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.

My black cat always went out because he wanted to go out, it never entered my mind to stop him, he didn't wander the streets more like sat on walls and surveyed the area, my next cat, a ginger cat didn't want to stay out, so surely cats do there own thing? What's the problem? I'm used to seeing cats out and about, I can't see your issue?

My cat came home once with a bag of Malteasers in her mouth 🤣

That’s the kind of hunting for food she does!

No, you’d just have to deal with a massive explosion of rats and mice everywhere instead.

Tell me you know nothing about cats without telling me you know nothing about cats! Do you think these street cats go near people? Talk to your local rescue to learn just how hard it is! You also never get rescues and vets to adopt your evil cull em all policy! You need to get over what you cannot change! There is no way to catch every stray and feral. Traps have to go down and that that's not that practical because a) they have to be constantly monitored b) they can't tell just by sight that the cat thrashing around in a trap is a stray or feral, it could be a pet cat that lives in a house there ,c) if you catch a mother cat and kill her as per your evil demands, there would kittens starving and suffering somewhere! You might be cold and dead inside but vets and rescues aren't! Get over your stupid thoughts that have no place in reality.

Dogs crap all over the streets and bite people. Cats don’t.

How do they need to roam if some cats are purely house cats?

Funny how most people here are getting annoyed by your comments and agreeing with me! You want things that aren't real life! You are a cruel fantasist who sounds a real wrong un wanting cats mass murdered.

Again please take the time to read the detailed explanations that not all cats are with their owners from kitten hood and only know indoor life, you do need to understand the importance of how ex ferals and strays differ

Cats aren’t dogs, they’re a different species w different needs. Dogs can be taken for walks, cats can’t (or you need to train cats from kittens and we’ve always had rescues or rehomed. Most cats wouldn’t tolerate it.

We keep our cat in st night as a) we don’t have a cat flap so she’d be stuck out b) she’s tiny and would get beaten up by other cats c) I don’t want wildlife to be killed and/or brought in.

She hasn’t killed anything for a long time now thankfully!

If we get another cat in the future I’d do the same. They also need to eat grass for their digestive health - you could buy a plant but their nature is to be outside.

It's because they realised cats are a pita, cats do NOT need to go out, if you think that build a cattery. There are plenty of indoor cats.

Dogs are pack animals that were selectively bred for thousands of years to work with and depend on humans. Most breeds will wander, get hit by cars, pick fights, or eat something lethal if left unsupervised. That’s why we don’t let them “roam the streets.” Cats are solitary hunters with a completely different behavioural profile, higher spatial awareness, and a long history of free roaming without constant human oversight.
The sleep argument is just people admitting they got a cat without understanding the species. A dog that howls all night gets training, exercise, or management indoors. A cat that wants to be out at 3 a.m. is doing what cats do. Kicking it outside because they value their sleep more than its instincts is the actual inconsistency.
Same reasons don’t apply when the animals aren’t the same.

We live by the sea and both times it's been people in campervans who take their cats away with them.

Oh gosh! I hope she was ok.

Take time to respectfully read comments that explain in detail why some cats do need to go outside, why things like trap neuter release programs exist! If we've taken the time to give you a detailed explanation the you should take the time read instead of parroting the same ridiculous comments as others when we've clarified the issue for you. As others have said, why do you think there are laws protecting a cats right to roam. It's annoying when people ask the same question on repeat because they don't read answers that clarify things!

Our cat who broke through the 'cat proofing' in our garden the first time we let him out there was with us from being a kitten (though he was a rescue and hand-reared - he was one of a group of dumped kittens). He was desperate to get out from before we could let him out, and once escaped out of a window as quite a small kitten. He definitely was not content to be indoors just because he didn't know different. I honestly don't think he could have been kept as an indoor cat without turning our house into Fort Knox. He is, for what it's worth, a ginger male (neutered as early as possible) and the vet said they have a reputation as reckless/wanderers - though I don't know how much truth there is in that!

As a cat and dog owner, you cant really compare the 2. Cats are more intelligent than dogs. Put a cat out they come home in their own accord. A dog wouldnt. My cats do not go out at night, but I do leave the window open for them during the day. Its cruel to keep cats in doors, its in their nature to roam, thats what they do. I feel sorry for the cats whose owners dont let them out.

It is to the squirrels, hedgehogs and birds.

There’s a big argument on my local fb page at the moment. A cat has been killed by a car and left, and the owner has posted an angry message about whoever it is that hasn’t stopped. It’s created a big argument of “cats have the right to roam” vs “don’t legally need to report knocking over a cat”.

Cats need to explore and find their own territory. They're different to dogs. I don't see the problem. You choose the pet you want and which suits your lifestyle. I'm a cat person through and through.

The difference is in the law. Which is why we used to have Dog Licences.

A dog is a Responsible Animal. It can be controlled. That means if Fido runs into the road and causes an accident, you can be held to be liable. Anyone who runs over a dog is legally obliged to report it because dogs, as well as goats, horses, cattle, ass, mules, sheep and pigs, fall within the remit of the Road Traffic Act.

In the UK, dog owners are held responsible if their pet is run over by a car.
The law specifically states that any person who allows a dog to run onto a road off the lead is guilty of an offence.

The owner is also responsible for any veterinary costs and, potentially, for the cost of a repair if a vehicle is involved

I had two indoor cats who lived to the ripe old age of 18 and 19. One was very happy to be an indoor cat and showed no interest of going out and was quite timid by nature, the other was more of a free spirit and jumped out of windows, climbed onto the roof, jumped a very long way down into a basement in central london once tried various other escape routes. There’s no doubt that she instinctively wanted to roam and be free. I got all the toys, scratching pads etc in the world and gave her constant attention, but she always had that need to get out and explore. I do think that most cats by their nature want to roam and actually get very bored living indoors. I wouldn’t get cats again for this reason as I would be concerned about them going outside and getting run over or hurt by someone, as I’ve always lived in cities.

They are correct to say you don't legally need to report it if you run over Tiddles .
However, it is a kindness to the cat's owner if you contact them if possible.
Not all cats have collars with the owner's details on, but if you take the dead cat to the nearest Vet they can scan it for a microchip and inform the owner that way.
Usually if it has no chip they will dispose of it for you.

They have a legal right to roam in the UK, as they should.

YABU, OP.

Tell that to the foxes.

If people were really concerned about wildlife conservation they would be calling for fox numbers to be kept under control.

Foxes live off wildlife. Cats live off supermarket food with the odd bird/mouse.

The foxes need to eat, the cats are fed tinned food and then go out and kill wildlife for entertainment.