animal which should easily live to about 15. It’s disgusting negligence

When and where were you a kid? I've never known people let their dogs roam on their own.

Isn't this entire line of reasoning based on a flawed and in fact deeply speciesist premise? Why should it be a human's decision how the cat spends their time?

Unless this is some kind of weird reverse about controlling spouses or something.

Well yes, or provide them with a catio at night and a cat proof garden for the day.

We cant get a dog, or guinea pig, or tabbit unless the garden is suitable and safe. Why does the same not apply to cats?

BTW, I love cats and dogs. I am not a cat hater or an indoor cat person. I do think that they should be kept inside the house or catio at night and we should have to pet proof out gardens. It seems odd that people let their cats out but would never consider the same for dogs or guinea pigs or rabbits. Why do those animals need to wander less?

Its so sad to see lost cat posters when its totally avoidable.

The same could be said of a dog though. Thanks for making my point for me

Would you rather live til your 60 and have a fun, happy fulfilled life or til your 80 but every day is miserable and you can’t leave your house or do anything that makes you happy?

No it's because of the danger cats pose to wildlife, birds etc

This is nonsense. A quick google will tell you that.

I was a kid in the 60s and 70s and many dogs did indeed roam the streets during the day and come back for their tea (bit like kids).

Enrich their environment. Make them safe and happy.

I do think it's an interesting question.

If we as a society generally accept that it's not on to let domestic animals wander at will, and we also accept that cats need to roam, the next question has to be "are cats unsuitable as domestic pets?" Unless of course you're lucky enough to have large amounts of land.

My chickens would quite happily roam into my neighbours garden if I let them.

Rabbits have a range up to 200m from their home burrow.

The less said about horses the better!

So why only cats?

The average cat lifespan is about 2

Oh give over, you have just made that up! 😂