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.

Domestic cats are not a native species. The Scottish wildcat is a different species altogether (Felis sylvestris).

Dogs are more closely related to wolves than domestic cats are to European wildcats.

It’s a bit like asking why dogs aren’t kept at a stable and checked on daily for a much out and feed… they’re different animals and they have different needs.

in certain areas of the world there are predators that are more likely to kill your cat so having ‘indoor cats’ is the norm and a legal obligation. I personally believe keeping cats in, is cruel and wouldn’t probably want to keep a cat if I lived somewhere where they couldn’t go out.

It’s not the same standard though. Dogs aren’t harmed by being close to their owners, it’s their preferred place, my dog would be anxious if let out by himself and would want to be home.

Cats are much more autonomous, all of mine liked to roam and explore, they wanted out at night to satisfy their very natural hunting instincts. I’d argue that if your pet can’t satisfy their natural behaviours to some extent you’re being neglectful. Those natural behaviours come with risks but you balance the possibility of them being injured against the certainty of stress that they can’t roam or hunt.

In my FIL (London) childhood, dogs were frequently put outside while the owners went to work all day.

I have three cats. Two are happily roaming as we speak. One doesn’t like going outside, but she was seriously abused as a kitten and she’s incredibly nervous. Still; she looks outside with longing because she WANTS to go, so even with her history the urge is there.

Cats are not dogs. Just like horses aren’t dogs, or grasshoppers or whatever. You can’t treat animal species the same when they have very different needs.

Why are you ignoring all the posts from people saying their cats have become unwell from being locked up indoors and in catios? Is it because they don't fit with your narrative?

But you would not get a dog if your fencing was unsuitable, so why does this not fall true for cats.

It's almost like they are 'easy' & cheap and we half arse our responsibilities in the name of their instinct.

My point is dogs have a hunting instinct, so we take precautions and keep them and the community safe. Cats have the same but we ignore this because its easier.

Cats also keep vermin at bay. Thats why farmers keep them around

That’s complete bs, I’m afraid. If you do your research, the ‘statistics’ for outdoor cats are heavily skewed by the inclusion of feral cats and cats who live exclusively outdoors without easy access to food, shelter and veterinary care. Cats which are fundamentally domestic pets, but are able to go outside freely, are slightly more at risk from accidents and attacks, but even so have an average lifespan of about 11 years. And from experience, many cats with access to outside can live much longer than this.

The posts and the scientific paper!

From my point of view it's better for an animal to have a short fulfilled life than a long boring one.
Fortunately in 40 years of cat ownership I've never had a cat die of anything other than natural causes (usually helped by euthanisation of course) but it is a risk I'm aware of. My last two cats died aged 17 and 20. My current cats are two 15 year olds and two 8 year olds.

My cats wouldn't agree with your position - and your suggestion that I don't care about my cats is crass stupidity. Please also note - I've never started a thread suggesting that people who keep their cats inside are cruel - I'm mature enough to accept that people have different views and approaches.

Enclosed are pictures of my terribly mistreated cats outside the house for you to criticise.

People do put the dog outside when its disturbing them, and if Fido can escape the garden to wander the streets he will, just most dogs cant

Yes, my previous cat was an indoor cat for the first 5 years of his life. Behavioural problems galore, grumpy, shouty, going from door to window to door trying to get out. Beat up his cat flat mates.
We took him on as the owner couldn't cope, took him out on a harness to show him around the neighbourhood, then after a couple of weeks put a catflap in.

100% turnaround. One very content cat, affectionate, purred loads, no shouting, friendly to everyone, dogs too. We taught him not to hunt wildlife (he was an exceptionally smart cat) and in the end we saw him sniffing noses with local squirrels and the birds were not frightened of him and would come close. He was a smashing cat and most importantly, happy because he could explore. The boredom of staying in isn't for many cats and can stress them out completely.

I very much adore cats for the record and think the same standards for their care and safety dont apply as with other pets.

I started this thread to examine why. Nothing on this thread has persuaded me otherwise.

Away to bed - different time zone.

I’ve had cats all my life. The only one I’ve lost in horrible circumstances was killed in broad daylight in my cat proof garden while I was in the garden with her. She was killed by a neighbours out of control dog. Obviously that’s very rare and was the fault of the neighbour and not a reflection on all dogs/owners. Nothing is 100% safe. I am happy to take a small risk by allowing my cats out because it gives them a better quality of life.

Nice try.

I suppose if I agreed with you that cats shouldn’t roam then yes I wouldn’t deem my home as being suitable for a cat because I don’t think our garden would be big enough to be stimulating for her so I wouldn’t get one, but as it goes I don’t agree with you that cats shouldn’t roam and it’s not because I am easy or cheap, I just have a different opinion to you. I value my cat’s quality of life (yes over the wildlife she takes, just as I value my diet over the life of the animals I eat) and so I deemed my home and lifestyle as appropriate to have her.

People saying cats are not dogs are of course correct. But maybe then they shouldn’t be allowed as pets if they have an instinctive need to roam around, poo all over other people’s gardens and kill 55 million garden birds per year.

i don’t think anyone needs the difference between cats and dogs explaining, but I question whether we should be breeding them as pets given their natural behaviours.

YANBU

Non-native domestic cats are devastating to the native bird population. There are way too many cats in existence...

Yep, my now 6yo was the same. He was MISERABLE inside. He ended up at the vets multiple times with stress-related bladder issues. He would pee on the floor, hurt himself trying to escape and needed medication just to stop his bladder blocking with stress.

Our vet basically said - if you don't let him out, he will be back here until it kills him. We let him out and he's not once had as single issue in the three years since. He chooses to be home a lot (he's currently sat next to me) but having the choice has made so SO much difference.

Still haven't answered the question about cats who make themselves unwell when they're locked inside I see 😂

I have. They’re horrible and not what a cat needs. Plus I don’t have a neatly square garden with a fence.
Even the advert I’ve just watched showed a cat trying to escape over its cat proofed fence. And the garden had a patio with chairs and tables, nothing for a cat to climb or chase. To my mind this is more cruel than letting it roam.

As far as responsible ownership and respect for your neighbours go, they are exactly the same. I don't have any cats but I don't hate them. I will gladly make a fuss of someone else's but I absolutely don't want them in my garden.

Totally agree. My dear old man cat I have a the moment is 19 and in good health. All my other cats have had a very long and happy life.

Actually. by law, they are not. Cats have the legal right to roam.